The following lists events that happened during 1976 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,163,400 Increase since 31 December 1975: 19,700 (0.63%) Males per 100 females: 99.5 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Sir Denis Blundell GCMG GCVO KBE QSO. Government Speaker of the House – Roy Jack. Prime Minister – Robert Muldoon Deputy Prime Minister – Brian Talboys. Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Brian Talboys. Attorney-General – Peter Wilkinson. Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Bill Rowling (Labour). Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Mike Minogue then Bruce Beetham Mayor of Wellington – Michael Fowler Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Jim Barnes Events 28 February – Nelson by-election – Mel Courtney (Labour) elected to replace the late Stan Whitehead. 1 April – The New Zealand Fire Service is formed, following the nationwide merger of urban fire boards and fire brigades brought about by the Fire Service Act 1975. 7 June – The nation's first McDonald's restaurant opens in central Porirua. 17 July – 1 August – New Zealand competes at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, despite 28 African nations boycotting the games over New Zealand's sporting ties with apartheid South Africa. The nation wins four medals: two gold, one silver and one bronze. 15 September – The Union Company's Lyttelton to Wellington ferry service is cancelled, having operated since 1895 and by the Ministry of Transport since 1974, facing increased competition from air travel and the Railways' Cook Strait ferry service. 1 November – The Waitangi Day Act 1976 commences, replacing the New Zealand Day public holiday with Waitangi Day on 6 February. 14 December – The Weights and Measures Amendment Act commences, officially completing metrication in New Zealand. Arts and literature Sam Hunt wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1976 in art, 1976 in literature, :Category:1976 books Music New Zealand Music Awards ALBUM OF THE YEAR NZSO – Symphony No. 2 RECORDING ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR Dr Tree BEST NEW ARTIST Dr Tree PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Alan Galbraith – Taking It All in Stride ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Peter Hitchcock – Taking It All in Stride ARRANGER OF THE YEAR David Frazer – Taking It All in Stride COMPOSER