The following lists events that happened during 2016 in New Zealand.

Population

;National Estimated populations as at 30 June. For urban areas, * New Zealand total – 4,693,000 *

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

– 3,596,200 *

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

– 1,096,200 ;Main urban areas Estimated populations as at 30 June. *

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

– 1,495,000 * Blenheim – 30,700 *

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

– 389,700 *

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

– 118,500 * Gisborne – 36,100 *

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

– 229,900 *

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

– 50,700 *

Kapiti Kapiti or Kāpiti may refer to: *Kapiti Island, an island a short distance off the New Zealand coast north of Wellington *Kapiti Coast District, the local government district which includes much of the Kapiti Coast *Kapiti Coast Airport, an airport ...

– 41,800 * Napier-Hastings – 131,000 *

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

– 65,700 *

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

– 56,800 *

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...

– 84,300 *

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...

– 57,800 *

Tauranga Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...

– 134,500 *

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

– 405,000 *

Whanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...

– 39,600 *

Whangārei Whangārei () is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. It is part of the Whangarei District, Whangārei District, a local body created in 1989 from the former Whangārei City, Whangārei County and ...

– 56,400

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

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 ...

–

Jerry Mateparae Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah Mateparae (born 14 November 1954) is a former New Zealand soldier who served as the 20th Governor-General of New Zealand between 2011 and 2016, the second Māori person to hold the office, after Sir Paul Reeve ...

until 31 August, then

Patsy Reddy Dame Patricia Lee Reddy (born 17 May 1954) is a New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman who served as the 21st governor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021. Before becoming governor-general, Reddy was a partner of a law firm, headed a majo ...

from 28 September. File:Queen Elizabeth II in March 2015.jpg, Elizabeth II File:Sir Jerry Mateparae February 2015.jpg, Jerry Mateparae File:Patsy Reddy 2016.jpg, Patsy Reddy

Government

2016 is the second full year of the 51st Parliament, which first sat on 21 October 2014. The Fifth National Government, first elected in 2008, continues. *

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 ...

– David Carter *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

–

John Key Sir John Phillip Key (born 9 August 1961) is a New Zealand retired politician who served as the 38th prime minister of New Zealand, Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016 and as Leader of the New Zealand National Party from 2006 to ...

(until 12 December), then

Bill English Sir Simon William English (born 30 December 1961) is a New Zealand former National Party politician who served as the 39th prime minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 and as the 17th deputy prime minister of New Zealand and minister of f ...

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

–

(until 12 December), then

Paula Bennett Paula Lee Bennett (born 9 April 1969) is a New Zealand former politician who served as the 18th deputy prime minister of New Zealand between December 2016 and October 2017. She served as the deputy leader of the National Party from 2016 to 2020 ...

* Leader of the House –

Gerry Brownlee Gerard Anthony Brownlee (born 4 February 1956) is a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand National Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1996, was Leader of the House, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Minister of ...

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

–

, then (from 20 December)

Steven Joyce Steven Leonard Joyce (born 7 April 1963) is a New Zealand former politician, who entered the New Zealand House of Representatives in 2008 as a member of the New Zealand National Party. In the same year he became Minister of Transport and Minis ...

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

–

Murray McCully Murray Stuart McCully (born 19 February 1953) is a former New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2017. Early life Born in Whangārei, McCully was educated at Arap ...

File:David Carter Senate of Poland 2015 01.JPG, David Carter File:John Key (cropped).jpg, John Key File:Bill English 09-16 (2).jpg, Bill English File:Paula Bennett Official.png, Paula Bennett File:Gerry Brownlee 2017.jpg, Gerry Brownlee File:Steven Joyce 2016 (cropped).jpg, Steven Joyce File:Murray McCully November 2016.jpg, Murray McCully

Other party leaders

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

– Andrew Little *

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...

– James Shaw and

Metiria Turei Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei (born 1970) is a New Zealand academic and a former New Zealand politician. She was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2017 and the female co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 2009 to 2017 ...

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 Winston Raymond Peters (born 11 April 1945) is a New Zealand politician serving as the leader of New Zealand First since its foundation in 1993. Peters served as the 13th deputy prime minister of New Zealand from 1996 to 1998 and 2017 to 2020 ...

Māori Party Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

–

Te Ururoa Flavell Te Ururoa James William Ben Flavell (born 7 December 1955), also known as Hemi Flavell, is a New Zealand politician who was a co-leader of the Māori Party from 2013 until 2018 and represented the Waiariki electorate for the party in Parliamen ...

and

Marama Fox Marama Kahu Fox is a former New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of the Māori Party. Following her election to parliament, she was named Māori Party co-leader al ...

