1995 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,706,700.
• Increase since 31 December 1994: 58,400.
• Males per 100 Females: 97.3.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State - Elizabeth II
• Governor-General - The Hon Dame Catherine Tizard, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO

Government

• Speaker of the House - Peter Tapsell
• Prime Minister - Jim Bolger
• [Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister] - Don McKinnon
• Minister of Finance - Bill Birch
• Minister of Foreign Affairs - Don McKinnon
• Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum

Opposition leaders

• Greens - Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
• Act - Roger Douglas
• New Zealand First - Winston Peters
• Labour - Helen Clark

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland - Les Mills
• Mayor of Hamilton - Margaret Evans
• Mayor of Wellington - Fran Wilde then Mark Blumsky
• Mayor of Christchurch - Vicki Buck
• Mayor of Dunedin - Richard Walls then Sukhi Turner

Events

• April: The Cambridge Independent closes. The newspaper began as the Waikato Independent in 1904.
• 28 April: 13 polytech students and a Department of Conservation Worker die when a viewing platform collapses into a 40-metre deep gorge at Cave Creek in the Paparoa National Park.
• 9 June: Ansett Flight 703 crashes on approach to Palmerston North, killing 4 of 21 on board. Passenger Reginald John Dixon was awarded the New Zealand Cross posthumously.
• The Long Bay-Okura and Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserves are established

Arts and literature

• Elspeth Sandys wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

• Album of the Year: Supergroove - Traction
• *The Mutton Birds - Salty
• *Dave Dobbyn - Twist
• *Head Like A Hole - Flik y'self off y'self
• *Shona Laing - Shona
• Single of the Year: Purest Form – Message to My Girl
• *3 The Hard Way - Hip Hop Holiday
• *Headless Chickens - George
• *Sisters Underground - In The Neighbourhood
• *Supergroove - Can't Get Enough
• Best Male Vocalist: Dave Dobbyn – Twist
• *David Kilgour
• *Greg Johnson
• *Jon Toogood
• Best Female Vocalist: Fiona McDonald
• *Emma Paki
• *Stephanie Tauevihi
• Best Group: Supergroove
• *The Mutton Birds
• *Headless Chickens
• Most Promising Male Vocalist: Brent Milligan
• *Peter Daube
• *Evan Woodruffe
• Most Promising Female Vocalist: Sulata Foai
• *Chloe Reeves
• * Helen Goudge
• Most Promising Group: Sisters Underground
• *3 The Hard Way
• *Purest Form
• International Achievement: Headless Chickens
• *Shihad
• *Crowded House
• Best Video: Jo Fisher & Matt Noonan – "Can't Get Enough"
• *Johnny Ogilvy - Cruise Control
• *G Keith/ M Ringrose/ S McGlashen - George
• Best Producer: Karl Steven & Malcolm Welsford – Traction
• *Neil Finn - Twist
• *Neil Finn - Greenstone
• Best Engineer: Malcolm Welsford - Traction
• *Paul Streekstra - Language
• *Nick Launay - Greenstone
• Best Jazz Album: George Chisholm Quintet - Perfect Strangers
• *John Key - Strange Fruit
• *Urbanism - Urbanism
• Best Classical Album: The NZ Symphony Orchestra - The Three Symphonies / Douglas Lilburn
• *Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra - NZ Music Volume 5
• *Dame Malvina Major - Christmastime
• *The New Zealand National Youth Choir - On Tour in North America '93
• Best Country Album: Kevin Greaves – I'm Not Scared of Women
• *Noel Parlane - Can I Count on You
• *Merv Pinny - Destiny
• Best Folk Album: Windy City Strugglers - Windy City Strugglers
• *Paul Ubana Jones - A Change of Season
• *Chris Priestley - Argentina To Invercargill
• Best Gospel Album: Derek Lind – Stations
• *Sir Howard Morrison - Christmas Collection
• *Jules Riding - The Fisherman
• Best Film Soundtrack: Once Were Warriors
• *Blood Brothers
• *Jesus Christ Superstar
• Best Songwriter: Dave Dobbyn – Language
• *Don McGlashan - Anchor Me
• *Neil Finn - Private Universe
• Best Cover: Alec Bathgate / Chris Knox - 3 EPs
• *Wayne Conway - Twist
• *Wayne Conway - Broadcast
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Ian Magan

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Guy Cater.

