1996 In New Zealand
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

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


Population

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


Incumbents


Regal and viceregal

*
Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
-
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
*
Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
- The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys
GNZM The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...
,
GCMG The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...
, QSO


Government

The
44th New Zealand Parliament The 44th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Its composition was determined by the 1993 elections, and it sat until the 1996 elections. The 44th Parliament was the last to be elected under the old FPP electora ...
continued. Government was
The National Party The National Party (TNP) was a political party in Grenada. History The party was established in July 1989 by Prime Minister Herbert Blaize, as a breakaway from the New National Party.Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data han ...
, led by
Jim Bolger James Brendan Bolger ( ; born 31 May 1935) is a New Zealand retired politician of the National Party who was the 35th prime minister of New Zealand, serving from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was born to an Irish immigrant family in Ōpunake, Taran ...
. In the
1996 New Zealand general election The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral sy ...
National was returned to power, but had to form a
coalition A coalition is a group formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political or economical spaces. Formation According to ''A Gui ...
with the
New Zealand First New Zealand First ( mi, Aotearoa Tuatahi), commonly abbreviated to NZ First, is a nationalist and populist political party in New Zealand. The party formed in July 1993 following the resignation on 19 March 1993 of its leader and founder, Winst ...
. *
Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...
- Peter Tapsell then
Doug Kidd Sir Douglas Lorimer Kidd (born 12 September 1941) is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 2002, representing the National Party. He served for three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Early life Kidd was ...
* Prime Minister -
Jim Bolger James Brendan Bolger ( ; born 31 May 1935) is a New Zealand retired politician of the National Party who was the 35th prime minister of New Zealand, serving from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was born to an Irish immigrant family in Ōpunake, Taran ...
* 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: :Parliament of New Zealand, :New Zealand elections * Act - Roger Douglas then Richard Prebble *
New Zealand First New Zealand First ( mi, Aotearoa Tuatahi), commonly abbreviated to NZ First, is a nationalist and populist political party in New Zealand. The party formed in July 1993 following the resignation on 19 March 1993 of its leader and founder, Winst ...
- Winston Peters * United Future - Peter Dunne * Labour - Helen Clark (
Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
) * Alliance - Jim Anderton


Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland - Les Mills * Mayor of Hamilton - Margaret Evans * Mayor of Wellington - Mark Blumsky * Mayor of Christchurch - Vicki Buck * Mayor of Dunedin - Sukhi Turner


Events

* April: ''The New Zealand Tablet'' winds up. The weekly Catholic newspaper started publication in 1873. * 1 November:
Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...
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.


Arts and literature

*
Bernadette Hall Bernadette Hall (born 1945) is a New Zealand playwright and poet. Biography Hall was born in 1945 in Alexandra, New Zealand. She was raised in what she describes as "a small-city Catholic community that was proud, theatrical and pretty much en ...
wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. *
Montana New Zealand Book Awards The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are literary awards presented annually in New Zealand. The awards began in 1996 as the merger of two literary awards events: the New Zealand Book Awards, which ran from 1976 to 1995, and the Goodman Fielder W ...
: **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 ''f*INK Weekly Entertainment Guide '' was a free weekly guide owned by Martin Kean and Caroline McCaw. It was published each Wednesday from February to December, from 1996-2009 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The aim of the guide was to provide free ...
, Dunedin's weekly entertainment magazine is founded See
1996 in art Events from the year 1996 in art. Events *8 January – Shortly after publication of the Italian edition of his book ''The Art Forger's Handbook'', English-born art forger Eric Hebborn is found lying in a street in Rome, his skull crushed with ...
,
1996 in literature This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1996. Events *July 8 – Harper Lee's ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', Mark Twain's ''Huckleberry Finn'' and 30 other books are struck from an English reading list in Lin ...
, :1996 books


Music


New Zealand Music Awards

Winners are shown first with nominees underneath. *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: OMCHow 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 Jordan Reyne is an experimental musician currently residing in Toruń, Poland. Jordan's sound has been variously described as "industrial-tinged folk" and "antipodean Steampunk" yet defies any cut and dried genre description. She combines the tw ...
*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 Moa Hunters - 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 This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996. Specific locations *1996 in British music * 1996 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1996 in classical music * 1996 in country music * 1996 in heavy metal music * ...