ACT New Zealand ACT New Zealand, known simply as ACT (), is a right-wing, classical-liberal political party in New Zealand. According to former party leader Rodney Hide, ACT's values are "individual freedom, personal responsibility, doing the best for our natur ...

–

David Seymour David Seymour may refer to: * David Seymour (English politician) (died 1557/58), 14th-century Member of Parliament (MP) for Wareham and Great Bedwyn *David Seymour (New Zealand politician) (born 1983), leader of the ACT Party *David Seymour (photo ...

United Future United Future New Zealand, usually known as United Future, was a centrist political party in New Zealand. The party was in government between 2005 and 2017, first alongside Labour (2005–2008) and then supporting National (2008–2017). Uni ...

–

Peter Dunne Peter Francis Dunne (born 17 March 1954) is a retired New Zealand politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ōhāriu. He held the seat and its predecessors from 1984 to 2017—representing the Labour Party in Parliament from 1984 ...

File:Andrew Little, 2016.jpg, Andrew Little File:James Shaw, 2014 (cropped).jpg, James Shaw File:Metiria Turei crop.png, Metiria Turei File:Winston Peters swearing in (cropped).jpg, Winston Peters File:Te Ururoa Flavell, 2012.jpg, Te Ururoa Flavell File:2015 Portrait of Marama Fox 01 Cropped.jpg, Marama Fox File:David Seymour (cropped).jpg, David Seymour File:Peter Dunne.jpg, Peter Dunne

Judiciary

* Chief Justice —

Sian Elias Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias (born 13 March 1949) is a New Zealand former Government official, who served as the 12th Chief Justice of New Zealand, and was therefore the most senior member of the country's judiciary. She was the presiding judge o ...

File:Sian Elias.jpg, Sian Elias

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland The Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland Region in New Zealand, which it controls as a unitary authority. The position exists since October 2010 after the amalga ...

–

Len Brown Leonard Charles Brown (born 1 October 1956)) is a former mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, and former head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 Novembe ...

, then from 1 November

Phil Goff Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953) is a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2016. He served as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition between 11 No ...

Mayor of Tauranga The Mayor of Tauranga is the head of the municipal government of Tauranga, New Zealand, and presides over the Tauranga City Council. There is currently no Mayor of Tauranga. On 9 February 2021, a Crown Commission appointed by the Minister of L ...

– Stuart Crosby, then from 31 October

Greg Brownless The Mayor of Tauranga is the head of the municipal government of Tauranga, New Zealand, and presides over the Tauranga City Council. There is currently no Mayor of Tauranga. On 9 February 2021, a Crown Commission appointed by the Minister of L ...

* Mayor of Hamilton – Julie Hardaker, then from 9 November Andrew King *

Mayor of Wellington The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of the City of Wellington. The mayor presides over the Wellington City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the Single Transferable Vote method of proportional representati ...

–

Celia Wade-Brown Celia may refer to: General * Celia (given name) *''Celia'', a subgenus of carabid beetles of the genus '' Amara'' *Celia, the last natural-born Pyrenean Ibex * Celia (virtual assistant), AI virtual assistant by Huawei *, a number of ships with ...

, then from 26 October Justin Lester *

Mayor of Christchurch The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system. The current mayor, Ph ...

–

Lianne Dalziel Lianne Audrey Dalziel (; born 7 June 1960) is a New Zealand politician and former Mayor of Christchurch. Prior to this position, she was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 23 years, serving as Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister ...

Mayor of Dunedin The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The Mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

–

Dave Cull David Charles Cull (1 April 1950 – 27 April 2021) was the mayor of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand. He became the 57th Mayor of Dunedin in October 2010 and was re-elected in both the 2013 mayoralty race and 2016 mayoral election. Before ...

File:Len brown.jpg, Len Brown File:Phil Goff CNZM (cropped).jpg, Phil Goff File:Stuart Crosby.jpg, Stuart Crosby File:Trafinz 2016 Brownless.jpg, Greg Brownless File:Julie Hardaker (cropped).jpg, Julie Hardaker File:Andrew King (crop).jpg, Andrew King File:Celia Wade-Brown, 2013.jpg, Celia Wade-Brown File:Justin Lester 2016 (cropped).jpg, Justin Lester File:Lianne Dalziel September 2017.jpg, Lianne Dalziell File:Dave Cull-Blueskin News.jpg, Dave Cull

Events

January

February

* 8 February – Operation Neptune (New Zealand) begins. * 14 February – Significant aftershock in Christchurch causing some cliffs to collapse.

