The following lists events that happened during 1980 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,176,400 Increase since 31 December 1979: 12,500 (0.40%) Males per 100 females: 99.2 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Rt Hon Sir Keith Holyoake KG GCMG CH QSO, followed by The Hon Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC. Government The 39th New Zealand Parliament continued. The third National Party government was in power. Speaker of the House – Richard Harrison. Prime Minister – Robert Muldoon Deputy Prime Minister – Brian Talboys. Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Brian Talboys. Attorney-General – Jim McLay. Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison An attempt by high-ranking ministers Derek Quigley, Jim McLay, and Jim Bolger to replace Muldoon as prime minister (known as the "colonels' coup") with the deputy prime minister Talboys collapsed as a result of Talboys' unwillingness to actively campaign against Muldoon. Three by-elections occurred. In East Coast Bays, the sitting National MP Frank Gill resigned to take up the post of New Zealand's ambassador to the United States. The seat was won by Gary Knapp for the Social Credit Party. In Northern Maori the MP Matiu Rata, who had left Labour the year before, resigned and recontested the seat for Mana Motuhake. The seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Bruce Gregory. In Onehunga a by-election was called after the death of Labour MP Frank Rogers. The seat was won again for the Labour Party by Fred Gerbic. Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Bill Rowling (Labour). Social Credit Party – Bruce Beetham Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson then Colin Kay Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen Mayor of Wellington – Michael Fowler Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Clifford George (Cliff) Skeggs Events A strike at Kinleith Mill lasted for 80 days, and broke the government's wage and price freeze. The first Sweetwaters Music Festival was held near Ngāruawāhia. The carless days scheme finished. Saturday trading allowed (lifting the 1945 restriction), although Sunday trading by most retail outlets apart from dairies and takeaway food outlets remained banned. Arts and literature Philip Temple wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1980 in art, 1980 in literature, :Category:1980 books Music New Zealand Music Awards ALBUM OF THE YEAR Sharon O'Neill – Sharon