Performing arts

*
Benny Award The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who ha ...
presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Keith Leggett.


Radio and television

See:
1996 in New Zealand television This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres which occurred in 1996, the 36th year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand. Events *2 February – After a long absence, the popular Australian children's television ...
,
1996 in television 1996 in television may refer to: *1996 in American television The following is a list of events affecting American television during 1996. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel initiations, closure ...
, List of TVNZ television programming, TV3 (New Zealand), Public broadcasting in New Zealand * The New Zealand Government sells the
Radio New Zealand Radio New Zealand ( mi, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa), commonly known as Radio NZ or simply RNZ, is a New Zealand public-service radio broadcaster and Crown entity that was established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news and c ...
commercial arm to Clear Channel creating The Radio Network


Film

*''
Broken English Broken English is a name for a non-standard, non-traditionally spoken or alternatively-written version of the English language. These forms of English are sometimes considered as a pidgin if they have derived in a context where more than one ...
'' *'' Chicken'' *'' Jack Brown Genius'' *''
Flight of the Albatross Flight or flying is the process by which an object (physics), object motion (physics), moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space ...
'' *'' Someone Else's Country'' *'' The Frighteners'' *'' The Whole of the Moon'' See: :1996 film awards,
1996 in film The year 1996 involved many significant films. The major releases this year included ''Scream'', '' Independence Day'', '' Fargo'', '' Trainspotting'', '' The Rock'', ''The English Patient'', ''Twister'', ''Space Jam'', ''Mars Attacks!'', ''Jer ...
,
List of New Zealand feature films This is a list of feature films and pre 1910 short films produced or filmed in New Zealand, ordered by year of release. Key * * = Funded in part by the New Zealand Film Commission. * † = Year given is date of principal photography rather th ...
, Cinema of New Zealand, :1996 films


Internet

See
NZ Internet History


Sport


Athletics

*
Phil Costley Philip Costley (born 1970 in Wairoa, New Zealand) is a New Zealand distance runner. He represented his country at the two Commonwealth Games and four World Athletics Cross Country Championships, and has won 33 New Zealand national athletic ...
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 The Cricket World Cup (officially known as ICC Men's Cricket World Cup) is the international championship of One Day International (ODI) cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), e ...


Golf

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


Horse racing


Harness racing

* New Zealand Trotting Cup:
Il Vicolo Il Vicolo (foaled 27 October 1991) was a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. He is notable in that he won two New Zealand Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race, and sometimes the richest horse race in New Zealand. As 1995 Harness Horse of ...
- 2nd win * Auckland Trotting Cup: Sharp And Telford


Thoroughbred racing


Netball

* Silver Ferns * National Bank Cup


Olympic Games

* New Zealand sends a team of 97 competitors.


Paralympics

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


Rugby league

* The Lion Red Cup was won by the
Counties Manukau Heroes The Counties Manukau rugby league team represents the Counties Manukau zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Previously, teams representing Southern Auckland and the Franklin district of New Zealand have competed in the Lion Red Cup and Bartercar ...
who beat the
Waitakere City Raiders The Waitakere City Raiders were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Waitakere City in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. Notable players Notable players included;Rick Andrew Anthony Edwards, Boycie Nelson, David Bailey, Ben ...
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 The 1996 Great Britain Lions tour was a rugby league tour by the Great Britain team which took place from September to November 1996. The tour included games in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand, however due to the ongoing Super League war an ...
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

:Rugby union in New Zealand,
Super 14 Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...
, Rugby Union World Cup, National Provincial Championship, :All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations Series, Ranfurly Shield