March

* 3–24 March – Second referendum on changing the country's flag – existing flag retained

April

May

June

* 6 June – The 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours are announced

July

August

* 5–21 August – 132 athletes from New Zealand will compete in the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

, Brazil

September

October

* 8 October – New Zealand local elections

November

* 14 November – A 7.5–7.8 M_W earthquake strikes Kaikoura district as significant aftershock in

, which killed at least two people. * 22 November – Operation Neptune (New Zealand) ends.

December

* 5 December –

announces that he will step down as

New Zealand Prime Minister The prime minister of New Zealand ( mi, Te pirimia o Aotearoa) is the head of government of New Zealand. The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, took office on 26 October 2017. The prime minister (inform ...

and leader of the National Party on 12 December * 12 December –

is sworn in as New Zealand's 39th

, following the resignation of

* 31 December – The

2017 New Year Honours The 2017 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours were awarded as part of the New Year celebrati ...

are announced

Arts and literature

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 The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

to Suzanne Prentice OBE.

Sport

Awards

* 54th

Halberg Awards The Halberg Awards are a set of awards, given annually since 1949, recognising New Zealand's top sporting achievements. They are named for New Zealand former middle-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist Sir Murray Halberg. The initial award ...

(awarded 9 February 2017 for the 2016 calendar year) ** Supreme Award –

Lisa Carrington Dame Lisa Marie Carrington (born 23 June 1989) is a flatwater canoeist and New Zealand's most successful Olympian, having won a total of five gold medals and one bronze medal. She won three consecutive gold medals in the Women's K1 200metres a ...

(canoeing) ** Sportsman –

Mahé Drysdale Alexander Mahé Owens Drysdale (born 19 November 1978) is a retired New Zealand rower. Drysdale is a two-time Olympic champion and a five-time world champion in the single sculls. He is a seven-time New Zealand national champion and five-time ...

(rowing) ** Sportswoman –

(canoeing) ** Team – Men's 49er class: Peter Burling &

Blair Tuke Andrew Blair Tuke (born 25 July 1989) is a New Zealand sailor who won the 2021 Americas Cup Held in Auckland and also won the 2017 Version held in Bermuda. He also won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and the silver medal at the 2 ...

(sailing) ** Disabled Sportsperson – Liam Malone (athletics) ** Coach – Gordon Walker (canoeing) ** Emerging Talent – Campbell Stewart (cycling)

Olympics

* New Zealand sends a team of 199 competitors across 20 sports. * Sprint canoeist

becomes the first New Zealand women to win two medals in the same Olympic Games.

Paralympics

*Swimmer

Sophie Pascoe Dame Sophie Frances Pascoe (born 8 January 1993) is a New Zealand para-swimmer. She has represented New Zealand at four Summer Paralympic Games from 2008 Summer Paralympics, 2008, winning a total of eleven gold medals, seven silver medals an ...

overtook

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 ...

to become New Zealand's most successful Paralympian in terms of medals won.

Athletics

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

Valerie Adams Dame Valerie Kasanita Adams (formerly Vili; born 6 October 1984) is a retired New Zealand shot putter. She is a four-time IAAF World Championships in Athletics, World champion, four-time IAAF World Indoor Championships, World Indoor champion, ...

won the silver medal in the women's shot put (20.42 m) **

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 ...

won the bronze medal in the women's pole vault (4.80 m) ** Tom Walsh won the bronze medal in the men's shot put (21.36 m) **

Nick Willis Nicholas Ian Willis (born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner and the country's only two-time Olympic medalist in the 1500 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in R ...

won the bronze medal in the men's 1500 metres (3:50.24) * Summer Paralympics ** Liam Malone won gold medals in the men's 200 metres T44 and men's 400 metres T44, and the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T44 **

Anna Grimaldi Anna Grimaldi (born 12 February 1997) is a New Zealand para-athlete, primarily competing in the long jump and sprint events. She has won two gold medals at Paralympics in the women's long jump: at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, a ...

won the gold medal in the women's long jump T47 ** Holly Robinson won the silver medal in the women's javelin throw F46 **

William Stedman William Stedman (January 21, 1765 – August 31, 1831) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Stedman was born in Cambridge in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He graduated from Harvard University in 1784. After this he studied l ...

won bronze medals in the men's 400 metres T36 and the men's 800 metres T36. **

Jess Hamill Jessica Helen Gillan ( Hamill, born 20 July 1990) is a New Zealand paralympic athlete and shotputter. She represented New Zealand at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing and the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the latter where she ...

won the bronze medal in the women's shot put F34 ** Rory McSweeney won the bronze medal in the men's javelin throw F44

Rowing

Hamish Bond Hamish Bryon Bond (born 13 February 1986) is a retired New Zealand rower and former road cyclist. He is a three-time Olympic gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic ...

