The following lists events that happened during 1961 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,461,300 Increase since 31 December 1960: 57,700 (2.40%) Males per 100 females: 101.2 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD. Government Speaker of the House – Ronald Algie. Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall. Minister of Finance – Harry Lake. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake. Attorney-General – Ralph Hanan. Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour) Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Denis Rogers Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning Mayor of Dunedin – Stuart Sidey Events January The Ohakuri hydroelectric power plant starts operation. February March April June July August September October 12 October Ten National MPs voted with the Opposition to remove capital punishment for murder from the Crimes Bill that the Second National Government had introduced, by a vote of 41 to 30. November December Arts and literature John Caselburg wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1961 in art, 1961 in literature, :Category:1961 books Music See: 1961 in music Radio and television Auckland television is extended to seven nights a week, two and a half hours a night. On 4 April, Auckland television went commercial. Television transmission began in Christchurch (a year later than Auckland) on 1 June. Wellington followed four weeks later, on 1 July. See: 1961 in New Zealand television, 1961 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Public broadcasting in New Zealand & :Category:Television in New Zealand. Film See: :Category:1961 film awards, 1961 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1961 films Sport Athletics Barry Magee wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:54.2 on 4 March in Christchurch. Chess The 68th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 6th title). Cricket New Zealand tours South Africa (spanning December 1961 – February 1962) and drew the 5-Test series 2-2: 8–12 December 1961, Durban: 1st Test. SA won by 30 runs (SA 292 + 149, NZ 245 and 166) 26–29 December 1961, Johannesburg: 2nd Test Drawn (SA 322 + 178/6 decl, NZ 223 + 165/4) 1–4 January 1962, Cape Town: 3rd