2021 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 2021 in New Zealand.

Regal and vice-regal

 * Head of State – Elizabeth II
 * Governor-General – Patsy Reddy until 28 September, and then Cindy Kiro from 21 October

Government
Legislature term: 53rd New Zealand Parliament

The Sixth Labour Government, elected in 2020, continues.
 * Speaker of the House – Trevor Mallard
 * Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern
 * Deputy Prime Minister – Grant Robertson
 * Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins
 * Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Nanaia Mahuta

Other party leaders in parliament

 * National – Judith Collins until 25 November, then Christopher Luxon from 30 November (leader of the Opposition)
 * Green –  James Shaw and Marama Davidson
 * ACT – David Seymour
 * Māori Party – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Judiciary

 * Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann
 * President of the Court of Appeal – Stephen Kós
 * Chief High Court judge – Susan Thomas
 * Chief District Court judge – Heemi Taumaunu

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Phil Goff
 * Mayor of Tauranga – Tina Salisbury (acting), then Anne Tolley (as chair of commissioners) from 9 February
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Paula Southgate
 * Mayor of Wellington – Andy Foster
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Aaron Hawkins

January

 * 29 December 2020 to 3 January – Riots between inmates and prison guards at Waikeria Prison, causing major fire damage to the complex.
 * 1 January – A bomb threat closes Gisborne Airport, causing evacuations and delayed flights.

February

 * 2 February – Lead is found in water of two Otago towns, Waikouaiti and Karitāne.
 * 9 February:
 * Māori Party co-leader and Member of Parliament Rawiri Waititi is not allowed to speak because he was wearing a traditional pendant rather than a tie.
 * The Minister of Local Government appoints a Crown commission chaired by Anne Tolley to take over all of Tauranga City Council's governance responsibilities, including the vacant position of mayor.


 * 13 February – The Government pays NZ$40 million in compensation to 212 kiwifruit orchardists and Te Puke–based post harvest operator Seeka in order to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the Government was liable for losses caused by a Pseudomonas syringae (PSA) outbreak in 2010.
 * 15 February – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves to Alert Level 3, while the rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2.
 * 17 February – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves to Alert Level 2 from midnight while the rest of New Zealand reverts to Alert Level 1 from midnight.
 * 21 February – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves to Alert Level 1 at midnight.
 * 27 February – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves back into an Alert Level 3 lockdown for the next seven days while the rest of New Zealand moves back to an Alert Level 2.

March

 * 2 March – the Government announces a review into drug-purchasing agency Pharmac's timeliness and decision-making process.
 * 5 March:
 * A tsunami warning is issued following a 7.1M at 2.27am near East Cape and Gisborne.
 * A 7.4M earthquake at 6.40am hits the Kermadec Islands.
 * A tsunami threat and warning is issued for New Zealand after a 8.1M earthquake in the Kermadec Islands. The Beehive Bunker has been activated. Tsunami land threat was dropped at 1.20pm by GNS to a beach and marine threat. The national tsunami advisory was later dropped at 3.43pm.
 * COVID-19 in New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern announces that Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 lockdown from Alert Level 3, with the rest of New Zealand moving down to Alert Level 1, at 6am, on 7 March. The Ardern ministry will review the alert level of Auckland at the start of the weekend following the alert downgrade.
 * 7 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves to Alert Level 2, with the rest of New Zealand moving to Alert Level 1.
 * 12 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Auckland moves to Alert Level 1 at midday.

April

 * 19 April – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Quarantine-free travel with Australia begins.
 * April – New Zealand's longest running television advertisement of Auckland Glass stops. It first aired in 1996.

May

 * 10 May – Four people are injured during a stabbing attack at a Countdown supermarket in central Dunedin
 * 17 May – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Quarantine-free travel with the Cook Islands begins.
 * 20 May – The 2021 Budget is delivered.
 * 24 May – Dame Cindy Kiro is announced as the next Governor-General.
 * 30 May – A state of emergency is announced in Ashburton, Selwyn and Timaru districts as torrential rain hits the Canterbury region.