and Eric Murray won the gold medal in the men's coxless pair **

won the gold medal in the men's single sculls ** Genevieve Behrent and

Rebecca Scown Rebecca Scown (born 10 August 1983) is a professional Rowing (sport), rower from New Zealand. Together with Juliette Haigh, she won the bronze medal in the women's coxless pair at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Previously they had won gold in the wom ...

won the silver medal in the women's coxless pair * New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup) ** Maadi Cup (boys U18 coxed eight) – Christ's College ** Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (girls U18 coxed eight) – Diocesan School for Girls ** Star Trophy (overall points) –

St Peter's School (Cambridge) St Peter's School is a private, co-educational, Anglican secondary school for Years 7–13 in Cambridge, New Zealand. The school is located on of ground, surround by school-owned farmland alongside the Waikato River. The schools motto, 'Structa ...

Shooting

*Ballinger Belt – Malcolm Dodson (Kaituna/Blenheim) *

– Natalie Rooney won the silver medal in the women's trap shooting

Youth Olympics

* New Zealand sends a team of 11 competitors in five sports.

Births

* 6 November –

Probabeel Probabeel (foaled 6 November 2016) is a multiple Group 1 winning New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse. Background Probabeel was born and bred at Waikato Stud in Matamata, New Zealand. Initially the stud intended to keep her for racing, how ...

, Thoroughbred racehorse

Deaths

January

* 2 January – Tim Francis, diplomat (born 1928) * 5 January –

Keith Thiele Keith Frederick (Jimmy) Thiele, (25 February 1921 – 5 January 2016) was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War.David Shale, mathematician (born 1932) * 8 January –

Ida Gaskin Ida Margaret Gaskin (née Jacobs, 9 December 1919 – 8 January 2016) was a Welsh-born New Zealand schoolteacher and politician, known for her expert knowledge of Shakespeare, and for becoming the first woman in New Zealand to win the local vers ...

, schoolteacher, quiz show contestant, politician (born 1919) * 17 January **

Melvin Day Melvin Norman "Pat" Day (30 June 1923 – 17 January 2016) was a New Zealand artist and art historian. Biography Day was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. At the age of eleven, Day began Saturday morning classes at Elam School of Art, University o ...

, artist (born 1923) **

Jules Le Lievre Jules Mathew Le Lievre (17 August 1933 – 17 January 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, Le Lievre represented at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1962 to 1964. He pla ...

, rugby union player (born 1933) * 22 January – Alec Wishart, musician (born 1939) * 23 January – Barry Brickell, potter (born 1935) * 24 January –

Neville Black Neville Wyatt Black (25 April 1925 – 24 January 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player who represented New Zealand in rugby union. Rugby union career A rugby union first five-eighth, Black played for Ponsonby RFC. He repr ...

, rugby union and rugby league player (born 1925) * 26 January – Bob Thomas, long jumper (born 1939) * 27 January – Shirley Tonkin, sudden infant death syndrome researcher (born 1921) * 28 January ** Rob Courtney, Paralympic athlete (born 1959) ** Peter Robinson, musician (born 1958) **

Bob Tizard Robert James Tizard (7 June 1924 – 28 January 2016) was a Labour politician from New Zealand. He served as the sixth deputy prime minister, the minister of Finance, minister of Health and minister of Defence. Biography Early life and career ...

, politician, deputy prime minister (1974–75) (born 1924) * 31 January **

Mere Broughton Mary Mereiwa Broughton (née Whakaruru, 24 December 1938 – 31 January 2016), known as Mere Broughton, was a New Zealand Māori language activist and unionist. Early life Of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa and Ngāt ...

, Māori language activist, unionist (born 1938) ** Rona McCarthy, athlete (born 1916)

February

* 1 February – Kelly McGarry, mountain biker (born 1982) * 2 February **

Chris Kenny Chris Kenny (born 28 September 1962) is an Australian conservative political commentator, author and former political adviser. He is a columnist for ''The Australian'' newspaper as well as the host of a weeknight current affairs program, ''Th ...

, boxing trainer (born 1937) **

Marcus Turner Marcus William Turner (16 February 1956 – 2 February 2016) was a New Zealand singer-songwriter and folk musician. He performed at folk festivals in New Zealand, Australia, and overseas. He was also a presenter in the TVNZ children's televisio ...

, singer-songwriter, folk musician, television presenter (born 1956) * 7 February – Andrew Hintz, cricketer (born 1963) * 10 February – John Spencer, businessman (born 1934) * 13 February – Barry Jones, Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (born 1941) * 17 February –

Sophia Hawthorne Sophia Amelia Hawthorne ( Peabody; September 21, 1809 – February 26, 1871) was an American painter and illustrator as well as the wife of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. She also published her journals and various articles. Life Early life S ...

