1997 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1997 in New Zealand.
Population
- Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,802,700
- Increase since 31 December 1996: 40,400
- Males per 100 Females: 97.1
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
- Head of State – Elizabeth II
- Governor-General – The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO
Government
- Speaker of the House – Doug Kidd
- Prime Minister – Jim Bolger then Jenny Shipley
- Deputy Prime Minister – Winston Peters
- Minister of Finance – Bill Birch
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Don McKinnon
- Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
Parliamentary leaders
- Labour – Helen Clark
- Alliance – Jim Anderton
- ACT New Zealand – Richard Prebble
- United New Zealand- Peter Dunne
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland – Les Mills
- Mayor of Hamilton – Margaret Evans
- Mayor of Wellington – Mark Blumsky
- Mayor of Christchurch – Vicki Buck
- Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner
Events
- 8 February: Stephen Anderson, 24, shoots 11 people, killing 6 of them at Raurimu.
- 16 July: List MP Alamein Kopu resigns from the Alliance Party but remains a member of parliament. This causes controversy because Kopu has signed contracts with the party that she would resign from Parliament should she leave the party.
- 10 September: Parliament's privileges committee finds that Alamein Kopu is entitled to remain an independent MP.
- Argentina reopens its embassy in Wellington.
Arts and literature
- Paddy Richardson wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
- Montana New Zealand Book Awards:
- *Book of the Year/Cultural Heritage: Jessie Munro, The Story of Suzanne Aubert
- *First Book Awards
- **Fiction: Dominic Sheehan, Finding Home
- **Poetry: Diane Brown, Before the Divorce We Go To Disneyland
- **Non-Fiction: Jessie Munro, The Story of Suzanne Aubert
Music
[New Zealand Music Awards]
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.- Album of the Year: Strawpeople – Vicarious
- *Emma Paki – Oxygen of Love
- *Garageland – Last Exit to Garageland
- *OMC
- *The Mutton Birds – Envy of Angels
- Single of the Year: DLT Featuring Che Fu – Chains
- *Bic Runga – Bursting Through
- *Garageland
- *Strawpeople – Taller Than God
- *The Mutton Birds
- Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Chains
- *Jeremy Eade
- *Jon Toogood
- Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga
- *Emma Paki
- *Fiona McDonald
- Best Group: Garageland
- *Shihad
- *The Mutton Birds
- Most Promising Male Vocalist: Daniel Haimona
- *Andrew Tilby
- *Ed Cake
- Most Promising Female Vocalist: Lole Usoalii
- *Andrea Cook
- *Maryanne Antonuvich
- Most Promising Group: Dam Native
- *Bike
- *Bressa Creeting Cake
- *Cinematic
- International Achievement: OMC
- *Crowded House
- *Jane Campion
- *Peter Jackson
- Best Video: Sigi Spath & Joe Lonie – if I Had My Way
- *Kevin Sprig – La La Land
- *Jonathan King – Behold My Kool Style
- Best Producer: Malcolm Welsford / Karl Steven – Backspacer
- *Alan Jansson – How Bizarre
- *Eddie Raynor – ENZSO
- Best Engineer: Rick Huntington / Alan Jansson – How Bizarre
- *Chris Van Der Geer
- *Malcolm Welsford – Backspacer
- Best Jazz Album: Bluetrain – No Free Lunch
- *Jazz in the Present Tense – Jazz in the Present Tense
- *Nairobi Trio – Shelf Life
- Best Classical Album: the Nzso, Janos Furst, Michael Houston – Live : Tower Beethoven Festival
- *New Zealand String Quartet – Bartok String Quartet 1–5
- *Alexander Ivashin & Tama Vesmas – Sergie Prokofiev
- Best Country Album: Coalrangers – Coast to Coast
- *Dennis Marsh – Out of Nashville
- *Bartlett, Dugan, Vaughan – Together Again
- Best Folk Album: Wild Geese – Betwixt Time and Place
- *Michael Scorey – Angel Station
- *Bob Bickerton – Music in the Glen
- Best Gospel Album: Max Jacobson – Found
- *The Lands – Arbor Day
- *Evan Silva – Aint No Two Ways About It
- Best Mana Maori Album: Emma Paki – Oxygen of Love
- *DLT – The True School
- *Dam Native – Behold My Kool Style
- Best Mana Reo Album: St Josephs Maori Girls College – a Gift of Song
- *Te Kura Tuatahi Me Te Ropu Kapahaka O Ranana – Te Wainui A Rua
- *Turakina Maori Girls College – Mana Wahine
- Best Childrens Album: Universal Childrens Audio – Waiata Karahere
- *Helen Willberg – Ranona Moemoea
- *Love To Sing Choir – Love My First Songbook
- Best Polynesian Album: Annie Crummer – Seventh Wave
- *Felise Mikaele -Se Taitau
- *The Five Stars – Samoa Ea''
- Best Songwriter: Dl Thompson, C Ness, A McNaughton, K Rangihuna – Chains
- *Paul Casserley, Fiona McDonald, Greg Johnson – Boxers
- *Bic Runga – Bursting Through
- Best Cover: Wayne Conway – ENZSO
- *Jeremy Takacs, Karl & Jon – Shihad
- *Rick Huntington And Alan Jansson – How Bizarre
Performing arts
- Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Paul Bennett.
