The following lists events that happened during 1974 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,091,900 Increase since 31 December 1973: 65,200 (2.20%) Males per 100 females: 99.7 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Sir Denis Blundell GCMG GCVO KBE QSO. Government The 37th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was by a Labour majority of 55 seats to the National Party's 32 seats. Speaker of the House – Stan Whitehead. Prime Minister – Norman Kirk then Bill Rowling Deputy Prime Minister – Hugh Watt then Bob Tizard Minister of Finance – Bill Rowling then Bob Tizard. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Norman Kirk then Bill Rowling. Attorney-General – Martyn Finlay. Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Jack Marshall (National) until 4 July, then Robert Muldoon (National). Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Mike Minogue Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts then Michael Fowler Mayor of Christchurch – Neville Pickering then Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Jim Barnes Events 24 January – 2 February: Christchurch hosts the 1974 British Commonwealth Games. 30 January – 8 February: Royal visit by the Queen for the Commonwealth Games and Waitangi Day accompanied by the Duke, Princess Anne, Captain Mark Phillips and the Prince of Wales 6 February – Waitangi Day, then named New Zealand Day, is first celebrated as a nationwide public holiday. 1 April – The Accident Compensation Commission is established, providing universal no-fault accidental injury cover to all New Zealanders. 31 August – Prime Minister Norman Kirk dies of heart complications, aged 51. He was replaced by Bill Rowling, see New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, 1974. September – The country's first Pizza Hut restaurant opens in New Lynn, Auckland. The voting age is lowered from 20 to 18. Arts and literature Hone Tuwhare wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1974 in art, 1974 in literature, :Category:1974 books Music New Zealand Music Awards BEST NEW ARTIST Bunny Walters RECORDING ARTIST / GROUP OF THE YEAR Bull Dogs All-Star Goodtime Band BEST NZ RECORDED COMPOSITION John Hanlon – Is It Natural PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Mike Harvey – Is It Natural ARRANGER OF THE YEAR Mike Harvey – Is It Natural See: 1974 in music Performing arts Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Les Andrews. Radio and television The