1989 in New Zealand television

This is a list of New Zealand television-related events in 1989.

Events

 * October – Network Two is renamed to Channel 2.
 * 26 November – TV3 is launched in New Zealand.
 * 27 November – American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles based on the comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird begins airing on TV3.
 * 2 December – American sitcom Family Matters begins premiering on New Zealand television on TV3 three months after its US television debut.
 * 5 December – Australian soap Home and Away makes its ever debut in New Zealand with the series transmitting on TV3.
 * 8 December – The final editions of Top Half (Auckland) and Today Tonight (Wellington) were broadcast on Channel 2 at 5.45pm.

Domestic

 * 13 February – After 2 (Network Two) (1989-1991)
 * 13 February – 3:45 Live (Network Two) (1989-1990)
 * 3 April – Holmes (TV One) (1989-2004)
 * 3 April – Sale of the Century (Network Two) (1989-1993)
 * 5 April – Shark in the Park (TV One) (1989-1991)
 * 18 June – Strangers (Network Two) (1989)
 * 9 July – The Shadow Trader (Network Two) (1989)
 * 30 October – Blind Date (Channel 2) (1989-1991)
 * 27 November – The Early Bird Show (TV3) (1989-1992)
 * Betty's Bunch (1989)
 * 14 Days on Trial (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
 * Your Choice (Channel 2) (1989)
 * Space Knights (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
 * Night of the Red Hunter (1989)

International

 * 8 January – 🇺🇸 Probe (Network Two)
 * 13 January – The Survival Factor (Network Two)
 * 12 February – 🇨🇦 The Adventures of Snelgrove Snail (TV One)
 * 12 February – TUGS (TV One)
 * 1 April – 🇺🇸 TV 101 (Network Two)
 * 1 April – 🇺🇸 AlfTales (TV One)
 * 5 April – 🇺🇸 Dear John (USA) (Network Two)
 * 5 April – No Frills (TV One)
 * 6 April – Stoppit and Tidyup (TV One)
 * 7 April – 🇺🇸 Mission: Impossible (1988) (Network Two)
 * 27 April – Count Duckula (Channel 2)
 * 29 April – Saturday Night Clive (TV One)
 * 7 May – Tube Mice (TV One)
 * 7 May –  Tumbledown Farm (TV One)
 * 16 May – Charlie Chalk (TV One)
 * 2 July –  Gran (TV One)
 * 1 September – 🇺🇸 Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (TV One)
 * 3 September – 🇺🇸 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV One)
 * 27 November – 🇺🇸 Garfield and Friends (TV3)
 * 27 November – 🇺🇸 The Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (TV3)
 * 27 November – 🇺🇸 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (TV3)
 * 27 November – 🇦🇺 The Shiralee (TV3)
 * 28 November – 🇺🇸 The Nutt House (TV3)
 * 1 December – 🇺🇸 In the Heat of the Night (TV3)
 * 2 December – 🇺🇸 Mighty Mouse and Friends (TV3)
 * 2 December – 🇺🇸 Family Matters (TV3)
 * 2 December – 🇺🇸 Midnight Caller (TV3)
 * 2 December – 🇺🇸 High Mountain Rangers (TV3)
 * 3 December – 🇺🇸 Murphy Brown (TV3)
 * 5 December – 🇦🇺 Home and Away (TV3)
 * 7 December – 🇺🇸 Houston Knights (TV3)
 * 8 December – 🇺🇸 Empty Nest (TV3)
 * 8 December – 🇦🇺 Hey Dad..! (TV3)
 * 8 December – 🇦🇺 Rafferty's Rules (TV3)
 * 🇺🇸 Nightingales (Channel 2)
 * Surgical Spirit (TV One)
 * 🇺🇸 Island Son (Channel 2)
 * A Bit of a Do (TV One)
 * Colin's Sandwich (TV One)
 * 🇺🇸 China Beach (Channel 2)
 * Streets Apart (TV One)
 * 🇺🇸 Doctor Doctor (Channel 2)
 * Gruey (Channel 2)
 * 🇺🇸 Unsub (Channel 2)
 * Joint Account (TV One)
 * 🇺🇸 Day by Day (Channel 2)
 * 🇺🇸 Annie McGuire (Channel 2)
 * Rockliffe's Folly (TV One)
 * 🇺🇸 Paradise (Channel 2)
 * Hannay (TV One)
 * 🇦🇺 Dadah is Death (Channel 2)
 * 🇺🇸 Baby Boom (Channel 2)
 * 🇦🇺 The Comedy Company (Channel 2)
 * 🇺🇸/🇫🇷 Denver, the Last Dinosaur (Channel 2)
 * Round the Bend (Channel 2)
 * 🇺🇸 Hothouse (Channel 2)
 * /🇺🇸 Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories (Channel 2)

New channels

 * 26 November – TV3

Changes to network affiliation
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on a New Zealand television network that had previously premiered on another New Zealand television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after previously premiering on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.

Television shows

 * Play School (1972–1990)
 * University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
 * What Now (1981–present)
 * Gloss (1987–1990)
 * Betty's Bunch (1989)
 * Blind Date (1989–1991)
 * The Early Bird Show (1989–1992)
 * Shark in the Park (1989–1992)
 * After 2 (1989–1991)
 * 3:45 Live (1989–1990)

Ending this year

 * 16 April – Worzel Gummidge Down Under (also United Kingdom) (1987–1989)
 * 5 November – University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
 * Betty's Bunch (1989)