The following lists events that happened during 2004 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,114,300. Increase since 31 December 2003: 52,800 (1.30%). Males per 100 Females: 96.1.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Dame Silvia CartwrightThe Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 April 2012
Government The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between Labour and the small Progressive party with United Future supporting confidence and supply votes.
Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt (Labour) Prime Minister – Helen Clark (Labour) Deputy Prime Minister – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff (Labour)
Opposition leaders National – Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition) Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald Act – Richard Prebble to Rodney Hide New Zealand First – Winston Peters United Future – Peter Dunne Māori Party – Tariana Turia
Judiciary Chief Justice — Sian Elias
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – John Banks to Dick Hubbard Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite to Michael Redman Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner to Peter Chin
Other State Services Commissioner – Mark Prebble
Events
January 27 January: National Party leader Don Brash delivers a speech at Orewa highly critical of the government's policy towards Māori.
February
16 February: A state of emergency is declared in Manawatu-Wanganui due to flooding.
17 February: A state of emergency is declared in Marlborough, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty Region.
March
April 8 April: New Zealand First party announces it would give its support to the government's foreshore legislation. 30 April: Tariana Turia announces she will vote against the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation.
May 5 May: A hīkoi against the foreshore and seabed legislation arrives in Wellington. 7 May: The government's foreshore and seabed Bill passes its first vote in Parliament. 11 May: The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act is passed. The Act allows people who have not reoffended for seven years to not declare minor criminal convictions in most circumstances.
June 16 June: A meteorite crashes into an Auckland house, becoming the ninth recovered meteorite in New Zealand. 30 June: Statistics New Zealand estimates for this date put the Cities of Lower Hutt and Tauranga at over 100,000 residents for the first time and Waimakariri District at over 40,000
July 1 July: First sitting of the new Supreme Court. 10 July: Te Tai Hauauru by-election won by Tariana Turia for the new Māori Party. 15 July: 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal: New Zealand imposes diplomatic sanctions against Israel after two Israeli citizens are convicted of passport fraud.
August 2 August: Around 7,500 Destiny Church members march on Parliament in black shirts to protest liberal social policies. 15 August: Tornado in Waitara. Two fatalities when a farmhouse is destroyed. 19 August: Cereal maker Dick Hubbard announces he is running for the position of Mayor of Auckland.
September
October 6 October: Waikato Hospital doctors complete a 22-hour surgery to separate a pair of conjoined twins. 9 October: 2004 local body and health board elections completed, but not all of the counting; and some results need to wait for special votes. All three West Coast mayors unseated, along with several in more populous centres such as Auckland. 11 October: Disappearance under controversial circumstances of Iraena Asher at Piha, a West Auckland beach.
November 1 November: A reciprocal working holiday agreement between New Zealand and Belgium comes into effect.nzembassy.com 18 November: Legislation passed vesting ownership of all land up to the high tide mark in New Zealand with the Crown. 23 November: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes south-west of the South Island. 29 November: The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act comes into force.
December 9 December: The Supreme Court of New Zealand granted Ahmed Zaoui bail. He will reside in the Dominican Friary in Auckland. He will have to report to the police twice a week and must spend each night in the friary. 9 December: The Civil Unions Act is passed. The Act establishes the new institution of civil union, available to same-sex and de facto couples. 10 December: Smoking is banned in workplaces or licensed premises. 26 December: 5 New Zealanders are among the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Undated National Communications Corporation Limited is founded.
Arts and literature
Awards Katherine Duignan wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
Montana Book Awards 2004 Deutz Medal for Fiction – Slow Water by Annamarie Jagose Montana Medal for Non-fiction – The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond Readers' Choice – Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King Poetry – Sing-song by Anne Kennedy History – The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond Lifestyle and contemporary culture – Classic fly fishing in New Zealand Rivers by David Hallett and John Kent Biography – Mason by Rachael Barrowman Illustrative – Central by Arno Gasteiger Reference & Anthology – Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English Environment – Deep New Zealand: Blue Water, Black Abyss by Peter Batson A.W. Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature – Joy Cowley
Music
New Zealand Music Awards New categories introduced were 'Best Rock Album', 'People's Choice Award' and 'Airplay Record of the Year'. 'New Zealand Radio Programmer of the Year' was retired.
Album of the Year: Scribe (rapper) – The Crusader Single of the Year: Scribe – Stand Up Best Group: Dimmer – You've Got To Hear The Music Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Brooke Fraser – What To Do With Daylight Best Male Solo Artist: Scribe – The Crusader Best Female Solo Artist: Brooke Fraser – What To Do With Daylight Highest Selling Nz Album: Hayley Westenra – Pure Highest Selling Nz Single: Ben Lummis – They Can't Take That Away Songwriter of the Year: Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage (rapper) – Not Many : The Remix! Best Music Video: Chris Graham – Stand Up (Scribe) Best Rock Album (new category): Dimmer – You've Got To Hear The Music Best Urban/Hip Hop Album: Scribe – The Crusader Best Dance/Electronica Album: Salmonella Dub – One Drop East Best Maori Album: Ruia – Hawaiki Best Pacific Music Album: Te Vaka – Tutuki Best Jazz Album: The Rodger Fox Big Band – A Rare Connection Best Classical Album: John Psathas – Psathas : Fragments Best Gospel / Christian Album: Magnify – In Wonder International Achievement: Hayley Westenra People's Choice Award (new category): Scribe Best Producer: P-Money – The Crusader (Scribe) Best Engineer: Chris Van De Geer – Passenger – (Carly Binding) Best Album Cover: Ben Sciascia – Postage (Supergroove) Airplay Record of the Year (new category): Goldenhorse – Maybe Tomorrow Best Country Music Album: Donna Dean – Money Best Country Music Song: Donna Dean – Work It Out Best Folk Album: Brendyn Montgomery And Mike Considine – Mountain Air Lifetime Achievement Award: Shaun Joyce
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Eldred Stebbing MNZM.
Television 28 March: Māori Television commences. 22 September: Animated series bro'Town premieres on TV3. The Insider's Guide To Happiness
Film 29 February: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King wins all 11 Academy Awards for which it was nominated. Fracture In My Father's Den Kaikohe Demolition
Internet See: NZ Internet History
Sport
Athletics Dale Warrender wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:23:40 on 1 May in Rotorua, while Nyla Carroll claims her second in the women's championship (2:46:44).
Basketball The National Basketball League was won by the Auckland Stars who beat the Nelson Giants 80–68 in the final. The Women's National Basketball League was won by the Canterbury Wildcats who beat the Nelson Sparks 68–58 in the final.
Cricket The State Championship for 2003–04 was won by the Wellington Firebirds. In December Australia and New Zealand played a series of 3 one-day matches in Australia for the inaugural Chappell–Hadlee Trophy. After winning one game each, the decider was washed out by rain, so the trophy was shared.
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup: Just An Excuse – 2nd win Auckland Trotting Cup: Elsu – 2nd winAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Olympic Games
New Zealand sends a team of 148 competitors in 18 sports. Total 3 2 0 5
Paralympics
New Zealand sends a team of 35 competitors across nine sports. Total 6 1 3 10
Rugby league Bartercard Cup won by the Mt Albert Lions
Rugby union June – July: 2004 Philips International Series: The All Blacks beat England 36–3, England 36–12, Argentina 41-7 and Pacific Islanders rugby union team 41–26. 17 July: The All Blacks beat Australia 16–7 at Westpac Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series 24 July: The All Blacks beat South Africa 23–21 at Jade Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series 7 August: The All Blacks lose 18–23 to Australia at Telstra Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series 14 August: The All Blacks lose 26–40 to South Africa at Ellis Park Stadium as part of the 2004 Tri Nations Series 15 August: Bay of Plenty beat Auckland 33-28 to take the Ranfurly Shield 5 September: Canterbury beat Bay of Plenty 33-26 to take the Ranfurly Shield 13 November: The All Blacks beat Italy 59–10 at Stadio Flaminio as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe 20 November: The All Blacks beat Wales 26–25 at Millennium Stadium as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe 27 November: The All Blacks beat France 45–6 at Stade de France as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe 4 December: The All Blacks beat The Barbarians 47–9 at Twickenham as part of the 2004 All Black Tour of Europe
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Edd Newman (United States) John Whiteman (Upper Hutt), second, top New Zealander
Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Miramar Rangers who beat Waitakere City F.C. 1–0 in the final after extra time.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com
Births 1 January – Sylvia Brunt, rugby union player 7 January – Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, rugby union player 8 February Jorja Miller, rugby union player Georgia Plimmer, cricketer 18 February – Isaiya Katoa, rugby league player 19 February – Luca Harrington, freestyle skier 25 February – Cody Vai, rugby union player 3 March – Tanner Stowers-Smith, rugby league player 15 March – Demitric Sifakula, rugby league player 27 March – Jamal Todd, cricketer 8 April – Fran Jonas, cricketer 14 April – Keano Kini, rugby league player 15 April – Malachi Wrampling-Alec, rugby union player 22 April – Emma Findlay, field hockey player 23 April – Payton Spencer, rugby union player 8 May – Izzy Gaze, cricketer 10 May – Jenna Hastings, mountain biker 12 July – Laura Littlejohn, swimmer 14 August – Jay Herdman, association footballer 8 October – C'est La Guerre, Thoroughbred racehorse 14 October – Lewis Bower, cyclist 3 November – Auckland Reactor, Standardbred racehorse 1 December – Joshua Willmer, swimmer 18 December – Tristyn Cook, rugby union player 29 December – Ruby Star Andrews, freestyle skier
Exact date unlisted Allen Chi Zhou Fan, chess player Vyanla Punsalan, chess player
Deaths
January 11 January – Sir Peter Elworthy, farmer, farming leader, businessman (born 1935) 19 January – Murray Watkinson, rower (born 1939) 21 January – Jock Newall, association football player (born 1917) 25 January – Sonny Schmidt, bodybuilder (born 1953) 29 January – Janet Frame, writer (born 1924)
February