Radio and television
- CanWest takes complete ownership of TV3 and launches TV4.
- TVNZ broadcasts MTV.
- July: Prime Television in Australia purchases 34 licences covering all major New Zealand centres.
Film
- Lost Valley
- Topless Women Talk About Their Lives
Internet
See:Sport
Athletics
- Peter Buske wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:20:49 on 8 March in New Plymouth, while Terri-Lee Farr claims her first in the women's championship.
- Beatrice Faumuina became the first New Zealander to win an event at a World Athletics Championships.
Basketball
- The Men's NBL was won by the Auckland Stars
- Tall Blacks
Cricket
- Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team
Golf
- New Zealand Open won by Greg Turner
Horse racing
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting Cup: Iraklis
- Auckland Trotting Cup: Kate's First
Thoroughbred racing
Netball
- Silver Ferns
- National Bank Cup
Rugby league
- The Auckland Warriors competed in the breakaway Super League and finished 7th out of 10 teams.
- Waikato won the Super League Challenge Cup, defeating Canterbury 34–18 in the final. Waikato also won the Rugby League Cup.
- 25 April, New Zealand lost to Australia 22–34
- 26 September, New Zealand defeated Australia 30-12
Rugby union
- Super 12
- Rugby Union World Cup
- National Provincial Championship
- Bledisloe Cup
- Tri Nations Series
- Ranfurly Shield
Shooting
- Ballinger Belt – Ross Geange
Soccer
- The Chatham Cup is won by Central United who beat Napier City Rovers 3–2 in the final.
Births
January–February
- 3 January – Jacob Cowley, rugby union player
- 7 January – Dylan Schmidt, trampolinist
- 10 January – Patrick Herbert, rugby league player
- 20 January – James Munro, motor racing driver
- 21 January – Josh Clarkson, cricketer
- 23 January – Duncan Campbell, snowboarder
- 24 January – Jordan Uelese, rugby union player
- 3 February – Paige Hourigan, tennis player
- 11 February – Rosé, singer
- 12 February
- * Anna Grimaldi, athlete
- * Clayton Lewis, association footballer
- 13 February – Sevu Reece, rugby union player
- 17 February – Jordie Barrett, rugby union player
March–April
- 1 March
- * Nick Kwant, cricketer
- * Niccolo Tagle, badminton player
- 3 March – Du'Plessis Kirifi, rugby union player
- 5 March – Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, rugby union player
- 11 March – Ata Hingano, rugby league player
- 12 March – Stephen Perofeta, rugby union player
- 13 March – Orbyn Leger, rugby union player
- 14 March – Sam Dobbs, cyclist
- 18 March – Rieko Ioane, rugby union player
- 19 March – Zak Gibson, cricketer
- 20 March – Bobby Cheng, chess player
- 21 March – Moses Dyer, association footballer
- 23 March – Sirocco, kakapo
- 8 April – Ella Greenslade, rower
- 20 April – Luke Jacobson, rugby union player
- 23 April – Myer Bevan, association footballer
- 24 April – Lydia Ko, golfer
- 26 April – Tima Fainga'anuku, rugby union player
- 30 April
- * Daisy Cleverley, association footballer
- * Sam Lane, field hockey player
May–June
- 1 May – Terina Te Tamaki, rugby union player
- 2 May – Aotearoa Mata'u, rugby union player
- 5 May – Asafo Aumua, rugby union player
- 6 May – Carlos Garcia Knight, snowboarder
- 7 May – Harry Allan, rugby union player
- 8 May
- * Tahuna Irwin, darts player
- * Amanda Jamieson, cyclist
- 13 May – Ngatokotoru Arakua, rugby league player
- 23 May – Sam Timmins, basketball player
- 24 May – Olivia Podmore, cyclist
- 30 May
- * Ere Enari, rugby union player
- * Sitili Tupouniua, rugby league player
- 5 June – Ross ter Braak, cricketer
- 8 June – James Rolleston, actor
- 11 June – Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, rugby union player
- 17 June
- * KJ Apa, actor
- * Pouri Rakete-Stones, rugby union player
- 28 June – Henry Cameron, association footballer
July–August
- 5 July – Abigail Latu-Meafou, netball player
- 9 July – Grace Anderson, cyclist
- 16 July
- * Braydon Ennor, rugby union player
- * Isaia Walker-Leawere, rugby union player
