1990 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,410,400
• Increase since 31 December 1989: 40,600
• Males per 100 females: 97.3

  Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Paul Reeves followed by Catherine Tizard

  Government

• Speaker of the House – Kerry Burke then Robin Gray
• Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer then Mike Moore then Jim Bolger
• Deputy Prime Minister – Helen Clark then Don McKinnon
• Minister of Finance – David Caygill then Ruth Richardson
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Russell Marshall then Mike Moore then Don McKinnon
• Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum

  Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger, until 2 November, then Mike Moore .
• NewLabour Party – Jim Anderton

  Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard then Les Mills
• Mayor of Hamilton – Margaret Evans
• Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich
• Mayor of Christchurch – Vicki Buck
• Mayor of Dunedin – Richard Walls

  Events

Unknown

• Telecom sold for $ 4.25 billion.
• New Zealand Bill of Rights Act passed
• The Tongariro National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its natural values.
• Creation of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site
• The Royal New Zealand Navy tanker and the frigates and were deployed to Bougainville as a neutral venue for peace talks between the government of Papua New Guinea and secessionist leaders of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
• New Zealand ratifies the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• New Zealand and the Netherlands signed a reciprocal Social Security Agreement in October 1990, which came into effect in 1992.
• Banning of wood chip exports.
• Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed.
• Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund.
• Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established
• Penny Jamieson, Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, was ordained the first women Diocesan bishop in the world.

  January

• 24 January: Commonwealth Games are officially opened by Prince Edward in Auckland.

  February

• 1–16 February: Her Majesty Elizabeth II of New Zealand visits.
• 3 February: Commonwealth Games are officially closed by Elizabeth II in Auckland, with New Zealand winning 58 medals,
• 6 February: New Zealand celebrates its sesquicentennial.

  March

• 1 March – Royal New Zealand Navy discontinues the daily rum ration.

  April

• 30 April: One- and two-cent coins are withdrawn from legal tender.

  May

• 13 May: 6.2 Magnitude earthquake in Hawke's Bay

  June

July

• 1 July: Tariffs were eliminated between Australia and New Zealand under the Closer Economic Relations agreement. This was five years ahead of schedule

  August

September

• 4 September: Geoffrey Palmer: resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by Mike Moore.

  October

• 1 October: The Health Research Council of New Zealand is formed.
• 27 October – New Zealand general election returns National with record number of seats – 67; Labour 29, NewLabour 1
• 27 October: Referendum to increase Parliamentary term from three to four years defeated: 30.7% For, 69.3% Against.

  November

• 2 November:Jim Bolger becomes Prime Minister.
• 2 November: Don McKinnon becomes Deputy Prime Minister
• 2 November: Ruth Richardson became the first woman Minister of Finance.
• 13 November: David Gray, an Aramoana resident, began a 22-hour shooting spree that left 13 people and Gray dead.

  December

• Government announces $1.275 Billion worth of social welfare cuts.
• 12 December: Dame Catherine Tizard becomes first woman Governor-General of New Zealand.