Radio and television

• 12 February: TV One and TV3 goes 24/7.
• Horizon Pacific is launched, taking over CTV.
• Te Mangai Paho launched.

Film

• Bonjour Timothy
• Cinema of Unease
• Forgotten Silver

Dance

• Black Grace, a modern dance company, is formed in Auckland.

Internet

Sport

Athletics

• Chris Mardon wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:24:24 in Christchurch, while Robyn Duncan claims her first in the women's championship.

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Il Vicolo
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Burlington Bertie

Rugby league

• The Auckland Warriors became the first New Zealand-based team to compete in the Australian Rugby League's premiership. They finished 10th, missing out on the final eight due to being docked two points for an incorrect substitution in one of their games.
• The North Harbour Sea Eagles defended their Lion Red Cup title, defeating the Auckland Warriors colts 28–21 in the final.
• Auckland ended the season holding the Rugby League Cup, after defeating Canterbury.
• 9 June, New Zealand defeated France 22–6.
• 16 June, New Zealand drew with France 16-all.
• 23 June, New Zealand lost to Australia 8-26.
• 7 July, New Zealand lost to Australia 10–20.
• 14 July, New Zealand lost to Australia 10–46.
• New Zealand competed in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, losing to Australia 30–20 in extra time in the semi-final.

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Ross Geange

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Waitakere City who beat North Shore United 4–0 in the final.

Births

January–February

• 1 January – Kurt Heatherley, Australian rules footballer
• 5 January
• * Vince Aso, rugby union player
• * Toafofoa Sipley, rugby league player
• 7 January – Briar Palmer, association footballer
• 9 January – Braden Uele, rugby league player
• 20 January – Duncan Paia'aua, rugby union player
• 23 January
• * Scott Ambrose, cyclist
• * Tuimoala Lolohea, rugby league player
• 24 January – Aimee Fisher, canoeist
• 26 January – Sione Katoa rugby league player
• 6 February – Geoff Cridge, rugby union player
• 7 February – Joel Stevens, association footballer
• 25 February – Theresa Fitzpatrick, rugby union player
• 27 February – Corey Main, swimmer

March–April

• 8 March – Cameron Skelton, rugby union player
• 13 March – Whenua Patuwai, singer
• 23 March – Tevita Li, rugby union player
• 27 March
• * Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, association footballer
• * Bill Tuiloma, association footballer
• 31 March – Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, rugby union player
• 10 April – Mitchell Joynt, para athlete
• 11 April
• * Sarah Mason, surfer
• * Erin Routliffe, tennis player
• 15 April – Anton Lienert-Brown, rugby union player
• 19 April – Blake Gibson, rugby union player
• 20 April –
• * Sophia Batchelor, swimmer
• * Damian McKenzie, rugby union player
• 22 April – Catherine Bott, association footballer
• 28 April – Jack Hunter, cricketer

May–June

• 4 May – Otere Black, rugby union player
• 19 May – Taane Milne, rugby league player
• 2 June – Mitchell Karpik, rugby union player
• 3 June – Thamsyn Newton, cricketer
• 8 June – Andre Heimgartner, motor racing driver
• 12 June – Atunaisa Moli, rugby union player
• 13 June
• * Emily Fanning, tennis player
• * Jack Goodhue, rugby union player
• * Michael Rae, cricketer
• 16 June – Akira Ioane, rugby union player
• 19 June – Mitchell Hunt, rugby union player
• 22 June – Peter Cowan, canoeist
• 30 June – Emma Dyke, rower

July–August

• 20 July – Moses Leota, rugby league player
• 21 July – Zac Williams, cyclist
• 2 August – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, rugby league player
• 5 August – Tim Robertson, orienteering competitor
• 7 August – David Nyika, boxer
• 16 August – Sam Perry, swimmer
• 17 August – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, rugby league player

September–October

• 4 September – Jazz Tevaga, rugby league player
• 7 September – Luka Prelevic, association footballer
• 11 September – Willis Meehan, rugby league player
• 15 September – Joe Ofahengaue, rugby league player
• 20 September – Laura Dekker, sailor
• 27 September – Zoe McBride, rower
• 29 September – Sunline, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 2 October
• * Sam Brotherton, association footballer
• * Te Maire Martin, rugby league player
• 6 October – Sam McNicol, rugby union player
• 14 October – Chase Tiatia, rugby union player
• 19 October – Toni Storm, pro wrestler
• 23 October – Sean Wainui, rugby union player
• 25 October – So Casual, Thoroughbred racehorse

November–December

• 11 November – Josh Aloiai, rugby league player
• 17 November – Beau-James Wells, freestyle skier
• 18 November – Mitchell Dunshea, rugby union player
• 23 November – Bradlee Ashby, swimmer
• 1 December – Lamar Liolevave, rugby league player
• 5 December – Danny Levi, rugby league player
• 12 December – Sam Gaze, cross-country cyclist
• 18 December – Take A Moment, standardbred racehorse

Deaths

January–March

• 16 January – John Charters, rower
• 20 January – Thomas Arbuthnott, boxer
• 2 February – Kiwi, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 12 February – Dorothy Neal White, librarian
• 19 February – Dick Matthews, plant virologist
• 22 February – Ron Hardie, local-body politician
• 23 February – Thing Big, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 25 February – John O'Brien, rower
• 8 March – Sir John Ormond, farmer, politician, businessman
• 13 March – Lorelle Corbin, naval officer
• 23 March
• * Eric McCormick, historian, biographer
• * Pat Ralph, marine biology academic
• 24 March – Linden Saunders, music teacher and critic, broadcaster
• 26 March – Winnie Davin, writer, literary editor

April–June

• 22 April – Henry May, politician
• 1 May – Wynn Abel, businessman, racehorse owner, athlete
• 2 May – James Godwin, military aviator, war crimes investigator
• 9 May – John McIndoe, artist
• 23 May – Edna Pearce, police officer
• 6 June – Sir James Barnes, politician
• 9 June – Gordon Rowe, cricketer
• 10 June – Bruno Lawrence, musician, actor
• 13 June – Patricia Buckfield, paediatrician and neonatologist
• 14 June – Dame Rangimarie Hetet, tohunga raranga
• 16 June – Ron Smith, public servant, communist, peace activist
• 22 June – Spencer Digby, photographer

July–September

• 2 July – Richard Toy, architect
• 22 July – Jack Bergin, neurologist, anti-abortion campaigner
• 25 July
• * Eddie Isbey, politician
• * Gloria Rawlinson, poet, novelist, short-story writer, editor
• 31 July – Joan Cochran, social reformer, sex educator, teacher
• 1 August – Colin Gray, World War II fighter ace
• 8 August – Dot McNab, military administrator, political organizer
• 13 August – Bruce Grant, alpine skier
• 14 August – Freda White, show-jumper and racehorse trainer
• 25 August – Erich Geiringer, physician, peace activist, writer
• 27 August – Sir Geoffrey Roberts, military aviator and leader, airline manager
• 1 September – Sylvia Chapman, doctor
• 2 September – Ivan Vodanovich, rugby union player, coach and administrator
• 3 September – Sir Lance Adams-Schneider, politician, diplomat
• 5 September
• * John Britten, mechanical engineer, designer
• * Brian Poananga, sportsman, military leader, diplomat
• 11 September – Peter McIntyre, painter and author
• 21 September – Alan Deere, air force pilot
• 24 September – Peter Butler, trade unionist, politician

October–December

• 15 October – Poul Gnatt, ballet dancer, balletmaster
• 16 October
• * Cam Campion, politician
• * Peter Murdoch, rugby union player
• 23 October – Harold Taylor, mathematician, physicist, university administrator, architectural historian
• 25 October – Noel Crump, swimmer
• 29 October – Fred Gerbic, politician
• 31 October – Sir Wallace (Bill) Rowling, 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand
• 5 November – Gordon Walters, painter
• 13 November – Dale Trendall, classical art historian, university administrator
• 20 November – George Burns, rowing coxswain
• 1 December – Colin Tapley, actor
• 11 December – Euan Robertson, athlete
• 21 December – Charlie Tumahai, musician, songwriter
• 28 December – Kendrick Smithyman, poet

Full date unknown

• Grant Lingard, artist