Shooting

*Ballinger Belt – Graeme Ballinger (Levin)


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. Waitakere City F.C. was a New Zealand football club. They merged with Norwest United in 2021 to form West Coast Rangers. They last competed in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League. History It was formed in 1989 with the purpose of represen ...
who beat Mt Wellington 3–1 in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com


Births


January

* 1 January –
Ben Lister Benjamin George Lister (born 1 January 1996) is a New Zealand cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Auckland in the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season on 7 November 2017. The following week, he took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-clas ...
, cricketer * 5 January –
James Fisher-Harris James Fisher-Harris (born 5 January 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and forward for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level. He is a dual ...
, rugby league player * 9 January –
Jayden Bezzant Jayden Tuatahi Bezzant (born 9 January 1996) is a New Zealand basketball player for the Tauranga Whai of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball in the United States for the Northwest Nazarene Nightha ...
, basketball player * 10 January –
Jamie-Lee Price Jamie-Lee Price (born 10 January 1996) is an Australian netball player who has played for Giants Netball in the Suncorp Super Netball league since 2017. Prior to that, Price was with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship. She ...
, netballer * 13 January ** Mitch Jacobson, rugby union player **
Oliver Sail Oliver "Oli" Sail is a New Zealand professional footballer who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix as a goalkeeper. He also has been selected for the New Zealand national football team. Club career Wanderers SC Sail started his career pla ...
, association footballer * 28 January – Gabby Westbrook-Patrick, model * 31 January –
Jordan Trainor Jordan Trainor (born 31 January 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an fullback. He previously played as an outside back for the in the international Super Rugby competition. Youth career Born and bred in Auck ...
, rugby union player


February

* 6 February –
Rhett Purcell Rhett Purcell (born 6 February 1996) is a New Zealand tennis player, although he represented the United Kingdom through parental descent from the start of his junior career in 2010 until mid-October 2017. Purcell has a career high ATP singles ...
, tennis player * 7 February –
Piera Hudson Piera Hudson (born 7 February 1996) is a New Zealand alpine ski racer. Piera Hudson went to the first ever youth olympics in Innsbruck Austria in 2012. She competed at the 2015 World Championships in Beaver Creek, USA, in the slalom To slal ...
, alpine skier * 10 February –
Nicole van der Kaay Nicole van der Kaay (born 10 February 1996) is a New Zealand triathlete who represented her country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She won a bronze medal in the mixed relay with teammates Andrea Hewitt, Tayler Reid, and ...
, triathlete * 11 February –
Jack Salt Jack Matthew Cooper Salt (born 11 February 1996) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for the Virginia Cavaliers, where he was a member of their 2019 national championship tea ...
, basketball player * 14 February –
Poasa Faamausili Poasa Faamausili (born 14 February 1996) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, the Sydney Roosters and the N ...
, rugby league player * 19 February –
Amy Robinson Amy Robinson (born April 13, 1948) is an American actress and film producer. Biography Robinson got her first film role as an actress as the female lead in Martin Scorsese's breakthrough hit ''Mean Streets'' and eventually produced his film ' ...
, field hockey player * 28 February – Rosa Flanagan, athlete * 29 February ** Nelson Asofa-Solomona, rugby league player **
Tarryn Davey Tarryn Davey (born 29 February 1996) is a New Zealand field hockey player for the New Zealand national team. She participated at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup The 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup was the 14th edition of the Women's Hock ...
, field hockey player ** Claudia Williams, tennis player