June

 * 7 June – The 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours are announced.
 * 19 June – A tornado hit the southern Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe, killing one man and injuring two others.
 * 22 June – COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand pauses the travel bubble with New South Wales as cases of COVID-19 surge in Sydney.
 * 23 June – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The Wellington Region moves to Alert Level 2, following a positive case of the delta variant who flew to Wellington from Sydney. No outbreak occurred.
 * 29 June – A state of emergency is declared in Wellington due to "coastal hazards".

July

 * 2 July – The government releases the dates of the Matariki public holiday for the next thirty years.
 * 16 July:
 * A state of emergency is declared in the Buller District due to flooding. An emergency is declared in Marlborough the following day.
 * Farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ stage the nationwide "Howl of a Protest" campaign to protest the Government's freshwater, biodiversity, winter grazing, climate change, and Clean Car Package rebate scheme.
 * 23 July – New Zealand athletes begin competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

August

 * 8 August – New Zealand athletes finish competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
 * 17 August – COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand enters Alert Level 4, following a positive case of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Auckland.
 * 24 August to 5 September 2021 – Athletes compete at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

September

 * 1 September – COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand except for Auckland and Northland moved to Alert Level 3.
 * 3 September – Seven people are injured during a stabbing attack at a Countdown supermarket in LynnMall, West Auckland. The attacker was shot and killed by police.
 * 8 September – COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand except for Auckland moved to Alert Level 2.
 * 14 September – The Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori) launch a petition to rename the official name of the nation to Aotearoa and restore Māori placenames by 2026.
 * 16 September – Three daughters are murdered by their mother, Lauren Dickason.
 * September – The average New Zealand house price passes $1 million for the first time.

October

 * 21 October:
 * Dame Cindy Kiro is sworn in as the 22nd Governor-General of New Zealand.
 * Prime Minister Ardern announces an agreement on a New Zealand–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement, promising zero-tariffs and a $970m economic boost.
 * October – The last demolition in Christchurch's residential red zone is completed.

November

 * 4 November – A state of emergency is declared in Tairawhiti due to flooding.
 * 25 November – Judith Collins loses a confidence vote as leader of the National Party after her handling over a historic allegation regarding Simon Bridges. Shane Reti becomes interim leader.
 * 30 November – Christopher Luxon is elected leader of the National Party.

December

 * 2 December – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The alert level system is dropped in favour of the new traffic light system at 11:59 pm. Northland, Auckland, Taupō, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Whanganui and Ruapehu regions initially moved to 'Red' while the rest of the country was moved into 'Orange.'
 * 16 December – The 2021 New Zealand bravery awards are announced.
 * 31 December – The 2022 New Year Honours are announced.

Holidays and observances
Public holidays in New Zealand in 2021 are as follows:  
 * 1 January – New Year's Day
 * 2 January – Day after New Year's Day
 * 4 January – Day after New Year's Day observed
 * 6 February – Waitangi Day
 * 8 February – Waitangi Day observed
 * 2 April – Good Friday
 * 5 April – Easter Monday
 * 25 April – Anzac Day
 * 26 April – Anzac Day observed
 * 7 June – Queen's Birthday
 * 25 October – Labour Day
 * 25 December – Christmas Day
 * 26 December – Boxing Day
 * 27 December – Christmas Day observed
 * 28 December – Boxing Day observed

Harness racing

 * Auckland Cup – cancelled due to COVID-19
 * New Zealand Cup – Copy That
 * Rowe Cup – Sundees Son

Thoroughbred racing

 * Auckland Cup – Ocean Billy
 * New Zealand Cup – Mondorani
 * Wellington Cup – Waisake

Olympics

 * New Zealand sends a team of 225 competitors across 21 sports.
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Paralympics

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Rowing

 * New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup)
 * Maadi Cup (boys' U18 eight) – Christ's College
 * Levin Jubilee Cup (girls' U18 eight) – Rangi Ruru Girls' School
 * Star Trophy (overall points) – Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Shooting

 * Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke)