, actress (born 1976) * 23 February – George Newton, weightlifter (born 1936) * 24 February – Ken English, rugby league player (born 1927) * 26 February – Jack Forrest, rugby league player (born 1924) * 28 February – Bob Morrison, association footballer (born 1926) * 29 February –

Ranginui Walker Ranginui Joseph Isaac Walker (1 March 1932 – 29 February 2016) was an influential New Zealand academic, author, and activist of Māori and Lebanese descent. "I think he was ''the'' Māori commentator for a very long period," his biographer, ...

, Māori academic (born 1932)

March

* 3 March –

Martin Crowe Martin David Crowe (22 September 1962 – 3 March 2016) was a New Zealand cricketer, Test and ODI captain as well as a commentator. He played for the New Zealand national cricket team between 1982 and 1995, and is regarded as one of the count ...

, cricketer (born 1962) * 4 March – Harry Turbott, architect, landscape architect, environmentalist (born 1930) * 5 March – David Abbott, cricket umpire (born 1934) * 10 March –

Judy Pickard Judith Ngaire Maud Pickard (; 19 June 1921 – 10 March 2016) was a New Zealand abstract painter, librarian and advocate for women's rights. Early life and family Pickard was born in the New Zealand city of Hastings on 19 June 1921. She was ...

, abstract painter, librarian and advocate for women's rights (born 1921) * 11 March –

Sel Belsham Selwyn Eric Belsham (28 September 1930 – 11 March 2016) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand at the 1957 World Cup. His position of preference was at . He also played cricket for Auckland. His brother Vic was a ...

, rugby league player, cricketer (born 1930) * 16 March –

George Menzies George Menzies (30 September 1930 – 16 March 2016) was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who represented New Zealand at three World Cups and coached New Zealand at another World Cup. In 2007 he was named the greatest New Zealand had ...

, rugby league player and coach (born 1930) * 18 March –

Paul Swadel Paul Regan Swadel (23 October 1968 – 18 March 2016) was a New Zealand film director and producer. Life and career Swadel nurtured a filmmaking partnership with James Cunningham that spanned fifteen years and four globally successful short ...

, film director and producer (born 1969) * 19 March – Graham Fortune, diplomat and public servant (born 1941) * 25 March –

Ross Jennings Ross James Jennings (13 November 1944 – 25 March 2016) was a New Zealand actor, becoming one of New Zealand's most experienced television producers and directors, whose credits included ''The Mad Dog Gang'', '' Close to Home'', Moynihan, Insi ...

, television producer and director (born 1944) * 27 March – Frank Torley, television reporter, director and producer (born 1941) * 31 March –

Mark Vryenhoek Mark Vryenhoek (9 January 1960) was an alpine skier from New Zealand. In the 1980 Winter Olympics The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially the XIII Olympic Winter Games and also known as Lake Placid 1980, were an international multi-sport event he ...

, alpine skier (born 1960)

April

* 3 April **

Rowley Habib Rowley Habib (24 April 1933 – 3 April 2016), also known as Rore Hapipi, was a New Zealand poet, playwright, and writer of short stories and television scripts. Biography Of Lebanese and Māori descent, Habib identified with the Ngāti Tūw ...

, poet, playwright, short-story writer (born 1933) **

Whai Ngata Tanara Whairiri Kitawhiti "Whai" Ngata (c. 1942 – 3 April 2016) was a Māori broadcaster, journalist, and lexicographer. Ngata worked for Radio New Zealand from 1975 to 1983, before moving to Television New Zealand. He led the Māori de ...

, broadcaster, journalist, lexicographer (born 1942) * 4 April – Maida Bryant, politician, community leader (born 1926) * 7 April – Matiu Dickson, politician, kapa haka exponent (born 1952) * 11 April – Ruth Gilbert, poet (born 1917) * 12 April –

Alan Loveday Alan Raymond Loveday (29 February 1928 – 12 April 2016) was a New Zealand violinist. A child prodigy, he became leader of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and a soloist and leader with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He was a professo ...

, violinist (born 1928) * 13 April – Kurtis Haiu, rugby union player (born 1984) * 14 April – Colin Knight, educationalist (born 1934) * 22 April ** Rex Fell, Thoroughbred racehorse breeder (born 1945) **

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...

, sports broadcaster (born 1921) * 23 April –

Bill Sevesi Wilfred Jeffs (28 July 1923 – 23 April 2016), better known by the stage name Bill Sevesi, was a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Tongan-born Sevesi ...

