2004 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,114,300.
• Increase since 31 December 2003: 52,800.
• Males per 100 Females: 96.1.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Dame Silvia Cartwright

Government

• Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt
• Prime Minister – Helen Clark
• Deputy Prime Minister – Michael Cullen
• Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff

Opposition leaders

• [New Zealand New Zealand National Party|National Party|National] – Don Brash
• Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
• Act – Richard Prebble to Rodney Hide
• New Zealand First – Winston Peters
• United Future – Peter Dunne
• Māori Party – Tariana Turia

Judiciary

• Chief Justice — Sian Elias

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – John Banks to Dick Hubbard
• Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby
• Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite to Michael Redman
• Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast
• Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore
• Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner to Peter Chin

Other

• State Services Commissioner – Mark Prebble

Events

January

• 27 January: National Party leader Don Brash delivers a speech at Orewa highly critical of the government's policy towards Māori.

February

• 16 February: A state of emergency is declared in Manawatu-Wanganui due to flooding.
• 17 February: A state of emergency is declared in Marlborough, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty Region.

April

• 8 April: New Zealand First party announces it would give its support to the government's foreshore legislation.
• 30 April: Tariana Turia announces she will vote against the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation.

May

• 5 May: A hīkoi against the foreshore and seabed legislation arrives in Wellington.
• 7 May: The government's foreshore and seabed Bill passes its first vote in Parliament.
• 11 May: The Criminal Records Act is passed. The Act allows people who have not reoffended for seven years to not declare minor criminal convictions in most circumstances.

June

• 16 June: A meteorite crashes into an Auckland house, becoming the ninth recovered meteorite in New Zealand.
• 30 June: Statistics New Zealand estimates for this date put the Cities of Lower Hutt and Tauranga at over 100,000 residents for the first time and Waimakariri District at over 40,000

July

• 1 July: First sitting of the new Supreme Court.
• 10 July: Te Tai Hauauru by-election won by Tariana Turia for the new Māori Party.
• 15 July: 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal: New Zealand imposes diplomatic sanctions against Israel after two Israeli citizens are convicted of passport fraud.

August

• 2 August: Around 7,500 Destiny Church members march on Parliament in black shirts to protest liberal social policies.
• 15 August: Tornado in Waitara. Two fatalities when a farmhouse is destroyed.
• 19 August: Cereal maker Dick Hubbard announces he is running for the position of Mayor of Auckland.

October

• 6 October: Waikato Hospital doctors complete a 22-hour surgery to separate a pair of conjoined twins.
• 9 October: 2004 local body and health board elections completed, but not all of the counting; and some results need to wait for special votes. All three West Coast mayors unseated, along with several in more populous centres such as Auckland.
• 11 October: Disappearance under controversial circumstances of Iraena Asher at Piha, a West Auckland beach.

November

• 1 November: A reciprocal working holiday agreement between New Zealand and Belgium comes into effect.
• 18 November: Legislation passed vesting ownership of all land up to the high tide mark in New Zealand with the Crown.
• 23 November: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes south-west of the South Island.
• 29 November: The Criminal Records Act comes into force.

December

• 9 December: The Supreme Court of New Zealand granted Ahmed Zaoui bail. He will reside in the Dominican Friary in Auckland. He will have to report to the police twice a week and must spend each night in the friary.
• 9 December: The Civil Unions Act is passed. The Act establishes the new institution of civil union, available to same-sex and de facto couples.
• 10 December: Smoking is banned in workplaces or licensed premises.
• 26 December: 5 New Zealanders are among the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Undated

• National Communications Corporation Limited is founded.

Arts and literature

Awards

• Katherine Duignan wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Montana Book Awards 2004

• Deutz Medal for Fiction – Slow Water by Annamarie Jagose
• Montana Medal for Non-fiction – The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond
• Readers' Choice – Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King
• Poetry – Sing-song by Anne Kennedy
• History – The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond
• Lifestyle and contemporary culture – Classic fly fishing in New Zealand Rivers by David Hallett and John Kent
• Biography – Mason by Rachael Barrowman
• Illustrative – Central by Arno Gasteiger
• Reference & Anthology – Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English
• Environment – Deep New Zealand: Blue Water, Black Abyss by Peter Batson
• A.W. Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature – Joy Cowley

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

• Album of the Year: Scribe (rapper) – The Crusader
• Single of the Year: Scribe – Stand Up
• Best Group: Dimmer – You've Got To Hear The Music
• Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Brooke Fraser – What To Do With Daylight
• Best Male Solo Artist: Scribe – The Crusader
• Best Female Solo Artist: Brooke Fraser – What To Do With Daylight
• Highest Selling Nz Album: Hayley Westenra – Pure
• Highest Selling Nz Single: Ben Lummis – They Can't Take That Away
• Songwriter of the Year: Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage (rapper) – Not Many : The Remix!
• Best Music Video: Chris Graham – Stand Up
• Best Rock Album : Dimmer – You've Got To Hear The Music
• Best Urban/Hip Hop Album: Scribe – The Crusader
• Best Dance/Electronica Album: Salmonella Dub – One Drop East
• Best Maori Album: Ruia – Hawaiki
• Best Pacific Music Album: Te Vaka – Tutuki
• Best Jazz Album: The Rodger Fox Big Band – A Rare Connection
• Best Classical Album: John Psathas – Psathas : Fragments
• Best Gospel / Christian Album: Magnify – In Wonder
• International Achievement: Hayley Westenra
• People's Choice Award : Scribe
• Best Producer: P-Money – The Crusader
• Best Engineer: Chris Van De Geer – Passenger –
• Best Album Cover: Ben Sciascia – Postage
• Airplay Record of the Year : Goldenhorse – Maybe Tomorrow
• Best Country Music Album: Donna Dean – Money
• Best Country Music Song: Donna Dean – Work It Out
• Best Folk Album: Brendyn Montgomery And Mike Considine – Mountain Air
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Shaun Joyce

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Eldred Stebbing MNZM.

Television

• 28 March: Māori Television commences.
• 22 September: Animated series bro'Town premieres on TV3.
• ''The Insider's Guide To Happiness''

Film

• 29 February: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King wins all 11 Academy Awards for which it was nominated.
• Fracture
• In My Father's Den
• ''Kaikohe Demolition''

Internet

Sport

Athletics

• Dale Warrender wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:23:40 on 1 May in Rotorua, while Nyla Carroll claims her second in the women's championship.

Basketball

• The National Basketball League was won by the Auckland Stars who beat the Nelson Giants 80–68 in the final.
• The Women's National Basketball League was won by the Canterbury Wildcats who beat the Nelson Sparks 68–58 in the final.

Cricket

• The State Championship for 2003–04 was won by the Wellington Firebirds.
• In December Australia and New Zealand played a series of 3 one-day matches in Australia for the inaugural Chappell–Hadlee Trophy. After winning one game each, the decider was washed out by rain, so the trophy was shared.

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Just An Excuse – 2nd win
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Elsu – 2nd win

Olympic Games

• New Zealand sends a team of 148 competitors in 18 sports.

Paralympics

• New Zealand sends a team of 35 competitors across nine sports.

Rugby league

• Bartercard Cup won by the Mt Albert Lions

Rugby union

• June – July: 2004 Philips International Series: The All Blacks beat England 36–3, England 36–12, Argentina 41-7 and Pacific Islanders rugby union team 41–26.
• 17 July: The All Blacks beat Australia 16–7 at Westpac Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series
• 24 July: The All Blacks beat South Africa 23–21 at Jade Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series
• 7 August: The All Blacks lose 18–23 to Australia at Telstra Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series
• 14 August: The All Blacks lose 26–40 to South Africa at Ellis Park Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series
• 15 August: Bay of Plenty beat Auckland 33-28 to take the Ranfurly Shield
• 5 September: Canterbury beat Bay of Plenty 33-26 to take the Ranfurly Shield
• 13 November: The All Blacks beat Italy 59–10 at Stadio Flaminio as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe
• 20 November: The All Blacks beat Wales 26–25 at Millennium Stadium as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe
• 27 November: The All Blacks beat France 45–6 at Stade de France as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe
• 4 December: The All Blacks beat The Barbarians 47–9 at Twickenham as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt –
• * Edd Newman
• * John Whiteman, second, top New Zealander

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Miramar Rangers who beat Waitakere City F.C. 1–0 in the final after extra time.

