The following lists events that happened during 1985 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,303,100 Increase since 31 December 1984: 10,100 (0.31%) Males per 100 Females: 98.2 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Hon Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC followed by The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO Government The 41st New Zealand Parliament continued. The fourth Labour Party government was in power. Speaker of the House – Basil Arthur then Gerard Wall Prime Minister – David Lange Deputy Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer Minister of Finance – Roger Douglas Minister of Foreign Affairs – David Lange Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Jim McLay (National). Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen Mayor of Wellington – Ian Lawrence Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs Events 4 February: Anti-nuclear policy leads to refusal of a visit by the American warship, the USS "Buchanan". Within days the United States cut military and intelligence ties with New Zealand and downgraded diplomatic relationships. First case of locally contracted AIDS is reported. Waitangi Tribunal given power to hear grievances arising since 1840. 4 March: New Zealand dollar floated. 15 June: A by-election in Timaru after the death of Labour MP Basil Arthur is won by Maurice McTigue for National. 10 July: two French secret agents blew up the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, killing crewmember Fernando Pereira. The Rainbow Warrior had been preparing to sail to Moruroa Atoll in the SE Pacific, to protest French nuclear weapons testing there. 20 November Archbishop Paul Reeves appointed Governor General. Arts and literature Keri Hulme wins Booker Prize for "The Bone People". Cilla McQueen wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1985 in art, 1985 in literature, :Category:1985 books Music New Zealand Music Awards Winners are shown first with nominees underneath. ALBUM OF THE YEAR Netherworld Dancing Toys – Painted Years Shona Laing – Genre Herbs – Long Ago SINGLE OF THE YEAR Netherworld Dancing Toys – For Today The Mockers – Forever Tuesday Morning Peking Man – Lift Your Head Up High BEST MALE VOCALIST Andrew Fagan (The Mockers) Malcolm Black (Netherworld Dancing Toys) Pat Urlich (Peking Man) BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Margaret Urlich Patsy Riggir Jacqui Fitzgerald BEST GROUP Netherworld