2003 in New Zealand

2003 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 2003 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,061,600.
Increase since 31 December 2002: 72,000 (1.81%).
Males per 100 Females: 96.2.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO
Government
The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between
Labour and the small Progressive party with
United Future supporting 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)
Chief Justice — Sian Elias
Opposition leaders
National – Bill English then Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition)
Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
Act – Richard Prebble
New Zealand First – Winston Peters
United Future – Peter Dunne
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – John Banks
Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite
Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast
Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore
Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner
Events
11 February – Donna Awatere Huata is expelled from the caucus of political party ACT New Zealand. She remained in parliament.
1 April – the Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 received Royal Assent
24 April – New Zealand's population reaches the 4,000,000 mark, according to Statistics New Zealand's population clock.
3 June – Air Adventures flight crashes on approach to Christchurch Airport, killing eight on board
9 June – Announcement by the Prime Minister of the provision of a Defence Force engineering group of up to 60 personnel to work on reconstruction tasks in southern Iraq and, as part of New Zealand's continuing participation in Operation Enduring Freedom, of the intention to contribute to a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.
30 June – Announcement that the North Island population reaches 3 million, North Shore City reaches 200,000 and Porirua City reaches 50,000
5 July – 350 skiers and 70 staff were trapped in skifield facilities on Mount Ruapehu when a sudden storm closes the access road. All descend safely the next day.
August – The Refugee Status Appeals Authority declares that Ahmed Zaoui is a genuine asylum seeker. He is moved from a maximum security to medium security prison as a result.
15 August – The Strongman Mine closes
22 August – the 2003 Fiordland earthquake strikes, in a remote part of New Zealand.
28 October – Don Brash becomes parliamentary leader of the National Party.
October – Australian company Toll Holdings completes a takeover of Tranz Rail
18 November – the Supreme Court declares that Donna Awatere Huata has no right to her parliamentary seat.
Evangelical Christian based political party Destiny New Zealand formed.
Arts and literature
Awards
Nick Ascroft and Sarah Quigley win the Robert Burns Fellowship.
New Zealand Book Awards
Readers' Choice: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
Non-fiction: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Fiction: The Shag Incident Stephanie Johnson
Poetry: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
History: No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840–1914 Jim McAloon
Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Biography: A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip Temple
Illustrative: Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len Castle
Reference & Anthology: Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw
Environment* Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff Chapple
New Zealand Music Awards
A number of new categories were introduced this year: 'Highest Selling NZ Album', 'Highest Selling NZ Single', 'Best Pacific Island Album' (its predecessor 'Best Polynesian Album' last presented in 1997), and 'Best Roots Music Album'. 'Best R&B/ Hip Hop Album' was renamed 'Best Urban Album'.
Two categories were retired 'Best Children's Album', and 'Best Compilation'.
This year was also the first to feature a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Album of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
Pacifier – Pacifier
Goldenhorse – Riverhead
Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
Single of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie
Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
Bic Runga – Get Some Sleep
Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
Nesian Mystik – It's On
Top Group: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
Goodshirt – Sophie
Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns
Goldenhorse – Riverhead
Blindspott – Blindspott
Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
Jon Toogood- Pacifier (Pacifier)
Te Awanui Pine Reeder (Nesian Mystik) – For The People
Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
Kirsten Morrell – Riverhead (Goldenhorse)
Best Solo Artist (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again
Carly Binding – Alright With Me
Best Urban Album: Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated
P Money – Big Things
Deceptikonz – Elimination
Best Folk Album: not awarded
Best Music Video: Joe Lonie – Sophie (Goodshirt)
Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
Chris Graham / Bic Runga – Something Good (Bic Runga)
Outstanding International Achievement: The Datsuns
Best Mana Reo Album: Ngahiwi Apanui – E Tau Nei
Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2
Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto
Best Mana Maori Album: Upper Hutt Posse – Te Reo Maori Remixes
Soul Paua – Pohewa
Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha
Brother J – Be Bop A Nui
Highest Selling NZ Album (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
Highest Selling NZ Single (new category): Katchafire – Giddy Up
Producer of the Year: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision
P Money – Big Things (P Money)
Geoffrey Maddock – Riverhead (Goldenhorse)
Engineer of the Year: Clint Murphy And Dave Rhodes – Blindspott
Jeremy Greor – Carbon (50HZ)
Barbara Griffin – Love Not War (Annie Crummer)
Simon Holloway & Shane Mason – K'Lee (K'Lee)
Best Dance Album: Salmonella Dub – Outside The Dubplates
Rhombus -Bass Player
Subware – Subware
Best Country Album: not awarded
Best Jazz Album: Kevin Clark – Once Upon A Song I Flew
Twinset – It's A Summer Feeling
Matt Penman – The Unquiet
Best Gospel Album: not awarded
Best Pacific Island Album (new category): Pacific Soul – Pacific Soul
Jamoa Jam – Tama Mai Le Pasifika
Lapi Mariner – Just Me
Best Roots Music Album (new category): Trinity Roots – True
Te Vaka – Nukukehe
Darren Watson – King Size
Best Classical Album: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – Douglas Lilburn: The Three Symphonies
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra -Simon Boccanegra -Giuseppe V
New Zealand String Quartet – Beethoven Rasumovsky Quartet
Songwriter of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie
Che Fu – Misty Frequencies
Nesian Mystik – It's On
Best Cover Design: Campbell Hooper-Johnson – 'Flock: The Best Of The Mutton Birds
Damian Alexander – Blindspott (Blindspott)
Spencer Levine – Trade Secrets (Dubious Brothers)
New Zealand Radio Programmer of the Year: Andi Dawkins – More FM Christchurch
Andrew Szusterman – Channel Z
John Budge – Classic Hits
Manu Taylor – Mai FM
Lifetime Achievement Award (new category): Dylan Taite
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Jim Joll.
