The following lists events that happened during 2015 in New Zealand.
Population National Estimated populations as at 30 June. For urban areas, New Zealand total – 4,596,700 North Island – 3,519,800 South Island – 1,076,300
Main urban areas Estimated populations as at 30 June.
Auckland – 1,454,300 Blenheim – 30,600 Christchurch – 381,800 Dunedin – 117,400 Gisborne – 35,700 Hamilton – 224,000 Invercargill – 50,300 Kapiti – 41,300 Napier-Hastings – 129,700 Nelson – 64,800 New Plymouth – 56,300 Palmerston North – 83,500 Rotorua – 56,800 Tauranga – 130,800 Wellington – 398,300 Whanganui – 39,400 Whangārei – 55,400
Incumbents
Regal and vice-regal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Jerry Mateparae
Government 2015 is the first 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 – David Carter Prime Minister – John Key Deputy Prime Minister – Bill English Leader of the House – Gerry Brownlee Minister of Finance – Bill English Minister of Foreign Affairs – Murray McCully
Other party leaders Labour – Andrew Little Green – Russel Norman until 30 May then James Shaw, and Metiria Turei New Zealand First – Winston Peters Māori Party – Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox ACT New Zealand – David Seymour United Future – Peter Dunne
Judiciary Chief Justice – Sian Elias President of the Court of Appeal – Ellen France Chief High Court judge – Helen Winkelmann, and then Geoffrey Venning from 1 June Chief District Court judge – Jan-Marie Doogue
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Len Brown Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby Mayor of Hamilton – Julie Hardaker Mayor of Wellington – Celia Wade-Brown Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel Mayor of Dunedin – Dave Cull
Arts and literature
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Johnny Devlin.
Events January 1 January – New Zealand begins its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, after being elected on the first ballot in the 2014 election.
February 12 February – Sky New Zealand launches its Neon streaming service. 14 February – The 2015 Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted between Australia and New Zealand, began in Christchurch with New Zealand winning against Sri Lanka
March 16 March – The remnants of Cyclone Pam move down the east coast of New Zealand causing evacuations, heavy flooding, and power outages. 24 March – Netflix launches in New Zealand. 28 March – A by-election was held in the Northland electorate to replace MP Mike Sabin of the National Party who resigned on 30 January. The electorate was regarded as a safe National seat, but was won by Winston Peters of New Zealand First.
April 24 April – A magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes south-east of Saint Arnaud in the Tasman District.
May 14 May – Flooding occurs throughout the Wellington Region, leading to 27 homes in the Kapiti Coast being evacuated. 31 May – The Christchurch Central Police Station is demolished by implosion following damage from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
June 3 June – Heavy rain in the coastal Otago Region causes heavy flooding in South Dunedin, which was exacerbated by a breakdown of the Portobello pumping station. 20 June – State of emergencies are declared in Rangitikei District, Whanganui District and South Taranaki District due to flooding. Serbia win the FIFA U-20 World Cup after defeating Brazil in the final at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
September A temporary ban on the 2013 book Into the River creates controversy. 1 September – The Flag Consideration Panel releases the short list of flag options
December
11 December – Voting closes on the first referendum on the New Zealand flag closes, with the black and blue variant of the Lockwood silver fern flag advancing to the second referendum.
Holidays and observances 6 February – Waitangi Day 25 April – Anzac Day 27 April – Anzac Day public holiday 1 June – Queen's Birthday Monday 26 October – Labour Day 25 December – Christmas Day
Sport Awards Halberg Awards Supreme Award – All Blacks (rugby) Sportsman – Kane Williamson (cricket) Sportswoman – Lydia Ko (golf) Team – All Blacks (rugby) Disabled Sportsperson – Sophie Pascoe (swimming) Coach – Steve Hansen (rugby) Emerging Talent – Eliza McCartney (athletics)
Cricket
New Zealand, in conjunction with Australia, will host the 2015 Cricket World Cup between 14 February and 29 March.
Football New Zealand will host the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup between 30 May and 20 June.
Rowing New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup) Maadi Cup (boys U18 eight) – Hamilton Boys' High School Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (girls U18 eight) – St Margaret's College Star Trophy (overall points) – Hamilton Boys' High School
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Ross Geange (Otorohanga)
Births 12 September – Tofane, Thoroughbred racehorse 12 October – Verry Elleegant, Thoroughbred racehorse 26 October – Self Assured, Standardbred racehorse 3 November – Kolding, Thoroughbred racehorse
Deaths
January 10 January – John Angus, children's rights advocate (born 1948) 11 January Doriemus, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1990) Chic Littlewood, television personality and actor (born 1930) 13 January – Tony Ciprian, television sports news presenter and producer (born 1932) 15 January – Harvey Sweetman, air force pilot (born 1921) 16 January – Sir Ian Athfield, architect (born 1940) 20 January – Lawrence Hogben, World War II naval officer, meteorologist (born 1916) 29 January – Len Wyatt, cricketer (born 1919)
