1998 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1998 in New Zealand.

← 1997 1996 1995 1998 in New Zealand → 1999 2000 2001
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	Other events of 1998 Timeline of New Zealand history

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,829,200[1]
• Increase since 31 December 1997: 26,500 (0.70%)
• Males per 100 Females: 96.8

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State - Elizabeth II
• Governor-General - The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO[2]

Government

The 45th New Zealand Parliament continued, with the Fourth National Government in power.

• Speaker of the House - Doug Kidd
• Prime Minister - Jenny Shipley
• Deputy Prime Minister - Winston Peters then Wyatt Creech
• Minister of Finance - Bill Birch
• Minister of Foreign Affairs - Don McKinnon
• Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum

Opposition leaders

See: Category:Parliament of New Zealand, New Zealand elections

• National - Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
• Act - Richard Prebble
• New Zealand First - Winston Peters
• United New Zealand - Peter Dunne
• Labour - Helen Clark (Leader of the Opposition)
• The Alliance - Jim Anderton and Sandra Lee

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland - Les Mills then Christine Fletcher
• Mayor of Hamilton - Margaret Evans then Russell Matthew Remmington
• Mayor of Wellington - Mark Blumsky
• Mayor of Christchurch - Vicki Buck then Garry Moore
• Mayor of Dunedin - Sukhi Turner

Events

• 2 May – By-election in Taranaki-King Country after the former Prime Minister Jim Bolger resigned. Shane Ardern retained the seat for National.
• 14 August – Prime Minister Jenny Shipley sacks Winston Peters from Cabinet after a dispute over the privatisation of Wellington International Airport. Peters subsequently cancels New Zealand First's coalition agreement with National.
• New Zealand appoints a resident ambassador to Argentina and establishes an embassy in Buenos Aires.[3]
• As of December 2016, this year is New Zealand's warmest year on record.[4]

Arts and literature

• Michael King wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
• Montana New Zealand Book Awards:
  • Montana Medal: Harry Orsman (ed.), Dictionary of New Zealand English
  • Deutz Medal: Maurice Gee, Live Bodies
  • Reader's Choice: Malcolm McKinnon(ed.), New Zealand Historical Atlas
  • First Book Awards
    • Fiction: Catherine Chidgey, In a fishbone church
    • Poetry: Kapka Kassabova, All Roads Lead to the Sea
    • Non-Fiction: Genevieve Noser, Olives: The new passion

See 1998 in art, 1998 in literature, Category:1998 books

New Zealand Music Awards

Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.[5][6] were:

• Album of the Year: Bic Runga - Drive
  • Salmonella Dub - Calming of the Drunken Monkey
  • Rob Guest - Standing Ovation
  • The Stereobus - Stereobus
  • Greg Johnson - Chinese Whispers
• Single of the Year: Bic Runga - Sway
  • Shihad - Home Again
  • The Feelers - Pressure Man
  • Darcy Clay - Jesus I Was Evil
  • Moizna - Just Another Day
• Best Male Vocalist: Jon Toogood – (Shihad)
  • Greg Johnson (Greg Johnson Set)
  • Booga Beazley (Head Like A Hole)
• Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga
  • Sulata
  • Annie Crummer
• Best Group: Shihad
  • The Mutton Birds
  • Dam Native
• Most Promising Male Vocalist: Darcy Clay
  • Dave Yetton (The Stereobus)
  • James Reid (The Feelers)
• Most Promising Female Vocalist: Alesha Siosiua (Miozna)
  • Maisey Rika (St Josephs Maori Girls College)
  • Jordan Reyne
• Most Promising Group: Moizna
  • The Feelers
  • The Stereobus
• International Achievement: OMC
  • The Mutton Birds
  • Garageland
• Best Video: Mark Hurley - Home Again (Shihad)
  • Joe Lonie - Pressure Man (The Feelers)
  • Wayne Conway - Suddenly Strange (Bic Runga)
• Best Producer: Malcolm Welsford - Pressure Man (The Feelers)
  • Chris Sinclair - Kia Koe (Sulata)
  • Debbie Harwood & Stephen Small - So This Is Love
• Best Engineer: Simon Sheridan - Sway (Bic Runga)
  • Chris Sinclair - Kia Koe (Sulata)
  • Malcolm Welsford - Pressure Man (The Feelers)
• Best Jazz Album: the New Loungehead - Came a Weird Way
  • Trip to the Moon - Jazz Hop
  • Sustenance - Food For Thought
• Best Classical Album: Daniel Poynton - You Hit Him, He Cry Out
  • Alexander Ivashkin - Shostakovich Cello Concertos
  • Keith Lewis And NZ Chamber Orchestra - Opera Kings Gods And Mortals
• Best Country Album: Kylie Harris - Fancy
• Best Folk Album: Paul Ubana Jones - Blessings and Burdens
  • T&D Bigger Band - Hillingdon
  • AJ Bell - Ragwort Touch
• Best Gospel Album: Parachute Band - You Alone
  • Dennis Marsh - Faith
  • Invasion Band - You Call My Name
• Best Mana Maori Album: Te Matapihi – Te Matapihi
  • Maori Volcanics - Kia Ora
  • Dam Native - Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted
• Best Mana Reo Album: St Josephs Maori Girls College - E Hine
  • The Willie Matthews Quartet - A Treasury of Maori Songs
  • Nga Kura O Hananah - Nga Kura O Hananah
• Best Children's Album: Kids TV - Sing Something Simple
  • Tessa Grigg & Brian Ringrose - Where Are You Going Colin
  • Jules Riding - Kids Time With Jules Riding
• Best Songwriter: Bic Runga - Sway
  • Greg Johnson - Liberty
  • Jordan Luck - Change Your Mind
• Best Cover: Wayne Conway - Drive (Bic Runga)
  • Crispin Schuberth - Came A Weird Way (The New Loungehead)
  • A Penman & Ross (Finnart) - Calming of the Drunken Monkey (Salmonella Dub)
• New Zealand Radio Programmer Award: John Diver - Channel Z (Wellington)
  • Melanie Wise - Q92FM (Queenstown)
  • Kaye Glamuzina - National Radio

See: 1998 in music

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Dame Malvina Major ONZ GNZM DBE.

Radio and television

• 16 March: British children's television series Teletubbies premieres on TV3.
• 30 August: Prime Television New Zealand begins transmission.

See: 1998 in New Zealand television, 1998 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

• Memory and Desire
• Saving Grace

See: Category:1998 film awards, 1998 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1998 films

Internet

See: NZ Internet History

Sport

• See: 1998 in sports, Category:1998 in sports

Athletics

• Mark Hutchinson wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:24:51 on 25 October in Auckland while Bernardine Portenski claims her second in the women's championship (2:44:52)

Basketball

• the NBL was won by the Nelson Giants

Commonwealth Games

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
8	6	20	34

Cricket

Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team

• The Shell Trophy for 1998-99 was won by Canterbury, with Northern Districts runners-up.

Golf

New Zealand Open Category:New Zealand golfers

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Christian Cullen[7]
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Christian Cullen[8]

Netball

• Silver Ferns
• National Bank Cup
• Netball World Championships

Olympic Games

• New Zealand sends a team of eight competitors in six sports.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
0	0	0	0

Paralympic Games

• New Zealand sends a team of five competitors in one sport.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
4	1	1	6

Rugby league

• The Auckland Warriors finished 15th out of 20 teams in the first season of the National Rugby League premiership.[9]
• Auckland won the National Provincial Competition by defeating Canterbury 44-8 while Waikato ended the season holding the Rugby League Cup.
• 24 April, New Zealand defeated Australia 22-16
• 9 October, New Zealand lost to Australia 12-30
• 31 October, New Zealand defeated Great Britain 22-16
• 7 November, New Zealand defeated Great Britain 36-16
• 14 November, New Zealand drew with Great Britain 23-all