March

* 8 March – Leni Apisai, rugby league player * 11 March –
Matthew Ridenton Matthew George Robert Ridenton (born 11 March 1996) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lions FC. Club career Ridenton played youth football for Three Kings United and Saint Kentigern College, and made his career debut th ...
, 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 Tamupiwa Dimairo (born 22 March 1996) is a footballer who plays as a defender for Bruno's Magpies in the Gibraltar National League, having previously played for Wellington Phoenix and Michigan Bucks. On 26 August 2015, he made his professional ...
, 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 Jessee Wyatt (born 14 April 1996) is an Australian Paralympic athlete with cerebral palsy. He represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Personal Wyatt was born in New Zealand on 14 April 1996. He has cerebral palsy and has undergone s ...
, athlete * 15 April – Nathaniel Roache, rugby league player * 20 April –
Caleb Makene Caleb Makene (born 20 April 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back or fly-half for Utah Warriors in the Major League Rugby (MLR). In New Zealand, he most recently played for in the National Provin ...
, rugby union player * 23 April – Ollie Jones, cyclist * 29 April –
Nicholas Kergozou Nicholas Kergozou De La Boessiere (born 29 April 1996) is a New Zealand racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental Team . He rode in the men's team pursuit at the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Major results Track ;2 ...
, cyclist


May

* 9 May –
Jonah Lowe Jonah Lowe (born 9 May 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or centre for in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for the in Super Rugby. Early career Lowe was born and ...
, rugby union player * 10 May **
Henry Shipley Henry Burton Shipley (born 10 May 1996) is a New Zealand cricketer, who is a right-arm Fast bowling, medium-fast bowler. He plays for Canterbury cricket team in domestic cricket. Domestic career He made his List A cricket, List A debut on 17 Ja ...
, cricketer ** Taniela Tupou, rugby league player * 12 May –
Hugh Renton Hugh Renton (born 12 May 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a Flanker (rugby union), loose forward for the in Super Rugby and in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship (2006–present), National ...
, 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 Jamayne Isaako (born 5 June 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er and for the Dolphins in the NRL. He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League. ...
, rugby league player * 6 June – Ofahiki Ogden, rugby league player * 7 June –
Jackie Gowler Jackie Gowler (born 7 June 1996) is a New Zealand representative rower. Biography Gowler was born in 1996. She received her secondary schooling at Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton. While at school, she took up rowing inspired by her elder ...
, 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 Joseph Manu is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er or for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level. Manu was a member of the 2018 and 2019 NRL Grand Fina ...
, rugby league player **
Mikayla Pirini Mikayla Pirini (born 29 June 1996) is a New Zealand-born Australian professional basketball player. Career WNBL Born in New Zealand, Pirini grew up in Perth, Western Australia. She began her WNBL career in her home town, as a development play ...
, basketball player * 30 June –
Louisa Tuilotolava Louisa Tuilotolava (born 30 June 1996) is a New Zealand field hockey player for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, New Zealand national team. She participated at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup. References

{{DEFAULTSO ...
, field hockey player


July

* 1 July – Lauchie Johns, cricketer * 3 July –
Aidan Sarikaya Aidan Thomas Sarikaya (born 3 July 1996) is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays as a defender or midfielder for Belgian club Herakles and the New Zealand national team. Club career Sarikaya played for the Midlands team in the New Zea ...
, 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 Marata Niukore (born 29 July 1996) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand at international leve ...
, rugby league player


August

* 16 August –
Sefo Kautai Sefo Kautai (born 16 August 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who previously played as a tighthead prop for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the in the international Super Rugby competition. He is currently playing for Kob ...
, rugby union player * 17 August **
Hamish Kerr Hamish Kerr (born 17 August 1996) is a New Zealand high jumper. He won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. Kerr is the Oceanian indoor record holder in the high jump and holds the Ne ...
, high jumper **
Esan Marsters Esan Marsters (born 17 August 1996) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. He has played for the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level. ...
, rugby league player * 20 August –
Bunty Afoa Iulio "Bunty" Afoa (born 20 August 1996) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL. Background Afoa was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Samoan descent and attended St Pa ...
, rugby league player * 21 August –
Quinten Strange Quinten J. Strange (born 21 August 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby competition. Early career Strange was born in the small town of Tākaka and raised ...
, rugby union player


September

* 5 September –
Isaac Salmon Isaac Arapata Salmon (born 5 September 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship. He also plays for New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the Unite ...
, rugby union player * 6 September – Nicholas Reddish, cyclist * 12 September ** Aaron Booth, decathlete **
Ryan Christensen Ryan Christensen (born 12 September 1996) is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI ProTeam . Major results ;2015 : 10th The REV Classic ;2016 : 1st Points classification New Zealand Cycle Classic ;2018 : 5th Overa ...
, cyclist **
Pari Pari Parkinson Pari Pari Matua Parkinson (born 12 September 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC and the in Super Rugby. His position of choice is Lock. School and domestic rugby career Parkinson was educated at Sai ...
, rugby union player * 13 September –
Botille Vette-Welsh Botille Vette-Welsh (born 13 September 1996) is a New Zealand-born Australian rugby league player who plays as a for the Wests Tigers Women in the NRLW and Wests Tigers in the NSWRL Women's Premiership. She previously played for the St. Ge ...
, rugby league player * 19 September –
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (formerly Lukhan Tui, born 19 September 1996), is an Australian rugby union player. He plays for the Northampton Saints in Premiership Rugby. He has played for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, and his usual position is lo ...
, rugby union player * 25 September –
Salesi Rayasi Salesi Tuivuna Mauri Rayasi (born 25 September 1996 in Wellington) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the in Super Rugby. His playing position is wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or ...
, rugby union player * 29 September – Jahrome Brown, rugby union player


October

* 2 October ** Tayler Reid, triathlete **
Michaela Sokolich-Beatson Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (born 2 October 1996 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand netball player. She plays for the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Premiership, having debuted in 2016. She was selected for the New Zealand national netball t ...
, netball player * 3 October – Hannah Rowe, cricketer * 4 October – Brett Cameron, rugby union player * 5 October **
Lisati Milo-Harris Lisati M. Milo-Harris (born 5 October 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC Bunnings Group Limited, trading as Bunnings Warehouse or Bunnings, is an Australian household hardware chain. The chain has b ...
, 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 Frances Davies (18 October 1996) is a New Zealand field hockey player. She was first named to New Zealand women's national field hockey team in 2016. Her position is defender. Davies also plays for the Midlands hockey team. Early life and educa ...
, field hockey player * 22 October –
Kelly Jury Kelly Jury (born 22 October 1996) is a New Zealand netball international. She represented New Zealand at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. During the ANZ Championship era Jury played for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Since 2020, she has pla ...
, netball player * 24 October –
Ayden Johnstone Colin Ayden Johnstone (born 24 October 1996 in Hamilton, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the in Super Rugby. His playing position is prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on ...
, 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 Hades (; grc-gre, ᾍδης, Háidēs; ), in the ancient Greek religion and myth, is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, although this also ...
, Thoroughbred racehorse **
Ella Yelich-O'Connor Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), known professionally as Lorde ( ), is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. Taking inspiration from aristocracy for her stage name, she is known for her unconventional musical styles and ...
(''aka'' Lorde), singer-songwriter * 10 November – Emma Rolston, association footballer * 14 November –
Shaun Stevenson Shaun Stevenson (born 14 November 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Early career Born in North ...
, rugby union player * 15 November –
Georgia Marris Georgia Marris (born 15 November 1996) is a New Zealand swimmer. In 2018 she is competing in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 100m butterfly event. Marris was born and grew up on the North Shore, Auckland. She began learning to swim from 6 mont ...
, swimmer


