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

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

Head of State A head of state is the public persona of a sovereign state.#Foakes, Foakes, pp. 110–11 "

he head of state He or HE may refer to: Language * He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads * He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English * He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana) * Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter cal ...

being an embodiment of the State itself or representative of its international persona." The name given to the office of head of sta ...

–

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

–

Patsy Reddy Dame Patricia Lee Reddy (born 17 May 1954) is a New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman who served as the 21st governor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021. Before becoming governor-general, Reddy was a partner of a law firm, headed a majo ...

until 28 September, and then

Cindy Kiro Dame Alcyion Cynthia Kiro () ( Simpson; born 1958) is a New Zealand public-health academic, administrator, and advocate, who has been serving as the 22nd governor-general of New Zealand since 21 October 2021. Kiro is the first Māori people, M ...

from 21 October File:Elizabeth II 2021.jpg, Elizabeth II File:Patsy Reddy - May 2021 (cropped).jpg, Patsy Reddy File:Cindy Kiro 2021 (cropped).jpg, Cindy Kiro

Government

Legislature term:

53rd New Zealand Parliament The 53rd New Zealand Parliament was a meeting of the legislature in New Zealand. It opened on 25 November 2020 following the 17 October 2020 general election, and dissolved on 8 September 2023 to trigger the next election. It consisted of 12 ...

The Sixth Labour Government, elected in

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

, continues. *

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hung ...

–

Trevor Mallard Sir Trevor Colin Mallard (born 17 June 1954) is a New Zealand politician and diplomat. Since 2023, he has served as Ambassador of New Zealand to Ireland. He was a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2022. He served a ...

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

–

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a Minister (government), government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to th ...

–

Grant Robertson Grant Murray Robertson (born 30 October 1971) is a retired New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who served as the Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2023, as Minister of Foreign Affairs in November 2023, and as the 19th Deputy Pr ...

* Leader of the House –

Chris Hipkins Christopher John Hipkins (born 5 September 1978) is a New Zealand politician who has served as leader of the New Zealand Labour Party since January 2023 and leader of the Opposition (New Zealand), leader of the Opposition since November 2023. H ...

Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

– Grant Robertson *

Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...

–

Nanaia Mahuta Nanaia Cybele Mahuta (born 21 August 1970) is a New Zealand former politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand), Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023. A member of the New Zealand Labour Party, Ma ...

File:Trevor Mallard 2021 (cropped).jpg, Trevor Mallard File:Jacinda Ardern crop.jpg, Jacinda Ardern File:Hon Grant Robertson (cropped).jpg, Grant Robertson File:Chris Hipkins 2019 (cropped).jpg, Chris Hipkins File:Hon Nanaia Mahuta.jpg, Nanaia Mahuta

Other party leaders in parliament

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

–

Judith Collins Judith Anne Collins (born 24 February 1959) is a New Zealand politician who has served as the attorney-general and minister of defence since 27 November 2023. She served as the leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National P ...

until 25 November, then

Christopher Luxon Christopher Mark Luxon (; born 19 July 1970) is a New Zealand politician and former business executive who has served as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since 2023 and as leader of the National Party since 2021. He previously served ...

from 30 November (

leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

) *

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a com ...

– James Shaw and

Marama Davidson Marama Mere-Ana Davidson (née Paratene; born 29 December 1973) is a New Zealand politician who entered the New Zealand Parliament in 2015 as a list MP (member of Parliament) representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, of which she be ...

* ACT –

David Seymour David Breen Seymour (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician who has served as the 21st deputy prime minister of New Zealand since 2025 and as the 1st minister for regulation since 2023. A member of the ACT Party, he has served as its ...

Māori Party Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

–

Rawiri Waititi Rawiri Wikuki Waititi (born 17 October ) is a New Zealand politician and iwi leader. He has been co-leader of Te Pāti Māori since 2020, alongside Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for since 2020, when his ...

and

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer is a New Zealand politician, iwi leader and activist. She is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori alongside Rawiri Waititi, and is the chief executive of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi. Ngarewa-Packer st ...

File:The Honourable Judith Collins MP.jpg, Judith Collins File:Christopher Luxon (crop).jpg, Christopher Luxon File:James Shaw, 2014 (cropped).jpg, James Shaw File:Marama Davidson 2019 (cropped).jpg, Marama Davidson File:David Seymour (cropped).jpg, David Seymour File:Rawiri Waititi in May 2024.png, Rawiri Waititi File:Debbie Ngarewa-Packer Mar 2022 PANG (cropped).png, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Judiciary

* Chief Justice –

Helen Winkelmann Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann (born 1962) is the 13th and current chief justice of New Zealand – head of the New Zealand judiciary – having been sworn in on 14 March 2019. She is the second woman to hold the position, following her immediate ...

* President of the Court of Appeal –

Stephen Kós Sir John Stephen Kós (born 23 January 1959) is a New Zealand judge on the Supreme Court of New Zealand and the former President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand. Early life and career The son of a Hungary, Hungarian refugee, Kós was born ...

* Chief High Court judge – Susan Thomas * Chief District Court judge – Heemi Taumaunu File:Helen Winkelmann 2023 (cropped).jpg, Helen Winkelmann File:Stephen Kos KNZM (tight crop).jpg, Stephen Kós

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland The mayor of Auckland is the elected head of local government in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island; one of 67 Mayors in New Zealand, mayors in the country. The principle city of the region (and its namesake) is Auckland. The may ...

–

Phil Goff Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953) is a New Zealand retired politician and former diplomat. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2016. He served as Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, le ...

Mayor of Tauranga The mayor of Tauranga is the head of local government in Tauranga, New Zealand's fifth-largest city. The mayor presides over the Tauranga City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the single transferable vote method. The current mayor i ...

– Tina Salisbury (acting), then

Anne Tolley Anne Merrilyn Tolley (née Hicks; born 1 March 1953) is a New Zealand politician. Tolley was elected as a member of the Napier City Council in 1986 and served as deputy mayor from 1989 until 1995. In 1999 she was elected to Parliament as a l ...

(as chair of commissioners) from 9 February * Mayor of Hamilton – Paula Southgate *

Mayor of Wellington The mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, the city of Wellington. The mayor presides over the Wellington City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the Single Transferable Vote method of proportional ...

–

Andy Foster Andrew John Whitfield Foster (born 21 December 1961) is a New Zealand politician. He was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives as a list MP for the New Zealand First party in the 2023 New Zealand general election. He was previo ...

Mayor of Christchurch The mayor of Christchurch is the elected head of local government in Christchurch, New Zealand; one of 67 Mayors in New Zealand, mayors in the country. The mayor presides over the Christchurch City Council and is directly elected using the First ...

–

Lianne Dalziel Lianne Audrey Dalziel (; born 7 June 1960) is a New Zealand politician and former Mayor of Christchurch. Prior to this position, she was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 23 years, serving as Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister ...

Mayor of Dunedin The mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

– Aaron Hawkins Phil Goff CNZM (cropped).jpg, Phil Goff Anne Tolley 2019 (cropped).jpg, Anne Tolley File:Paula Southgate 2019.jpg, Paula Southgate Foster2.png, Andy Foster Lianne Dalziel September 2017.jpg, Lianne Dalziell Aaron-hawkins.jpg, Aaron Hawkins

Events

January

* 29 December 2020 to 3 January –

Riots A riot or mob violence is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The p ...

between inmates and prison guards at

Waikeria Prison There are eighteen adult prisons in New Zealand. Three prisons house women, one each in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The remaining fifteen house men; ten in the North Island and five in the South Island. The facilities are managed by t ...

, causing major fire damage to the complex. * 1 January – A bomb threat closes

Gisborne Airport Gisborne Airport is a regional airport located in the suburb of Elgin 4.2 km from the city centre of Gisborne on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Gisborne Airport is one of the few airports in the world that has a railw ...

, causing evacuations and delayed flights.

February

* 2 February – Lead is found in water of two

Otago Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...

towns,

Waikouaiti Waikouaiti is a small town in East Otago, New Zealand, within the city limits of Dunedin. The town is close to the coast and the mouth of the Waikouaiti River. Today, Waikouaiti is a retail trade and servicing centre for the surrounding dist ...

and

Karitane The small town of Karitane is located within the limits of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand, 35 kilometres to the north of the city centre. Set in rolling country near the mouth of the Waikouaiti River, the town is a popular holiday retreat f ...

. * 9 February: :*

co-leader and Member of Parliament

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

to take over all of

Tauranga City Council Tauranga City Council is the Territorial authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority for the List of cities in New Zealand, city of Tauranga, New Zealand. The council consists of nine councillors, each elected from one of nine wards, and ...

's governance responsibilities, including the vacant position of mayor. * 13 February – The Government pays NZ$40 million in compensation to 212

kiwifruit Kiwifruit (often shortened to kiwi), or Chinese gooseberry, is the edible berry (botany), berry of several species of woody vines in the genus ''Actinidia''. The most common cultivar group of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa, ...

orchardists and

Te Puke Te Puke ( ) is a town located southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for the cultivation of kiwifruit. Te Puke is close to Tauranga and Maketu, which are both coastal towns/cities, a ...

–based post harvest operator

Seeka Seeka ( Ndyuka for 'renewal') is a Surinamese political party led by Paul Abena representing the interests of rural inhabitants. Starting in 2005, it ran as part of the "A-Combination" together with the General Liberation and Development Party ...

in order to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the Government was liable for losses caused by a

Pseudomonas syringae ''Pseudomonas syringae'' is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium with polar flagella. As a plant pathology, plant pathogen, it can infect a wide range of species, and exists as over 50 different pathovars, all of which are available to research ...

(PSA) outbreak in 2010. * 15 February – ''COVID-19 in New Zealand:''

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

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 The Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Māori: ''Te Pātaka Whaioranga''), better known as Pharmac, is a New Zealand Crown entity that decides, on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, which medicines and pharmaceutical products are sub ...

's timeliness and decision-making process. * 5 March: ** A tsunami warning is issued following a 7.1 M earthquake at 2.27 am near East Cape and Gisborne. ** A 7.4M earthquake at 6.40am hits the

Kermadec Islands The Kermadec Islands ( ; ) are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga. The islands are part of New Zealand. They are in total area and uninhabit ...

. ** A tsunami threat and warning is issued for New Zealand after a 8.1 M 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:''

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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

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 The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...

begins. * 20 May – The 2021 Budget is delivered. * 24 May –

Dame Cindy Kiro Dame Alcyion Cynthia Kiro () ( Simpson; born 1958) is a New Zealand public-health academic, administrator, and advocate, who has been serving as the 22nd governor-general of New Zealand since 21 October 2021. Kiro is the first Māori woman an ...

is announced as the next

. * 30 May – A

state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...

is announced in Ashburton, Selwyn and

Timaru district Timaru District is a Districts of New Zealand, local government district on New Zealand's South Island, administered by the Timaru District Council. It is part of the larger Canterbury Region. Timaru district was formed in 1989 from the amalgama ...

s as

torrential rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. ...

hits the Canterbury region.

June

* 7 June – The

2021 Queen's Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours for 2021 are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded ...

are announced. * 19 June – A tornado hit the southern Auckland suburb of

Papatoetoe Papatoetoe is a suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest suburb in Auckland by population and is located to the northwest of Manukau, Manukau Central, and southeast of Auckland CBD. Papatoetoe was traditionally an important area fo ...

, killing one man and injuring two others. * 22 June – ''COVID-19 in New Zealand:'' New Zealand pauses the travel bubble with

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

as cases of COVID-19 surge in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. * 23 June – ''COVID-19 in New Zealand:'' The

Wellington Region Greater Wellington, also known as the Wellington Region (Māori language, Māori: ''Te Upoko o te Ika''), is the southernmost regions of New Zealand, region of the North Island of New Zealand. The local government region covers an area of , and ...

moves to Alert Level 2, following a positive case of the

delta variant The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first detected in India on 5 October 2020. The Delta variant was named on 31 May 2021 and had spread to over 179 countries by 22 November 202 ...

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 Buller District is one of 53 districts of New Zealand, and is within the West Coast Region. It covers Westport, Karamea, Reefton and Inangahua Junction. Buller District's overall land area is . The district is administered by the Buller Dis ...

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 The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...

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 The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first detected in India on 5 October 2020. The Delta variant was named on 31 May 2021 and had spread to over 179 countries by 22 November 202 ...

of COVID-19 in Auckland. * 24 August to 5 September – Athletes compete at the

2020 Summer Paralympics The , branded as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event held from 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. They were the 16th Summer Paralympic Games as organized by the Inte ...

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 LynnMall is a shopping centre in New Lynn, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. Opened in 1963, it was New Zealand's first shopping mall. History British investment company Hammerson promoted the idea of developing a modern American-style shopp ...

, 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

() launch a petition to rename the official name of the nation to

Aotearoa ''Aotearoa'' () is the Māori name for New Zealand. The name was originally used by Māori in reference only to the North Island, with the whole country being referred to as ''Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu'' – where ''Te Ika-a-Māui'' means N ...

and restore

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

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 The governor-general of New Zealand () is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand, currently King Charles III. As the King is concurrently the monarch of 14 other Commonwealth realms and lives in the United Kingdom, he, on the Advice ...

. ** Prime Minister Ardern announces an agreement on a

New Zealand–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement The New Zealand–United Kingdom free trade agreement (NZUKFTA) was signed on 28 February 2022. The broad terms of the agreement were concluded on 20 October 2021. It was the second trade agreement signed by Britain since leaving the European U ...

, promising zero-tariffs and a $970m economic boost. * October – The last demolition in Christchurch's

residential red zone A residential red zone is any of several areas of land in and around Christchurch, New Zealand, that experienced severe damage in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes and were deemed infeasible to rebuild on. Thr ...

is completed.

November

* 4 November – A state of emergency is declared in Tairawhiti due to flooding. * 25 November –

loses a confidence vote as leader of the National Party after her handling over a historic allegation regarding

Simon Bridges Simon Joseph Bridges (born 12 October 1976) is a New Zealand retired politician, broadcaster and lawyer. He served as Leader of the New Zealand National Party, Leader of the National Party and Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand), Leader of t ...

Shane Reti Shane Raymond Reti (born 5 June 1963) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, ...

becomes interim leader. * 30 November –

elected Elected may refer to: * "Elected" (song), by Alice Cooper, 1973 * ''Elected'' (EP), by Ayreon, 2008 *The Elected, an American indie rock band See also *Election An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population ch ...

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 The 2022 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

are announced.

Holidays and observances

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2021 are as follows:

* 1 January –

New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...

* 2 January – Day after New Year's Day * 4 January – Day after New Year's Day

observed Observation in the natural sciences is an act or instance of noticing or perceiving and the acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the perception ...

* 6 February –

Waitangi Day Waitangi Day (, the national day of New Zealand, marks the anniversary of the initial signing—on 6 February 1840—of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement towards British sovereignty by representatives of the The Cr ...

* 8 February – Waitangi Day observed * 2 April –

Good Friday Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed during ...

* 5 April –

Easter Monday Easter Monday is the second day of Eastertide and a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries. In Western Christianity it marks the second day of the Octave of Easter; in Eastern Christianity it marks the second day of Br ...

* 25 April –

Anzac Day Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and ...

* 26 April – Anzac Day observed * 7 June –

Queen's Birthday The King's Official Birthday or Queen's Official Birthday is the selected day in most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those countries. It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the m ...

* 25 October –

Labour Day Labour Day is an annual day of celebration of the labour movement and its labor rights, achievements. It has its origins in the trade union, labour union movement, specifically the Eight-hour day movement, eight-hour day movement, which advoca ...

* 25 December –

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...

* 26 December –

Boxing Day Boxing Day, also called as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part ...

* 27 December – Christmas Day observed * 28 December – Boxing Day observed

Sports

Horse racing

Harness racing

Auckland Cup The Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club (ARC). It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres (two miles) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race was ...

– cancelled due to COVID-19 *

New Zealand Cup The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch. New Zealand Cup week The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of Nov ...

–

Copy That ''Copy That'' is a studio album by American country artist Sara Evans. The album was released on May 15, 2020 via Born to Fly Records and was produced by Jarrad K. The project was Evans's tenth studio recording and her first album to consist enti ...

Rowe Cup The Rowe Cup is a race held annually at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand for standardbred horses. The Rowe Cup is run over a distance of 3200 m. Along with the Dominion Handicap raced at Addington Raceway it is one of the major harnes ...

– Sundees Son

Thoroughbred racing

– Ocean Billy *

– Mondorani *

Wellington Cup The Wellington Cup is a Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in January by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham, New Zealand, Trentham. History Inaugurated in 1874, the Wellington Cup has been ra ...

– Waisake

Olympics

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

Paralympics

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 Rangi Ruru Girls' School is a New Zealand private school, private girls' day and boarding school, boarding secondary school located in Merivale, Christchurch, Merivale, an inner suburb of Christchurch. The school is affiliated with the Presbyte ...

** Star Trophy (overall points) –

Shooting

* Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke)

Births

* 18 September – Willydoit, Thoroughbred racehorse

Deaths

January

* 6 January – Alan Burgess, cricketer (

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...

), world's oldest living first-class cricketer (since 2020) (born 1920). * 8 January **

John Hicks Sir John Richard Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economics ...

, Olympic field hockey player (

1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...

) (born 1938). ** Stewart McKnight, cricketer (

) and curler (born 1935). * 12 January – John Ward, cricketer (

national team A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport. The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...

) (born 1937). * 15 January –

Bill Whitehead William Albert Whitehead (19 August 1931 – 15 January 2021) was a New Zealand sports administrator who was involved in rugby league for more than 70 years. He also worked in horse racing and bowls. He received the Queen's Service Medal in 1 ...

, rugby league manager (born 1931). * 17 January –

Tom Prebble Thomas Kenneth Prebble (November 1945 – 17 January 2021) was a New Zealand educationalist and university administrator. Biography Born in Sussex, England, on 29 November 1945, Prebble was the son of Anglo-Catholic Anglican clergyman Kenneth ...

, educationalist and university administrator (

Massey University Massey University () is a Public university, public research university in New Zealand that provides internal and distance education. The university has campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Data from Universities New Zealand ...

) (born 1945). * 18 January – Ash Gardiner, rugby union player (

Taranaki Taranaki is a regions of New Zealand, region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano Mount Taranaki, Taranaki Maunga, formerly known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the ...

) (born 1946). * 20 January **

Doug Bowden Douglas William Bowden (19 July 1927 – 20 January 2021) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Central Districts in New Zealand from 1950 to 1957. Career Bowden was born in Palmerston North and attended Palmerston Nor ...

, cricketer (

Central Districts The Central Stags, formerly known as Central Districts, are a first-class cricket team based in central New Zealand. They are the men's representative side of the Central Districts Cricket Association. They compete in the Plunket Shield firs ...

) (born 1927). **

Bill Sheat William Newton Sheat (1 May 1930 – 20 January 2021) was a New Zealand lawyer and arts advocate whose input was instrumental in many arts organisations including as a founding member of the New Zealand Film Commission, Creative New Zealand (f ...

, lawyer and arts advocate (born 1930). * 23 January – Phil Bishop, herpetologist (

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

) (born 1957). * 26 January ** Ben Te Haara, Māori Anglican priest, Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau (1992–2001) ((born 1932). **

Peter Thorburn Peter Robert Tyler Thorburn (19 March 1939 – 26 January 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. He played his entire career as a number eight for from 1965 to 1970. He became a coach after his playing career ended, coachin ...

, rugby union player (

) and coach (

North Harbour North Harbour or North Harbor may refer to: Canada * North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, a community on St. Mary's Bay * North Harbour, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, a community on Placentia Bay * North Harbour, ...

, national sevens team,

United States national team The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions. Olympic teams Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...

) (born 1939). **

Peter Vere-Jones Peter Vere-Jones (21 October 1939 – 26 January 2021) was an English-born-New Zealand actor. He was known for his collaborations with director Peter Jackson, appearing in four of his films. He was also known for starring in the New Zealand tel ...

, actor ('' Pukemanu'', ''

Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand Prime time, prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, be ...

'', '' The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'') (born 1939). * 30 January –

Bill Hammond William Hammond (29 August 1947 – 30 January 2021) was a New Zealand artist who was part of the post-colonial Gothic movement at the end of the 1990s. He lived and worked in Lyttelton. The theme of his works centred around the environment and ...

, artist (born 1947). File:Tom Prebble 1993 (cropped).jpg, Tom Prebble File:Bill Sheat New Zealand Film Commission 40th Anniversary (1).jpg, Bill Sheat File:Peter Thorburn MNZM (cropped).jpg, Peter Thorburn

February

* 3 February – Peter Nicholls, sculptor ( ''Toroa'') (born 1936). * 4 February – Solomon Faine, microbiologist (

Monash University Monash University () is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Named after World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the ...

) (born 1926). * 6 February – Bruce Taylor, cricketer (

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

) (born 1943). * 22 February – Peter Rattray, cricketer (

) (born 1958). File:Peter Nicholls Portrait March 2019.jpg, Peter Nicholls File:Bruce Richard Taylor 1967.jpg, Bruce Taylor

March

* 3 March – Jonathan Temm, lawyer, president of the New Zealand Law Society (2010–2013),

Queen's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

(since 2019) (born 1962). * 5 March –

Francis Small Francis Small (October 6, 1625 – ca. 1714) was a British-born Colonial American trader and landowner who resided primarily in Kittery, Maine. He made the first recorded land purchase in what is now the state of Maine, then part of Massachuse ...

, civil engineer and scouting leader, managing director of New Zealand Rail / Tranz Rail (1972–2000), president of

IPENZ Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau (ENZ; previously the New Zealand Institution of Engineers – NZIE and then Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand – IPENZ) is a not-for-profit professional body that promotes the integrity ...

(1996–1997),

Bronze Wolf Award The Bronze Wolf Award is an award presented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement for outstanding service by an individual to the Scout Movement. Just over 400 people have received the Bronze Wolf since its creation in 1935. WOSM has r ...

(1999) (born 1946). * 12 March –

Avenal McKinnon Avenal Beryl Elizabeth McKinnon (née Gough; 8 April 1949 – 12 March 2021) was a New Zealand art historian and writer. She was the founding director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkena Whakaata. Biography McKinnon was born and ...

, art historian and writer, director of the

New Zealand Portrait Gallery The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is an art gallery in the Waterfront Shed 11 building in Wellington, New Zealand. History The gallery was registered as a charitable trust in 1990. In 2005 the board hired its first paid dir ...

(2005–2014) (born 1949). * 15 March –

Miriama Rauhihi Ness Miriama Rauhihi-Ness (née Rauhihi; 15 July 1951 – 15 March 2021), also known as Ama Ness, was a New Zealand Māori activist and social worker. She was one of the organisers of the 1975 Māori land march. In 1972, she helped lodge a Māori la ...

, Māori activist (

Ngā Tamatoa Ngā Tamatoa (''The Warriors'') was a Māori activist group that operated throughout the 1970s to promote Māori rights, fight racial discrimination, and confront injustices perpetrated by the New Zealand Government, particularly violations of ...

Polynesian Panthers The Polynesian Panther Party (PPP) was a revolutionary social justice movement formed to target racial inequalities carried out against indigenous Māori and Pacific Islanders in Auckland, New Zealand. Founded by a group of young Polynesians o ...

) and social worker (born 1951). * 18 March – David Braithwaite, property developer and local politician, Mayor of Hamilton (2001–2004) (born 1937). File:Avenal McKinnon (cropped).jpg, Avenal McKinnon

April

* 3 April – John Edgar, sculptor and medallist (born 1950). * 8 April –

John da Silva John Walter da Silva (11 June 1934 – 8 April 2021) was a New Zealand wrestler and boxer. Biography Da Silva was born on 11 June 1934. He represented New Zealand in wrestling at the 1956 Olympics and at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwea ...

, Olympic (

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...

) and British Empire and Commonwealth Games (

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the thir ...

) wrestler, boxer and youth worker (born 1934). * 15 April – Leon van den Eijkel, artist (born 1940). * 17 April – John Ogilvie, cricketer (

) (born 1931). * 18 April **

Mary Earle Mary Davidson Earle ( Cameron; 20 October 1929 – 18 April 2021) was a Scottish-born New Zealand food technologist. She was the first female faculty member of a university engineering department in New Zealand when she joined Massey Univer ...

, food technologist (

) (born 1929). **

Iain Gallaway Iain Watson Gallaway (26 December 192218 April 2021) was a New Zealand broadcaster, lawyer and cricketer. He was a commentator on the radio station Radio Sport, and a first-class cricketer. Between January 2021 and his death, Gallaway was New Z ...

, cricketer (

), rugby union referee, lawyer and sports commentator, president of

New Zealand Cricket New Zealand Cricket, formerly the New Zealand Cricket Council, is the governing body for professional cricket in New Zealand. Cricket is the most popular and highest profile summer sport in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket operates the New ...

(1997–2000), chair of the

Broadcasting Standards Authority The Broadcasting Standards Authority (; abbreviated BSA) is a New Zealand Crown entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television. The main functions of the B ...

(1989–1995) (born 1922). * 19 April – Mike Dormer, cricketer (

) (born 1937). * 20 April – Karen Trillo, Commonwealth Games lawn bowls player (

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

) (born 1959). * 27 April –

Dave Cull David Charles Cull (1 April 1950 – 27 April 2021) was the mayor of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand. He became the 57th Mayor of Dunedin in October 2010 and was re-elected in both the 2013 mayoralty race and 2016 mayoral election. Before ...

, television presenter ( ''Home Front''), writer, and local politician,

mayor of Dunedin The mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

(2010–2019) (born 1950). File:Mary Earle 1992 (cropped).jpg, Mary Earle File:Dave Cull-Blueskin News.jpg, Dave Cull

May

* 3 May –

Steve McKean Stephen Ronald McKean ( – 3 May 2021) was an American-born New Zealand basketball coach. He was coach of the New Zealand men's national basketball team, and also coached in the New Zealand NBL. He moved from Auckland to Taranaki in 1990 and ...

, basketball coach (

) (born ). * 4 May –

Margaret Forsyth Margaret Hine Forsyth (28 December 1961 – 4 May 2021) was a New Zealand netball player and coach, and politician. Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton, she was selected for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, in 1979 at ...

, world champion netball player (

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

), netball coach (

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are a New Zealand netball team based in Hamilton. The team were formed in 1998, following the merger of Waikato Wildcats and Bay of Plenty Magic. In 1997, Wildcats and Magic had been founder members of the Coca-Col ...

) and local politician, Hamilton city councillor (2010–2016, since 2019) (born 1961). * 8 May **

George Skudder George Rupuha Skudder (10 February 1948 – 8 May 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing three-quarter, Skudder represented Waikato at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1969 ...

, rugby union player (

Waikato The Waikato () is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipā District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the nort ...

, New Zealand Māori,

) (born 1948). **

Rana Waitai Rana Donald Waitai (26 November 1942 – 8 May 2021) was a New Zealand politician and lawyer. He was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives representing Te Puku o Te Whenua, for the New Zealand First Party and Mauri Pacific Part ...

, politician, MP for

Te Puku O Te Whenua Te Puku O Te Whenua or "the belly of the land" was one of the five new New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorates created in 1996 for MMP. It was replaced in the 1999 election. Population centres The electorate included the following populat ...

(1996–1999) (born 1942). * 10 May – Jenny King, librarian (

University of Waikato The University of Waikato (), established in 1964, is a Public university, public research university located in Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand. An additional campus is located in Tauranga. The university performs research in nume ...

) (born 1929). * 14 May – David McPhail, comedian ('' A Week of It''), actor ('' Letter to Blanchy'', ''

Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby ''Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby'' is a satire, satirical New Zealand television series, created and written by Danny Mulheron (who also directs and co-produces), Dave Armstrong (playwright), Dave Armstrong, and Tom Scott (cartoonist), Tom Scott. I ...

'') and writer ('' Letter to Blanchy'') (born 1945). * 15 May – Emily Mair, opera singer, pianist, and vocal coach (

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington (), also known by its shorter names "VUW" or "Vic", is a public university, public research university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of New Zealand Parliament, Parliament, and w ...

) (born 1928). * 17 May ** Nan Kinross, nurse and nursing academic (

) (born 1926). ** Janet Shackleton, hurdler, British Empire Games bronze medallist (

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...

) (born 1928). * 21 May –

Merv Norrish Merwyn Norrish (28 October 1926 – 21 May 2021) was a New Zealand diplomat who served as New Zealand's ambassador to the European Community, acting high commissioner to London, ambassador to the United States, and secretary of Foreign Affairs ...

, diplomat and public servant,

ambassador to the United States The following table lists ambassadors to the United States, , sorted by the representative country or organization. See also *Ambassadors of the United States Notes {{reflist, 30em External linksCurrent and former Ambassadors to the United Sta ...

(1978–1980), secretary of foreign affairs (1980–1988) (born 1926). * 23 May –

Ross Taylor Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor (born 8 March 1984) is a former New Zealand international cricketer and former captain of the New Zealand national team. Batting predominantly at number four, when he announced his retirement from international ...

, geochemist and planetary scientist (

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...

) (born 1925). File:Steve McKean MNZM (cropped).jpg, Steve McKean File:Margaret Forsyth ONZM (cropped).jpg, Margaret Forsyth File:Rana Waitai.jpg, Rana Waitai File:David McPhail.jpg, David McPhail File:Nan Kinross 1988.jpg, Nan Kinross File:Janet Shackleton 1950.jpg, Janet Shackleton File:Merv Norrish, 2011.jpg, Merv Norrish

June

* 1 June –

Ian Shearer Ian John Shearer (10 December 1941 – 1 June 2021) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, environmentalist and research scientist. Early life and education Shearer was born at Whakatāne in 1941, the son of Jack Sewell Shearer. H ...

, 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 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...

) (born 1941). * 7 June –

Richard Nunns Richard Anthony Nunns (7 December 1945 – 7 June 2021) was a Māori traditional instrumentalist of Pākehā heritage. He was particularly known for playing taonga pūoro and his collaboration with fellow Māori instrumentalist Hirini Melbourn ...

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

traditional Māori instrumental musician (born 1945). * 9 June ** Shane Dowsett, rugby league player ( Otahuhu,

) (born ). ** Steve Mrkusic, architect (born 1928). * 11 June ** Dame Georgina Kirby, Māori leader and women's advocate, president of the

Māori Women's Welfare League The Māori Women’s Welfare League or Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko I te Ora is a New Zealand welfare organisation focusing on Māori people, Māori women and children. It held its first conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Wellington in Sept ...

(1983–1987) (born 1936). **

Ron Sang Ronald Fong Sang (11 July 1938 – 11 June 2021) was a New Zealand architect, art collector, art exhibitor and publisher of New Zealand art books. Early life Sang was born in Fiji in 1938 to parents who had migrated from southern China. He re ...

, 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,

businessman and philanthropist (

Edgar Centre The Edgar Centre is a large multi-purpose indoor sports venue in South Dunedin, New Zealand, on the shore of Otago Harbour close to Andersons Bay Inlet. It is the home venue of the Otago Nuggets basketball team, and an alternate venue for the ...

), chancellor of the

(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 Fane Michael Flaws (16 May 1951 – 17 June 2021) was a New Zealand musician, songwriter, director and artist. Career Flaws was a member of bands including Blerta, Spats, and The Crocodiles. Until joining Blerta he was known by his second nam ...

, musician ( Blerta,

The Spats The Spats were a New Zealand band operating between 1977 and 1979. Members included Fane Flaws, Peter Dasent, Bruno Lawrence and Tony Backhouse. Spats worked with the Limbs Dance Company The Limbs Dance Company was formed in Auckland, New Z ...

The Crocodiles The Crocodiles were a New Zealand pop/ new wave band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price, who subsequently joined Sardine v and ...

), songwriter and artist (born 1951). * 19 June – Colin Loader, rugby union player (

) (born 1931). * 20 June –

Frank Albrechtsen Frank Hillman Albrechtsen (16 March 1932 – 20 June 2021) was a New Zealand association football player who represented New Zealand at international level. Biography Born in New Plymouth and educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School, Albrech ...

, association footballer (

) (born 1932). * 24 June – Tom Flaws, cricketer (

) (born 1932). * 25 June –

John Sigley Ernest John Sigley (9 December 1931 – 25 June 2021) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played in five first-class matches for Wellington from 1959 to 1961. See also * List of Wellington representative cricketers This is a list of cricketers ...

, cricketer (

) (born 1931). File:Tilly Vercoe 1965 (cropped).jpg, Tilly Hirst File:Richard Nunns, 2011.jpg, Richard Nuns File:Georgina Kirby (cropped).jpg, Dame Georgina Kirby File:Eion Edgar (cropped).jpg, Sir Eion Edgar File:Ian Hassall KNZM (cropped).jpg, Sir Ian Hassall File:Colin Loader 1953.jpg, Colin Loader

July

* 5 July –

Vivienne Cassie Cooper Una Vivienne Cassie Cooper (née Dellow; 29 September 1926 – 5 July 2021) was a New Zealand planktologist and botanist. Early life Cassie Cooper was born on 29 September 1926 in the Auckland suburb of Epsom to Annie Eveline Bell and her h ...

, planktologist and botanist ( DSIR) (born 1926). * 6 July – Mary Fama, applied mathematician ( DSIR,

CSIRO The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency that is responsible for scientific research and its commercial and industrial applications. CSIRO works with leading organisations arou ...

) (born 1938). * 9 July ** Betty Gilderdale, children's author,

Margaret Mahy Award The Margaret Mahy Award, officially the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award, is a New Zealand literary prize presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to children's literature, publishing or literacy. Presented an ...

(1994), Children's Literature Association Award for Services to Children's Literature (1999) (born 1923). ** Ngaire Lane, Olympic swimmer (

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...

) (born 1925). * 11 July – George Petersen, biochemist (

Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned or professional societies, the term refers ...

(since 1985), Rutherford Medal (2003) (born 1933). * 15 July – Bruce Watt, rugby union player (

Wanganui Whanganui, also spelt Wanganui, is a list of cities in New Zealand, city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest nav ...

) and coach (born 1939). * 17 July – Jonathan White, landscape artist and conservationist (born 1938). * 18 July –

Philip Sherry Philip James Sherry (13 October 1933 – 18 July 2021) was a New Zealand broadcaster and local-body politician. He served as a newsreader for various radio and television stations between 1960 and 1990, including as one of three presenters selec ...

, newsreader ( NZBC and TV One ''Network News'', ''Morning Report'', ''3 National News'') and local politician,

Auckland Regional Council The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) was the regional council (one of the former local government authorities) of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority (ARA) was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989. The ARC ...

lor (1995–2004),

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Bay of Plenty Regional Council () is the administrative body responsible for overseeing regional land use, environmental management and civil defence in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It was founded as part of the 1989 N ...

lor (2004–2016) (born 1933). * 19 July –

Paratene Matchitt Paratene Temokopuorongo Matchitt (10 August 1933 – 19 July 2021) was a New Zealand sculptor and Painting, painter, known for combining traditional Māori culture, Māori art forms with those of modernist art. His work also references events fr ...

, artist ( City to Sea Bridge) (born 1933). * 23 July – Fred Fastier, pharmacologist (

) (born 1920). * 28 July – Malcolm McCaw, cricketer (

) and accountant (born 1930). File:Betty Gilderdale MNZM (cropped).jpg, Betty Gilderdale File:George Petersen 1981 (cropped).jpg, George Petersen File:Philip Sherry MNZM (cropped).jpg, Philip Sherry

August

* 1 August – Kihi Ngatai, Māori leader (

Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Te Rangi or Ngāiterangi is a Māori iwi, based in Tauranga, New Zealand. Its rohe (tribal area) extends to Mayor Island / Tūhua and Bowentown in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, south of Te Puke and to Maketu in the east. ...