February 1 February – Alby Duckmanton, cricket player and administrator (born 1933) 9 February – Apirana Mahuika, Ngāti Porou leader (born 1934) 11 February – Tama Huata, Māori performing arts leader (born 1950) 12 February – Christopher Horton, businessman (born 1938) 13 February – Kete Ioane, Cook Islands politician (born 1950) 16 February Robin Duff, teacher, education leader, gay rights activist (born 1947) Celia Lashlie, prison officer, social justice advocate (born 1953) 18 February – Doug Armstrong, cricketer, television sports presenter, politician (born 1931) 24 February Dame Thea Muldoon, wife of Sir Robert Muldoon (born 1927) Tony Small, diplomat (born 1930)
March 3 March – Kerry Ashby, rower (born 1928) Peter Yaxley, rugby league player, referee and administrator (born 1928) 7 March – Brian Sutton-Smith, writer and play theorist (born 1924) 11 March – Keith Roberts, rugby league player (born 1932) 12 March – Alan Wilkinson, association footballer (born 1924) 14 March – Graham Avery, track cyclist (born 1929) 18 March – Sir Don Rowlands, rower and businessman (born 1926) 20 March – Sir Russell Pettigrew, businessman, sports administrator (born 1920) 24 March Bryan Bartley, engineer (born 1928) Peter Stichbury, potter (born 1924) 27 March – Neville Denton, rugby league player (born 1934) 29 March – Mike Watt, sport shooter (born 1936) 31 March – Trevor Laurence, field hockey player (born 1952)
April 1 April – Sir John Ingram, engineer and businessman (born 1924) 2 April Mick Brown, jurist (born 1937) Bill Lean, Paralympic athlete (born 1941) 5 April – Steve Rickard, professional wrestler (born 1929) 10 April Desmond Digby, stage designer, children's book illustrator and painter (born 1933) Dorothy Jelicich, politician (born 1928) 16 April – Ron Bailey, politician (born 1926) 18 April – Bill Schultz, rugby league player (born 1938) 20 April – Gary Brain, timpanist and orchestral conductor (born 1943) 23 April – Frana Cardno, politician (born 1941)
May 2 May – Rex Percy, rugby league player (born 1934) 8 May – Juan Schwanner, association football player and manager (born 1921) Phil Skoglund, lawn bowls player (born 1937) 9 May – Buddy Corlett, softball and basketball player (born 1921) 10 May – Jack Body, composer (born 1944) 19 May – Sir Thomas Gault, jurist (born 1938) 21 May – Roland Avery, rugby league referee (born 1927) 26 May – John Pinder, comedy producer and festival director (born 1945) 29 May – Chris Kohlhase, softball player and coach (born 1967) 31 May – Iain Campbell, cricketer (born 1928)
June 5 June Jerry Collins, rugby union player (born 1980) Te Uruhina McGarvey, Tūhoe kuia (born 1927) Lecretia Seales, lawyer and right to die campaigner (born 1973) 7 June – Peter Petherick, cricketer (born 1942) 9 June – Sir Peter Williams, lawyer and penal reform advocate (born 1934) 10 June – Bonecrusher, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1982) 13 June – Mike Shrimpton, cricket player and coach (born 1940) 17 June – John Lasher, rugby league player 18 June – Sir Patrick Moore, otolaryngologist (born 1918) 20 June – Ian Bradley, naval officer and politician (born 1937) 22 June – Norm Berryman, rugby union player (born 1973)Norman Berryman dies of heart attack aged 42 25 June – Ross Hynds, Paralympic athlete (born 1947) 27 June – Eric Dunn, cricketer (born 1929)
July 2 July – Sir Ronald Davison, jurist, Chief Justice (1978–89) (born 1920) 7 July – Craig Norgate, accountant and business leader (born 1965) 13 July Sir John Buchanan, scientist and businessman (born 1943) Campbell Smith, wood engraver, playwright and poet (born 1925) 18 July Tim Beaglehole, historian and university administrator (born 1933) Lou Gardiner, military officer, Chief of Army (2006–09) (born 1952) 20 July – Stuart Jones, cricketer (born 1929) 23 July – Doug Rowe, musician and singer (born 1945) 27 July – Joan Mattingley, clinical chemist (born 1926) 29 July – Sir John Todd, businessman and philanthropist (born 1927) 30 July – Jimmy Edwards, rugby league player (born 1926)
August 4 August – Les Munro, World War II pilot, last survivor of Operation Chastise (born 1919) 6 August – Geoff Mardon, speedway rider (born 1927) 7 August – Trevor Barber, cricketer (born 1925) 9 August – Gordon Vette, pilot, TE-901 crash researcher (born 1933) 16 August – Jon Craig, architect (born 1942) 17 August – George Gair, politician and diplomat (born 1926) 20 August – Paul Kibblewhite, pulp and paper scientist (born 1941) 21 August – Colin Beyer, lawyer and businessman (born 1938) 28 August – Jan Anderson, plant biologist 30 August – John Hotop, rugby union player (born 1929)
September 2 September Avinash Deobhakta, lawyer and jurist (born 1936) Manos Nathan, ceramicist (born 1948) 4 September – Graham Brazier, musician and songwriter (born 1952) 6 September – Allen Roberts, cricketer (born 1922) 8 September – Robert Wylie, cricketer (born 1948) 10 September – Colleen Waata-Urlich, ceramicist (born 1939) 13 September – Sir James Belich, politician, Mayor of Wellington (1986–92) (born 1927) 15 September – Ian Uttley, rugby union player (born 1941) 16 September Terry McCavana, association footballer (born 1922) Peter Molan, biochemist (born 1943) Bill Oliver, historian and poet (born 1925) 17 September – Daniel Keighley, music festival promoter and band manager (born 1953) 20 September – Dorothy Butler, children's author, bookseller and reading advocate (born 1925) 25 September – Zabeel, Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (foaled 1986) 30 September – Neil Graham, businessman and philanthropist (born 1943)
October 3 October – William Taylor, children's writer and politician (born 1938) 5 October – Michael Dean, television presenter (born 1933) 6 October – Frankie Boardman, musician (born 1933) 7 October – Arthur Woods, rugby union player (born 1929) 9 October – David Benney, applied mathematician (born 1930) 20 October – Sir John Scott, medical researcher (born 1931) 29 October – Bruce Gregory, politician (born 1937) 31 October – Colin Nicholson, lawyer and jurist (born 1938)
November 1 November – Bill Ballantine, marine biologist (born 1937)