# 2004 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
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 Cartwright
* Elizabeth II
* Dame Silva Cartwright

### 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)
* Jonathan Hunt
* Helen Clark
* Michael Cullen
* Phil Goff

### 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
* Dame 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
* John Banks
* Dick Hubbard
* Stuart Crosby
* Kerry Prendergast
* Garry Moore
* Sukhi Turner
* 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.

### 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.

### 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.
* 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 win

### Olympic Games

* New Zealand sends a team of 148 competitors in 18 sports.
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |

### Paralympics

* New Zealand sends a team of 35 competitors across nine sports.
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | 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.

## 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
* 25 February – Cody Vai, rugby union 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
* 3 November – Auckland Reactor, Standardbred racehorse
* 1 December – Joshua Willmer, swimmer
* 18 December – Tristyn Cook, rugby union player

### 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

* 11 February – June Westbury, politician (born 1921)
* 14 February – Jock Butterfield, rugby league player (born 1932)
* 16 February – Don Cleverley, cricketer (born 1909)
* 17 February – Sir Peter Quilliam, jurist (born 1920)
* 21 February – Norval Morris, lawyer, criminologist, novelist (born 1923)
* 26 February – Roger Mirams, filmmaker (born 1918)
* 29 February – Graham Gordon, doctor (born 1927)

### March

* 1 March – John Lithgow, politician (born 1933)
* 3 March – Susan Moller Okin, feminist political philosopher (born 1946)
* 4 March – Arthur Kinsella, politician (born 1918)
* 5 March – Martin Emond, cartoon illustrator and painter (born 1969)
* 8 March – Frank Mooney, cricketer (born 1921)
* 17 March – Sir William Pickering, rocket scientist (born 1910)
* 19 March – Chris Timms, sailor (born 1947)
* 30 March – Michael King, historian and biographer (born 1945)

### April

* 6 April – Joan Monahan (née Hastings), swimmer, botanist and schoolteacher (born 1925)
* 16 April – John Caselberg, writer and poet (born 1927)

### May

* 3 May – Rahera Windsor, founding member and kuia of Ngāti Rānana (born 1925)
* 15 May – Hector Wilson, rugby union player (born 1924)
* 17 May – Ken Mudford, motorcycle racer (born 1923)
* 19 May
** Rowan Barbour, cricketer (born 1922)
** Tim Hewat, television producer and journalist (born 1928)
* 21 May – Frank McMullen, rugby union player and referee (born 1933)
* 22 May – Wayne Kimber, politician (born 1949)

### June

* 5 June – Jack Foster, athlete (born 1932)
* 24 June
** Pat Kelly, trade union leader (born 1929)
** Ron Sharp, farmer, inventor of the herringbone milking shed (born 1919)
* 25 June – Morton Coutts, inventor, brewer (born 1904)

### July

* 5 July – Robert Burchfield, lexicographer (born 1923)
* 11 July – Sir Terry McLean, sports journalist and writer (born 1913)
* 22 July – Paul Clarkin, polo player (born 1950)
* 28 July – Dame Janet Paul, publisher, painter and art historian (born 1919)
* 29 July – Maurice Dixon, rugby union player (born 1929)

### August

* 14 August
** Eric Petrie, cricketer (born 1927)
** Sir Trevor Skeet, politician (born 1918)
* 21 August – Amelia Batistich, writer (born 1915)
* 23 August – Trevor Blake, cricketer (born 1937)
* 25 August – Roger Broughton, cricketer (born 1958)
* 26 August – Bill Marsters, Cook Islands religious leader (born 1923)

### September

* 1 September – Sir Alan Stewart, university administrator (born 1917)
* 2 September – Alan Preston, association football player and cricketer (born 1932)
* 11 September – Ruth Symons, cricketer (born 1913)
* 20 September – Pat Hanly, painter (born 1932)
* 29 September – David Jackson, boxer (born 1955)

### October

* 5 October – Maurice Wilkins, physicist and molecular biologist (born 1916)
* 10 October – Maurice Shadbolt, writer and playwright (born 1932)
* 23 October – George Silk, photojournalist (born 1916)

### November

* 1 November – Barry Brown, boxer (born 1931)
* 7 November – Eddie Charlton, snooker and billiards player (born 1929)
* 8 November – Frank Houston, religious leader (born 1922)
* 12 November – Jim Eyles, archaeologist (born 1926)

### December

* 8 December – Noel Mills, rower (born 1944)
* 11 December – Arthur Lydiard, athlete, athletics coach (born 1917)
* 17 December – Ray Dowker, cricketer and association football player (born 1919)
* 29 December – Liddy Holloway, actor and television scriptwriter (born 1947)