1989 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1989 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,369,800.
 * Increase since 31 December 1988: 24,600 (0.74%).
 * Males per 100 Females: 97.1.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Elizabeth II
 * Governor-General – The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO

Government
The 42nd New Zealand Parliament continued. The fourth Labour Party government was in power.
 * Speaker of the House – Kerry Burke
 * Prime Minister – David Lange then Geoffrey Palmer
 * Deputy Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer then Helen Clark
 * Minister of Finance – David Caygill
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Russell Marshall
 * Chief Justice – Sir Ronald Davison (until 4 February), Sir Thomas Eichelbaum (starting 4 February)

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger (National).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen then Margaret Evans
 * Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay then Vicki Buck
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs then Richard Walls

Events

 * First annual balance of payments surplus since 1973.
 * The Reserve Bank Act sets the role of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as maintaining price stability.
 * The Tomorrow's Schools reforms shift substantial financial and administrative responsibilities for managing schools to elected boards of trustees.
 * Local Government elections under a revised structure.
 * The Māori Fisheries Act passed.
 * The Sale of Liquor Act passed; it provided for supermarkets to sell wine (but not beer; this happened in 1999). Two amendments were also passed in 1989.
 * April – Swedish tourists Urban Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen disappear while backpacking in the Coromandel, leading to the largest land-based search undertaken in New Zealand.
 * 9–12 April – British Airways Concorde G-BOAF visits Christchurch Airport on a world tour.
 * 25 April – David Lange suggests New Zealand should withdraw from the ANZUS council.
 * 29 April – The Taranaki Herald publishes its last issue. The newspaper had published since 1852, and was New Zealand's oldest newspaper from 1935.
 * 1 May – Jim Anderton forms the NewLabour Party.
 * 7 August – David Lange resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand and is replaced by Geoffrey Palmer.
 * 26 November – TV3 begins broadcasting.
 * 28 November – The Abolition of the Death Penalty Act received Royal assent.
 * 10 December – Sunday trading begins.

Arts and literature

 * Renee wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1989 in art, 1989 in literature, Category:1989 books

New Zealand Music Awards
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.
 * Album of the Year: Margaret Urlich–Safety in Numbers
 * Fan Club – Respect The Beat
 * The Front Lawn – Songs from The Front Lawn
 * Single of the Year: Margaret Urlich – "Escaping"
 * Fan Club – I Feel Love
 * Double J and Twice the T/ Ray Columbus – She's A Mod
 * Best Male Vocalist: Tim Finn
 * Howard Morrison
 * Barry Saunders
 * Best Female Vocalist: Margaret Urlich
 * Moana Jackson
 * Aishah
 * Best Group: When The Cat's Away
 * The Warratahs
 * The Fan Club
 * Most Promising Male Vocalist: Paul Ubana Jones
 * Greg Johnson
 * Darren Watson
 * Most Promising Female Vocalist: Janet Roddick
 * Belinda Bradley
 * Julie Collier
 * Most Promising Group: The Front Lawn
 * Double J and Twice the T
 * Upper Hutt Posse
 * International Achievement: The Front Lawn
 * Kiri Te Kanawa
 * Straitjacket Fits
 * Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry: Tony Vercoe
 * Best Video: Paul Middleditch / Polly Walker / Debbie Watson – I Feel Love (Fan Club)
 * Warrick (Waka) Attewell – St Peter's Rendezvous (Barry Saunders)
 * Tony Johns – She's A Mod/ Mod RAP (Double J and Twice the T)
 * Best Film Soundtrack / Compilation: The Front Lawn – Songs From The Front Lawn
 * Rahda and the Brats -Kid in the Middle
 * Various – This Is The Moment
 * Best Producer: Ian Morris – Nobody Else
 * Mike Chunn – All Wrapped Up
 * Ross McDermott/Annie Crummer – Melting Pot (When The Cat's Away)
 * Best Engineer: Nigel Stone/ Tim Farrant – Everything Will Be Alright
 * DC Bell – Please Say Something
 * Nick Morgan – Melting Pot
 * Best Jazz Album: No Award
 * Best Classical Album: Stanley Friedman – The Lyric Trumpet
 * Various Artists – Bold is Brass
 * Michael Houston – Scriabin/ Chopin
 * Best Folk Album: Paul Ubana Jones – Paul Ubana Jones
 * Phil Powers – The Light of the Lions Eye
 * Phil Garland – Wind in the Tussock
 * Best Gospel Album: Stephen Bell-Booth–Shelter
 * Guy Wishart – Another Day in Paradise
 * Steve Apirana – Steve Apirana
 * Best Polynesian Album: Howard Morrison – Tukua Ahau
 * Moana & The Moa Hunters – Pupurutia
 * Black Katz Trust – Ko Wai Ka Hua
 * Best Songwriter: Barry Saunders – St Peters Rendezvous
 * Tim Finn – Parihaka
 * Don McGlashan / Harry Sinclair – Andy
 * Best Cover: Polly Walker / Debbie Watson – Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich)
 * Gavin Blake – Workshop
 * Anthony Donaldson/ Cadre Communications- The Hills Are Alive

See: 1989 in music

Performing arts

 * Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Sylvia Rielly.