Births

• 1 January – Sylvia Brunt, rugby union player
• 7 January – Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, rugby union player
• 8 February
• * Jorja Miller, rugby union player
• * Georgia Plimmer, cricketer
• 18 February – Isaiya Katoa, rugby league player
• 25 February – Cody Vai, rugby union player
• 3 March – Tanner Stowers-Smith, rugby league player
• 15 March – Demitric Sifakula, rugby league player
• 27 March – Jamal Todd, cricketer
• 8 April – Fran Jonas, cricketer
• 14 April – Keano Kini, rugby league player
• 15 April – Malachi Wrampling-Alec, rugby union player
• 22 April – Emma Findlay, field hockey player
• 23 April – Payton Spencer, rugby union player
• 8 May – Izzy Gaze, cricketer
• 10 May – Jenna Hastings, mountain biker
• 12 July – Laura Littlejohn, swimmer
• 14 August – Jay Herdman, association footballer
• 8 October – C'est La Guerre, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 14 October – Lewis Bower, cyclist
• 3 November – Auckland Reactor, Standardbred racehorse
• 1 December – Joshua Willmer, swimmer
• 18 December – Tristyn Cook, rugby union player

Exact date unlisted

• Allen Chi Zhou Fan, chess player
• Vyanla Punsalan, chess player

Deaths

January

• 11 January – Sir Peter Elworthy, farmer, farming leader, businessman
• 19 January – Murray Watkinson, rower
• 21 January – Jock Newall, association football player
• 25 January – Sonny Schmidt, bodybuilder
• 29 January – Janet Frame, writer

February

• 11 February – June Westbury, politician
• 14 February – Jock Butterfield, rugby league player
• 16 February – Don Cleverley, cricketer
• 17 February – Sir Peter Quilliam, jurist
• 21 February – Norval Morris, lawyer, criminologist, novelist
• 26 February – Roger Mirams, filmmaker
• 29 February – Graham Gordon, doctor

March

• 1 March – John Lithgow, politician
• 3 March – Susan Moller Okin, feminist political philosopher
• 4 March – Arthur Kinsella, politician
• 5 March – Martin Emond, cartoon illustrator and painter
• 8 March – Frank Mooney, cricketer
• 17 March – Sir William Pickering, rocket scientist
• 19 March – Chris Timms, sailor
• 30 March – Michael King, historian and biographer

April

• 6 April – Joan Monahan, swimmer, botanist and schoolteacher
• 16 April – John Caselberg, writer and poet

May

• 3 May – Rahera Windsor, founding member and kuia of Ngāti Rānana
• 15 May – Hector Wilson, rugby union player
• 17 May – Ken Mudford, motorcycle racer
• 19 May
• * Rowan Barbour, cricketer
• * Tim Hewat, television producer and journalist
• 21 May – Frank McMullen, rugby union player and referee
• 22 May – Wayne Kimber, politician

June

• 5 June – Jack Foster, athlete
• 24 June
• * Pat Kelly, trade union leader
• * Ron Sharp, farmer, inventor of the herringbone milking shed
• 25 June – Morton Coutts, inventor, brewer

July

• 5 July – Robert Burchfield, lexicographer
• 11 July – Sir Terry McLean, sports journalist and writer
• 22 July – Paul Clarkin, polo player
• 28 July
• * Graham Nuthall, educationist
• * Dame Janet Paul, publisher, painter and art historian
• 29 July – Maurice Dixon, rugby union player

August

• 14 August
• * Eric Petrie, cricketer
• * Sir Trevor Skeet, politician
• 21 August – Amelia Batistich, writer
• 23 August – Trevor Blake, cricketer
• 25 August – Roger Broughton, cricketer
• 26 August – Bill Marsters, Cook Islands religious leader

September

• 1 September – Sir Alan Stewart, university administrator
• 2 September – Alan Preston, association football player and cricketer
• 11 September – Ruth Symons, cricketer
• 20 September – Pat Hanly, painter
• 29 September – David Jackson, boxer

October

• 5 October – Maurice Wilkins, physicist and molecular biologist
• 10 October – Maurice Shadbolt, writer and playwright
• 23 October – George Silk, photojournalist

November

• 1 November – Barry Brown, boxer
• 7 November – Eddie Charlton, snooker and billiards player
• 8 November – Frank Houston, religious leader
• 12 November – Jim Eyles, archaeologist

December

• 8 December – Noel Mills, rower
• 11 December – Arthur Lydiard, athlete, athletics coach
• 17 December – Ray Dowker, cricketer and association football player
• 29 December – Liddy Holloway, actor and television scriptwriter