, musician (born 1923) * 24 April – Paul Annear, jeweller (born 1947) * 27 April – Chris Parkinson, broadcaster (born 1941)

May

* 3 May –

Ian Quigley Ian Terence Quigley (16 October 1931 – 3 May 2016) was a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life and career Quigley was born in Leeston in 1931, the son of William Quigley. He received his education at Wai ...

, politician (born 1931) * 13 May – David Garner, physical oceanographer (born 1928) * 18 May –

Ian Watkin Ian Watkin (25 January 1940 – 18 May 2016) was a New Zealand actor known for the films ''Braindead'' and '' Sleeping Dogs''. Watkin grew up in Greymouth, and started his career in theatre and radio plays, and working as a magazine editor befor ...

, actor (born 1940) * 21 May –

Tony Kriletich Anthony Peter "Tony" Kriletich (22 March 1944 – 21 May 2016) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1968 Rugby League World Cup, 1968 and 1970 Rugby League World Cup, 197 ...

, rugby league player (born 1944) * 25 May –

Bob Sorenson Robert Gordon Sorenson (19 September 1923 – 25 May 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach, and a cricketer. Rugby union A fullback, Sorenson represented at a provincial level between 1942 and 1949, appearing in 40 matches and ...

, rugby union player and coach, cricketer (born 1923)

June

* 1 June –

Leonard Boyle Leonard Eugene Boyle, OP, (13 November 1923 – 25 October 1999), was an Irish and Canadian scholar in medieval studies and palaeography. He was the first Irish and North American Prefect of the Vatican Library in Rome from 1984 to 1997. He ...

, bishop (born 1930) * 2 June ** Keith Lawrence, World War II fighter pilot (born 1919) **

Brian Reidy Brian Thomas Reidy (27 January 1939 – 2 June 2016) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Reidy played for the Marist club and represented Auckland. He made his debut for the New Zealand national rugb ...

, rugby league player (born 1939) * 4 June – Bill Snowden, rugby league player (born 1935) * 6 June – Keith Smith, cricketer (born 1929) * 7 June – Sir Graham Latimer, Māori leader (born 1926) * 9 June – Joyce Carpenter, diver (born 1923) * 10 June – Derek Wilson, architect and environmentalist (born 1922) * 15 June – David Hall, chemistry academic (born 1928) * 16 June – Pat Suggate, geologist (born 1922) * 21 June – Susanna Ounei, Kanak independence activist, feminist (born 1945) * 23 June – Roy Crawford, mechanical engineering academic, university administrator (born 1949) * 25 June –

Jack Cropp John Urquhart Cropp (23 May 1927 – 25 June 2016) was a New Zealand yachtsman. Together with Peter Mander, Cropp won the Sharpie (boat)#Modern sharpies, Sharpie class at the 1956 Olympics. Cropp and Mander were the first sailors from New Zeala ...

, yachtsman (born 1927) * 27 June – Dame

Grace Hollander Dame Grace Shellie Hollander (née Goldsmith, 25 March 1922 – 27 June 2016) was a New Zealand community leader. Biography Born in Christchurch on 25 March 1922, Grace Shellie Goldsmith was the daughter of post-World War I Jewish migrants to N ...

, community leader (born 1922) * 29 June – Maurie Gordon, sport shooter (born 1926)

July

* 5 July ** Johnny Borland, high jumper, athletics administrator (born 1925) ** Max Carr, field athlete and coach, athletics official, air force officer (born 1922) ** Rex Pickering, rugby union player (born 1936) * 14 July **

Ivan Bootham Ivan Thomas Bootham (20 July 1939 – 14 July 2016) was a New Zealand novelist, short story writer, poet and composer. Biography Bootham was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, England, on 20 July 1939, the son of the painter Joe Bootham, and migrate ...

, writer, composer (born 1939) ** Hallard "Snow" White, rugby union player, coach and administrator (born 1929) * 19 July – Ray Bell, rugby union player (born 1925) * 20 July **

Dick Corballis Richard Patrick Corballis (24 March 1946 – 20 July 2016) was a New Zealand academic who specialised in the study of Irish literature, and particularly the writings of James Joyce. Early life, family and education Born on 24 March 1946, Corbal ...

, English literature academic (born 1946) **

Ray Moreton Raymond Claude "Ray" Moreton (30 January 1942 – 20 July 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A second five-eighth and centre, Moreton represented and at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Bl ...

, rugby union player (born 1942) * 21 July – Sid Hurst, farmer (born 1918) * 22 July –

Lee Grant Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, during the mid-1920s) is an American actress, documentarian, and director. She made her film debut in 1951 as a young shoplifter in William Wyler's ''Detective Story'', co-starring Kirk Dougl ...

