2021 in New Zealand

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

← 2020 2019 2018 2021 in New Zealand → 2022 2023 2024
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2021 Timeline of New Zealand history

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Patsy Reddy

• 
  Elizabeth II
• 
  Patsy Reddy

Government

Legislature term: 53rd New Zealand Parliament

The Sixth Labour Government, elected in 2017, continues.

• Speaker of the House – Trevor Mallard
• Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern
• Deputy Prime Minister – Grant Robertson
• Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins
• Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Nanaia Mahuta

• 
  Trevor Mallard
• 
  Jacinda Ardern
• 
  Grant Robertson
• 
  Chris Hipkins
• 
  Nanaia Mahuta

Other party leaders in parliament

• National – Judith Collins (Leader of the Opposition)
• Green – James Shaw and Marama Davidson
• ACT – David Seymour
• Māori Party – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

• 
  Judith Collins
• 
  James Shaw
• 
  Marama Davidson
• 
  David Seymour

Judiciary

• Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann

• 
  Helen Winkelmann

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Phil Goff
• Mayor of Tauranga – Tina Salisbury (acting)
• Mayor of Hamilton – Paula Southgate
• Mayor of Wellington – Andy Foster
• Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel
• Mayor of Dunedin – Aaron Hawkins

• 
  Phil Goff
• 
  Andy Foster
• 
  Lianne Dalziell
• 
  Aaron Hawkins

Events

January

• 29 December 2020 - 3 January – Riots between inmates and prison guards at Waikeria Prison, causing major fire damage to the complex.[1]
• 1 January – A bomb threat closes Gisborne Airport, causing evacuations and delayed flights.[2]

Predicted and scheduled events

• 7 June – The 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours will be announced.
• 31 December – The 2022 New Year Honours will be announced.

Holidays and observances

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2021 are as follows:[3]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 2 January – Day after New Year's Day
• 4 January – Day after New Year's Day observed
• 6 February – Waitangi Day
• 8 February – Waitangi Day observed
• 2 April – Good Friday
• 5 April – Easter Monday
• 25 April – Anzac Day
• 26 April – Anzac Day observed
• 7 June – Queen's Birthday
• 25 October – Labour Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day
• 27 December – Christmas Day observed
• 28 December – Boxing Day observed

Deaths

January

• 5 January – Alan Burgess, cricketer (born 1920)[4]
• 8 January – Stewart McKnight, cricketer, curler (born 1935)[5]
• 12 January – John Ward, cricketer (born 1937)[6]
• 17 January – Tom Prebble, educationalist, university administrator (born 1945)[7]
• 20 January
  • Doug Bowden, cricketer (born 1927)[8]
  • Bill Sheat, lawyer, arts advocate (born 1930)[9]
• 26 January
  • Peter Thorburn, rugby union player and coach (born 1939)[10]
  • Peter Vere-Jones, actor (born 1939)[11]
• 30 January – Bill Hammond, artist (born 1947)[12]

See also

Country overviews

• New Zealand
• History of New Zealand
• History of modern New Zealand
• Outline of New Zealand
• Government of New Zealand
• Politics of New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• Years in New Zealand

References

1. "Waikeria Prison: First images show devastated prison, inmates' rooftop camp". Stuff. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
2. "Gisborne Airport reopens after bomb threat forces evacuation, significant flight delays". TVNZ. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
3. "Holidays and anniversary dates". Employment New Zealand. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
4. "WW2 veteran and NZ's oldest first-class cricketer dies in Rangiora aged 100". Star News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
5. "Stewart McKnight". New Zealand Curling. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
6. "Former New Zealand wicketkeeper John Ward remembered as a sharp gloveman". Stuff.co.nz. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
7. "Tom Prebble death notice". Dominion Post. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
8. Heagney, George (22 January 2021). "Pioneering CD cricketer Doug Bowden dies after long innings". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
9. Boyack, Nicholas (20 January 2021). "Bill Sheat: the man who saved Wellington's Opera House". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
10. "Rugby: Former All Blacks selector and North Harbour coach Peter Thorburn passes away". New Zealand Herald. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
11. "Peter Vere-Jones". NZ On Screen. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
12. "Bill Hammond, one of nation's most influential artists, has died". RNZ News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.