1996 in New Zealand

Decades:	1970s ; 1980s ; 1990s ; 2000s ; 2010s ;
See also:	History of New Zealand ; List of years in New Zealand ; Timeline of New Zealand history ;

Last updated October 21, 2025

The following lists events that happened during 1996 in New Zealand.

Population

Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,762,300.^[1]
Increase since 31 December 1995: 55,600 (1.50%).^[1]
Males per 100 Females: 97.3.^[1]

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State - Elizabeth II
Governor-General - The Hon Dame Catherine Tizard , ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO, DStJ followed by The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO ^[2]

Government

The 44th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was The National Party, led by Jim Bolger . In the 1996 New Zealand general election National was returned to power, but had to form a coalition with the New Zealand First.

Speaker of the House - Peter Tapsell then Doug Kidd
Prime Minister - Jim Bolger
Deputy Prime Minister - Don McKinnon then Winston Peters
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

Act - Roger Douglas then Richard Prebble
New Zealand First - Winston Peters
United Future - Peter Dunne
Labour - Helen Clark (Leader of the Opposition)
Alliance - Jim Anderton

Main centre leaders

Events

April: The New Zealand Tablet winds up. The weekly Catholic newspaper started publication in 1873.^[3]
1 November: Cartoon Network debuts on New Zealand television.
November: Michael Jackson, the king of pop, performed in Auckland both nights (November 9 and November 11), as a part of his world tour, HIStory World Tour.
Leaded petrol is phased out.^[4]

Arts and literature

Bernadette Hall wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
Montana New Zealand Book Awards:
- Book of the Year/Cultural Heritage: Judith Binney, Redemption Songs - A Life of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki
- First Book Awards
  - Fiction: Emily Perkins, Not Her Real Name
  - Poetry: James Brown, Go Round Power Please
  - Non-Fiction: Alex Frame, Salmond: Southern Jurist
f*INK , Dunedin's weekly entertainment magazine is founded

See 1996 in art, 1996 in literature, Category:1996 books

Music

New Zealand Music Awards

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

Album of the Year: Shihad - Killjoy
- Finn Brothers - Finn
- Howard Morrison - Songs of New Zealand
- Max Lines - Beautiful Panflute I
- Starlight String Quartet - Romantic Strings
- Suzanne Prentice - 25th Anniversary
Single of the Year: OMC – How Bizarre
- D-Faction - Down in the Boondocks
- Herbs - French Letter '95
- Jan Hellriegel - Manic
- The Exponents - La La Lulu
- Strawpeople - Sweet Disorder
Best Male Vocalist: Jon Toogood – Shihad
- Greg Johnson
- Dave Dobbyn
Best Female Vocalist: Teremoana Rapley
- Sulata
- Jan Hellriegel
Best Group: Shihad
- The Exponents
- The Mutton Birds
- Finn Brothers
Rising Star Award: Kylie Harris
- Bic Runga
- Glen Moffatt
Most Promising Male Vocalist: Paul Fuemana (OMC)
- Jeremy Eade (Garageland)
- Otis Frizzell (Joint Force)
Most Promising Female Vocalist: Bic Runga
- Celia Mancini (King Loser)
- Jordan Reyne
Most Promising Group: OMC
- Garageland
- Joint Force
International Achievement: Shihad
- Finn Brothers
- Dave Dobbyn
- Supergroove
Best Video: Sigi Spath / Jo Fisher – You Gotta Know (Supergroove)
- Greg Page - Honeyblonde (Throw)
- M Noonan and J Frizzell - Static PTI (Joint Force)
Best Producer: Eddie Rayner - World Stand Still
- Alan Jansson, Nathan Haines and James Pinker - Shift Left (Nathan Haines)
- Malcolm Welsford - La La Lulu (The Exponents)
Best Engineer: Alan Jansson – How Bizarre (Omc)
- Chris Sinclair - Black Sand Shore (Grace)
- Malcolm Welsford - La La Lulu (The Exponents)
Best Jazz Album: Nathan Haines – Shift Left
- Hattie St John - Flying High at Iguacu
- Christchurch Polytechnic Sextet - Collaboration
Best Classical Album: Michael Houston - Beethoven Piano Sonatas from the Middle Period
- Alexander Ivashkin and Tamas Vesmas - Alfred Schnittke
- L Subramaniam - Pacific Rendezvous
Best Country Album: Kylie Harris – Let It Be Love
- Glen Moffatt - Somewhere in New Zealand Tonight
- Kevin Greaves - Over the Storm
Best Folk Album: Rua – Harbour Lights
- Chris Thompson - Song for Laura
- Peter Skandera and Dave Maybee - Acoustic Spirit
Best Gospel Album: Brent Chambers – Living Sacrifices
- Alastair Brown - Narrow
- Paul Stephens - Apocalypse
Best Mana Maori Album: Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia – Kia Mau
- Maree Sheehan - Past to Present
- Moana and The Moahunters - Give it Up Now
- Ruia - Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi to Kaakaa
Best Mana Reo Album: Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia – Kia Mau
- Ruia - Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi te Kaakaa
- Moana and the Moahunters - Akona Te Reo '95
Best Children's Album: Nga Pihi - 1 & 2
- Radha and the Kiwis - Sing the World Around
- Kids TV - You and Me Songbook (Suzy Cato)
Best Polynesian Album: Southside of Bombay - Umbadada
- D-Faction - Down in the Boondocks
- John Akaata - Ura Mai Koe
- Purest Form - If I Fell/U Can Do It
Best Songwriter: Mark Tierney / Paul Casserly / Anthony Ioasa - Sweet Disorder (Strawpeople)
- Glen Moffatt - Somewhere in New Zealand Tonight
- Greg Johnson - Don't Wait Another Day
Best Cover: Alec Bathgate – Abbasalutely
- Chris Knox - Songs of You and Me
- Neil Finn and Wayne Conway - Finn