, actor, singer, choreographer (born 1931) * 25 July – Tony Lentino, motor racing team owner (born 1974) * 26 July – Henry Connor, botanist (born 1922)

August

* 2 August –

Terence Bayler Terence Bayler (24 January 1930 – 2 August 2016) was a New Zealand film, television, and stage actor. His most memorable roles were in '' Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979) and ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (2001). Biograph ...

, actor (born 1930) * 3 August –

Chris Amon Christopher Arthur Amon (20 July 1943 – 3 August 2016) was a New Zealand motor racing driver. He was active in Formula One racing in the 1960s and 1970s, and is widely regarded as one of the best F1 drivers never to win a championship Grand ...

, motor racing driver (born 1943) * 5 August –

Don Donnithorne Donald Ewart Donnithorne (31 July 1926 – 5 August 2016) was a New Zealand architect based in Christchurch. Born on 31 July 1926, and raised in Timaru, Donnithorne was the son of hotelkeepers. Following World War II he studied architecture by ...

, architect (born 1926) * 7 August – Sir

Ron Scott Ronald Scott (born July 21, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Scott played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings. Amateur career Scott played for the Cornwall Royals in the ...

, sports administrator (born 1928) * 11 August – Sir Ian Turbott, diplomat, university administrator (born 1922) * 19 August – Bob Skelton, jockey (born 1934) * 22 August –

Don McIver Lieutenant General Donald Stuart McIver, (22 January 1936 – 22 August 2016) was a New Zealand military officer who was the Chief of the General Staff (1987–1989) and the director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (1991–1999 ...

, military leader, public servant (born 1936) * 24 August – Glen Evans, politician, mayor of Lower Hutt (1986–95) (born 1936) * 29 August – Edward Latter, military officer, politician, diplomat (born 1928) * 30 August – Brian Robinson, inorganic chemist (born 1940)

September

* 1 September – Sir

Graeme Douglas Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan ...

, businessman, pharmacist, philanthropist (born 1929) * 4 September –

Ross McPherson Ross James McPherson (24 October 1938 – 4 September 2016) was a field hockey goalkeeper from New Zealand. He represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games, 1968 and 1972. He also played first-class cricket for Northern Districts in the Plunket ...

, field hockey player, cricketer (born 1938) * 7 September – Don "D. J." Cameron, sports journalist (born 1933) * 11 September –

Let's Elope Let's Elope (20 November 1987 – 11 September 2016) was a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse in Australia. Background Bred by Highview Stud in Hamilton, New Zealand, Let's Elope was a giant chestnut mare who in 1991 became the first mare in ...

, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1987) * 16 September – Reese Griffiths, rugby league player (born 1937) * 19 September – Margaret Baird, immunologist (born 1945) * 23 September :* Arnold Green, rugby league player (born 1933) :* Bill Johnson, actor (born 1924)

October

* 1 October **

Brian Bell Brian Lane Bell (born December 9, 1968) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and occasional lead vocalist of the rock band Weezer, with whom he has recorded fi ...

, ornithologist (born 1930) **

Toni Williams Henry Anthony Williams (28 May 1939 – 1 October 2016), known professionally as Toni Williams or Antoni Williams, was a Cook Island-born New Zealand pop singer, who began singing at the Gandhi Hall in Auckland City where he became a local s ...

, singer (born 1939) * 3 October – David Donald, cricketer (born 1933) * 4 October – Peggy Hay, designer (born 1924) * 14 October ** Avis Higgs, textile designer, painter (born 1918) ** Helen Kelly, trade unionist (born 1964) * 15 October ** Doug Anderson, rugby league player (born 1926) **

Octagonal In geometry, an octagon (from the Greek ὀκτάγωνον ''oktágōnon'', "eight angles") is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon. A '' regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasiregular truncated square, t, whi ...

, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1992) * 21 October –

Wally Argus Walter Garland Argus (29 May 1921 – 21 October 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union player who played 10 matches including four tests for the national team. From 16 November 2012 until his death he was the oldest living All Black. Early life an ...

, rugby union player (born 1921) * 24 October – Roger Slack, plant biologist and biochemist (born 1937) * 29 October – Tom Weal, politician (born 1929) * 30 October –

Reg Boorman Reginald George Boorman (6 February 1935 – 30 October 2016) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Early life and family Boorman served in the Malayan Emergency in 1957 with the New Zealand Army. His first marriage was to Carol ...

, politician (born 1935)

November

* 11 November – Sir

James McNeish Sir James Henry Peter McNeish (23 October 1931 – 11 November 2016) was a New Zealand novelist, playwright and biographer. Biography McNeish attended Auckland Grammar School and graduated from Auckland University College with a degree in lan ...

