List of number-one singles from the 1980s (New Zealand)

The following lists the number-one singles on the New Zealand Singles Chart during the 1980s. The source for this decade is the Recorded Music NZ chart, the chart history of which can be found on the Recorded Music NZ website or Charts.org.nz.^[1][2]

Key

The yellow background indicates the number-one song on New Zealand's End-of-Year Chart[nb 1]
The New Zealand flag marks artists of New Zealand origin.[nb 2]

1980

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
6 January	Jon Stevens	"Jezebel"	8 weeks (5 in 1979)
13 January
20 January
27 January		"Montego Bay"	2 weeks
3 February
10 February	Pink Floyd	"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"	5 weeks
17 February
24 February
2 March
9 March
16 March	Split Enz	"I Got You"	3 weeks
23 March
30 March
6 April	Ry Cooder	"Little Sister"	2 weeks
13 April
20 April	Smokey Robinson	"Cruisin'"	4 weeks
27 April
4 May
11 May
18 May	Dr. Hook	"Sexy Eyes"	1 week
25 May	Peaches & Herb	"I Pledge My Love"	1 week
1 June	The Brothers Johnson	"Stomp!"	6 weeks
8 June
15 June
22 June
29 June
6 July
13 July	Lipps Inc.	"Funkytown"	1 week
20 July	Ritz	"Locomotion"	7 weeks
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 August	Matchbox	"Rockabilly Rebel"	1 week
24 August	Ritz	"Locomotion"	7 weeks
31 August
7 September
14 September	UB40	"Food for Thought"	4 weeks
21 September
28 September
5 October
12 October	Diana Ross	"Upside Down"	3 weeks
19 October
26 October
2 November	Stevie Wonder	"Master Blaster (Jammin')"	4 weeks
9 November
16 November
23 November
30 November	The Pointer Sisters	"He's So Shy"	3 weeks
7 December
14 December
21 December	Joe Dolce Music Theatre	"Shaddap You Face"	8 weeks
28 December

1981

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
4 January	Joe Dolce Music Theatre	"Shaddap You Face"	8 weeks
11 January
18 January
25 January
1 February
8 February
15 February	Blondie	"The Tide Is High"	2 weeks
22 February
1 March	John Lennon	"Woman"	5 weeks
8 March
15 March
22 March
29 March
5 April	Deane Waretini	"The Bridge"	3 weeks
12 April	The Swingers	"Counting the Beat"	3 weeks
19 April	Deane Waretini	"The Bridge"	3 weeks
26 April
3 May	The Swingers	"Counting the Beat"	3 weeks
10 May
17 May	Smokey Robinson	"Being with You"	4 weeks
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June	Sheena Easton	"Morning Train (9 to 5)"	1 week
21 June	Joy Division	"Love Will Tear Us Apart"	1 week
28 June	Stars on 45	"Stars on 45"	7 weeks
5 July
12 July
19 July
26 July
2 August
9 August
16 August	Joy Division	"Atmosphere"	1 week
23 August	Kool & the Gang	"Celebration"	3 weeks
30 August	Screaming Meemees	"See Me Go"	1 week
6 September	Kool & the Gang	"Celebration"	3 weeks
13 September
20 September	Billy Field	"Bad Habits"	2 weeks
27 September
4 October	Commodores	"Lady (You Bring Me Up)"	1 week
11 October	Joey Scarbury	"Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)"	3 weeks
18 October
25 October
1 November	Renée Geyer	"Say I Love You"	5 weeks
8 November
15 November
22 November
29 November
6 December	Olivia Newton-John	"Physical"	3 weeks
13 December
20 December	Howard Morrison	"How Great Thou Art"	8 weeks
27 December

1982

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
3 January	Howard Morrison	"How Great Thou Art"	8 weeks
10 January
17 January
24 January	Olivia Newton-John	"Physical"	3 weeks
31 January	Howard Morrison	"How Great Thou Art"	8 weeks
7 February	Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin	"It's My Party"	1 week
14 February	Howard Morrison	"How Great Thou Art"	8 weeks
21 February	Men at Work	"Down Under"	2 weeks
28 February	Howard Morrison	"How Great Thou Art"	8 weeks
7 March	Men at Work	"Down Under"	2 weeks
14 March	Ottawan	"Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)"	9 weeks
21 March
28 March
4 April
11 April
18 April
25 April
2 May
9 May
16 May	The Human League	"Don't You Want Me"	5 weeks
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June
20 June	Joan Jett & the Blackhearts	"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"	4 weeks
27 June
4 July
11 July
18 July	Prince Tui Teka	"E Ipo"	2 weeks
25 July
1 August	Toots and the Maytals	"Beautiful Woman"	5 weeks
8 August
15 August
22 August
29 August
5 September	David Bowie	"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"	3 weeks
12 September
19 September
26 September	Irene Cara	"Fame"	3 weeks
3 October
10 October
17 October	Trio	"Da Da Da"	3 weeks
24 October
31 October
7 November	Dexys Midnight Runners	"Come On Eileen"	4 weeks
14 November
21 November
28 November
5 December	Musical Youth	"Pass the Dutchie"	7 weeks
12 December
19 December
26 December