Rugby union

Category:Rugby union in New Zealand,

• Super 12 - was won by the Canterbury Crusaders who defeated the Auckland Blues 20–13 in the final. Season summary
• National Provincial Championship - won by Otago
• Bledisloe Cup - won 3-0 by Australia
• Tri Nations Series - won by South Africa. New Zealand came last with no wins and only 2 bonus points
• Ranfurly Shield - Waikato held the shield all season, beating Poverty Bay 121–0, King Country 76–0, Bay of Plenty 25–18, Auckland 24–23, Southland 95–7, Nth Harbour 39–22, Northland 63–22, and Canterbury 29-23

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke)[10]

Soccer

• The second National Summer Soccer League was won by Napier City Rovers
• The New Zealand national soccer team won the OFC Nations Cup tournament held in Australia, beating the host nation 2–0 in the final.
• The Chatham Cup is won by Central United who beat Dunedin Technical 5–0 in the final.[11]
• New Zealand U-16 team coached by Wynton Rufer travels to unofficial U-16 World Cup in France to coincide with 1998 FIFA World Cup. Achieve mixed results (0-3 v Italy, 0-2 v Cameroon, 1-1 v Austria, 0-1 v USA, 0-1 v Israel, 1-0 v Norway)

Births

January–March

• 6 January – Eleanor Epke, squash player
• 11 January – Thomas Mikaele, rugby league player
• 25 January – Sione Havili, rugby union player
• 4 February – Tevita Mafileo, rugby union player
• 5 February – Tai Wynyard, basketballer
• 6 February – Hayden Phillips, field hockey player
• 11 February – Ben Sears, cricketer
• 20 February
  • Emma Cumming, racing cyclist
  • Nicole Fujita, model and tarento
• 24 February – Will Jordan, rugby union player
• 3 March – Sione Asi, rugby union player
• 4 March – Tom Christie, rugby union player
• 28 March – James Fouché, racing cyclist

April–June

• 5 April – Michaela Drummond, racing cyclist
• 9 April – James McGarry, association footballer
• 13 April – Paige Satchell, association footballer
• 17 April – Vilimoni Koroi, rugby union player
• 18 April – Liana Dance, water polo player
• 21 April – Jackson Wells, freestyle skier
• 29 April – Fraser Sheat, cricketer
• 30 April – Liam Wood, association footballer
• 4 May – Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, rugby union player
• 7 May – Jess Watkin, cricketer
• 12 May – Campbell Stewart, racing cyclist
• 18 May – Brianna Fruean, environmental activist
• 28 May – Logan Rogerson, association footballer
• 16 June – Tanielu Tele’a, rugby union player
• 19 June
  • Ali Galyer, swimmer
  • Harry Plummer, rugby union player

July–September

• 6 July – Ma'ava Ave, cricketer
• 9 July – Mikayla Harvey, racing cyclist
• 12 July – Hoskins Sotutu, rugby union player
• 15 July – Nathan Smith, cricketer
• 18 July – Ella Harris, racing cyclist
• 1 August – Rosie Cheng, tennis player
• 2 August – Ricky Jackson, rugby union player
• 7 August – Jesse Arthars, rugby league player
• 22 August
  • Leica Guv, Thoroughbred racehorse
  • Adam Pompey, rugby league player
• 28 August
  • Morgan Harper, rugby league player
  • Sarah Morton, association footballer
• 30 August – Ngane Punivai, rugby union player
• 3 September – Bailyn Sullivan, rugby union player
• 13 September – Evelina Afoa, swimmer
• 20 September – Isaiah Papali'i, rugby league player
• 23 September – Bradley Slater, rugby union player

October–December

• 20 October – Tasmyn Benny, boxer
• 29 October
  • Laghlan McWhannell, rugby union player
  • Felix Murray, cricketer
• 7 November – Rosemary Mair, cricketer
• 17 November – Courtney McGregor, artistic gymnast
• 19 November – Thomas Sexton, racing cyclist
• 29 November – Xavier Numia, rugby union player
• 11 December – Rakai Tait, snowboarder
• 12 December – Elizabeth Anton, association footballer
• 18 December – Jade Lewis, tennis player
• 22 December – Ben Beecroft, cricketer
• 24 December – Nikita Howarth, swimmer