  Arts and literature

• David Eggleton wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

• Album of the Year: The Chills – Submarine Bells
• *Brian Smith – Moonlight Sax
• *Straitjacket Fits – Melt
• Single of the Year: The Chills – "Heavenly Pop Hit"
• *Margaret Urlich – Number One
• *Ngaire – To Sir With Love
• Top Male Vocalist: Barry Saunders
• *John Grenell
• *Barry Saunders
• Top Female Vocalist: Margaret Urlich
• *Patsy Riggir
• *Aishah
• Top Group: The Chills
• *Straitjacket Fits
• *Fan Club
• Most Promising Male Vocalist: Guy Wishart
• *Alan Galloway
• *John Kempt
• Most Promising Female Vocalist: Merenia
• *Ngaire
• *Caroline Easther
• Most Promising Group: Strawpeople
• *Merenia & Where's Billy
• *D-Faction
• International Achievement: Fan Club
• *The Chills
• *Margaret Urlich
• Best Video: Niki Caro – Bad Note for a Heart
• *Paul Middleditch – One Good Reason
• *Lance Kelliher – Don't Let Me Fall Alone
• Best Producer: Ian Morris – Heartbroke
• *Carl Doy – Moonlight Sax
• *Murray Grindlay – Welcome To Our World
• Best Engineer: Strawpeople – Hemisphere
• *Ian Morris – Heartbroke
• *Murray Grindlay – Welcome To Our World
• Best Jazz Album: No Award
• Best Classical Album: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa / Nszo — Kiri's Homecoming
• *Dame Malvina Major – Malvina Major
• *Kiri Te Kanawa/NZSO – Kiri at Aotea
• Best Country Album: The Warratahs – Wild Card
• *John Grenell – Welcome To Our World
• *Bartlett/ Duggan/ Vaughn – Together Again
• Best Folk Album: Rua — Commonwealth Suite
• *Martha Louise – Changing Tides
• *Iain Mitchell/Paul Yielder – Every Man And His Dog
• Best Gospel Album: Cecily Phio — Light in the Darkness
• *Sound Ministry – Lead Me to the Rock
• *Scripture in Song – We Will Triumph
• Best Polynesian Album: Herbs – Homegrown
• *National Maori Choir – Stand Tall
• *Te Mokai – Totara Tree
• Best Songwriter: Martin Phillips — Heavenly Pop Hit
• *Shayne Carter – Bad Note for a Heart
• *Barry Saunders – Wild Card
• Best Cover: John Collie – Melt
• *Steve Garden/ Giles Molloy/ Kim Wesney – State of the Harp
• *Marc Mateo/ John Pitcairn – Hole
• Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry: Murdoch Riley

  Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Billy T. James MBE.

  Radio and television

• 1 January: Avalon becomes a separate limited liability company.
• 5 February: The Auckland Television Centre is opened by Elizabeth II.
• May: TV3 goes into receivership but continues broadcasting.
• May: Sky Television launches with three channels.
• May: CTV takes over TVNZ's Christchurch assets.

Film

• An Angel at My Table
• Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree
• Meet the Feebles
• Ruby and Rata

Literature

Sport

Athletics

• Tom Birnie wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:33 on 3 March in New Plymouth, while Jillian Costley claims her third in the women's championship.

  Commonwealth Games

Cricket

• State Championship, won by Auckland.

  Hockey

Netball

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Neroship
• Auckland Trotting Cup: The Bru Czar

  Thoroughbred racing

• Auckland Cup: Miss Stanima

  Rugby union

• Ranfurly Shield
• *Retained by Auckland.
• **Auckland beat King Country 58-3 in Auckland.
• **Auckland beat Poverty Bay 42-3 in Gisborne.
• **Auckland beat Southland 78-7 in Auckland.
• **Auckland beat Otago 45-9 in Auckland
• **Auckland beat North Auckland 41-21 in Auckland
• **Auckland beat North Harbour 18-9 in Auckland
• **Auckland beat Canterbury 33-30 in Auckland
• *16 June: The All Blacks beat Scotland 31 – 16 at Carisbrook.
• *23 June: The All Blacks beat Scotland 21 – 18 at Eden Park.
• * 21 July: The All Blacks beat Australia 21 – 6 at Lancaster Park.
• *4 August: The All Blacks beat Australia 21-18 at Eden Park.
• *18 August: The All Blacks lose to Australia 9 – 21 at Athletic Park.
• * 3 November:The All Blacks beat France 24-3 at Stade de la Beaujoire.
• * 10 November: The All Blacks beat France 30-12 at Parc des Princes.

  Rugby league

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Alistair "Sandy" Marshall

  Squash

• Susan Devoy wins the World Championship beating Martine Le Moignan 9-4, 9–4, 9–4.

  Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Mount Wellington who beat Christchurch United 3–3 in the final.
• New Zealand National Soccer League: Waitakere City
• The inaugural Winfield Provincial Championship was held between regional representative teams. The winner was Canterbury, who beat Auckland 2-1 in the final.

  Tennis

Births

January

• 3 January – Monikura Tikinau, rugby league player
• 4 January
• * Liaki Moli, rugby union player
• * Augustine Pulu, rugby union player
• 5 January – Larissa Harrison, netball player
• 10 January – Dion Prewster, basketball player
• 11 January – Vaughn Scott, taekwondo practitioner
• 12 January – Neccrom Areaiiti, rugby league player
• 13 January
• * David Bishop, gymnast
• * Teneale Hatton, flatwater canoeist
• 14 January – Tom Scully, road and track cyclist
• 15 January – Kane Morgan, rugby league player
• 16 January
• * Jason Hicks, association footballer
• * Sam Prattley, rugby union player
• 17 January – Cameron Leslie, Paralympic swimmer
• 18 January – Taioalo Vaivai, rugby league player
• 19 January – Kerry-Anne Tomlinson, cricketer
• 22 January – Dean Whare, rugby league player
• 24 January – James Fuller, cricketer
• 25 January – Liam Coltman, rugby union player
• 29 January – Kalifa Faifai Loa, rugby league player

  February

• 3 February – Martin Taupau, rugby league player
• 7 February – Elias Shadrock, netball player
• 10 February – Nathan Vella, rugby union player
• 11 February – Joe Tomane, rugby union player
• 12 February – Tamati Clarke, cricketer
• 13 February – Dan Hooker, mixed martial artist
• 19 February – Kosta Barbarouses, association footballer
• 20 February
• * Mark Abbott, rugby union player
• * Samuel Brunton, rugby league player
• 24 February – Morna Nielsen, cricketer
• 27 February
• * Jared Ormsby, rugby union player
• * Elijah Taylor, rugby league player

  March

• 1 March – Julianna Naoupu, netball player
• 3 March – Nardia Roselli, netball player
• 8 March – Gemma Dudley, track cyclist
• 9 March
• * Joel Everson, rugby union player
• * Matt Robinson, rugby league player
• 11 March – Aroha Savage, rugby union player
• 13 March – Josh Bloxham, basketball player
• 15 March – Rebecca Torr, snowboarder
• 16 March – Moira de Villiers, judoka
• 17 March
• * Billy Guyton, rugby union player
• * Rory Taylor, weightlifter
• 18 March – Lou Guinares, weightlifter
• 19 March – Fraser Colson, cricketer
• 22 March – Angus Ta'avao, rugby union player
• 24 March – Keisha Castle-Hughes, actor
• 26 March – Uini Atonio, rugby union player
• 27 March
• * Kimbra Johnson, recording artist
• * Leivaha Pulu, rugby league player
• 31 March – Tommy Smith, association footballer

  April

• 1 April – Alecz Day, cricketer
• 2 April – Drury Low, rugby league player
• 7 April
• * Bundee Aki, rugby union player
• * George Bennett, road cyclist
• * Ronald Raaymakers, rugby union player
• 10 April
• * Kelsey Bevan, rower
• * Siuatonga Likiliki, rugby league player
• 13 April – Shane Pumipi, rugby league player
• 14 April – Sean Polwart, rugby union player
• 16 April – Kane Barrett, rugby union player
• 19 April – Benny Tipene, singer-songwriter
• 24 April – Amaka Gessler, swimmer
• 26 April
• * Terri-Amber Carlson, association footballer
• * Ashika Pratt, fashion model

  May

• 2 May – Gemma Flynn, field hockey player
• 3 May
• * Sam Beard, rugby union player
• * Lama Tasi, rugby league player
• 9 May – Daniel Bell, swimmer
• 10 May – Oliver Leydon-Davis, badminton player
• 11 May – Blair Tarrant, field hockey player
• 14 May – William Lloyd, rugby union player
• 16 May – Renee Leota, association footballer
• 17 May
• * Charlie Gubb, rugby league player
• * Susannah Pyatt, sailor
• * Jason Woodward, rugby union player
• 18 May – Jossi Wells, freestyle skier
• 23 May – Pippa Hayward, field hockey player
• 28 May
• * Cody Cole, weightlifter
• * Gillies Kaka, rugby union player
• 30 May – Nigel Ah Wong, rugby union player
• 31 May – Tyler Bleyendaal, rugby union player

  June

• 1 June – Frances Mackay, cricketer
• 4 June – Shay Neal, field hockey player
• 5 June – Amber Bellringer, netball player
• 6 June
• * Ben Funnell, rugby union player
• * Paige Hareb, surfer
• 7 June – Stephen Jenness, field hockey player
• 8 June – Todd Barclay, politician
• 15 June – John Gatfield, swimmer
• 17 June – Paul Lasike, American football player
• 21 June – Nafe Seluini, rugby league player
• 22 June – Abigail Guthrie, tennis player
• 24 June – Kalolo Tuiloma, rugby union player
• 26 June – Jake Gleeson, association footballer
• 29 June – Te Rina Keenan, discus thrower

  July

• 2 July
• * Elias Shadrock, netball player
• * Bill Tupou, rugby league player
• 5 July – Tom Marshall, rugby union player
• 6 July – Willis Halaholo, rugby union player
• 9 July – Earl Bamber, motor racing driver
• 12 July – Simon Berghan, rugby union player
• 13 July – Kieran Foran, rugby league player
• 16 July – Bureta Faraimo, rugby league player
• 18 July – Gerard Beale, rugby league player
• 20 July
• * Jess Hamill, Paralympic athlete
• * Will Tupou, rugby union and rugby league player
• 24 July – Danny Lee, golfer
• 25 July – Ellen Halpenny, netball player
• 30 July
• * Joel Galley, rugby union player
• * Myron Simpson, road and track cyclist
• 31 July – Orinoco Faamausili-Banse, swimmer

  August

• 4 August – Betsy Hassett, association footballer
• 5 August – Anurag Verma, cricketer
• 6 August
• * Daniel Willcox, sailor
• * Nick Wilson, field hockey player
• 7 August – Julian Savea, rugby union player
• 8 August – Kane Williamson, cricketer
• 9 August
• * Darryl Fitzgerald, sprint canoeist
• * Michael O'Keeffe, association footballer
• 11 August – Tom Franklin, rugby union player
• 15 August – Tawera Kerr-Barlow, rugby union player
• 16 August – Matt Duffie, rugby union and rugby league player
• 17 August – Charlie Ngatai, rugby union player
• 20 August
• * Anna Green, association footballer
• * Jordan Hunter, basketball player
• 21 August – Rachel Maree Millns, beauty pageant contestant
• 28 August – James Coughlan, field hockey player

  September

• 1 September
• * Tom Blundell, cricketer
• * Ben Seymour, rugby union player
• 3 September – Paul Snow-Hansen, sailor
• 6 September
• * Andrew Cox, ice hockey player
• * Pama Fou, rugby union player
• 7 September
• * Paki Afu, rugby league player
• * Logan van Beek, cricketer
• 9 September – Shaun Johnson, rugby league player
• 11 September – Elijah Niko, rugby union player
• 12 September – Anna Peterson, cricketer
• 16 September – Emily Collins, road cyclist
• 17 September
• * Tim Myers, association footballer
• * Jimmy Neesham, cricketer
• 21 September – Sam Kasiano, rugby league player
• 23 September – Lea Tahuhu, cricketer
• 24 September
• * Kayne Hammington, rugby union player
• * Johnny McNicholl, rugby union player
• * Namatahi Waa, rugby union player
• 25 September – Genevieve Behrent, rower
• 27 September – Finn Tearney, tennis player
• 28 September – Doug Bracewell, cricketer

  October

• 1 October – Finn Lowery, water polo player
• 7 October – Popsy, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 12 October – Shannon Francois, netball player
• 14 October – Brooke Millar, water polo player
• 15 October – Harry Boam, cricketer
• 17 October
• * Alexandra Myles, water polo player
• * Jasmine Myles, water polo player
• 18 October – Anthony Gelling, rugby league player
• 21 October – Kierran Tuhi, trampolinist
• 23 October – Stan Walker, recording artist, actor, television personality
• 24 October – Tipene Friday, cricketer and basketball player
• 28 October
• * Sarah Gray, rower
• * Tim Johnston, cricketer
• 29 October – Craig Millar, rugby union player

  November

• 2 November – Kane Radford, swimmer
• 4 November – Zane Tetevano, rugby league player
• 5 November – George Moala, rugby union player
• 8 November – Sacha Jones, tennis player
• 11 November
• * Sir Vancelot, standardbred racehorse
• * Merissa Smith, association footballer
• 12 November – Simon Evans, motor racing driver
• 17 November – Doriemus, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 18 November – Jackie Thomas, singer
• 19 November
• * Hayden Parker, rugby union player
• * Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, rugby union player
• 21 November
• * Simone Lewis, water polo player
• * Jackson Ormond, rugby union player
• 22 November – Jason Saunders, sailor
• 26 November – Aaron Gate, track cyclist
• 28 November
• * Declan O'Donnell, rugby union player
• * Brendon Edmonds, rugby union player

  December

• 2 December – Glen Fisiiahi, rugby union and rugby league player
• 3 December – Mark Ioane, rugby league player
• 4 December – Blade Thomson, rugby union player
• 5 December – Curtis Rapley, rower
• 7 December – Simon Berghan, rugby union player
• 11 December – Elizabeth Milne, association footballer
• 13 December – Corey Anderson, cricketer
• 15 December
• * Nehe Milner-Skudder, rugby union player
• * Ella Nicholas, slalom canoeist
• * Skye Lourie, actress
• 17 December – Leon Mckay, snowboarder
• 20 December – Robert Whittaker, mixed martial artist
• 22 December – Jason Christie, cyclist
• 26 December – Telusa Veainu, rugby union player
• 27 December – Priyani Puketapu, beauty pageant contestant
• 31 December – Marlon Williams, singer-songwriter

  Exact date unknown

• Avianca Böhm, beauty pageant contestant
• Catherine Irving, beauty pageant contestant
• Jamie Love, softball player

  Deaths

January

• 1 January – Bill Pullar, athlete
• 7 January – Esther James, fashion model
• 20 January – Freda Cook, social and peace campaigner
• 22 January – William Stodart, rower

  February

• 7 February – Tony Fomison, artist
• 12 February – Hilcote Pitts-Brown, politician
• 17 February – Rusty Robertson, rowing coach
• 27 February – Torchy Atkinson, horticultural scientist, science administrator

  March

• 6 March
• * Joan Faulkner-Blake, broadcaster
• * Arthur Pearce, broadcaster
• 8 March – Donald Cameron, cricketer
• 11 March – Francis Ward, rugby union player
• 31 March – Bill Murray, police officer, unionist

  April

• 8 April – Zamazaan, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 11 April – Leonard Leary, lawyer, writer
• 12 April – John Brown, cyclist
• 14 April – Doris Lusk, artist, potter
• 23 April – Alan Robilliard, rugby union player
• 26 April – Arthur Knight, rugby union player
• 28 April – Neil Watson, Mayor of Invercargill

  May

• 4 May – Jack Lewin, union leader, public servant
• 7 May – Ashley Lawrence, conductor
• 10 May – Hilda Buck, cricketer
• 14 May – Ruth Mason, botanist
• 27 May
• * Clarrie Heard, swimmer
• * June Sutor, crystallographer
• 31 May – Hamilton Walker, engineer and inventor

  June

• 3 June – Phil Gard, rugby union player
• 9 June – John Holland, athlete
• 11 June – Joan Stevens, English literature academic
• 14 June – Adrian Hayter, soldier, sailor, Antarctic leader, author
• 15 June – Eruera Manuera, Ngāti Awa leader
• 19 June – Isobel Andrews, writer
• 20 June – Lois Suckling, optician, family planning reformer

  July

• 1 July – Lorrie Hunter, politician
• 3 July – Vic Olsson, rower
• 4 July – Ces Devine, harness racing driver
• 9 July – Jack Sullivan, rugby union player, coach and administrator
• 24 July – Marcel Stanley, philatelist

  August

• 6 August – Frank Waters, politician
• 8 August – Bill Gallagher, inventor, businessman
• 16 August – Pat O'Connor, professional wrestler

  September

• 4 September
• * Sir Henry Cooper, cricketer, educator
• * Leslie Groves, cricketer
• 23 September – Bill Broughton, jockey
• 28 September – Dan Davin, author

  October

• 2 October – Eric Giles, cricketer
• 3 October – Esmond de Beer, literary editor, collector, philanthropist
• 9 October – John Holland, Anglican bishop
• 10 October – Nitama Paewai, rugby union player and administrator, doctor, politician
• 12 October – John O'Brien, politician

  November

• 9 November – Harry Evans, exploration geologist
• 13 November – Stewart Guthrie, police officer
• 15 November – Oswald Denison, rower
• 18 November – Murray Ashby, rower
• 22 November
• * James Barron, cricketer
• * Noel Chambers, swimmer
• 25 November – Ernest Duncan, mathematician
• 27 November – Joan Wood, educationalist and music teacher

  December

• 14 December – Sam Cusack, community character
• 17 December – Frank Hutchison, cricketer
• 18 December – Greta Stevenson, mycologist
• 24 December – Alex O'Shea, farming leader
• 25 December
• * Viola Bell, sports administrator, community leader
• * Warwick Snedden, cricketer

  Exact date unknown

• Bruce Campbell, lawyer, politician, jurist