) and horticulturalist, member of the

Waitangi Tribunal The Waitangi Tribunal (Māori: ''Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi'') is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. It is charged with investigating and making recommendations on c ...

(2008–2015) (born 1930). * 3 August –

Brian Maunsell Brian Maunsell may refer to the following people: * Brian Maunsell (boxer) (1937–2021), New Zealand boxer * Brian Maunsell (field hockey) (1935–1987), New Zealand field hockey player {{hndisambig, Maunsell, Brian ...

, Olympic boxer (

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

) (born 1937). * 4 August –

Graham McRae Graham Peter McRae (5 March 1940 – 4 August 2021) was a racing driver from New Zealand. He achieved considerable success in Formula 5000 racing, winning the Tasman Series each year from 1971 to 1973, and also at the 1972 L&M Continental 500 ...

, motor racing driving, SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship winner (

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year is awarded annually to the racing driver deemed to have been the best performing rookie in the Indianapolis 500. Criteria include drivers' performance during practice, qualifying, and the race, their rela ...

(1973) (born 1940). * 5 August ** Brian Henderson,

television and radio broadcaster (''

Nine News Nine News (stylized as 9News) is a national News agency, news service on the Nine Network in Australia. Its flagship program is an hour-long ''9News'' bulletin at 6:00 pm, with editions produced by Nine's owned-and-operated stations in TCN, S ...

'', ''Bandstand''), Gold Logie Award (

) (born 1931). **

Murray Rose Iain Murray Rose, (6 January 1939 – 15 April 2012) was an Australian swimmer, who swam for the University of Southern California, and worked as an actor, sports commentator and marketing executive. He was a six-time Olympic medalist (four g ...

, politician, MP for

Otago Central Otago Central or Central Otago was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1911 to 1919 as ''Otago Central''; from 1928 to 1957 as ''Central Otago''; and from 1957 to 1978 as ''Otago Central''. It was replaced by the ...

(1969–1972) (born 1939). * 7 August – Mark Weedon, rugby union player (

Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty () is a large bight (geography), bight along the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It stretches from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runaway in the east. Called ''Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi'' (the Ocean ...

Crusaders The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding ...

) (born 1968). * 8 August –

Perry Harris Perry Colin Harris (11 January 1946 – 8 August 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, Harris represented Manawatu at a provincial level, and was called into the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, as a replacement on thei ...

, rugby union player ( Manawatu,

) (born 1946). * 9 August –

Olivia Podmore Olivia Rose Podmore (24 May 1997 – 9 August 2021) was a New Zealand professional racing cyclist. She represented her country at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Early life Born in Christchurch in 1997, Olivia was the d ...

, Olympic (

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

) and Commonwealth Games (

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

) cyclist (born 1997). * 10 August ** Don McKechnie, cricketer (

) and cricket umpire (born 1944). ** John Riordan, jockey,

(1960, 1972),

W. S. Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moo ...

(1963) (born 1936). ** Peter Whittle, mathematician ( DSIR,

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

John von Neumann Theory Prize The John von Neumann Theory Prize of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) is awarded annually to an individual (or sometimes a group) who has made fundamental and sustained contributions to theory in opera ...

(1997),

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

(since 1978) (born 1927). * 11 August – Sir David Levene,

businessman and philanthropist (born 1929). * 14 August – Francis Mossman, actor (''

'', '' Spartacus: Vengeance'', ''The Horizon'') (born 1988). * 15 August **

Greg Rowlands Gregory David Rowlands (10 December 1947 – 15 August 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A fullback, Rowlands represented Bay of Plenty at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on thei ...

, rugby union player (

) (born 1947). ** Gary Woollard, rugby league player (

) (born 1942). * 16 August –

Marilynn Webb Marilynn Lois Webb (11 September 1937 – 16 August 2021) was a New Zealand artist, noted for her contributions to Māori people, Māori art and her work as an educator. She was best known for her work in printmaking and pastels, and her work ...

, artist and educator (

Otago Polytechnic Otago Polytechnic is a public Education in New Zealand#Tertiary education, New Zealand tertiary education institute, centred in Dunedin with additional campuses in Cromwell, New Zealand, Cromwell and Auckland. Otago Polytechnic provides career-f ...

), 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 The is the ambassador from the United States of America to Japan. History Beginning in 1854 with the use of gunboat diplomacy by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, the U.S. has maintained diplomatic relations with Japan, except for the ten-year pe ...

(1972–1976) (born 1917). * 18 August –

Austin Mitchell Austin Vernon Mitchell (19 September 1934 – 18 August 2021) was a British academic, journalist and Labour Party politician who was the member of Parliament (MP) for Great Grimsby from a 1977 by-election to 2015. He was also the chair of ...

, academic (

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury (UC; ; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 as Canterbur ...

), broadcaster ( ''Calendar''), writer (''

The Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise ''The Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise'' was a popular book by Austin Mitchell, published by Whitcombe and Tombs (Christchurch, 1972), with illustrations by Les Gibbard. It provided a witty, satirical description of life in 1960s New Ze ...

'') and politician, MP for

Great Grimsby Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" * Artel Great (bo ...

(1977–2015) (born 1934). * 19 August ** Sir Michael Cullen, politician, MP (1981–2009), Minister of Social Welfare (1987–1990),

(1999–2008),

(2002–2008) (born 1945). ** Lyn Hartley, local-body politician,

Mayor of Kawerau The mayor of Kawerau officiates over the Kawerau District Council. There have been six mayors of Kawerau since 1959. The current mayor is Faylene Tunui, who has been in office since 2022. History The area was governed as a borough from 1954 and ...

(1986–2001) (born 1941). * 22 August – Danny Campbell, rugby league player (

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. It is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its ad ...

, Runcorn Highfield,

) (born 1956). * 23 August –

Gary Tricker Gary Walter Morice Tricker (24 September 1938 – 23 August 2021) was a New Zealand painter and printmaker. In 1966, he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council scholarship. His prints and etchings featured themes including black cats, trai ...

, painter and printmaker (born 1938). * 24 August ** Bruce Culpan, rower, British Empire and Commonwealth Games silver medallist (

1954 Events January * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...

) (born 1930). ** Harry Kent, Olympic track cyclist (

), British Commonwealth Games gold medallist (

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 1970 Tonghai earthquake, Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli ...

), world championship silver medallist (

Lonsdale Cup The Lonsdale Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 2 miles and 56 yards (3,270 metres), and it is schedu ...

(1970) (born 1947). * 25 August –

Max Cryer John Maxwell Cryer (10 December 1935 – 25 August 2021), generally known as Max Cryer, was a New Zealand television producer and presenter, radio broadcaster, entertainment producer, singer, cabaret performer and writer. Early life and educ ...

, broadcaster, entertainer and writer, Entertainer of the Year (1973),

Benny Award The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who h ...

(1977) (born 1935). * 28 August – Joye Evans, radiographer and guiding leader, New Zealand Girl Guides chief commissioner (1983–1988) (born 1929). File:Graham McRae Levin 1970.jpg, Graham McRae File:UCI Track World Championships 2020 096.jpg, Olivia Podmore File:David Levene KNZM (cropped).jpg, Sir David Levene File:Austin Mitchell.jpg, Austin Mitchell File:Michael Cullen, 2008.jpg, Sir Michael Cullen File:Max Cryer 2000 (cropped).jpg, Max Cryer

September

* 1 September **

Noel Dellow Harold Noel Dellow (14 February 1929 – 1 September 2021) was a New Zealand cricketer who played five matches of first-class cricket for Canterbury between early 1955 and early 1956. Life and career Born in Ashburton, Noel Dellow was a medium ...

, cricketer (

) (born 1929). **

Alison Gray Alison Mary Gray (11 March 1943 – 1 September 2021) was a New Zealand writer and social researcher. She wrote 11 books, ranging from feminist oral histories to novels and children's books. Gray established a social policy research consultancy ...

, writer and social researcher (born 1943). * 4 September ** Martin Thompson, artist (born 1956). **

Lydia Wevers Lydia Joyce Wevers (19 March 1950 – 4 September 2021) was a New Zealand literary historian, Literary criticism, literary critic, editor, and book reviewer. She was an academic at Victoria University of Wellington for many years, including act ...

, literary academic (

), editor and critic (born 1950). * 5 September –

Viv Stephens Vivian Sherill Stephens (; 8 November 1953 – 5 September 2021) was a New Zealand cricketer who played primarily as a right-handed Batting (cricket), batter. She appeared in two Women's One Day International, One Day Internationals for New Zeal ...

, cricket player (

) and administrator (born 1953). * 6 September **

Billy Apple Billy Apple (born Barrie Bates; 31 December 19356 September 2021) was a New Zealand artist whose work is associated with the London, Auckland and New York schools of pop art in the 1960s and NY's Conceptual Art movement in the 1970s. He worke ...

, pop artist,

Arts Foundation of New Zealand The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Te Tumu Toi is a New Zealand arts organisation that supports artistic excellence and facilitates private philanthropy through raising funds for the arts and allocating it to New Zealand artists. The foundatio ...

Icon (since 2018) (born 1935). ** Peter Arnold, cricket player (

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...

) and administrator, president of

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northa ...

(1996–2000) (born 1926). * 17 September –

Angela Ballara Heather Angela Ballara (née Devitt; 16 August 1944 – 17 September 2021) was a New Zealand historian who specialised in Māori history. She was appointed a member of the Waitangi Tribunal in 2004. After a short break, she was reappointed to th ...

, historian, member of the

(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 Taito Phillip Hans Field (26 September 1952 – 23 September 2021) was a Samoan-born New Zealand trade unionist and politician. A Member of Parliament (MP) for South Auckland electorates from 1993 to 2008, Field was the first New Zealand MP o ...

, politician, MP for Otara (1993–1996) and

Māngere Māngere () is a major suburb in South Auckland, New Zealand, located on mainly flat land on the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of Manukau, Manukau City Centre and south of the Auckland CBD, Auckland city centre. ...

(1996–2008), leader of the

New Zealand Pacific Party The New Zealand Pacific Party was a Christianity, Christian political party that existed in New Zealand from 2008 to 2010. The party was founded as a vehicle for former New Zealand Labour Party, Labour MP Taito Phillip Field, who was subsequent ...

(2008–2010) (born 1952). ** John Mitchell, historian (born 1941). * 24 September –

Waka Nathan Waka Joseph Nathan (8 July 1940 – 24 September 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player who played rugby union for the New Zealand national team (the "All Blacks") as a flanker. His feats on the field gained him the nickname "The Black Pant ...

, rugby union player (

), selector and administrator,

Tom French Cup In rugby union, the Tom French Cup is an honour awarded by New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year. The cup has been awarded annually since 1949, when it was donated to the New Zealand Māori coach To ...

(1962, 1966), president of the

Auckland Rugby Union The Auckland Rugby Union is a New Zealand provincial rugby union. The union was established in 1883 and was originally responsible for the administration of the sport in most of the former Auckland Province, although its boundaries have since s ...

(2003–2004) (born 1940). * 30 September **

Dorothea Brown Dorothea Brown (née Jongejans; 13 August 1938 – 30 September 2021) was a New Zealand librarian. Brown was born in 1938 in The Hague, Netherlands. Aged 18, she emigrated to New Zealand by herself. She was the first woman to be appointed Chris ...

, librarian (

Christchurch City Libraries Christchurch City Libraries is a network of 21 libraries and a mobile book bus. operated by the Christchurch City Council and Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake the previous Christchurch Central Library building was demolished, and ...

) (born 1938). ** Jenny Kirk, politician, MP for

Birkenhead Birkenhead () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. It lies within the Historic counties of England, historic co ...

(1987–1990), North Shore city councillor (1995–2001) (born 1945). File:Billy Apple 2018 (cropped).jpg, Billy Apple File:Taito Phillip Field (ca 1995).jpg, Taito Phillip Field File:Waka Nathan c1961.jpg, Waka Nathan

October

* 1 October –

Earle Wells Earle Leonard Wells (27 October 1933 – 1 October 2021) was an Olympic gold medallist for New Zealand in yachting. With Helmer Pedersen, Wells won the Flying Dutchman class at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Wells was born in Auckland in ...

sailor, Olympic champion (

) (born 1933). * 4 October ** Laurie Davidson,

yacht designer (''

NZL 32 ''NZL 32'', or ''Black Magic'', is an International Americas Cup Class yacht which won the 1995 America's Cup by defeating the American defender ''Young America'' in a 5–0 victory off San Diego, California. Design ''NZL 32'' was, in many wa ...

'') (born 1926). ** John Hastie, Commonwealth Games sport shooter (

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. ...

) and gunsmith, Ballinger Belt (1982) (born 1938). **

Joy Watson Valerie Joy Watson (née Evans; 21 February 1938 – 4 October 2021) was a New Zealand author of children's books, many of which were published by Scholastic Corporation. Many of Watson's tales were based on her husband Kevin. Watson had also w ...

, children's author, Gaelyn Gordon Award (2000) (born 1938). * 5 October –

Pam Williams Pamela Margaret Jean Williams (née Pearce; 4 July 1933 – 5 October 2021) was a New Zealand businesswoman and philanthropist. She was the founder or co-founder of six companies, including Wanganui Seafoods, one of the largest seafood export b ...

businesswoman and philanthropist (born 1933). * 6 October – Sir Noel Anderson, lawyer and judge, president of the

Court of Appeal An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to Hearing (law), hear a Legal case, case upon appeal from a trial court or other ...

(2004–2006),

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

justice (2006–2008),

(since 1986) (born 1944). * 8 October ** Jack Manning, architect (

Majestic Centre The Majestic Centre, designed by Jack Manning of Manning Mitchell in association with Kendon McGrail of Jasmax Architects, was completed in 1991. The main building of the Majestic Centre is the Majestic Tower which is the tallest building in We ...

NZIA Gold Medal The New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal is an award presented annually by the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) to a New Zealand architect. History From 1927 until 1977 a gold, silver or bronze prize wa ...

(2011) (born 1928). **

Ian Ormond John Lambie "Ian" Ormond (5 August 1949 – 8 October 2021) was an association football player who represented New Zealand at international level. Biography Ormond was born in Harthill, Scotland, on 5 August 1949, and migrated with his family t ...

, association footballer (

Blockhouse Bay Blockhouse Bay is a residential suburb in the south west of Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island. It is sited on the northern coast of the Manukau Harbour, and is also close to the administrative boundary that existed between Auckland City ...

) (born 1949). * 11 October –

Barry Mora Reginald Barry Mora (15 November 1940 – 11 October 2021) was a New Zealand classical baritone who had an active international career in concerts and operas from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. Retired from the stage, he was a member of the boar ...

, operatic baritone ( Gelsenkirchen Opera House, Frankfurt Opera House) (born 1940). * 13 October – Ray Cranch, rugby league player (

) and administrator (born 1923). * 18 October **

Fred Goodall Frederick Robert Goodall (9 January 1938 – 18 October 2021) was a New Zealand international cricket umpire who officiated in 24 Tests and 15 One-Day Internationals between 1965 and 1988. Goodall was the son of Fred and Betty Goodall from ...

, cricket umpire (born 1938). ** Sean Wainui, rugby union player (

, Chiefs,

Māori All Blacks The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing is ...

) (born 1995). * 19 October –

Bob Graham Daniel Robert Graham (November 9, 1936 – April 16, 2024) was an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 38th List of governors of Florida, governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senate, United States senat ...

, rugby union player (

Junior All Blacks The All Blacks XV is the second national rugby union team of New Zealand, after the All Blacks. New Zealand's second national team has had numerous names in its history: Junior All Blacks, New Zealand XV, New Zealand A, New Zealand B, All Blacks ...

) and coach (

) (born 1936). * 31 October – Dame Catherine Tizard, zoologist (

University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...

), television personality (''

Beauty and the Beast "Beauty and the Beast" is a fairy tale written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in (''The Young American and Marine Tales''). Villeneuve's lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and publish ...

''), and politician,

mayor of Auckland City The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when the Auckland City Council and mayoralty was abolished and ...

(1983–1990),

governor-general Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

(1990–1996) (born 1931). File:Pam Williams 2017 (cropped).jpg, Pam Williams File:Cath Tizard ONZ 2009 (cropped).jpg, Dame Catherine Tizard

November

* 13 November **

Michael Corballis Michael Charles Corballis (10 September 1936 – 13 November 2021) was a New Zealand and Canadian psychologist and author. He was Emeritus Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Auckland. His fields of research were cogni ...

, psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist (

), Rutherford Medal (2016) (born 1936). ** Jack Kiddey, cricketer (

) (born 1929). **

Keith Mann Keith Mann is a British animal rights campaigner and direct action activist who acted as a spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), and was alleged by police in 2005 to be a ringleader for the ALF. He was imprisoned twice, and is the au ...

, British Empire and Commonwealth Games fencer (

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

), and sports administrator (born 1932). * 15 November – Sir Rod Weir,

stock and station agent and businessman (born 1927). * 16 November –

John Luxton Murray John Finlay Luxton (14 September 1946 – 16 November 2021) was a New Zealand National Party politician, serving as a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2002. From 2008 to 2015, he was the Chairman of DairyNZ, the organisation that repres ...

, politician, MP for

Matamata Matamata () is a town in Waikato, New Zealand. It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred horse breeding and training pursuits. It is part of the Matamata-Piako District, which take ...

(1987–1996) and

Karapiro Karapiro () is a settlement and rural area in the Waipā District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It includes both the artificially created Lake Karapiro and the accompanying Karāpiro Power Station. Karapiro is located just ...

(1996–1999),

list MP A list MP is a member of parliament (MP) elected from a party list rather than a geographic electoral district. The place in Parliament is due to the number of votes the party won, not to votes received by the MP personally. This occurs only in ...

(1999–2002), Minister of Police (1994–1996),

Minister for Land Information The Minister for Land Information is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility for matters relating to land titles, ratings, survey systems, topographical and hygrographical information and Crown Property Management. It was ...

(1996–1999) (born 1946). * 23 November – Robert Ellis, artist and professor of fine arts (

Elam School of Fine Arts The Elam School of Fine Arts, founded by John Edward Elam, is part of the University of Auckland Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries, Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries at the University of Auckland. It offered the first Bachelor of ...

) (born 1929). * 27 November –

Jimmy O'Dea James Augustine O'Dea (26 April 1899 – 7 January 1965) was an Irish actor and comedian. Life Jimmy O'Dea was born at 11 Lower Bridge Street, Dublin, to James O'Dea, an ironmonger, and Martha O'Gorman, who kept a small toy shop. He was one of ...

, trade unionist and activist (born 1935). File:Sir Roderick Weir 1988 (cropped).jpg, Sir Rod Weir File:John Luxton (cropped).jpg, John Luxton

December

* 2 December –

Lyndsey Leask Lyndsey Alison Leask (4 October 1935 – 2 December 2021) was a New Zealand softball player, coach and administrator. She was manager of the New Zealand women's team at two world championship tournaments, in 1978 and 1982, and was the first wom ...

softball administrator (born 1935). * 6 December –

Tom Horton Thomas Horton is a fictional character and patriarch of the Horton family on the NBC soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''. He was played by Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best kno ...

, air force pilot and commander (

Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF; ) is the aerial warfare, aerial military service, service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Perm ...

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

) (born 1919). * 9 December ** Brian Aldridge, cricket umpire (born 1940). ** Julie Brougham, Olympic equestrian (

) (born 1954). * 12 December –

Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi 'Siosaia Lausiʻi, Lord Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, also known as Lord Maʻafu (of Vaini and Tokomololo) (1 July 1955 – 12 December 2021), was a Tongan politician, military officer, and member of the Tongan nobility. Biography Lausiʻi was born in ...

, Tongan noble,

deputy prime minister of Tonga The Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga is the principal deputy of the Prime Minister of Tonga. Taniela Fusimalohi is currently in office as of January 28, 2025. List of officeholders * Basil Thomson (1890 – ?) * Havea Tui'ha'ateiho (1953–1960 ...

(since 2020) (born 1955). * 19 December – Peter Innes, dentistry academic (

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

University of Saskatchewan The University of Saskatchewan (U of S, or USask) is a Universities in Canada, Canadian public university, public research university, founded on March 19, 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatch ...

) (born 1941). * 24 December – Terry Morrison, rugby union player (

) and sprinter (born 1951). * 26 December – George Johnson, artist (born 1926). * 27 December –

Keri Hulme Keri Ann Ruhi Hulme (9 March 194727 December 2021) was a New Zealand novelist, poet and short-story writer. She also wrote under the pen name Kai Tainui. Her novel ''The Bone People'' won the Booker Prize in 1985; she was the first New Zealand ...

, writer (''

The Bone People ''The Bone People'', styled by the writer and in some editions as ''the bone people'', is a 1984 novel by New Zealand writer Keri Hulme. Set on the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, the novel focuses on three characters, all of whom ar ...

''),

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a prestigious literary award conferred each year for the best single work of sustained fiction written in the English language, wh ...

(1985) (born 1947). * 30 December – Billy Harrison, rugby league player (

) (born 1938). File:Wing Commander Tom Horton in 1945.jpg, Tom Horton File:Brian Aldridge (cropped).jpg, Brian Aldridge File:Lord Ma’afu.jpg, Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi File:Professor Peter Innes, 2002 (cropped).jpg, Peter Innes File:Keri Hulme 1983.jpg, Keri Hulme

Exact date unknown

* Reg Cooke, rugby league player (

Papakura Papakura is a suburb of South Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, approximately south of the Auckland CBD, Auckland City Centre. It is under the authority of the Auckland Council. The ar ...

) (born 1940).

References

{{Year in Oceania, 2021 Years of the 21st century in New Zealand 2020s in New Zealand