March Diary (Press, 2 January 1986)

In early March 1986, significant events unfolded in New Zealand and globally. On March 4, the New Zealand dollar experienced a devaluation of approximately 3.5 percent against the U.S. dollar as it began trading under a new floating exchange system. The same day, a devastating earthquake struck central Chile, resulting in the loss of nearly 100 lives. The following days saw a variety of local news. On March 8, tickets for the performance of ice dancers Torvill and Dean in Christchurch quickly sold out. That same day, the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was introduced in Parliament, which sparked considerable public discourse. In response to safety concerns, plans were announced on March 9 to provide motor-cycle traffic officers with new, safer helmets. A fire incident on March 10 caused damage to Linwood High School's gymnasium. The international stage was marked by the death of Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko on March 11, which stirred discussions about the political landscape in the USSR. The momentum of social issues continued with the launch of an anti-gay petition against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill on March 13. Meanwhile, the Operation Hope ship, named Ngahere, arrived at Lyttelton on March 19 to load agricultural products and machinery intended for humanitarian aid in Sudan. On March 21, the Minister of Energy indicated plans to review budget provisions regarding electricity pricing in the South Island, while on March 27, Minister of Finance Mr Douglas hinted at potential direct tax cuts coupled with the introduction of a new goods and services tax. As March unfolded, historical milestones were reached; on March 28, Sir Hamish Hay was recognised as Christchurch's longest-serving Mayor. In a move that sparked controversy, Parliament urged the New Zealand Rugby Union not to proceed with a tour to South Africa, which led to significant public demonstrations. A notable protest took place on March 29, with around 2,000 individuals gathering in Cathedral Square to voice their opposition to the South African tour. That same day, Prime Minister David Lange announced that the Most Rev. Paul Reeves, the Archbishop of New Zealand, would assume the role of Governor-General, succeeding Sir David Beattie. These events encapsulated a period of change and social awareness in New Zealand during March 1986, highlighting both local and international matters that shaped the discourse of the time.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand