2003 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 2003 in New Zealand.

Population

Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,061,600.
Increase since 31 December 2002: 72,000.
Males per 100 Females: 96.2.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO

Government

The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between
Labour and the small Progressive party with
United Future supporting supply votes.

Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt
Prime Minister – Helen Clark
[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister] – Michael Cullen
Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff
Chief Justice — Sian Elias

Opposition leaders

National – Bill English then Don Brash
Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
Act – Richard Prebble
New Zealand First – Winston Peters
United Future – Peter Dunne

Main centre leaders

Events

11 February – Donna Awatere Huata is expelled from the caucus of political party ACT New Zealand. She remained in parliament.
1 April – the Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 received Royal Assent
24 April – New Zealand's population reaches the 4,000,000 mark, according to Statistics New Zealand's population clock.
3 June – Air Adventures flight crashes on approach to Christchurch Airport, killing eight on board
9 June – Announcement by the Prime Minister of the provision of a Defence Force engineering group of up to 60 personnel to work on reconstruction tasks in southern Iraq and, as part of New Zealand's continuing participation in Operation Enduring Freedom, of the intention to contribute to a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.
30 June – Announcement that the North Island population reaches 3 million, North Shore City reaches 200,000 and Porirua City reaches 50,000
5 July – 350 skiers and 70 staff were trapped in skifield facilities on Mount Ruapehu when a sudden storm closes the access road. All descend safely the next day.
August – The Refugee Status Appeals Authority declares that Ahmed Zaoui is a genuine asylum seeker. He is moved from a maximum security to medium security prison as a result.
15 August – The Strongman Mine closes
22 August – A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes the remote Fiordland.
4 October – A state of emergency is declared in the Wellington Region due to flooding. Paekākāriki suffers damage.
28 October – Don Brash becomes parliamentary leader of the National Party.
October – Australian company Toll Holdings completes a takeover of Tranz Rail
18 November – the Supreme Court declares that Donna Awatere Huata has no right to her parliamentary seat.
Evangelical Christian based political party Destiny New Zealand formed.

Arts and literature

Awards

Nick Ascroft and Sarah Quigley win the Robert Burns Fellowship.

New Zealand Book Awards

Readers' Choice: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
Non-fiction: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Fiction: The Shag Incident Stephanie Johnson
Poetry: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
History: No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840–1914 Jim McAloon
Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Biography: A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip Temple
Illustrative: Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len Castle
Reference & Anthology: Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw
Environment* Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff Chapple

[New Zealand Music Awards]

A number of new categories were introduced this year: 'Highest Selling NZ Album', 'Highest Selling NZ Single', 'Best Pacific Island Album', and 'Best Roots Music Album'. 'Best R&B/ Hip Hop Album' was renamed 'Best Urban Album'.
Two categories were retired 'Best Children's Album', and 'Best Compilation'.
This year was also the first to feature a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Album of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
* Pacifier – Pacifier
* Goldenhorse – Riverhead
* Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
* Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
Single of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie
* Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
* Bic Runga – Get Some Sleep
* Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
* Nesian Mystik – It's On
Top Group: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
* Goodshirt – Sophie
* Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
* Goldenhorse – Riverhead
* Blindspott – Blindspott
Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
* Jon Toogood- Pacifier
* Te Awanui Pine Reeder – For The People
Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
* Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
* Kirsten Morrell – Riverhead
Best Solo Artist : Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
* Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
* Carly Binding – Alright With Me
Best Urban Album: Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
* P Money – Big Things
* Deceptikonz – Elimination
Best Folk Album: not awarded
Best Music Video: Joe Lonie – Sophie
* Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
* Chris Graham / Bic Runga – Something Good
Outstanding International Achievement: The Datsuns
Best Mana Reo Album: Ngahiwi Apanui – E Tau Nei
* Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2
* Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto
Best Mana Maori Album: Upper Hutt Posse – Te Reo Maori Remixes
* Soul Paua – Pohewa
* Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha
* Brother J – Be Bop A Nui
Highest Selling NZ Album : Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
Highest Selling NZ Single : Katchafire – Giddy Up
Producer of the Year: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
* P Money – Big Things
* Geoffrey Maddock – Riverhead
Engineer of the Year: Clint Murphy And Dave Rhodes – Blindspott
* Jeremy Greor – Carbon
* Barbara Griffin – Love Not War
* Simon Holloway & Shane Mason – K'Lee
Best Dance Album: Salmonella Dub – Outside The Dubplates
* Rhombus -Bass Player
* Subware – Subware
Best Country Album: not awarded
Best Jazz Album: Kevin Clark – Once Upon A Song I Flew
* Twinset – It's A Summer Feeling
* Matt Penman – The Unquiet
Best Gospel Album: not awarded
Best Pacific Island Album : Pacific Soul – Pacific Soul
* Jamoa Jam – Tama Mai Le Pasifika
* Lapi Mariner – Just Me
Best Roots Music Album : Trinity Roots – True
* Te Vaka – Nukukehe
* Darren Watson – King Size
Best Classical Album: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – Douglas Lilburn: The Three Symphonies
* New Zealand Symphony Orchestra -Simon Boccanegra -Giuseppe V
* New Zealand String Quartet – Beethoven Rasumovsky Quartet
Songwriter of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie
* Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
* Nesian Mystik – It's On
Best Cover Design: Campbell Hooper-Johnson – 'Flock: The Best Of The Mutton Birds
* Damian Alexander – Blindspott
* Spencer Levine – Trade Secrets
New Zealand Radio Programmer of the Year: Andi Dawkins – More FM Christchurch
* Andrew Szusterman – Channel Z
* John Budge – Classic Hits
* Manu Taylor – Mai FM
Lifetime Achievement Award : Dylan Taite

Performing arts

Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Jim Joll.

Television

3 October: TV4 is replaced by C4.

Film

Kombi Nation
The Last Samurai
Whale Rider
17 December: World premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in Wellington

Internet

See:

Sport

Athletics

Todd Stevens wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:30:09 on 3 May in Rotorua, while Maree Turner claims her first in the women's championship.

Basketball

The NBL won by the Wellington Saints who beat the Waikato Titans 97–88 in the final.
The Women's NBL was won by the Wellington Swish who beat the Waikato Lady Titans 86–82 in the final

Horse racing

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup – Just an Excuse
Auckland Trotting Cup – Elsu
New Zealand Free For All – Jack Cade

Motor racing

12 October – Scott Dixon wins the 2003 Indy Racing League Championship

Netball

The 11th Netball World Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand won, beating Australia in the final.

Rugby union

11 October – Auckland defeat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield, ending Canterbury's run of 23 defences.
11 October – New Zealand beat Italy in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
17 October – New Zealand beat Canada in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
24 October – New Zealand beat Tonga in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
2 November – New Zealand beat Wales in pool D of the Rugby World Cup, finishing top of pool D
8 November – New Zealand beat South Africa in the first quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup
15 November – New Zealand lose to Australia in the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup
20 November – Playoff: New Zealand beat France to take 3rd place in the Rugby World Cup

Rugby league

Bartercard Cup won by Canterbury Bulls
The New Zealand Warriors finished 6th in the minor premiership, qualifying for the finals series, where they won two games before losing the preliminary final to minor premieres the Penrith Panthers.

Shooting

Ballinger Belt –
* Ian Shaw
* Ross Geange, fourth, top New Zealander

Soccer

New Zealand National Soccer League won by Miramar Rangers
The Chatham Cup is won by University-Mount Wellington who beat Melville United 3–1 in the final.

Yachting

19 January – Swiss yacht Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Oracle BMW Racing 4–1 to win the Louis Vuitton Cup off Auckland and goes on to challenge Team New Zealand for the 2003 America's Cup.
2 March – Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Team New Zealand boat New Zealand skippered by Dean Barker 5–0 to win the 2003 America's Cup

Births

January–March

3 January – Harry Godfrey, rugby union player
8 January – Sosefo Fifita, rugby league player
9 January – Ali Leiataua, rugby league player
13 January – Prudence Fowler, cyclist
27 January – Brianna Edwards, association footballer
2 February – Ajay Faleafaga, rugby union player
5 February – Santo Taumata, rugby union player
13 February – Flora Devonshire, cricketer
18 February – Jeremiah Nanai, rugby league player
24 February – Jackson Manuel, association footballer
13 March – Patricia Maliepo, rugby union player
19 March – Caleb Tangitau, rugby union player
23 March – Davvy Moale, rugby league player
27 March – Kees Sims, association footballer
29 March – Macca Springer, rugby union player

April–June

4 April – Siua Wong, rugby league player
17 April – Taha Kemara, rugby union player
19 April – April Ngatupuna, rugby union and rugby league player
22 April – Che Clark, rugby union player
23 April – Benjamin Culhane, field hockey player
25 April – Deine Mariner, rugby league player
3 May – Kaelin Nguyen, association footballer
8 May – Kyren Taumoefolau, rugby union player
12 May – Kelsey Teneti, rugby union player
23 May – Noah Hotham, rugby union player
25 May – Deine Mariner, rugby league player
30 May – Siale Lauaki, rugby union player
8 June – Tahlor Cahill, rugby union player
17 June – Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, rugby league player
25 June
* Finn Hurley, rugby union player
* Jack Taylor, rugby union player

July–September

4 July – Oliver Colloty, footballer
15 July – Hannah Cotter, field hockey player
20 July – Charlie Morrison, field hockey player
28 July – Curtis Heaphy, cricketer
10 August – Fin Conchie, association footballer
13 August – Cameron Gray, swimmer
23 August – Efficient, Thoroughbred racehorse
23 September – Finn Surman, association footballer

October–December

3 October – Will Stodart, rugby union player
14 October
* Joshua Rudland, association footballer
* Jordi Viljoen, rugby union player
16 October – Havana Hopman, rhythmic gymnast
21 October – Kate Taylor, association footballer
29 October – Matt Dibley-Dias, association footballer
31 October – Green Birdie, Thoroughbred racehorse
17 November – Callum Hedge, racing driving
24 November – Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman, face of campaign against meningococcal disease
29 November – Muhammad Abbas, cricketer
4 December – Ryan Wood, motor racing driver
21 December – Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, rugby league player
31 December – Erika Fairweather, swimmer

Undated

Manaia Nuku, rugby union player
Stellar Pritchard, poet, LGBT community advocate
Raymond Tuputupu, rugby union player

Deaths

January

6 January – Hirini Melbourne, composer, singer, writer and academic
7 January – Charisma, eventing horse
8 January – Mac Price, diplomat
16 January – Bruce Juddery, journalist
20 January – Cleone Rivett-Carnac, athlete
21 January
* James Clark, cricketer
* Les Lock, racing cyclist
22 January – Dylan Taite, drummer, rock music journalist
29 January – Bill Sewell, poet
30 January – Ron Buchan, lawn bowler

February

1 February – Bill Meates, rugby union player
2 February – Stan Cowman, cricket umpire
13 February – Bright Williams, last surviving New Zealand-born veteran of World War I
22 February – Sir Frank Callaway, music educator and administrator
25 February – Marion Robinson, physiologist, nutritionist

March

7 March – Sid Scales, cartoonist
19 March – Tori Reid, rugby union player
27 March – Edwin Carr, composer

April

5 April – Irihapeti Ramsden, nurse, educator
7 April – John Rymer, Anglican cleric
8 April – Harry Frazer, rugby union player
14 April – John Kent, cartoonist
22 April – Ian Marshall, association football player and coach
27 April – Albert Richards, athlete
29 April – Ron Barclay, politician
30 April – Possum Bourne, rally driver

May

5 May – Margaret Dalziel, English literature academic
12 May – Stan Lay, athlete
24 May
* Neil Cherry, environmental scientist
* Kaarene Fitzgerald, advocate for study and treatment of sudden infant death
28 May – Phil Holloway, politician
29 May
* Joanna Paul, visual artist, poet, filmmaker
* Sina Woolcott, artist

June

2 June – Kenneth Maddock, anthropology academic
5 June – Alister Abernethy, trade unionist, politician and public servant
9 June – Jack Henry, silviculturist and businessman
12 June – Monty Monteith, clergyman
14 June – Joyce Powell, cricketer
15 June – David Holt, association footballer
20 June – Thomas Freeman, cricketer

July

6 July – Peter Howden, cricketer
13 July – Lin Colling, rugby union player, coach and administrator
20 July – Bill Schaefer, field hockey player
20 July – David McNee, New Zealand interior designer and television personality
21 July – John Davies, athlete
24 July – Dame Ella Campbell, botanist
25 July – Joan Talbot, fashion designer and retailer
30 July – Agnes Ell, cricketer

August

3 August – Joyce Macdonald, swimmer
7 August – Mike Hinge, illustrator and graphic designer
8 August – Allan McCready, politician
9 August
* Rex Challies, cricketer
* Corran McLachlan, chemical engineer, entrepreneur
12 August – Alan McLean, cricketer
22 August – Dorothea Anne Franchi, pianist, harpist, music educator and composer
27 August – Mick Connelly, politician

September

2 September – Dame Ann Ballin, clinical psychologist, victims' rights advocate and disabilities campaigner
5 September – Sir Richard Harrison, politician
7 September
* David Spence, mathematician
* Merv Wellington, politician
11 September – Frances King, cricketer
15 September – Anthony Treadwell, architect
19 September
* Max Brown, writer
* Adrian Shelford, rugby league player
23 September – Dennis McEldowney, writer and editor
25 September – Bill Wolfgramm, musician

October

3 October
* Lyall Barry, swimmer
* Savenaca Siwatibau, Fijian public servant and university administrator
18 October – Frank O'Flynn, politician
31 October – Lindsay Weir, cricketer

November

5 November – Muriel Boswell, netball player
12 November – Cameron Duncan, filmmaker
15 November – Tom Kneebone, cabaret performer and actor
16 November – Theo Allen, athlete
23 November – Nick Carter, cyclist
24 November – Millie Khan, lawn bowler
26 November – Brian Wybourne, physics academic

December

17 December – James Coe, artist, art teacher, industrial designer
25 December – Patrick O'Farrell, history academic