See: 1996 in music

Performing arts

Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Keith Leggett.

Radio and television

See: 1996 in New Zealand television, 1996 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, TV3 (New Zealand), Public broadcasting in New Zealand

The New Zealand Government sells the Radio New Zealand commercial arm to Clear Channel creating The Radio Network

Film

See: Category:1996 film awards, 1996 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1996 films

Internet

See: NZ Internet History

Sport

Athletics

Phil Costley wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:20:32 on 27 October in Auckland, while Tracey Clissold claims her first in the women's championship (2:39:03).

Basketball

The NBL was won by Auckland.

Cricket

Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team, Chappell–Hadlee Trophy, Cricket World Cup

Golf

New Zealand Open
Check Category:New Zealand golfers in overseas tournaments.

Horse racing

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup: Il Vicolo - 2nd win^[7]
Auckland Trotting Cup: Sharp And Telford^[8]

Thoroughbred racing

Netball

Olympic Games

New Zealand sends a team of 97 competitors.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
3	2	1	6

Paralympics

New Zealand sends a team of 30 competitors across seven sports.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
9	6	3	18

Rugby league

The Lion Red Cup was won by the Counties Manukau Heroes who beat the Waitakere City Raiders 34–22 in the grand final. Waitakere were the minor premiers.
In their second season the Auckland Warriors placed 11th of 20 teams in the Australian National Rugby League competition. They had been in finals contention until losing their last six games.
5 October, New Zealand defeated Papua New Guinea 62-8
11 October, New Zealand defeated Papua New Guinea 64-0

The 1996 Great Britain Lions tour saw the three Tet matches played in New Zealand:

18 October, New Zealand defeated Great Britain 17-12
25 October, New Zealand defeated Great Britain 18-15
1 November, New Zealand defeated Great Britain 32-12

Rugby union

Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Super 14, Rugby World Cup, National Provincial Championship, Category:All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations Series, Ranfurly Shield

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Graeme Ballinger (Levin)^[9]

Soccer

The National Summer Soccer League was inaugurated to replace the New Zealand National Soccer League, so there was no 1996 league champion.
The New Zealand national soccer team placed third in the OFC Nations Cup, which this year was played as a league rather than a tournament.
The Chatham Cup is won by Waitakere City F.C. who beat Mt Wellington 3–1 in the final.^[10]

Births

January

1 January – Ben Lister, cricketer
5 January – James Fisher-Harris, rugby league player
9 January – Jayden Bezzant, basketball player
10 January – Jamie-Lee Price, netballer
13 January
- Mitch Jacobson, rugby union player
- Oliver Sail, association footballer
28 January – Gabby Westbrook-Patrick, model
31 January – Jordan Trainor, rugby union player

February

6 February – Rhett Purcell, tennis player
7 February – Piera Hudson, alpine skier
10 February – Nicole van der Kaay, triathlete
11 February – Jack Salt, basketball player
14 February – Poasa Faamausili, rugby league player
19 February – Amy Robinson, field hockey player
28 February – Rosa Flanagan, athlete
29 February
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona, rugby league player
- Tarryn Davey, field hockey player
- Claudia Williams, tennis player

March

8 March – Leni Apisai, rugby league player
11 March – Matthew Ridenton, association footballer
14 March – Andrew Blake, association footballer
16 March – Tyrel Lomax, rugby union player
20 March – Deklan Wynne, association footballer
22 March – Tamupiwa Dimairo, association footballer
24 March – Jack Boyle, cricketer
26 March – Zane Musgrove, rugby league player

April

3 April – Cory Brown, association footballer
14 April – Jessee Wyatt, athlete
15 April – Nathaniel Roache, rugby league player
20 April – Caleb Makene, rugby union player
23 April – Ollie Jones, cyclist
29 April – Nicholas Kergozou, cyclist

May

9 May – Jonah Lowe, rugby union player
10 May
- Henry Shipley, cricketer
- Taniela Tupou, rugby league player
12 May – Hugh Renton, rugby union player
23 May – Maddison Keeney, diver
27 May – Sio Tomkinson, rugby union player
29 May – Holly Rose Emery, model
31 May – Brandon Smith, rugby league player

June

1 June – Adam Mitchell, association footballer
4 June – Meikayla Moore, association footballer
5 June
- Gayle Broughton, rugby union player
- Jamayne Isaako, rugby league player
6 June – Ofahiki Ogden, rugby league player
7 June – Jackie Gowler, rower
10 June – TJ Va'a, rugby union player
12 June
- Luke Mudgway, cyclist
- Alex Rufer, association footballer
18 June – Sam Nock, rugby union player
29 June
- Joseph Manu, rugby league player
- Mikayla Pirini, basketball player
30 June – Louisa Tuilotolava, field hockey player

July

1 July – Lauchie Johns, cricketer
3 July – Aidan Sarikaya, field hockey player
5 July – Alex Ridley, cricketer
11 July – David Liti, weightlifter
16 July – Josh Iosefa-Scott, rugby union player
20 July – Jasmine Pereira, association footballer
26 July – Jamie Curry, vlogger, comedian
27 July – Luther Hirini, rugby union player
29 July – Marata Niukore, rugby league player

August

16 August – Sefo Kautai, rugby union player
17 August
- Hamish Kerr, high jumper
- Esan Marsters, rugby league player
20 August – Bunty Afoa, rugby league player
21 August – Quinten Strange, rugby union player

September

5 September – Isaac Salmon, rugby union player
6 September – Nicholas Reddish, cyclist
12 September
- Aaron Booth, decathlete
- Ryan Christensen, cyclist
- Pari Pari Parkinson, rugby union player
13 September – Botille Vette-Welsh, rugby league player
19 September – Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, rugby union player
25 September – Salesi Rayasi, rugby union player
29 September – Jahrome Brown, rugby union player

October

2 October
- Tayler Reid, triathlete
- Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, netball player
3 October – Hannah Rowe, cricketer
4 October – Brett Cameron, rugby union player
5 October
- Lisati Milo-Harris, rugby union player
- Jayden Nikorima, rugby league player
6 October
- Regan Gough, cyclist
- Elizabeth Ross, rower
9 October – Eliza Grigg, alpine skier
18 October – Frances Davies, field hockey player
22 October – Kelly Jury, netball player
24 October – Ayden Johnstone, rugby union player
25 October – Alex Nankivell, rugby union player

November

2 November – Andre de Jong, association footballer
4 November – Jana Radosavljević, association footballer
7 November
- Hades, Thoroughbred racehorse
- Ella Yelich-O'Connor (aka Lorde), singer-songwriter
10 November – Emma Rolston, association footballer
14 November – Shaun Stevenson, rugby union player
15 November – Georgia Marris, swimmer

December

5 December – Holly Edmondston, cyclist
6 December
- Glenn Phillips, cricketer
- Mark Tele'a, rugby union player
8 December – Josh Finnie, cricketer
9 December – Monty Patterson, association footballer
11 December – Eliza McCartney, pole vaulter
23 December – Nik Tzanev, association footballer
24 December – Richard Kam, ice dancer
28 December – Fin Hoeata, rugby union player
29 December – Emma Rainey, field hockey player
30 December – Brad Abbey, rugby league player