Radio and television

 * 3 April: Paul Holmes makes his first broadcast.
 * 1 July: The Broadcasting Act 1989 removes restriction of broadcasting. The public broadcasting fee of NZ$110 per annum is established.
 * 1 July: The Dunedin station is reduced to the Natural History Unit.
 * 6 November: Channel 2 introduces morning television by commencing transmission at 6.30am weekdays and 7am weekends.
 * 26 November: TV3 begins broadcasting with a two-hour preview show, with regular programming to follow at 7am the next morning.

See: 1989 in New Zealand television, 1989 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1989 film awards, 1989 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1989 films

Athletics

 * Paul Ballinger wins his fourth national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:21 on 29 April in Rotorua, while Bernardine Portenski claims her first in the women's championship (2:46:02).

Deaflympics

 * The XVI World Games for the Deaf were held in Christchurch from 7 to 17 January.

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup: Inky Lord
 * Auckland Trotting Cup: Neroship

Shooting

 * Ballinger Belt – Ken Meade (Petone)

Soccer

 * The Chatham Cup is won by Christchurch United who beat Rotorua City 7–1 in the final.

January

 * 1 January – Willie Isa, rugby league player
 * 3 January
 * Ben Matulino, rugby league player
 * Ben O'Keeffe, rugby union referee
 * 6 January – Peter Betham, rugby union player
 * 8 January – Aaron Cruden, rugby union player
 * 18 January – Bryce Heem, rugby union player
 * 20 January – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, rugby league player
 * 21 January
 * Brayden Mitchell, rugby union player
 * Dominique Peyroux, rugby league player
 * Nafi Tuitavake, rugby union player
 * 26 January
 * Nicole Lewis, water polo player
 * Shaun Treeby, rugby union player
 * 28 January – Emma Crum, road cyclist
 * 29 January – Bradley Rodden, cricketer

February

 * 1 February – Robert Eastham, sport shooter
 * 2 February
 * Shane Archbold, racing cyclist
 * Codey Rei, rugby union player
 * 6 February – Greg Morgan, cricketer
 * 7 February – Hayley Saunders, netball player
 * 8 February – Zac Guildford, rugby union player
 * 9 February – Frae Wilson, rugby union player
 * 12 February – Ellen Barry, tennis player
 * 13 February – Daniel Faleafa, rugby union player
 * 14 February – Sam Johnson, community activist
 * 16 February
 * Phillipa Gray, Paralympic track cyclist
 * Ria van Dyke, beauty pageant contestant
 * 19 February – Olivia Jobsis, artistic gymnast
 * 21 February – Gareth Dawson, basketball player
 * 24 February – Germaine Tang, rhythmic gymnast
 * 28 February – Kevin Proctor, rugby league player

March

 * 2 March – James So'oialo, rugby union player
 * 10 March – Reta Trotman, road cyclist
 * 11 March
 * Annabelle Carey, swimmer
 * Tom Taylor, rugby union player
 * 14 March – Katie Glynn, field hockey player
 * 16 March – Patrick Leafa, rugby union player
 * 17 March – Richard Kingi, rugby union player
 * 20 March
 * Karl Bryson, rugby union player
 * Andrew Pohl, cross-country skier
 * 24 March – Leighton Price, rugby union player
 * 27 March – Camilla Lees, netball player
 * 28 March – Rachel Mercer, road cyclist
 * 30 March – Adam McGeorge, association footballer

April

 * 3 April – Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, netball player
 * 4 April – Kevin Locke, rugby league player
 * 6 April – Joe Matapuku, rugby league player
 * 7 April – Michael Guptill-Bunce, cricketer
 * 15 April – Arana Taumata, rugby league player
 * 17 April – Fa'atiga Lemalu, rugby union player
 * 19 April – Lauren Ellis, track cyclist
 * 22 April – Arun Panchia, field hockey player
 * 26 April – Lucy Talbot, field hockey player
 * 27 April – Hamish Rutherford, cricketer
 * 30 April – Milo Cawthorne, actor

