1991 in New Zealand television
This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres which occurred, or are scheduled to occur, in 1991, the 31st year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.
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Events
- 4 January - American animated sitcom The Simpsons makes its New Zealand premiere on Channel 2. Several years later it was moved to TV3 and later returned to Channel 2 (as TV2 and later as TVNZ 2) in early 2016.
- 6 May - Welsh children's animated series Fireman Sam makes its New Zealand premiere on Channel 2 as part of After 2.
- 11 February - Wheel of Fortune debuts on Channel 2; it later revived in 2008 on TV One, and a year later they dropped the show due to financial issues.
- 14 March - New Zealand satirical comedy show More Issues first appears on TV One.
- 19 March - Channel 2 transmits the Australian children's television series Johnson and Friends.
- 30 April - TV One premieres the popular British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances starring Patricia Routledge.
- 4 June - The series 1 finale of Johnson and Friends is shown on Channel 2 with "Cleaning Day". The iconic Australian children's TV series itself will return for a rerun on 10 December.
- 14 June - A brand new political chat show titled The Ralston Group begins on TV3 as a replacement for E Street.
- 27 September - The British children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends transmits on TV3 for the very last time. It will switch over to air on Channel 2 the very next year.
- 17 October - A 10-part comedy/documentary series titled Visual Symphonies begins on TV One; it followed Lyn of Tawa (played by Ginette McDonald) on a journey through New Zealand and Australia.
- 17 October - A new magazine-style infotainment show titled The Paradise Picture Show premieres on Channel 2; it was hosted by Mark Leishman, Judith Kirk (now Jude Dobson) and 'crazy newcomer' Clark Bent (played by Jeremy Corbett).
- 10 November - Aramoana, a documentary which recalled the experiences the people of the small Otago town of Aramoana, screens on TV One; it was produced by Taylormade for TVNZ.
- 10 December - Australian children's television series Johnson and Friends airs on Channel 2 in New Zealand for a second time when the series gets repeated for the first time.
Debuts
Domestic
- 11 February - Wheel of Fortune (Channel 2) (1991-1996, 2008-2009)
- 14 March - More Issues (TV One) (1991-1992)
- 1 April - The Bugs Bunny Show (Channel 2) (1991-1992)
- 6 May - Away Laughing (TV3) (1991-1993)
- 2 June - The Boy from Andromeda (Channel 2) (also Canada) (1991)
- 14 June - The Ralston Group (TV3) (1991-1994)
- 20 June - For the Love of Mike (TV One) (1991)
International
- 4 January -
The Simpsons (Channel 2)
- 27 February -
Yellowthread Street (TV One)
- 28 February -
E Street (TV3)
- 6 March -
Jeeves and Wooster (TV One)
- 11 March -
The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (Channel 2)
- 19 March -
Johnson and Friends (Channel 2)
- 21 March -
What-a-Mess (Series 2) (Channel 2)
- 6 May -
Fireman Sam (Channel 2)
- 2 April -
Captain N: The Game Master (Channel 2)
- 8 April -
Twin Peaks (TV3)
- 30 April -
Keeping Up Appearances (TV One)
- 8 May -
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (Channel 2)
- 19 May -
The Green Man (TV One)
- 19 May -
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (TV3)
- 26 May -
Lifestories (Channel 2)
- 30 May -
All Together Now (Channel 2)
- 31 May -
Coconuts (Channel 2)
- 10 June -
Well Loved Tales (Channel 2)
- 15 June -
Hey Hey It's Saturday (Channel 2)
- 17 June -
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Race for the Bomb (Channel 2)
- 19 June -
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Passion and Paradise (Channel 2)
- 20 June -
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The Adventures of the Little Koala (Channel 2)
- 26 June -
Chances (Channel 2)
- 30 June -
Blind Faith (TV3)
- 1 July -
Samurai Pizza Cats (Channel 2)
- 3 July -
Working It Out (Channel 2)
- 11 July -
Adam-12 (Channel 2)
- 20 July -
Strange Interlude (TV3)
- 24 July -
Neon Rider (Channel 2)
- 25 July -
Super Force (Channel 2)
- 12 August -
Toucan Tecs Channel 2)
- 12 August -
Top Cops (Channel 2)
- 19 August -
Bertie the Bat (Channel 2)
- 2 September -
Good Sports (Channel 2)
- 10 September -
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Kitty Cats (Channel 2)
- 11 September -
Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates (Channel 2)
- 24 September -
Rules of Engagement (TV One)
- 25 September -
Tropical Heat (TV3)
- 30 September -
Double Dare (TV3)
- 14 October -
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (Channel 2)/(TV3)
- 17 October -
Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid (Channel 2)
- 20 October -
The Wizard of Oz (Channel 2)
- 26 October -
Bobby's World (Channel 2)
- 26 October -
The World's Greatest Stunts (Channel 2)
- 3 November -
Road to Avonlea (Channel 2)
- 11 November -
Studs (Channel 2)
- 17 November -
Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (Channel 2)
- 21 November -
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The Little Flying Bears (Channel 2)
- 23 November -
New Attitude (Channel 2)
- 23 November -
Ferris Bueller (Channel 2)
- 25 November -
The Piglet Files (TV One)
- 13 December -
In Living Color (Channel 2)
- 25 December -
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (Channel 2)
Prime Time Pets (Channel 2)
Lenny (TV3)
Waiting for God (TV One)
Penny Crayon (Channel 2)
Tiny Toon Adventures (Channel 2)
Wings (Channel 2)
Get a Life (TV3)
Stars in Their Eyes (Channel 2)
Guys Next Door (TV3)
Mr Bean (Channel 2)
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (TV3)
The Generation Game (1990) (TV3)
Rescue 911 (Channel 2)
Col'n Carpenter (TV3)
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Maya the Bee (Saban dub) (Channel 2)
Haggard (TV One)
Casper and Friends (Channel 2)
World of Discovery (TV3)
Changes to network affiliation
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on a New Zealand television network that had previously premiered on another New Zealand television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after previously premiering on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.
International
Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
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Channel 2 | TV One | 12 May |
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TV One | Channel 2 | 1991 |
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CTV | TV One | 1991 |
Television shows
- What Now (1981–present)
- Blind Date (1989–1991)
- The Early Bird Show (1989–1992)
- Shark in the Park (1989–1991)
- After 2 (1989–1991)
- New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos (1990–1993)
- 60 Minutes (1990–present)
- The Boy from Andromeda (1991)
- The Ralston Group (1991–1994)
- Wheel of Fortune (1991–1996)
Ending this year
- August - Blind Date (Channel 2) (1989–1991)
- 18 December - Shark in the Park (TV One) (1989–1991)
- Krypton Factor (Channel 2 (1987–1991)
- After 2 (Channel 2) (1989–1991)
- A Question of Sport (TV One) (1988–1991)
Births
- 4 January - Olivia Tennet, Shortland Street actress and dancer
- 27 January - Beth Chote, actress
Deaths
- 7 August - Billy T. James, comedian, 43 (heart failure)[1]