- 5 August – Clara van Wel, singer–songwriter
- 6 August – Noah Billingsley, association footballer
- 12 August – Elizabeth Cui, diver
- 19 August – Alex Fidow, rugby union player
- 21 August – Sione Katoa, rugby league player
September–October
- 9 September – Erin Clark, rugby league player
- 10 September – Jacob Pierce, rugby union player
- 11 September – Zoe Hobbs, sprinter
- 16 September – Martine Puketapu, association footballer
- 17 September – Christian Leopard, cricketer
- 21 September – Maia Wilson, netball player
- 27 September – Hail, Thoroughbred racehorse
- 30 September – Ryan Coxon, rugby union player
- 1 October
- * Troy Johnson, cricketer
- * Sam Verlinden, singer
- 8 October – Taniela Paseka, rugby league player
- 10 October – Josh McKay, rugby union player
- 11 October – Dalton Papalii, rugby union player
- 23 October – Jaydn Su'A, rugby league player
- 30 October – Abbie Palmer, squash player
November–December
- 1 November – Kimiora Poi, netball player
- 4 November – Bryony Botha, cyclist
- 16 November – Ethereal, Thoroughbred racehorse
- 21 November – Caleb Aekins, rugby league player
- 26 November – Tamati Tua, rugby union player
- 7 December – Briton Nikora, rugby league player
- 15 December – Stefania Owen, actor
- 27 December – Jona Nareki, rugby union player
- 31 December
- * Peter Umaga-Jensen, rugby union player
- * Thomas Umaga-Jensen, rugby union player
Deaths
January–March
- 1 January – Nora Crawford, police officer
- 2 January – Keith Hay, construction company founder, politician, conservative activist
- 10 January – John Rodgers, Roman Catholic bishop
- 15 January – Ted Smith, rower
- 29 January – Sir Clifford Richmond, jurist
- 2 February – Ray Dalton, rugby union player
- 26 March – Sir Norman Alexander, physics academic, university administrator
April–June
- 8 April – Lord Module, standardbred racehorse
- 10 April – Sir Robert Aitken, medical academic, university administrator
- 14 April – Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk, poet, pretender to the Polish throne
- 17 April – Henry Lang, public servant, economics academic
- 24 April – Hugh McLean, rugby union player
- 3 May – Bruce Beetham, politician
- 7 May – Owen Jensen, musician, composer, music critic and broadcaster
- 17 May – James Newhook, veterinary science academic
- 21 May – Sir Tristram, thoroughbred racehorse
- 22 May – Rachael Zister, Māori community leader
- 2 June – Oscar Garden, aviator
- 14 June – Sir Jack Hunn, public servant
- 15 June – Kim Casali, cartoonist
- 26 June – Dent Harper, cricketer
- 28 June – Jack Hinton, soldier
- 29 June – Ian Clarke, rugby union player, referee and administrator
July–September
- 3 July – Ron Westerby, rugby league player
- 6 July – Brun Smith, cricketer
- 8 July – Ray Speed, association football player
- 12 July – Frank Shuter, speedway rider
- 23 July – David Warbeck, actor
- 25 July
- * Jack Davies, swimmer
- * Matiu Rata, politician
- 31 July – Sir Hepi Te Heuheu, Māori leader
- 15 August – Dave Solomon, rugby union and league player
- 16 August – Kitty Kain, dietician, WAAF leader
- 21 August – Jean Horsley, artist
- 25 August – James Gould, rower
- 5 September – Emily Schuster, master weaver
- 17 September – Trevor Redmond, speedway rider
- 22 September – Silver Lad, thoroughbred racehorse
- 23 September – Christopher John Lewis, criminal
- 26 September – Geoff Gerard, politician
October–December
- 8 October – Desmond Scott, fighter pilot
- 11 October – Sidney Koreneff, French resistance worker, newspaper managing director, Anglican priest
- 18 October
- * David Seath, politician
- * Geoff Walker, canoeist, surf lifesaver
- 31 October – Adrian Rodda, public servant
- 16 November – Roy Sheffield, cricketer
- 21 November – Stanley Dallas, radio technician and recording engineer
- 27 November – Jim Kershaw, association football player
- 6 December – Eva Rickard, Māori land and women's rights activist
- 10 December – Ted Coubray, filmmaker