, writer (born 1931) * 13 November – Leslie Kenton, journalist, entrepreneur (born 1941) * 14 November –

Marti Friedlander Martha Friedlander (; 19 February 1928 – 14 November 2016) was a British-New Zealand photographer. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1958, where she was known for photographing and documenting New Zealand's people, places and events, and was c ...

, photographer (born 1928) * 15 November –

Rod Bieleski Roderick Leon Bieleski (3 August 1931 – 15 November 2016) was a New Zealand plant physiologist. As a botanist and horticulturist, his research focussed on understanding the factors that affected the behaviour of plants, in particular horticul ...

, plant physiologist (born 1931) * 16 November –

Jean Wishart Jean Boughton Wishart (8 October 1920 – 16 November 2016) was a New Zealand journalist who was the editor of the ''New Zealand Woman's Weekly'' from 1952 until 1985. Biography Born in the Auckland suburb of Remuera on 8 October 1920, Wishart ...

, magazine editor (born 1920) * 20 November **

Mita Mohi Mita Hikairo Mohi (22 May 1939 – 20 November 2016) was a New Zealand exponent and teacher of the art of traditional Māori weaponry and a former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand at the 1972 World Cup. Early li ...

, rugby league player,

mau rākau Mau rākau, meaning "to bear a weapon", is a martial art based on traditional Māori weapons. Weapons Mau rākau is a general term referring to the skilled use of weapons. It is said that the use of weapons was taught in the Whare-tū-taua (Ho ...

and

kapa haka Kapa haka is the term for Māori action songs and the groups who perform them. It literally means 'group' () and 'dance' (). Kapa haka is an important avenue for Māori people to express and showcase their heritage and cultural Polynesian identi ...

exponent, youth worker (born 1939) **

Tim Raphael Timothy John Raphael (26 September 192920 November 2016) was an Anglican priest. Raphael was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch and the University of Leeds. after which he was a Scientific Officer at RAE Bedford. He trained for ordinati ...

, Anglican priest (born 1929) * 21 November – Helen Ryburn, school principal, local-body politician (born 1925) * 22 November ** Mike Burgoyne, rugby union player (born 1951) ** Bev Malcolm, netball player (born 1920) * 25 November – Bill Skelton, jockey (born 1931) * 28 November –

Ray Columbus Raymond John Patrick Columbus (4 November 1942 – 29 November 2016) was a New Zealand Benny Award-winning singer and songwriter, television host, music manager and entertainer, with a career spanning six decades. As the lead singer of Ray Colum ...

, entertainer (born 1942) * 29 November – Margaret Belcher, literary scholar (born 1936)

December

* 3 December – Sir

David Hay David Hay (born 29 January 1948) is a Scottish former football player and manager. He broke into the Celtic team in the late 1960s, as one of a generation of players who continued a highly successful era for the club. A contract dispute betwe ...

, cardiologist, anti-smoking campaigner (born 1927) * 6 December – Elva Bett, artist, art historian, art gallery director (born 1918) * 12 December – Lord Gyllene, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1988) * 13 December – Christopher Vance, Standardbred racehorse (foaled 1986) * 14 December –

Bunny Walters Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters (31 May 1953 – 14 December 2016) was a New Zealand singer who had a number of New Zealand hits during the 1970s. He is best known for the hits "Brandy" and "Take the Money and Run". Background Of Ngāi Te Ra ...

, singer (born 1953) * 15 December –

Richard Dowden Richard Dowden (born 20 March 1949 in Surrey, United Kingdom) is a British journalist who has specialised in African issues. Since 1975, he has worked for several British media and for the past eight years he has been the Executive Director of t ...

, astrophysicist (born 1932) * 18 December – Frank Crotty, rower, industrial chemist (born 1938) * 19 December – Arthur Berry, cricketer (born 1928) * 23 December –

Doug Coombs Doug Coombs (September 24, 1957 – April 3, 2006) was an American alpine skier and mountaineer who helped to pioneer the sport of extreme skiing, both in North America and worldwide. Early life and education Coombs was born in Boston and gr ...

, cricketer, geologist (born 1924) * 24 December –

Ron Broom Roland Francis "Ron" Broom (7 February 1925 – 24 December 2016) was a New Zealand first-class cricketer who played for Wellington cricket team, Wellington. Born in Te Kūiti on 7 February 1925, Broom was a left-arm medium-pace bowler and lef ...

, cricketer (born 1925) * 25 December –

John Gregson Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles. He was cr ...

, George Cross recipient (born 1924) * 30 December – Con Linton, sailor (born 1938)

References

{{Year in Oceania, 2016 2010s in New Zealand Years of the 21st century in New Zealand