January

 * 6 January – Alan Burgess, cricketer (Canterbury), world's oldest living first-class cricketer (since 2020) (born 1920).
 * 8 January
 * John Hicks, Olympic field hockey player (1968) (born 1938).
 * Stewart McKnight, cricketer (Otago) and curler (born 1935).
 * 12 January – John Ward, cricketer (Canterbury, national team) (born 1937).
 * 15 January – Bill Whitehead, rugby league manager (born 1931).
 * 17 January – Tom Prebble, educationalist and university administrator (Massey University) (born 1945).
 * 18 January – Ash Gardiner, rugby union player (Taranaki, national team) (born 1946).
 * 20 January
 * Doug Bowden, cricketer (Central Districts) (born 1927).
 * Bill Sheat, lawyer and arts advocate (born 1930).
 * 23 January – Phil Bishop, herpetologist (University of Otago) (born 1957).
 * 26 January
 * Ben Te Haara, Māori Anglican priest, Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau (1992–2001) ((born 1932).
 * Peter Thorburn, rugby union player (Auckland) and coach (North Harbour, national sevens team, United States national team) (born 1939).
 * Peter Vere-Jones, actor (Pukemanu, Shortland Street, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) (born 1939).
 * 30 January – Bill Hammond, artist (born 1947).

February

 * 3 February – Peter Nicholls, sculptor (Toroa) (born 1936).
 * 4 February – Solomon Faine, microbiologist (Monash University) (born 1926).
 * 6 February – Bruce Taylor, cricketer (Canterbury, Wellington, national team) (born 1943).
 * 22 February – Peter Rattray, cricketer (Canterbury) (born 1958).

March

 * 3 March – Jonathan Temm, lawyer, president of the New Zealand Law Society (2010–2013), Queen's Counsel (since 2019) (born 1962).
 * 5 March – Francis Small, civil engineer and scouting leader, managing director of New Zealand Rail / Tranz Rail (1972–2000), president of IPENZ (1996–1997), Bronze Wolf Award (1999) (born 1946).
 * 12 March – Avenal McKinnon, art historian and writer, director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery (2005–2014) (born 1949).
 * 15 March – Miriama Rauhihi Ness, Māori activist (Ngā Tamatoa, Polynesian Panthers) and social worker (born 1951).
 * 18 March – David Braithwaite, property developer and local politician, Mayor of Hamilton (2001–2004) (born 1937).

April

 * 3 April – John Edgar, sculptor and medallist (born 1950).
 * 8 April – John da Silva, Olympic (1956) and British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1958) wrestler, boxer and youth worker (born 1934).
 * 15 April – Leon van den Eijkel, artist (born 1940).
 * 17 April – John Ogilvie, cricketer (Wellington) (born 1931).
 * 18 April
 * Mary Earle, food technologist (Massey University) (born 1929).
 * Iain Gallaway, cricketer (Otago), rugby union referee, lawyer and sports commentator, president of New Zealand Cricket (1997–2000), chair of the Broadcasting Standards Authority (1989–1995) (born 1922).
 * 19 April – Mike Dormer, cricketer (Auckland) (born 1937).
 * 20 April – Karen Trillo, Commonwealth Games lawn bowls player (1998, 2010) (born 1959).
 * 27 April – Dave Cull, television presenter (Home Front), writer, and local politician, mayor of Dunedin (2010–2019) (born 1950).

May

 * 3 May – Steve McKean, basketball coach (national team) (born c. 1944).
 * 4 May – Margaret Forsyth, world champion netball player (1979, 1987), netball coach (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic) and local politician, Hamilton city councillor (2010–2016, since 2019) (born 1961).
 * 8 May
 * George Skudder, rugby union player (Waikato, New Zealand Māori, national team) (born 1948).
 * Rana Waitai, politician, MP for Te Puku O Te Whenua (1996–1999) (born 1942).
 * 10 May – Jenny King, librarian (University of Waikato) (born 1929).
 * 14 May – David McPhail, comedian (A Week of It), actor (Letter to Blanchy, Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby) and writer (Letter to Blanchy) (born 1945).
 * 15 May – Emily Mair, opera singer, pianist, and vocal coach (Victoria University of Wellington) (born 1928).
 * 17 May
 * Nan Kinross, nurse and nursing academic (Massey University) (born 1926).
 * Janet Shackleton, hurdler, British Empire Games bronze medallist (1950) (born 1928).
 * 21 May – Merv Norrish, diplomat and public servant, ambassador to the United States (1978–1980), secretary of foreign affairs (1980–1988) (born 1926).
 * 23 May – Ross Taylor, geochemist and planetary scientist (Australian National University) (born 1925).

June

 * 1 June – Ian Shearer, politician, MP for Hamilton East (1975–1984), Minister for the Environment (1981–1984), Minister of Science and Technology (1981–1984), Minister of Broadcasting (1981–1984) (born 1941).
 * 2 June
 * Vonnie Cave, photographer, camellia grower and gardening writer (born 1928).
 * Les Rackley, boxing trainer (Jeff Rackley, Les Rackley) (born 1929).
 * 4 June – Tilly Hirst, world champion netball player (1967) (born 1941).
 * 7 June – Richard Nunns, Hall of Fame traditional Māori instrumental musician (born 1945).
 * 9 June
 * Shane Dowsett, rugby league player (Otahuhu, Auckland, national team) (born c. 1947).
 * Steve Mrkusic, architect (born 1928).
 * 11 June
 * Dame Georgina Kirby, Māori leader and women's advocate, president of the Māori Women's Welfare League (1983–1987) (born 1936).
 * Ron Sang, architect (Brian Brake House), art collector (born 1938).
 * 12 June – Robert Edgcumbe, 8th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, peer (born 1939).
 * 14 June
 * Sir Eion Edgar, Hall of Fame businessman and philanthropist (Edgar Centre), chancellor of the University of Otago (1999–2003), Senior New Zealander of the Year (2010) (born 1945).
 * Sir Ian Hassall, paediatrician and children's advocate, Children's Commissioner (1989–1994) (born 1941).
 * 16 June – John Osmers, Anglican priest and anti-apartheid activist, Bishop of Eastern Zambia (1995–2002) (born 1935).
 * 17 June – Fane Flaws, musician (Blerta, The Spats, The Crocodiles), songwriter and artist (born 1951).
 * 19 June – Colin Loader, rugby union player (Wellington, national team) (born 1931).
 * 20 June – Frank Albrechtsen, association footballer (national team) (born 1932).
 * 24 June – Tom Flaws, cricketer (Otago) (born 1932).
 * 25 June – John Sigley, cricketer (Wellington) (born 1931).

July

 * 5 July – Vivienne Cassie Cooper, planktologist and botanist (DSIR) (born 1926).
 * 6 July – Mary Fama, applied mathematician (DSIR, CSIRO) (born 1938).
 * 9 July
 * Betty Gilderdale, children's author, Margaret Mahy Award (1994), Children's Literature Association Award for Services to Children's Literature (1999) (born 1923).
 * Ngaire Lane, Olympic swimmer (1948) (born 1925).
 * 11 July – George Petersen, biochemist (University of Otago), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1985), Rutherford Medal (2003) (born 1933).
 * 15 July – Bruce Watt, rugby union player (Wanganui, Canterbury, national team) and coach (born 1939).
 * 17 July – Jonathan White, landscape artist and conservationist (born 1938).
 * 18 July – Philip Sherry, newsreader (NZBC and TV One Network News, Morning Report, 3 National News) and local politician, Auckland Regional Councillor (1995–2004), Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor (2004–2016) (born 1933).
 * 19 July – Paratene Matchitt, artist (City to Sea Bridge) (born 1933).
 * 28 July – Malcolm McCaw, cricketer (Wellington) and accountant (born 1930).

August

 * 1 August – Kihi Ngatai, Māori leader (Ngāi Te Rangi) and horticulturalist, member of the Waitangi Tribunal (2008–2015) (born 1930).
 * 3 August – Brian Maunsell, Olympic boxer (1964) (born 1937).
 * 4 August – Graham McRae, motor racing driving, SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship winner (1972), Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year (1973) (born 1940).
 * 5 August
 * Brian Henderson, Hall of Fame television and radio broadcaster (Nine News, Bandstand), Gold Logie Award (1968) (born 1931).
 * Murray Rose, politician, MP for Otago Central (1969–1972) (born 1939).
 * 7 August – Mark Weedon, rugby union player (Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Crusaders) (born 1968).
 * 8 August – Perry Harris, rugby union player (Manawatu, national team) (born 1946).
 * 9 August – Olivia Podmore, Olympic (2016) and Commonwealth Games (2018) cyclist (born 1997).
 * 10 August
 * Don McKechnie, cricketer (Otago) and cricket umpire (born 1944).
 * John Riordan, jockey, Auckland Cup (1960, 1972), W. S. Cox Plate (1963) (born 1936).
 * Peter Whittle, mathematician (DSIR, University of Cambridge), John von Neumann Theory Prize (1997), Fellow of the Royal Society (since 1978) (born 1927).
 * 11 August – Sir David Levene, Hall of Fame businessman and philanthropist (born 1929).
 * 14 August – Francis Mossman, actor (Shortland Street, Spartacus: Vengeance, The Horizon) (born 1988).
 * 15 August
 * Greg Rowlands, rugby union player (Bay of Plenty, national team) (born 1947).
 * Gary Woollard, rugby league player (Wellington, Auckland, national team) (born 1942).
 * 16 August – Marilynn Webb, artist and educator (Otago Polytechnic), Frances Hodgkins Fellow (1974), Te Tohu mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu (2018) (born 1937).
 * 17 August – Tom Larkin, public servant and diplomat, ambassador to Japan (1972–1976) (born 1917).
 * 18 August – Austin Mitchell, academic (University of Otago, University of Canterbury), broadcaster (Calendar), writer (The Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise) and politician, MP for Great Grimsby (1977–2015) (born 1934).
 * 19 August
 * Sir Michael Cullen, politician, MP (1981–2009), Minister of Social Welfare (1987–1990), Minister of Finance (1999–2008), Deputy Prime Minister (2002–2008) (born 1945).
 * Lyn Hartley, local-body politician, Mayor of Kawerau (1986–2001) (born 1941).
 * 22 August – Danny Campbell, rugby league player (Wigan, Runcorn Highfield, national team) (born 1956).
 * 23 August – Gary Tricker, painter and printmaker (born 1938).
 * 24 August
 * Bruce Culpan, rower, British Empire and Commonwealth Games silver medallist (1950, 1954) (born 1930).
 * Harry Kent, Olympic track cyclist (1972), British Commonwealth Games gold medallist (1970), world championship silver medallist (1970), Lonsdale Cup (1970) (born 1947).
 * 25 August – Max Cryer, broadcaster, entertainer and writer, Entertainer of the Year (1973), Benny Award (1977) (born 1935).
 * 28 August – Joye Evans, radiographer and guiding leader, New Zealand Girl Guides chief commissioner (1983–1988) (born 1929).

September

 * 1 September
 * Noel Dellow, cricketer (Canterbury) (born 1929).
 * Alison Gray, writer and social researcher (born 1943).
 * 4 September
 * Martin Thompson, artist (born 1956).
 * Lydia Wevers, literary academic (Victoria University of Wellington), editor and critic (born 1950).
 * 5 September – Viv Stephens, cricket player (Wellington, Central Districts, national team) and administrator (born 1953).
 * 6 September
 * Billy Apple, pop artist, Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon (since 2018) (born 1935).
 * Peter Arnold, cricket player (Canterbury, Northamptonshire) and administrator, president of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (1996–2000) (born 1926).
 * 17 September – Angela Ballara, historian, member of the Waitangi Tribunal (2003–2020) (born 1944).
 * 19 September – Dame Jocelyn Fish, women's rights advocate and local politician, Piako county councillor (1980–1989), president of the National Council of Women (1986–1990) (born 1930).
 * 23 September
 * Taito Phillip Field, politician, MP for Otara (1993–1996) and Māngere (1996–2008), leader of the New Zealand Pacific Party (2008–2010) (born 1952).
 * John Mitchell, historian (born 1941).
 * 24 September – Waka Nathan, rugby union player (Auckland, national team), selector and administrator, Tom French Cup (1962, 1966), president of the Auckland Rugby Union (2003–2004) (born 1940).
 * 30 September
 * Dorothea Brown, librarian (Christchurch City Libraries) (born 1938).
 * Jenny Kirk, politician, MP for Birkenhead (1987–1990), North Shore city councillor (1995–2001) (born 1945).

October

 * 1 October – Earle Wells, Hall of Fame sailor, Olympic champion (1964) (born 1933).
 * 4 October
 * Laurie Davidson, Hall of Fame yacht designer (NZL 32) (born 1926).
 * John Hastie, Commonwealth Games sport shooter (1978, 1982) and gunsmith, Ballinger Belt (1982) (born 1938).
 * Joy Watson, children's author, Gaelyn Gordon Award (2000) (born 1938).
 * 5 October – Pam Williams, Hall of Fame businesswoman and philanthropist (born 1933).
 * 6 October – Sir Noel Anderson, lawyer and judge, president of the Court of Appeal (2004–2006), Supreme Court justice (2006–2008), Queen's Counsel (since 1986) (born 1944).
 * 8 October
 * Jack Manning, architect (Majestic Centre), NZIA Gold Medal (2011) (born 1928).
 * Ian Ormond, association footballer (Blockhouse Bay, national team) (born 1949).
 * 11 October – Barry Mora, operatic baritone (Gelsenkirchen Opera House, Frankfurt Opera House) (born 1940).
 * 13 October – Ray Cranch, rugby league player (Auckland, national team) and administrator (born 1923).
 * 18 October
 * Fred Goodall, cricket umpire (born 1938).
 * Sean Wainui, rugby union player (Taranaki, Chiefs, Māori All Blacks) (born 1995).
 * 19 October – Bob Graham, rugby union player (Auckland, Junior All Blacks) and coach (Auckland) (born 1936).
 * 31 October – Dame Catherine Tizard, zoologist (University of Auckland), television personality (Beauty and the Beast), and politician, mayor of Auckland City (1983–1990), governor-general (1990–1996) (born 1931).

November

 * 13 November
 * Michael Corballis, psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist (University of Auckland), Rutherford Medal (2016) (born 1936).
 * Jack Kiddey, cricketer (Canterbury) (born 1929).
 * Keith Mann, British Empire and Commonwealth Games fencer (1962, 1966), and sports administrator (born 1932).
 * 15 November – Sir Rod Weir, Hall of Fame stock and station agent and businessman (born 1927).
 * 16 November – John Luxton, politician, MP for Matamata (1987–1996) and Karapiro (1996–1999), National list MP (1999–2002), Minister of Police (1994–1996), Minister for Land Information (1996–1999) (born 1946).
 * 23 November – Robert Ellis, artist and professor of fine arts (Elam School of Fine Arts) (born 1929).
 * 27 November – Jimmy O'Dea, trade unionist and activist (born 1935).

December

 * 2 December – Lyndsey Leask, Hall of Fame softball administrator (born 1935).
 * 6 December – Tom Horton, air force pilot and commander (Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Air Force) (born 1919).
 * 9 December
 * Brian Aldridge, cricket umpire (born 1940).
 * Julie Brougham, Olympic equestrian (2016) (born 1954).
 * 12 December – Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, Tongan noble, deputy prime minister of Tonga (since 2020) (born 1955).
 * 24 December – Terry Morrison, rugby union player (Otago, national team) and sprinter (born 1951).
 * 26 December – George Johnson, artist (born 1926).
 * 27 December – Keri Hulme, writer (The Bone People), Booker Prize (1985) (born 1947).
 * 30 December – Billy Harrison, rugby league player (Wellington, national team) (born 1938).

Exact date unknown

 * Reg Cooke, rugby league player (Papakura, Auckland, national team) (born 1940).