Television
3 October: TV4 is replaced by C4.
Film
Kombi Nation
The Last Samurai
Whale Rider
17 December: World premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in Wellington
Internet
See: NZ Internet History
Sport
Athletics
Todd Stevens wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:30:09 on 3 May in Rotorua, while Maree Turner claims her first in the women's championship (2:55:40).
Basketball
The NBL won by the Wellington Saints who beat the Waikato Titans 97–88 in the final.
The Women's NBL was won by the Wellington Swish who beat the Waikato Lady Titans 86–82 in the final
Horse racing
Harness racing
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Just an Excuse
Auckland Trotting Cup – Elsu
New Zealand Free For All – Jack Cade
Motor racing
12 October – Scott Dixon wins the 2003 Indy Racing League Championship
Netball
The 11th Netball World Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand won, beating Australia in the final.
Rugby union
11 October – Auckland defeat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield, ending Canterbury's run of 23 defences.
11 October – New Zealand beat Italy (70–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
17 October – New Zealand beat Canada (68–6) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
24 October – New Zealand beat Tonga (91–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
2 November – New Zealand beat Wales (53–37) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup, finishing top of pool D
8 November – New Zealand beat South Africa (29–9) in the first quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup
15 November – New Zealand lose to Australia (10–22) in the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup
20 November – Playoff: (Loser SF1 v Loser SF2) New Zealand beat France (40–13) to take 3rd place in the Rugby World Cup
Rugby league
Bartercard Cup won by Canterbury Bulls
The New Zealand Warriors finished 6th (of 15 teams) in the minor premiership, qualifying for the finals series, where they won two games before losing the preliminary final to minor premieres the Penrith Panthers.
Shooting
Ballinger Belt –
Ian Shaw (United Kingdom)
Ross Geange (Masterton), fourth, top New Zealander
Soccer
New Zealand National Soccer League won by Miramar Rangers
The Chatham Cup is won by University-Mount Wellington who beat Melville United 3–1 in the final.
Yachting
19 January – Swiss yacht Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Oracle BMW Racing 4–1 to win the Louis Vuitton Cup off Auckland and goes on to challenge Team New Zealand for the 2003 America's Cup.
2 March – Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Team New Zealand boat New Zealand skippered by Dean Barker 5–0 to win the 2003 America's Cup
Births
8 January – Sosefo Fifita, rugby league player
18 February – Jeremiah Nanai, rugby league player
24 February – Jackson Manuel, association footballer
13 March – Patricia Maliepo, rugby union player
19 March – Caleb Tangitau, rugby union player
23 March – Davvy Moale, rugby league player
19 April – April Ngatupuna, rugby union and rugby league player
22 April – Che Clark, rugby union player
12 May – Kelsey Teneti, rugby union player
25 May – Deine Mariner, rugby league player
13 August – Cameron Gray, swimmer
23 August – Efficient, Thoroughbred racehorse
23 September – Finn Surman, association footballer
31 October – Green Birdie, Thoroughbred racehorse
17 November – Callum Hedge, racing driving
24 November – Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman, face of campaign against meningococcal disease
31 December – Erika Fairweather, swimmer
Undated
Deine Mariner, rugby league player
Manaia Nuku, rugby union player
Raymond Tuputupu, rugby union player
Deaths
January–March
6 January – Hirini Melbourne, composer, singer, writer and academic (born 1949)
7 January – Charisma, eventing horse (foaled 1972)
8 January – Mac Price, diplomat (born 1948)
16 January – Bruce Juddery, journalist (born 1941)
20 January – Cleone Rivett-Carnac, athlete (born 1933)
21 January
James Clark, cricketer (born 1910)
Les Lock, racing cyclist (born 1929)
22 January – Dylan Taite, drummer, rock music journalist (born 1937)
29 January – Bill Sewell, poet (born 1951)
30 January – Ron Buchan, lawn bowler (born 1907)
1 February – Bill Meates, rugby union player (born 1923)
2 February – Stan Cowman, cricket umpire (born 1923)
13 February – Bright Williams, last surviving New Zealand-born veteran of World War I (born 1897)
22 February – Sir Frank Callaway, music educator and administrator (born 1919)
25 February – Marion Robinson, physiologist, nutritionist (born 1923)
7 March – Sid Scales, cartoonist (born 1916)
19 March – Tori Reid, rugby union player (born 1912)
27 March – Edwin Carr, composer (born 1926)
April–June
5 April – Irihapeti Ramsden, nurse, educator (born 1946)
7 April – John Rymer, Anglican cleric (born 1924)
8 April – Harry Frazer, rugby union player (born 1916)
14 April – John Kent, cartoonist (born 1937)
22 April – Ian Marshall, association football player and coach (born 1942)
27 April – Albert Richards, athlete (born 1924)
29 April – Ron Barclay, politician (born 1914)
30 April – Possum Bourne, rally driver (born 1956)
5 May – Margaret Dalziel, English literature academic (born 1916)
12 May – Stan Lay, athlete (born 1906)
24 May
Neil Cherry, environmental scientist (born 1946)
Kaarene Fitzgerald, advocate for study and treatment of sudden infant death (born 1944)
28 May – Phil Holloway, politician (born 1917)
29 May
Joanna Paul, visual artist, poet, filmmaker (born 1945)
Sina Woolcott, artist (born 1907)
2 June – Kenneth Maddock, anthropology academic (born 1937)
5 June – Alister Abernethy, trade unionist, politician and public servant (born 1920)
9 June – Jack Henry, silviculturist and businessman (born 1917)
12 June – Monty Monteith, clergyman (born 1904)
14 June – Joyce Powell, cricketer (born 1922)
15 June – David Holt, association footballer (born 1952)
20 June – Thomas Freeman, cricketer (born 1923)
July–September
6 July – Peter Howden, cricketer (born 1911)
13 July – Lin Colling, rugby union player, coach and administrator (born 1946)
20 July – Bill Schaefer, field hockey player (born 1925)
21 July – John Davies, athlete (born 1938)
24 July – Dame Ella Campbell, botanist (born 1910)
25 July – Joan Talbot, fashion designer and retailer (born 1927)
30 July – Agnes Ell, cricketer (born 1917)
3 August – Joyce Macdonald, swimmer (born 1922)
7 August – Mike Hinge, illustrator and graphic designer (born 1931)
8 August – Allan McCready, politician (born 1916)
9 August
Rex Challies, cricketer (born 1924)
Corran McLachlan, chemical engineer, entrepreneur (born 1944)
12 August – Alan McLean, cricketer (born 1911)
22 August – Dorothea Anne Franchi, pianist, harpist, music educator and composer (born 1920)
27 August – Mick Connelly, politician (born 1916)
2 September – Dame Ann Ballin, clinical psychologist, victims' rights advocate and disabilities campaigner (born 1932)
5 September – Sir Richard Harrison, politician (born 1921)
7 September
David Spence, mathematician (born 1926)
Merv Wellington, politician (born 1940)
11 September – Frances King, cricketer (born 1980)
15 September – Anthony Treadwell, architect (born 1922)
19 September
Max Brown, writer (born 1916)
Adrian Shelford, rugby league player (born 1964)
23 September – Dennis McEldowney, writer and editor (born 1926)
25 September – Bill Wolfgramm, musician (born 1925)
October–December
3 October
Lyall Barry, swimmer (born 1926)
Savenaca Siwatibau, Fijian public servant and university administrator (born 1940)
18 October – Frank O'Flynn, politician (born 1918)
31 October – Lindsay Weir, cricketer (born 1908)
5 November – Muriel Boswell, netball player (born 1915)
12 November – Cameron Duncan, filmmaker (born 1986)
15 November – Tom Kneebone, cabaret performer and actor (born 1932)
16 November – Theo Allen, athlete (born 1914)
23 November – Nick Carter, cyclist (born 1924)
24 November – Millie Khan, lawn bowler (born 1938)
26 November – Brian Wybourne, physics academic (born 1935)
17 December – James Coe, artist, art teacher, industrial designer (born 1917)
25 December – Patrick O'Farrell, history academic (born 1933)
See also
History of New Zealand
List of years in New Zealand
Military history of New Zealand
Timeline of New Zealand history
Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
Timeline of the New Zealand environment
References
External links
New Zealand
New Zealand
Years of the 21st century in New Zealand
2000s in New Zealand