December

* 5 December –
Holly Edmondston Holly Edmondston (born 5 December 1996) is a New Zealand racing cyclist. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in women's team pursuit, and women's omnium. In February 2019, she won the bronze medal in the women's team pursuit event at ...
, cyclist * 6 December ** Glenn Phillips, cricketer ** Mark Telea, rugby union player * 8 December –
Josh Finnie Joshua Finnie (born 18 December 1996) is a New Zealand first-class cricketer. He was part of New Zealand's squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In December 2015 he was named as the captain of New Zealand's squad for the 2016 Unde ...
, cricketer * 9 December –
Monty Patterson Monty Mark Patterson is a New Zealand international footballer who plays as a forward for New Zealand NRFL Division 1 club Manurewa. Born in New Zealand, Patterson moved to England in 2013 where he played youth football for Ipswich Town. He h ...
, association footballer * 11 December –
Eliza McCartney Eliza McCartney (born 11 December 1996) is a New Zealand track and field athlete who competes in the pole vault and won the bronze medal in this event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She is the current New Zealand and Oceania record holder at , a ...
, pole vaulter * 23 December –
Nik Tzanev Nikola Chivarov Tzanev (born 23 December 1996) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club AFC Wimbledon. Tzanev is a product of the Brentford Academy and began his professional career with the club. He began h ...
, association footballer * 24 December –
Richard Kam Richard Kang-in Kam (born December 24, 1996) is a retired New Zealand and South Korean ice dancer who most recently competed with Charlotte Lafond-Fournier representing New Zealand. Competing for South Korea with his former skating partner, Le ...
, ice dancer * 28 December –
Fin Hoeata Fin Hoeata (born 28 December 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the in the Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pac ...
, rugby union player * 30 December –
Brad Abbey Brad Abbey (born 30 December 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the NSW Cup. Abbey previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Canberra Raiders and Sydney ...
, 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 Herbert Money (29 November 1899 - 9 January 1996) was a Christian educator. He was involved with the Evangelical church in Peru and throughout South America. He worked in Peru for 40 years and was known variously as 'The General' or 'The Kin ...
, 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 Donald Carthew Oliver (16 April 1937 – 26 February 1996) was a New Zealand weightlifter and fitness centre founder. He represented his country at three Olympic Games, and won two Commonwealth medals, including gold in 1966 in Kingston. E ...
, 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 Paraone Brown Reweti (17 November 1916 – 21 April 1996) was a New Zealand politician and Rātana morehu. Early life Of Ngāti Ranginui ancestry, Reweti came to Parliament from a position as an executive member of the Mount Maunganui Watersi ...
, 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 Ronald George Bush (3 May 1909 – 10 May 1996) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. He played one test match for the All Blacks in 1931 and was coach of the All Blacks in 1962. Biography Bush was born in Nelson in 1909 and was educat ...
, rugby union player and coach, cricketer (born 1909) * 11 May –
Rob Hall Robert Edwin Hall (14 January 1961 – 11 May 1996) was a New Zealand mountaineer. He was the head guide of a 1996 Mount Everest expedition during which he, a fellow guide, and two clients died. A best-selling account of the expedition was ...
, mountaineer (born 1961) * 16 May – Robert Hurst, nuclear scientist (born 1915) * 22 May – Jack George, politician (born 1901) * 26 May –
Vince Bevan Vincent Thomas Bevan is a retired Canadian police officer who served as the chief of police of the Ottawa Police Service from April 2000 to March 2007. He led one of the largest police services in Canada and was one of only six Canadian chief ...
, rugby union player (born 1921) * 30 May –
Balmerino Balmerino is a small village and former monastic centre in Fife, Scotland. It is the home of Balmerino Abbey and the former abbots of Balmerino who were great regional landlords. It became a secular lordship in 1605 when the abbey's lands wer ...
, 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 Patricia Freda Doreen Whale (26 May 1918 – 2 June 1996), best known by the pen name Freda Bream, was a teacher and writer who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Life Bream completed an arts degree at university, before doing a year's teac ...
, writer (born 1918) * 3 June – Ben Couch, rugby union player, politician (born 1925) * 5 June –
Ian Grey Ian Grey (5 May 1918 – 5 June 1996) was a New Zealand-born historian of Russian history. Biography He began his career as a lawyer, a member of the New South Wales Bar (law), Bar. In 1941 he joined the Royal Australian Navy, Australian navy a ...
, historian (born 1918) * 7 June – Tom Puna, cricketer (born 1929) * 9 June –
Leo Schultz Leo Charles Schultz (17 October 1914 – 9 June 1996) was a New Zealand farmer and a politician of the National Party. Biography Schultz was born in 1914 in Hāwera. He received his education at Ngatea District High School, and afterwar ...
, politician (born 1914) * 16 June –
Richard Sylvan Richard Sylvan (13 December 1935 – 16 June 1996) was a New Zealand–born philosopher, logician, and environmentalist. Biography Sylvan was born Francis Richard Routley in Levin, New Zealand, and his early work is cited with this surname. H ...
, philosopher (born 1935) * 17 June – Doug Harris, athlete (born 1919) * 18 June –
Florence Andrews Mabel Florence Andrews (16 September 1912 – 18 June 1996) was a New Zealand fencer, who represented her country at the 1950 British Empire Games. Early life and family Born on 16 September 1912, Andrews was the daughter of Florence Mabel An ...
, 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 John Barrie Crump (15 May 1935 – 3 July 1996) was a New Zealand author of semi- autobiographical comic novels based on his image as a rugged outdoors man. Taken together his novels have sold more than a million copies domestically. Crump's 1 ...
, 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 Victor Leslie George (5 June 1908 – 10 August 1996) was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was born in Winton, New Zealand. His playing position was Prop. Les or 'Tussock' as he was known, played 3 tests for the All Blacks on the 1938 to ...
, 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 Thomas Athol Rafter (5 March 1913 – 26 September 1996) was a New Zealand nuclear chemist. Life and career Rafter was born in Wellington, New Zealand in on 5 March 1913. He was educated at St Patrick’s College, Wellington, and Victoria ...
, nuclear chemist (born 1913)


October–December

* 1 October ** James Beal, boxer (born 1929) **
Patrick Jameson Air Commodore Patrick Geraint "Jamie" Jameson, (10 November 1912 – 1 October 1996) was a New Zealand-born Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and a flying ace of the Second World War. Born in Wellington, Jameson joined the RAF in 1936 and was post ...
, 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 Henry Piet Drury van Asch (4 May 1911 – 27 October 1996, in Hastings, New Zealand) was a New Zealand aviator, aerial photographer and surveyor. He was born in Waitotara, Wanganui, New Zealand in 1911. The first aircraft van Asch bought, in 193 ...
, aviator, aerial photographer and surveyor (born 1911) * 28 October – Jimmy Haig, rugby union and rugby league player (born 1924) * 5 November –
Hugh Sew Hoy Hugh Sew Hoy (26 November 1901 – 5 November 1996) was a New Zealand businessman and community leader, and was based in Dunedin. He was born in Guangdong Province, China, in 1901. He was the grandson of early New Zealand entrepreneur Charle ...
, businessman, community leader (born 1901) * 15 November – Les Watt, cricketer (born 1924) * 23 November –
Eve Rimmer Eva Marion "Eve" Rimmer née Davies (3 April 1937 – 23 November 1996) was a New Zealand Paralympic athlete. She was born in Whanganui, New Zealand and became one of New Zealand's greatest paraplegic athletes, winning 32 medals – including ...
, 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 Eily Elaine Gurr (8 November 1896 – 12 December 1996) was a New Zealand medical doctor and medical administrator and advocate of the discipline of general practice. Early life and education Gurr was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 8 Nov ...
, doctor and medical administrator (born 1896) * 17 December ** Lawrie Miller, cricketer (born 1923) ** Violet Walrond, swimmer (born 1905) * 22 December – William Lunn, rugby union player (born 1926) * 25 December – Harry Watson, cyclist (born 1904)


References


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 {{DEFAULTSORT:1996 in New Zealand New Zealand Years of the 20th century in New Zealand