1987 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,342,100
• Increase since 31 December 1986: 28,600
• Males per 100 Females: 97.9

  Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO

  Government

• Speaker of the House – Gerard Wall then Kerry Burke
• Prime Minister – David Lange
• Deputy Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer
• Minister of Finance – Roger Douglas
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – David Lange then Russell Marshall
• Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison

  Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger.

  Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard
• Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen
• Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich
• Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay
• Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs

  Events

• January, February: Māori loan affair continues.
• 2 March: Edgecumbe earthquake in the Bay of Plenty.
• 22 May–20 June: Inaugural Rugby World Cup hosted by both New Zealand and Australia, and won by New Zealand.
• June: The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act is passed.
• 19 June: 6-year-old Teresa Cormack murdered.
• July: The Māori Language Act makes Māori an official language.
• 1 August: The first Lotto draw.
• 15 August: The 1987 general election is held.
• 20 October: The New Zealand stock market crashes following Black Monday on Wall Street. Share prices fell by 59 percent over four months.
• 3 November: McDonald's opens its first restaurants in the South Island at Linwood and Merivale, Christchurch.
• December: New Zealand's first heart transplant takes place at Greenlane Hospital, for Brian Lindsay.

  Arts and literature

• Robert Lord wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR Herbs – Sensitive to a Smile
• *Dave Dobbyn –
• *Ardijah – Ardijah
• SINGLE OF THE YEAR Dave Dobbyn – You Oughta Be in Love
• *Shona Laing – Glad I'm Not A Kennedy
• *The Chills – Leather Jacket
• BEST MALE VOCALIST Dave Dobbyn
• *Charles Tumahai
• *Martin Phillips
• BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Shona Laing
• *Betty-Anne Monga
• *Patsy Riggir
• BEST GROUP The Chills
• *Ardijah
• *Herbs
• MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Al Hunter
• *Wayne Elliot
• *David Parker
• MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Moana Maniapoto Jackson Moana and the Moahunters
• *Darlene Adair
• *Kara Pewhairangi
• MOST PROMISING GROUP Bonga And Harwood
• *Rhythm Cage
• *Knightshade
• INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Neil Finn
• *Dave Dobbyn
• *The Chills
• *Shona Laing
• *Kiri Te Kanawa
• BEST VIDEO Matt Box Films – Sensitive to a Smile
• *Kerry Brown/ Bruce Sheridan – Glad Im Not A Kennedy
• *Paul Middleditch – The Game of Love
• BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK Dave Dobbyn – Footrot Flats
• *Various Artists – Queen City Rocker
• BEST PRODUCER Dave Dobbyn – Footrot Flats
• *Billy Kristian – Sensitive to a Smile
• *Ian Morris – The Game of Love
• BEST ENGINEER Ian Morris – The Game of Love
• *Roland Morris / Nick Morgan – Ardijah
• *Doug Rogers / Rhys Moody – Brand New Doll
• *Tim Field – Out for the Count
• BEST JAZZ ALBUM Mike Nock / Frank Gibson, Jr. – 'Open Door'
• *Brian Smith – Brian Smith
• *The Umbrellas – The Umbrellas
• BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Gillian Weir – Music to the Sun King
• *NZ Symphony Orchestra – Music By Douglas Lilburn
• *Margaret Neilson – Sea Changes
• BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Al Hunter – Neon Cowboy
• *Jodi Vaughan – Straight From The Heart
• *Patsy Riggir – Close To Thee
• BEST FOLK ALBUM Beverly Young – Bushes & Briar
• *Phil Garland – Hunger in the Air
• *Paul Mesters – Pacific Pilgrim
• BEST GOSPEL ALBUM Jules Riding – Heart Strings
• *Patsy Riggir – Close To Thee
• *Darlene Adair – Darlene Adair
• BEST POLYNESIAN ALBUM Herbs – E Papa – Jah Knows
• *Kahurangi – Kahurangi
• *Moana – Kua Makona
• BEST CAST ALBUM Stewart Macpherson – Pirates of Penzance
• *Philip Norman – Love Off The Shelf
• *Thomas Baker – The Conductor's Shoes
• BEST SONGWRITER Charles Tumahai/ Dilworth Karaka – Sensitive to a Smile
• *Dave Dobbyn – You Oughta Be in Love
• *Shona Laing – Glad Im Not A Kennedy
• BEST COVER Philip Trusttum – Songdance
• *Peter Bennett – Elephunkin
• *Reston Griffiths – Footrot Flats

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Silvio De Pra.

  Radio and television

• Auckland Radio 1ZB becomes Newstalk 1ZB creating the very first Newstalk ZB station.
• 1ZM Auckland becomes Classic Hits 1251 creating the very first Classic Hits station, other New Zealand radio stations do not take the Classic Hits branding until 1993/94.

  Film

• Bad Taste
• Ngati
• Starlight Hotel

Internet

Sport

Rugby

• The All Blacks win the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

  Athletics

• Peter Renner wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:15:32 on 22 November in Wiri, while Jillian Costley claims her first in the women's championship.

  Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Lightning Blue
• The Auckland Trotting Cup was run twice in 1987 as it was being rescheduled from January back to December.
• * January : Master Mood
• * December : Luxury Liner

  Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Diane Collings

  Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Gisborne City who beat Christchurch United 7-3 on aggregate in a two-leg final.

  Births

• 7 January – Michael McGlinchey, football player.
• 27 January – Ben Te'o, rugby league player.
• 28 January – Steven O'Dor, football player.
• 13 February – Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, rugby league player
• 18 February – Maria Tutaia, netball player.
• 22 February – Lesley Cantwell, race walker
• 3 March – Jacob Spoonley, football player.
• 17 March – Krisnan Inu, rugby league player.
• 18 March – Clarissa Eshuis, hockey player.
• 20 March – David Richardson, actor.
• 27 March – Victor Vito, rugby union player.
• 7 April – Jaimee Kaire-Gataulu, actor.
• 10 April – Hayley Westenra, soprano.
• 11 April – Joseph Sullivan, rower, Olympic gold medallist
• 29 April – Tim Winitana, rugby league player.
• 6 May – Katrina Grant, netball player.
• 14 May – Tim Schaeffers, football player.
• 29 May – Issac Luke, rugby league player.
• 7 June – Daniel Logan, actor.
• 4 July – Chris James, football player.
• 8 July – Alana Barber, race walker.
• 22 July – Sam Bewley, racing cyclist.
• 16 September – Rongo Brightwell, singer.
• 2 October – Anita Punt, hockey player.
• 7 October – Jeremy Brockie, football player.
• 10 October – Colin Slade, rugby union player
• 30 November – Miguel Start, rugby league player.
• 9 December – Polly Powrie, sailor, Olympic gold medallist
• 14 December – Lauren Boyle, swimmer.
• 23 December – Owen Franks, rugby union player, All Black

  Deaths

• 16 January Colin Scrimgeour, minister and broadcaster.
• 13 February: Curly Page, cricketer.
• 29 May: Bryan Todd, businessman
• 16 July: Harry Ayres, guide and mountaineer.
• 4 August: Cecil Burke, cricketer.
• 14 October: John Rangihau, academic and leader of Tuhoe iwi.
• 27 December: Rewi Alley, writer and member of the Communist Party of China.
• Alfred E. Allen, politician.
• Johnnie Hoskins, motorcycle speedway pioneer.
• Norman Jones, politician.
• Colin McCahon, artist.
• Dennis Rogers, mayor of Hamilton.