May

 * 3 May – Jesse Bromwich, rugby league player
 * 6 May – Rocky Khan, rugby union player
 * 8 May
 * Tinirau Arona, rugby league player
 * Hayley Palmer, swimmer
 * 9 May – Shane van Gisbergen, motor racing driver
 * 10 May – Sean Reidy, rugby union player
 * 11 May – Te Amo Amaru-Tibble, basketball and netball player
 * 14 May – Vanessa Vandy, pole vaulter
 * 15 May – Bailey Junior Kurariki, convicted criminal
 * 17 May – Mose Masoe, rugby league player
 * 21 May – Emily Robins, actor
 * 27 May
 * Richard Buckman, rugby union player
 * Bailey Mes, netball player
 * 31 May – Chase Stanley, rugby league player

June

 * 2 June – Willy Moon, musician
 * 7 June – James Hamilton, snowboarder
 * 9 June – Baden Kerr, rugby union player
 * 10 June – William Whetton, rugby union player
 * 12 June – Tim Nanai-Williams, rugby union player
 * 15 June – Katie Pearce, rhythmic gymnast
 * 21 June – Albert Anae, rugby union player
 * 23 June – Lisa Carrington, flatwater canoer

July

 * 5 July – Lizzie Marvelly, singer, songwriter
 * 9 July
 * Ella Gunson, field hockey player
 * Claire Kersten, netball player
 * 13 July – Joel Abraham, cricketer
 * 19 July – Sam McKendry, rugby league player
 * 21 July
 * Jordan Selwyn, actor
 * Maama Vaipulu, rugby union player
 * 22 July – Trent Boult, cricketer
 * 25 July – Blair Tuke, sailor
 * 27 July
 * Penelope Marshall, swimmer
 * Jason Schirnack, rugby league player
 * 31 July – Charlotte Harrison, field hockey player

August

 * 3 August – Teddy Stanaway, rugby union player
 * 11 August – Eddie Dawkins, track cyclist
 * 13 August – Greg Draper, association footballer
 * 15 August
 * Kendall Brown, snowboarder
 * Jordan Rapana, rugby league player
 * 16 August – Alistair Bond, rower
 * 21 August – Natasha Hind, swimmer
 * 22 August – Robbie Robinson, rugby union player
 * 23 August – George Worker, cricketer
 * 31 August – James Lassche, rower

September

 * 1 September – Sophie Devine, cricketer and field hockey player
 * 4 September – Elliot Dixon, rugby union player
 * 8 September – Jessica McCormack, basketball and netball player
 * 11 September – Brendon O'Connor, rugby union player
 * 13 September – Kenny Edwards, rugby league player
 * 14 September
 * Constantine Mika, rugby league player
 * Pana Hema Taylor, actor
 * 15 September
 * David Ambler, sprint athlete
 * Chetan Ramlu, musician
 * 16 September – Nick Beard, cricketer
 * 19 September
 * Marty Banks, rugby union player
 * Belgium Tuatagaloa, rugby union player
 * 20 September – Evan Williams, squash player
 * 21 September – Sandor Earl, rugby league player
 * 23 September – Michael Arms, rower
 * 24 September
 * Cathryn Finlayson, field hockey player
 * Leilani Van Dieren, rhythmic gymnast

October

 * 7 October – Ben Botica, rugby union player
 * 8 October – Sione Lousi, rugby league player
 * 9 October – Russell Packer, rugby league player
 * 10 October – Andrew Mathieson, cricketer
 * 11 October – Robbie Manson, rower
 * 12 October – Sarah Miller, artistic gymnast
 * 13 October – Izaac Williams, basketball player
 * 15 October – Dominic Storey, motor racing driver
 * 19 October – Junior Fa, boxer
 * 21 October – Ivana Palezevic, actor
 * 23 October – Lauren Sieprath, water polo player
 * 25 October – Tim Bond, rugby union player
 * 28 October
 * Kelly Brazier, rugby union player
 * Claire Broadbent, rhythmic gymnast
 * Sam Dickson, rugby union player

November

 * 1 November – Alehana Mara, rugby league player
 * 2 November – Michael Pollard, cricketer
 * 3 November – The Phantom Chance, Thoroughbred racehorse
 * 8 November – Jessica Moulds, netball player
 * 9 November – Marcus Daniell, tennis player
 * 10 November – Brendon Hartley, motor racing driver
 * 12 November – Dean Robinson, cricketer
 * 13 November – Alex Feneridis, association footballer
 * 14 November
 * Jake Robertson, athlete
 * Zane Robertson, athlete
 * 15 November – Natasha Hansen, track cyclist
 * 15 November – Courtney Abbot, actor
 * 18 November – Brady Barnett, cricketer
 * 19 November – Andrew Marck, baseball player
 * 20 November – Abby Erceg, association footballer
 * 29 November – Jonathon Bassett-Graham, cricketer