Deaths

January–March

4 January – Jim Robertson, historian (born 1896)
6 January – Beeban McKnight, entertainer, cinema operator, community leader (born 1897)
9 January – Herbert Money, evangelical missionary (born 1899)
17 January – Arnold Anderson, athlete (born 1912)
30 January – Guy Doleman, actor (born 1923)
31 January – Sir Peter Tait, politician (born 1915)
24 February – Graeme Moran, rower (born 1938)
26 February – Don Oliver, weightlifter, fitness entrepreneur (born 1937)
4 March − John Spencer, yacht designer (born 1931)
9 March – Harold Baigent, actor (born 1916)

April–June

16 April – Archie Dunningham, librarian (born 1907)
17 April – Robbie Robson, lawn bowls player (born 1918)
21 April – Paraone Reweti, politician (born 1916)
26 April – Terence Vaughan, musician, performing arts administrator (born 1915)
1 May – Bruce McLeod, rugby union player (born 1940)
10 May – Ronald Bush, rugby union player and coach, cricketer (born 1909)
11 May – Rob Hall, mountaineer (born 1961)
16 May – Robert Hurst, nuclear scientist (born 1915)
22 May – Jack George, politician (born 1901)
26 May – Vince Bevan, rugby union player (born 1921)
30 May – Balmerino, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1972)
31 May – Robert Holden, motorcycle racer (born 1958)
1 June – Jack Hemi, rugby union and rugby league player (born 1914)
2 June – Freda Bream, writer (born 1918)
3 June – Ben Couch, rugby union player, politician (born 1925)
5 June – Ian Grey, historian (born 1918)
7 June – Tom Puna, cricketer (born 1929)
9 June – Leo Schultz, politician (born 1914)
16 June – Richard Sylvan, philosopher (born 1935)
17 June – Doug Harris, athlete (born 1919)
18 June – Florence Andrews, fencer (born 1912)
19 June – Eric Fisher, cricketer (born 1924)
20 June – Colin Gillies, rugby union player (born 1912)

July–September

3 July – Barry Crump, author (born 1935)
11 July – Bob Whaitiri, community leader (born 1916)
17 July – Nell Rose, nurse (born 1996)
25 July – Andy Keyworth, master mariner (born 1923)
10 August – Les George, rugby union player and administrator (born 1908)
16 August – Lena Manuel, community leader (born 1915)
27 August – Josie Yelas, netball player (born 1924)
10 September – Patrick Rhind, rugby union player (born 1915)
13 September – Dot Simons, sports journalist and writer (born 1912)
23 September – Sir Jack Newman, cricketer, businessman (born 1902)
26 September – Athol Rafter, nuclear chemist (born 1913)

October–December

1 October
- James Beal, boxer (born 1929)
- Patrick Jameson, World War II flying ace (born 1912)
10 October – Harold Cleghorn, weightlifter (born 1912)
12 October – Fred Miller, journalist, historian (born 1904)
22 October – Noel Hilliard, author and novelist (born 1929)
24 October – Robert Anderson, politician (born 1936)
27 October – Piet van Asch, aviator, aerial photographer and surveyor (born 1911)
28 October – Jimmy Haig, rugby union and rugby league player (born 1924)
5 November – Hugh Sew Hoy, businessman, community leader (born 1901)
15 November – Les Watt, cricketer (born 1924)
23 November – Eve Rimmer, athlete (born 1937)
26 November
- Dame Joan Hammond, opera singer (born 1912)
- Te Waari Whaitiri, master mariner, community leader (born 1912)
12 December – Elaine Gurr, doctor and medical administrator (born 1896)
17 December
- Lawrie Miller, cricketer (born 1923)
- Violet Walrond, swimmer (born 1905)
22 December – Bert Lunn, rugby union player (born 1926)
25 December – Harry Watson, cyclist (born 1904)

References

1 2 3 "Historical population estimates tables". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017.
↑ Archived 12 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "New Zealand Tablet". National Library of New Zealand.
↑ "Leaded petrol eradicated after two decades of effort". Stuff. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
↑ "Awards 1988". Listing. NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
↑ "1996 New Zealand Music Awards". Web page. RIANZ. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
↑ "List of NZ Trotting cup winners". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
↑ Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz Archived 17 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "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.
↑ Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com Archived 14 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine

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