1983

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
2 January	Musical Youth	"Pass the Dutchie"	7 weeks
9 January
16 January
23 January	Marvin Gaye	"Sexual Healing"	6 weeks
30 January
6 February
13 February
20 February
27 February
6 March	Eddy Grant	"I Don't Wanna Dance"	2 weeks
13 March
20 March	Dire Straits	"Twisting by the Pool"	5 weeks
27 March
3 April
10 April
17 April
24 April	David Bowie	"Let's Dance"	5 weeks
1 May
8 May
15 May
22 May
29 May	Michael Jackson	"Beat It"	5 weeks
5 June
12 June
19 June
26 June
3 July	Bonnie Tyler	"Total Eclipse of the Heart"	4 weeks
10 July
17 July
24 July
31 July	Irene Cara	"Flashdance... What a Feeling"	6 weeks
7 August
14 August
21 August
28 August
4 September
11 September	Dave and the Dynamos	"Life Begins at Forty"	3 weeks
18 September
25 September
2 October	Real Life	"Send Me an Angel"	1 week
9 October	Taco	"Puttin' On the Ritz"	2 weeks
16 October
23 October	UB40	"Red Red Wine"	1 week
30 October	Culture Club	"Karma Chameleon"	6 weeks
6 November
13 November
20 November
27 November
4 December
11 December	Billy Joel	"Uptown Girl"	7 weeks
18 December
25 December

Note: The highest-selling single in New Zealand in 1983 was New Order's "Blue Monday", which peaked at number two for two weeks behind Michael Jackson's "Beat It".^[3]

1984

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
1 January	Billy Joel	"Uptown Girl"	7 weeks
8 January
15 January
22 January
29 January	Paul Young	"Come Back and Stay"	1 week
5 February	Simple Minds	"Waterfront"	2 weeks
12 February
19 February	Foster and Allen	"Maggie"	4 weeks
26 February
4 March
11 March
18 March	Patea Maori Club	"Poi E"	4 weeks
25 March
1 April
8 April
15 April	Nena	"99 Luftballons"	1 week
22 April	Jimmy Cliff	"Reggae Night"	2 weeks
29 April
6 May	Cyndi Lauper	"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"	3 weeks
13 May
20 May
27 May	Lionel Richie	"Hello"	1 week
3 June	Kenny Loggins	"Footloose"	4 weeks
10 June
17 June
24 June
1 July	Time Bandits	"I'm Only Shooting Love"	1 week
8 July	The Special A.K.A.	"Nelson Mandela"	3 weeks
15 July
22 July
29 July	Bob Marley and the Wailers	"One Love/People Get Ready"	7 weeks
5 August
12 August
19 August
26 August
2 September
9 September
16 September	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Two Tribes"	3 weeks
23 September
30 September
7 October	U2	"Pride (In the Name of Love)"	1 week
14 October	Stevie Wonder	"I Just Called to Say I Love You"	8 weeks
21 October
28 October
4 November
11 November
18 November
25 November
2 December
9 December	Billy Ocean	"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"	6 weeks
16 December
23 December
30 December

1985

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
6 January	Billy Ocean	"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"	6 weeks
13 January
20 January	Band Aid	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"	4 weeks
27 January
3 February
10 February
17 February	Foreigner	"I Want to Know What Love Is"	3 weeks
24 February	Bruce Springsteen	"Born in the U.S.A."	1 week
3 March	Foreigner	"I Want to Know What Love Is"	3 weeks
10 March
17 March	Ashford & Simpson	"Solid"	2 weeks
24 March
31 March	Tears for Fears	"Shout"	3 weeks
7 April
14 April
21 April	USA for Africa	"We Are the World"	7 weeks
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June	Tears for Fears	"Everybody Wants to Rule the World"	1 week
16 June	Alison Moyet	"That Ole Devil Called Love"	3 weeks
23 June
30 June
7 July	Paul Hardcastle	"19"	5 weeks
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 August	Madonna	"Into the Groove"	6 weeks
18 August
25 August
1 September
8 September
15 September
22 September	UB40 and Chrissie Hynde	"I Got You Babe"	6 weeks
29 September
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October
3 November	Stevie Wonder	"Part-Time Lover"	2 weeks
10 November
17 November	Jennifer Rush	"The Power of Love"	4 weeks
24 November
1 December
8 December
15 December	Peking Man	"Room That Echoes"	6 weeks
22 December
29 December

1986

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
5 January	Peking Man	"Room That Echoes"	6 weeks
12 January
19 January
26 January	Elton John	"Nikita"	3 weeks
2 February
9 February
16 February	Wham!	"I'm Your Man"	1 week
23 February	Pet Shop Boys	"West End Girls"	4 weeks
2 March
9 March
16 March
23 March	Falco	"Rock Me Amadeus"	5 weeks
30 March
6 April
13 April
20 April
27 April	The Rolling Stones	"Harlem Shuffle"	1 week
4 May	Cliff Richard and The Young Ones	"Living Doll"	6 weeks
11 May
18 May
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June	All of Us	"Sailing Away"	9 weeks
22 June
29 June
6 July
13 July
20 July
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 August	Boys Don't Cry	"I Wanna Be a Cowboy"	3 weeks
24 August
31 August
7 September	Bananarama	"Venus"	4 weeks
14 September
21 September
28 September
5 October	Dave Dobbyn with Herbs	"Slice of Heaven"	8 weeks
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November
23 November
30 November	Run–D.M.C.	"Walk This Way"	7 weeks
7 December
14 December
21 December
28 December

1987

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
4 January	Run–D.M.C.	"Walk This Way"	7 weeks
11 January
18 January	Gwen Guthrie	"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent"	2 weeks
25 January
1 February	Jimmy Barnes and INXS	"Good Times"	4 weeks
8 February
15 February
22 February
1 March	Cameo	"Word Up!"	1 week
8 March	Pseudo Echo	"Funkytown"	6 weeks
15 March
22 March
29 March
5 April
12 April
19 April	Crowded House	"Don't Dream It's Over"	2 weeks
26 April
3 May	Club Nouveau	"Lean on Me"	6 weeks
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June	Bon Jovi	"Livin' on a Prayer"	1 week
21 June	Iggy Pop	"Real Wild Child (Wild One)"	1 week
28 June	Whitney Houston	"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"	4 weeks
5 July
12 July
19 July
26 July	Mel and Kim	"Respectable"	5 weeks
2 August
9 August
16 August
23 August
30 August	Los Lobos	"La Bamba"	7 weeks
6 September
13 September
20 September
27 September
4 October
11 October
18 October	Tex Pistol	"The Game of Love"	1 week
25 October	Midnight Oil	"Beds Are Burning"	4 weeks
1 November
8 November	U2	"Where the Streets Have No Name"	2 weeks
15 November
22 November	Midnight Oil	"Beds Are Burning"	4 weeks
29 November
6 December	George Michael	"Faith"	7 weeks
13 December
20 December
27 December

1988

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
3 January	George Michael	"Faith"	7 weeks
10 January
17 January
24 January	Tiffany	"I Think We're Alone Now"	2 weeks
31 January
7 February	Rick Astley	"Never Gonna Give You Up"	1 week
14 February	M|A|R|R|S	"Pump Up the Volume"	2 weeks
21 February
28 February	Belinda Carlisle	"Heaven Is a Place on Earth"	4 weeks
6 March
13 March
20 March
27 March	U2	"One Tree Hill"	7 weeks
3 April
10 April
17 April
24 April
1 May
8 May
15 May	Pet Shop Boys	"Heart"	1 week
22 May	Big Pig	"Breakaway"	2 weeks
29 May
5 June	Aswad	"Don’t Turn Around"	2 weeks
12 June
19 June	Prince	"Alphabet St."	1 week
26 June	New Order	"Blue Monday '88"	3 weeks
3 July
10 July
17 July	Holidaymakers	"Sweet Lovers"	6 weeks
24 July
31 July
7 August
14 August
21 August
28 August	The Timelords	"Doctorin' the Tardis"	3 weeks
4 September
11 September
18 September	Times Two	"Cecilia"	3 weeks
25 September
2 October
9 October	Tex Pistol and Rikki Morris	"Nobody Else"	1 week
16 October	U2	"Desire"	5 weeks
23 October
30 October
6 November
13 November
20 November	Yazz and the Plastic Population	"The Only Way Is Up"	3 weeks
27 November
4 December
11 December	When the Cat's Away	"Melting Pot"	1 week
18 December	Womack & Womack	"Teardrops"	4 weeks
25 December

1989

Date	Artist	Single	Weeks at number one
1 January	Womack & Womack	"Teardrops"	4 weeks
8 January
15 January	The Proclaimers	"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"	2 weeks
22 January
29 January	U2	"Angel of Harlem"	4 weeks
5 February
12 February
19 February
26 February	Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones	"Kiss"	1 week
5 March	Fine Young Cannibals	"She Drives Me Crazy"	5 weeks
12 March
19 March
26 March
2 April
9 April	Madonna	"Like a Prayer"	2 weeks
16 April
23 April	Tone Lōc	"Wild Thing"	2 weeks
30 April
7 May	Roxette	"The Look"	3 weeks
14 May
21 May	The Cult	"Fire Woman"	1 week
28 May	Roxette	"The Look"	3 weeks
4 June	Simply Red	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	5 weeks
11 June
18 June
25 June
2 July	John Cougar Mellencamp	"Pop Singer"	1 week
9 July	Simply Red	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	5 weeks
16 July	Prince	"Batdance"	4 weeks
23 July	Edelweiss	"Bring Me Edelweiss"	1 week
30 July	Prince	"Batdance"	4 weeks
6 August
13 August
20 August	Martika	"Toy Soldiers"	4 weeks
27 August
3 September
10 September
17 September	Bobby Brown	"On Our Own"	3 weeks
24 September
1 October
8 October	Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"Swing the Mood"	5 weeks
15 October
22 October
29 October
5 November
12 November	Richard Marx	"Right Here Waiting"	3 weeks
19 November
26 November
3 December	Margaret Urlich	"Escaping"	6 weeks (1 in 1990)
10 December
17 December
24 December
31 December

Artists with the most number-one songs

Key

– Artist of New Zealand origin^{[nb 2]}

Excluded statistics

• Artists who appeared in the charity songs of the 1980s, including Band Aid's "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" and USA for Africa's "We Are the World", which were both number-one singles, are not included in the individual tallies.

Most weeks at number one

Key

– Artist of New Zealand origin^{[nb 2]}

Title	Artist	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
"Sailing Away"	All of Us	15 June 1986	9
"Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)"	Ottawan	14 March 1982	9
"Jezebel"	Jon Stevens	2 December 1979	8
"Slice of Heaven"	Dave Dobbyn featuring Herbs	5 October 1986	8
"How Great Thou Art"	Howard Morrison	20 December 1981	8
"Shaddap You Face"	Joe Dolce Music Theatre	21 December 1980	8
"I Just Called to Say I Love You"	Stevie Wonder	14 October 1984	8
"Uptown Girl"	Billy Joel	11 December 1983	7
"One Love/People Get Ready"	Bob Marley and the Wailers	29 July 1984	7
"Faith"	George Michael	6 December 1987	7
"La Bamba"	Los Lobos	30 August 1987	7
"Pass the Dutchie"	Musical Youth	5 December 1985	7
"Locomotion"	Ritz	20 July 1980	7
"Walk This Way"	Run–D.M.C.	30 November 1986	7
"Stars on 45"	Stars on 45	5 October 1987	7
"One Tree Hill"	U2	27 March 1988	7
"We Are the World"	USA for Africa	21 April 1985	7
"Stomp!"	The Brothers Johnson	1 June 1980	6
"Living Doll"	Cliff Richard and The Young Ones	4 May 1986	6
"Lean on Me"	Club Nouveau	3 May 1987	6
"Karma Chameleon"	Culture Club	30 October 1983	6
"Sweet Lovers"	Holidaymakers	10 July 1986	6
"Flashdance... What a Feeling"	Irene Cara	31 July 1981	6
"Into the Groove"	Madonna	11 August 1985	6
"Sexual Healing"	Marvin Gaye	23 January 1983	6
"Room That Echoes"	Peking Man	15 December 1985	6
"Funkytown"	Pseudo Echo	8 March 1987	6
"I Got You Babe"	UB40 and Chrissie Hynde	22 September 1985	6

Notes

References

See also

• Music of New Zealand
• List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s
• List of Billboard number-one singles
• List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s