The following lists events that happened during 1988 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,345,200 Increase since 31 December 1987: 3,100 (0.09%) Males per 100 Females: 97.3 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO Government The 42nd New Zealand Parliament continued. The fourth Labour Party government was in power. Speaker of the House – Kerry Burke Prime Minister – David Lange Deputy Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer Minister of Finance – Roger Douglas Minister of Foreign Affairs – Russell Marshall Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger (National). 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 The number of unemployed reaches 100,000. The Federation of Labour and Combined State Unions merge to form the Council of Trade Unions. New Zealand Post closed 432 post offices. Fisheries quota package announced for Mäori iwi. The Hokitika Guardian and Star ceases publication. 6 February: Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi are suspended. 7 March: Cyclone Bola strikes the East Coast of the North Island 30 March: The State Sector Act is passed to reform the Public Service. April: The Royal Commission on Social Policy issues its report. 5 April: Gibbs Report ("Unshackling the Hospitals") released. May: Picot Report on educational administration released. June: The electrification of the North Island Main Trunk railway between Hamilton and Palmerston North is completed. 1 July: The Government announces the return of Bastion Point to its Ngāti Whātua owners. 1 July: Commercial TV goes 7 days a week, except Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day. Arts and literature John Dickson wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1988 in art, 1988 in literature, :Category:1988 books Music New Zealand Music Awards Winners are shown first with nominees underneath. ALBUM OF THE YEAR Dave Dobbyn – Loyal Shona Laing – South The Warratahs – Only game in Town SINGLE OF THE YEAR Holidaymakers–Sweet Lovers Dave Dobyyn – Love You Like I Should Tex Pistol / Rikki Morris – Nobody Else BEST MALE VOCALIST Dave Dobbyn Herbs Barry Saunders BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Shona Laing Aishah Annie Crummer BEST GROUP Herbs The Chills The Warratahs MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Peter Marshall