December

 * 2 December – Jack Wilson, rugby union player
 * 4 December – Buxton Popoali'i, rugby union player
 * 7 December – Ria Percival, association footballer
 * 8 December
 * Jono Lester, motor racing driver
 * Jesse Sene-Lefao, rugby league player
 * 14 December – Amini Fonua, swimmer
 * 15 December
 * David Ambler, track athlete
 * Ian Hogg, association footballer
 * 20 December – Leeson Ah Mau, rugby league player
 * 21 December – Ashley Smallfield, water polo player
 * 22 December – Josh Junior, sailor
 * 29 December – Michael Stanley, rugby union player

Exact date unknown

 * Ben Sanders, crime writer
 * Owen Walker, computer hacker

January–March

 * 8 January – Giovanni Cataldo, fisherman, search & rescue organiser (born 1927)
 * 21 January – Tiny Leys, rugby union player (born 1907)
 * 22 January – Fred Ladd, aviator (born 1908)
 * 29 January – Seton Otway, racehorse owner and breeder (born 1894)
 * 2 February
 * Harry Highet, engineer, designer of the P-class yacht (born 1892)
 * Sir Arnold Nordmeyer, politician (born 1901)
 * 9 February – Bill Dalley, rugby union player and administrator (born 1901)
 * 13 February – Archie Strang. rugby union player (born 1906)
 * 15 February – Hōri Ngata, lexicographer, local-body politician (born 1919)
 * 20 February – Stuart Black, athlete (born 1908)
 * 24 February – Leila Hurle, educator, school inspector (born 1901)
 * 4 March
 * Harold Miller, librarian, historian (born 1898)
 * Randolph Rose, athlete (born 1901)
 * 7 March – Nevile Lodge, cartoonist (born 1918)
 * 8 March – Alf Budd, rugby union player (born 1922)

April–June

 * 2 April – Sir James Henare, soldier, Ngāpuhi leader (born 1911)
 * 6 April – Marjorie Chambers, nurse, nursing tutor and administrator (born 1906)
 * 13 April – Frank Hofmann, photographer, musician (born 1916)
 * 22 April
 * Mary Campbell, librarian, Quaker (born 1907)
 * Vi Farrell, cricketer (born 1913)
 * 23 April – Rupert Worker, cricketer (born 1896)
 * 30 April – Nelson Dalzell, rugby union player (born 1921)
 * 2 May – Freddie French, rugby league player (born 1911)
 * 5 May – Dame Sister Mary Leo, music teacher (born 1895)
 * 13 May – Sir Lance Cross, basketball player, sports administrator and broadcaster (born 1912)
 * 4 June – Vernon Cracknell, politician (born 1912)
 * 12 June – Cath Vautier, netball player, coach and administrator (born 1902)
 * 26 June – Earle Riddiford, lawyer and mountaineer (born 1921)

July–September

 * 1 July
 * Eric Holland, politician (born 1921)
 * Olga Sansom, botanist, broadcaster, museum director (born 1900)
 * 15 July – Jack Scholes, sailor (born 1917)
 * 14 August – Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, politician, mayor of Auckland (1968–80) (born 1901)
 * 28 August – Sir Robert Macintosh, anaesthetist (born 1897)
 * 1 September – Mac Cooper, agricultural scientist (born 1910)
 * 4 September – Sir Ronald Syme, historian (born 1903)
 * 11 September
 * Roy Traill, wildlife ranger (born 1892)
 * Freddie Wood, historian (born 1903)
 * 14 September – Eddie McLeod, cricketer (born 1900)
 * 15 September – Harry Cave, cricketer (born 1922)
 * 18 September – Sir Peter Phipps, military leader (born 1908)

October–December

 * 1 October – David Penman, Anglican archbishop (born 1936)
 * 2 October – Bert Grenside, rugby union player (born 1899)
 * 7 October
 * Keith Elliott, soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross (born 1916)
 * Pat Twohill, actor and radio announcer (born 1915)
 * 11 October – Joe Procter, rugby union player (born 1906)
 * 14 October – Rodney Kennedy, artist, art critic, pacifist (born 1909)
 * 23 October – Howard Alloo, cricketer (born 1895)
 * 24 October – Eileen Soper, journalist, writer, Girl Guide commissioner (born 1900)
 * 26 October – Andrew Roberts, cricketer (born 1947)
 * 18 November – Pat Hond, police officer, teacher, Taranaki Māori leader (born 1927)
 * 25 November – Kōhine Pōnika, composer of waiata Māori (born 1920)
 * 28 November
 * Beethoven Algar, rugby union player (born 1894)
 * Stan Cawtheray, association footballer (born 1906)
 * 30 November – Wiremu Heke, rugby union player (born 1894)
 * 2 December – Norman Davis, English language and literature academic (born 1913)
 * 8 December – Jack Rankin, rugby union player and coach (born 1914)
 * 9 December – Brett Austin, swimmer (born 1959)
 * 13 December – Peter de la Mare, physical organic chemist (born 1920)
 * 27 December – Ron Ulmer, track cyclist (born 1913)