The following lists events that happened during 1983 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,264,800. Increase since 31 December 1982: 38,000 (1.18%). Males per 100 females: 98.6.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Hon. Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC.
Government
The 40th 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 – Duncan MacIntyre
Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Warren Cooper
Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison
Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the Opposition – David Lange (Labour). Social Credit Party – Bruce Beetham
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Colin Kay then Catherine Tizard
Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen
Mayor of Wellington – Michael Fowler then Ian Lawrence
Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay
Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs
Events
1 January – The Closer Economic Relations Free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand comes into force. March – The Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) visit New Zealand, bringing their baby son Prince William with them. 28 March – Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Trade, Lionel Bowen and New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia, Laurie Francis sign the Closer Economic Relations agreement in Canberra, Australia. 1 July – Lorraine Downes, Miss New Zealand, is crowned Miss Universe in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The Official Information Act 1982 replaces the 1951 Official Secrets Act. 22 August – The New Zealand Party is launched. 1 September – Disappearance (and presumed death) of 14-year-old Kirsa Jensen. The fourth Sweetwaters Music Festival is held near Pukekawa. The visit of the United States nuclear-powered frigate Texas sparks widespread protests. The first $50 notes are put into circulation, filling the large gap between the $20 and $100 notes.
Arts and literature
Rawiri Paratene wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1983 in art, 1983 in literature
Music
New Zealand Music Awards
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath. ALBUM OF THE YEAR DD Smash – Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes Herbs – Light of the Pacific Dance Exponents – The Legionnaires – Live at Mainstreet SINGLE OF THE YEAR DD Smash – "Outlook For Thursday" Monte Video – "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" Coconut Rough – "Sierra Leone" TOP MALE VOCALIST Dave Dobbyn (DD Smash) Malcolm McNeill Monte Video TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Suzanne Prentice Trudi Green Patsy TOP GROUP OF THE YEAR DD Smash Herbs The Narcs MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Andrew Mclennan (Coconut Rough) Dick Driver (Hip Singles) Gary Smith (The Body Electric) MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Sonya Waters Rhonda Jones Bronwyn Jones (Precious) MOST PROMISING GROUP Coconut Rough Hip Singles The Body Electric BEST POLYNESIAN ALBUM The Radars – Chulu Chululu Patea Maori Club (featuring Dalvanius) – Poi E Kaiwhaiki Cultural Club – The Valley of Voices Vol 2 BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK/ CAST RECORDING/ COMPILATION Sharon O'Neill – Smash Palace Schtung – The Scarecrow John Charles – Utu BEST MUSIC VIDEO Andrew Shaw – "Outlook For Thursday" (DD Smash) Greg Rood – Sierra Leone (Coconut Rough) Mark Ackerman, Craig Howard – "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" (Monte Video) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Dave Marett – "Sierra Leone" (Coconut Rough) Graeme Myhre – Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes (DD Smash) Paul Streekstra – "Outlook For Thursday" (DD Samsh) PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Dave Marett – "Sierra Leone" (Coconut Rough) Dave Dobbyn – "Outlook For Thursday" (DD Smash) Monte Video/ Bruce Lynch – "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" (Monte Video) MOST POPULAR SONG Patsy Riggir – "Beautiful Lady" MOST POPULAR ARTIST DD Smash OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Murray Cammick BEST COVER DESIGN Simon & Suzy Clark – Daring Feats Matthew Aitken – The Tin Syndrome Van Heusen/ O'Neill-Joyce – Space Case Two CLASSICAL RECORD OF THE YEAR Louise Malloy – Louise Kiri Te Kanawa/ National Youth Choir of New Zealand – Royal Occasion Schools Polyphonics of Wellington – Tenebrae Responsorie 1585 JAZZ RECORD OF THE YEAR Rodger Fox Big Band – Heavy Company Space Case – Space Case Two Phil Broadhurst – Sustenance COUNTRY RECORD OF THE YEAR Suzanne Prentice – When I Dream Patsy Riggir – Are You Lonely Brendan Duggan – Hands on the Wheel