The following lists events that happened during 1973 in New Zealand.
Population
- Estimated population as of 31 December 1973: 3,024,900.
- Increase since 31 December 1972 â 65,200 (2.20%).
- Males per 100 females â 99.7.
- It took 21 years for the population to grow from 2 million to 3 million.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government
The 37th New Zealand Parliament commences. Government is by a Labour majority of 55 seats to the National Party's 32 seats.
Parliamentary opposition
Judiciary
Main centre leaders
Events
- 1 January â The 1973 New Year Honours are announced
- 11 January â Air New Zealand accepts delivery of its first McDonnell Douglas DC-10 jet.
- 4 February â The details of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement are announced
- 7 February â A heat wave affects large parts of New Zealand. Rangiora reaches , the highest temperature recorded in New Zealand .
- 11 February â The Rolling Stones play a single New Zealand concert, at Western Springs Stadium, Auckland, on their 1973 Pacific Tour.
- 27 February â Leaking drums of organophosphate cotton defoliant spread fumes across Parnell, Auckland, causing 640 people to be treated in hospital and 6,000 people to be evacuated.
- 1 March â The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement is implemented
- 10 April â Prime Minister Kirk cancels the 1973 South African rugby tour to New Zealand over fears of civil unrest.
- 16 April â After a retrial, Arthur Allan Thomas is again found guilty of the murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe.
- 2 June â The 1973 Queen's Birthday Honours are announced
- 19 October â The New Zealand Day Act 1973, making 6 February a national holiday, receives royal assent.
- 31 October â Colour television is introduced.
- December â The national vehicle speed limit is reduced to 80 km/h to reduce fuel consumption.
Arts and literature
See 1973 in art, 1973 in literature
Music
New Zealand Music Awards
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR John Donoghue â Spirit Of Pelorus Jack
- RECORDING ARTIST / GROUP OF THE YEAR Shona Laing
- BEST SINGLE / SINGLE OF THE YEAR John Hanlon â Damn The Dam
- BEST NEW ARTIST Shona Laing
- BEST NZ RECORDED COMPOSITION Anna Leah â Love Bug
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Keith Southern â Join Together
- ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Peter Hitchcock â Only Time Could Let Us Know
- ARRANGER OF THE YEAR Mike Harvey â Damn The Dam
See: 1973 in music
Performing arts
Radio and television
- Colour television broadcasts begin at 7:45pm on 31 October. The licence fee for a colour television is NZ$35.
- In December, Fred Dagg makes his first appearance.
- Feltex Television Awards:
- Natural History Programme: Bird of a Single Flight
- Best News, Current Affairs: Election Night '72
- Best Light Entertainment: Loxene Golden Disc 1972
- Best Drama and the Arts: Gone Up North and An Awful Silence
- Best Documentary: Deciding
- Allied Crafts: Loxene Golden Disc set and work on Pop Co.
- The first ZM radio stations were started in 1973 as 1ZM Auckland, 2ZM Wellington and 3ZM Christchurch.
See: 1973 in New Zealand television, 1973 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, , , Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: , 1973 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand,
Sport
Athletics
- Terry Manners wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:28.7 on 10 March in Inglewood. In the same year, on 1 December, the title is taken over by John Robinson who wins his first national title, clocking 2:15:03.6 in Christchurch.
Chess
- The 80th National Chess Championship is held in Wellington, and is won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 12th title).
Horse racing
From January 1973, all races are run at metric distances rather than imperial.
Harness racing
Soccer
Births
- 25 January: Ruben Wiki, rugby league footballer
- 20 February: Leisen Jobe, field hockey player
- 1 April: Stephen Fleming, cricketer
- 8 April: Nicholas Tongue, freestyle swimmer
- 27 May:
- Tana Umaga, rugby player
- Ian Winchester, athlete
- 16 June: Shane Reed, athlete (died 2022)
- 2 July: Andrew Buckley, field hockey player
- 10 July: Andrew McCormick, rugby union footballer
- 23 July: Adrian Cashmore, rugby player
- 31 July: Tasha Williams, hammer thrower
- 4 August: Hymie Gill, field hockey player
- 5 August: Justin Marshall, rugby player
- 13 August: Martin Moana, rugby league footballer
- 19 August: Carl Bulfin, cricketer
- 23 August: Kerry Walmsley, cricketer
- 5 September: Lesley Nicol, netball player
- 1 September: Trent Bray, freestyle swimmer
- 14 November: Darren Smith, field hockey player
- 15 November: Shayne O'Connor, cricketer
- 16 November: Brendan Laney, rugby player
- 29 December: Garth da Silva, boxer
- Kirsten Cameron, swimmer
- Dom Harvey, podcaster and former radio host
Deaths
Full date unknown
References
See also
For world events and topics in 1973 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1973