Undated

• Rupena Parkinson, rugby union player
• Henry Williams, actor

Deaths

January–March

• 12 January – Neil Williams, water polo player (born 1918)
• 14 January – Leonard Atkinson, public servant (born 1906)
• 27 January – Gavin Downie, politician (born 1924)
• 14 February – Peter Jacobson, poet (born 1925)
• 20 February – Ces Blazey, rugby union and athletics administrator (born 1909)
• 8 March – Kuini Te Tau, Ngāi Tahu kaumātua, welfare worker, community leader (born 1899)
• 10 March – C. E. Beeby, educationalist (born 1902)
• 15 March – Darcy Clay, singer–songwriter (born 1972)
• 18 March – Vernon Clare, musician, cabaret owner, restaurateur, music teacher (born 1925)

April–June

• 2 June – Brian Johnston, field hockey player (born 1933)
• 6 April – Sam Chaffey, alpine skier (born 1934)
• 26 April – Sir Alan Boxer, air force officer (born 1916)
• 30 April – William Newland, potter (born 1919)
• 1 May – Brian Kendall, boxer (born 1947)
• 14 May –
  • Ron Withell, boxer (born 1916)
  • Jade Wilson, squash player (born 1977)
• 15 May – Jack Warcup, mycologist (born 1921)
• 20 May – John Trenwith, novelist, marketing academic (born 1951)
• 13 June – Henry Tatana, rugby league player (born 1945)
• 21 June – Peter Mander, sailor (born 1928)
• 22 June – Brian Davis, Anglican archbishop (born 1934)

July–September

• 3 July – Elizabeth Riddell, poet and journalist (born 1910)
• 5 July – Frank Creagh, boxer (born 1924)
• 7 July – Maurice Holmes, harness racing driver (born 1908)
• 17 July
  • Marc Hunter, musician (born 1953)
  • Ronald Tremain, composer, music academic (born 1923)
• 29 July – Alex Griffiths, conservationist (born 1911)
• 31 July – Athol Meyer, politician (born 1940)
• 3 August – Ronnie Boon, rugby union player (born 1909)
• 7 August – Bill Laney, politician (born 1913)
• 27 August – Essie Summers, novelist (born 1912)
• 30 August – Sir Toss Woollaston, painter and writer (born 1910)
• 12 September – Neville Thornton, rugby union player (born 1918)
• 13 September – Sir Frank Renouf, stockbroker, businessman, philanthropist (born 1918)
• 15 September – Amy Harper, photographer (born 1900)
• 18 September – Andy Wiren, cricketer (born 1911)
• 23 September – Trevor Berghan, rugby union player (born 1914)

October–December

• 1 October – Jim Kearney, rugby union player (born 1920)
• 4 October – Tony Shelly, motor racing driver (born 1937)
• 18 October – Ilse von Randow, weaver (born 1901)
• 26 November – Sir Charles Bennett, broadcaster, military leader, public servant, diplomat, politician (born 1913)
• 6 December – Ken Comber, politician (born 1939)
• 8 December – Aaron Hopa, rugby union player (born 1971)
• 12 December – Phillippe Cabot, rugby union player (born 1900)

See also

• List of years in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• History of New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

For world events and topics in 1998 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1998

References

1. "Historical population estimates tables". Statistics New Zealand.
2. The Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2012
3. "New Zealand and Argentina". NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
4. "Heating up: 2016 set to be NZ's warmest on record". The New Zealand Herald. December 2016.
5. "Awards 1998". Listing. NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
6. "1998 New Zealand Music Awards". Web page. RIANZ. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
7. "List of NZ Trotting cup winners". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
8. Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz Archived 17 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
9. NRL 1998 Competition Ladder
10. "New Zealand champion shot / Ballinger Belt winners". National Rifle Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
11. Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com Archived 14 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine