The following lists events that happened during 2003 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,061,600. Increase since 31 December 2002: 72,000 (1.81%). Males per 100 Females: 96.2.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSOThe Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2012
Government The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between Labour and the small Progressive party with United Future supporting supply votes.
Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt (Labour) Prime Minister – Helen Clark (Labour) Deputy Prime Minister – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff (Labour) Chief Justice — Sian Elias
Opposition leaders National – Bill English then Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition) Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald Act – Richard Prebble New Zealand First – Winston Peters United Future – Peter Dunne
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – John Banks Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner
Events 11 February – Donna Awatere Huata is expelled from the caucus of political party ACT New Zealand. She remained in parliament. 1 April – the Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 received Royal Assent 24 April – New Zealand's population reaches the 4,000,000 mark, according to Statistics New Zealand's population clock. 3 June – Air Adventures flight crashes on approach to Christchurch Airport, killing eight on board 9 June – Announcement by the Prime Minister of the provision of a Defence Force engineering group of up to 60 personnel to work on reconstruction tasks in southern Iraq and, as part of New Zealand's continuing participation in Operation Enduring Freedom, of the intention to contribute to a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. 30 June – Announcement that the North Island population reaches 3 million, North Shore City reaches 200,000 and Porirua City reaches 50,000 5 July – 350 skiers and 70 staff were trapped in skifield facilities on Mount Ruapehu when a sudden storm closes the access road. All descend safely the next day. August – The Refugee Status Appeals Authority declares that Ahmed Zaoui is a genuine asylum seeker. He is moved from a maximum security to medium security prison as a result. 15 August – The Strongman Mine closes 22 August – A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes the remote Fiordland. 4 October – A state of emergency is declared in the Wellington Region due to flooding. Paekākāriki suffers damage. 28 October – Don Brash becomes parliamentary leader of the National Party. October – Australian company Toll Holdings completes a takeover of Tranz RailToll Holdings tightens its grip on Tranz Rail International Railway Journal November 2003 page 4 18 November – the Supreme Court declares that Donna Awatere Huata has no right to her parliamentary seat. Evangelical Christian based political party Destiny New Zealand formed.
Arts and literature
Awards Nick Ascroft and Sarah Quigley win the Robert Burns Fellowship.
New Zealand Book Awards Readers' Choice: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun Non-fiction: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper Fiction: The Shag Incident Stephanie Johnson Poetry: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun History: No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840–1914 Jim McAloon Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper Biography: A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip Temple Illustrative: Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len Castle Reference & Anthology: Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw Environment* Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff Chapple
New Zealand Music Awards A number of new categories were introduced this year: 'Highest Selling NZ Album', 'Highest Selling NZ Single', 'Best Pacific Island Album' (its predecessor 'Best Polynesian Album' last presented in 1997), and 'Best Roots Music Album'. 'Best R&B/ Hip Hop Album' was renamed 'Best Urban Album'. Two categories were retired 'Best Children's Album', and 'Best Compilation'. This year was also the first to feature a Lifetime Achievement Award. Album of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns Pacifier – Pacifier Goldenhorse – Riverhead Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated Single of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie Che Fu – Misty Frequencies Bic Runga – Get Some Sleep Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again Nesian Mystik – It's On Top Group: The Datsuns – The Datsuns Goodshirt – Sophie Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated Breakthrough Artist of the Year: The Datsuns – The Datsuns Goldenhorse – Riverhead Blindspott – Blindspott Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Misty Frequencies Jon Toogood- Pacifier (Pacifier) Te Awanui Pine Reeder (Nesian Mystik) – For The People Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again Kirsten Morrell – Riverhead (Goldenhorse) Best Solo Artist (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision Anika Moa – Falling in Love Again Carly Binding – Alright With Me Best Urban Album: Nesian Mystik – Polysaturated P Money – Big Things Deceptikonz – Elimination Best Folk Album: not awarded Best Music Video: Joe Lonie – Sophie (Goodshirt) Che Fu – Misty Frequencies Chris Graham / Bic Runga – Something Good (Bic Runga) Outstanding International Achievement: The Datsuns Best Mana Reo Album: Ngahiwi Apanui – E Tau Nei Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2 Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto Best Mana Maori Album: Upper Hutt Posse – Te Reo Maori Remixes Soul Paua – Pohewa Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha Brother J – Be Bop A Nui Highest Selling NZ Album (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision Highest Selling NZ Single (new category): Katchafire – Giddy Up Producer of the Year: Bic Runga – Beautiful Collision P Money – Big Things (P Money) Geoffrey Maddock – Riverhead (Goldenhorse) Engineer of the Year: Clint Murphy And Dave Rhodes – Blindspott Jeremy Greor – Carbon (50HZ) Barbara Griffin – Love Not War (Annie Crummer) Simon Holloway & Shane Mason – K'Lee (K'Lee) Best Dance Album: Salmonella Dub – Outside The Dubplates Rhombus -Bass Player Subware – Subware Best Country Album: not awarded Best Jazz Album: Kevin Clark – Once Upon A Song I Flew Twinset – It's A Summer Feeling Matt Penman – The Unquiet Best Gospel Album: not awarded Best Pacific Island Album (new category): Pacific Soul – Pacific Soul Jamoa Jam – Tama Mai Le Pasifika Lapi Mariner – Just Me Best Roots Music Album (new category): Trinity Roots – True Te Vaka – Nukukehe Darren Watson – King Size Best Classical Album: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – Douglas Lilburn: The Three Symphonies New Zealand Symphony Orchestra -Simon Boccanegra -Giuseppe V New Zealand String Quartet – Beethoven Rasumovsky Quartet Songwriter of the Year: Goodshirt – Sophie Che Fu – Misty Frequencies Nesian Mystik – It's On Best Cover Design: Campbell Hooper-Johnson – 'Flock: The Best Of The Mutton Birds Damian Alexander – Blindspott (Blindspott) Spencer Levine – Trade Secrets (Dubious Brothers) New Zealand Radio Programmer of the Year: Andi Dawkins – More FM Christchurch Andrew Szusterman – Channel Z John Budge – Classic Hits Manu Taylor – Mai FM Lifetime Achievement Award (new category): Dylan Taite
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Jim Joll.
Television 3 October: TV4 is replaced by C4.
Film Kombi Nation The Last Samurai Whale Rider 17 December: World premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in Wellington
Internet See: NZ Internet History
Sport
Athletics Todd Stevens wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:30:09 on 3 May in Rotorua, while Maree Turner claims her first in the women's championship (2:55:40).
Basketball The NBL won by the Wellington Saints who beat the Waikato Titans 97–88 in the final. The Women's NBL was won by the Wellington Swish who beat the Waikato Lady Titans 86–82 in the final
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Just an Excuse Auckland Trotting Cup – Elsu New Zealand Free For All – Jack Cade
Motor racing 12 October – Scott Dixon wins the 2003 Indy Racing League Championship
Netball The 11th Netball World Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand won, beating Australia in the final.
Rugby union 11 October – Auckland defeat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield, ending Canterbury's run of 23 defences. 11 October – New Zealand beat Italy (70–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup 17 October – New Zealand beat Canada (68–6) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup 24 October – New Zealand beat Tonga (91–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup 2 November – New Zealand beat Wales (53–37) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup, finishing top of pool D 8 November – New Zealand beat South Africa (29–9) in the first quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup 15 November – New Zealand lose to Australia (10–22) in the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup 20 November – Playoff: (Loser SF1 v Loser SF2) New Zealand beat France (40–13) to take 3rd place in the Rugby World Cup
Rugby league Bartercard Cup won by Canterbury Bulls The New Zealand Warriors finished 6th (of 15 teams) in the minor premiership, qualifying for the finals series, where they won two games before losing the preliminary final to minor premieres the Penrith Panthers.
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Ian Shaw (United Kingdom) Ross Geange (Masterton), fourth, top New Zealander
Soccer New Zealand National Soccer League won by Miramar Rangers The Chatham Cup is won by University-Mount Wellington who beat Melville United 3–1 in the final.
Yachting 19 January – Swiss yacht Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Oracle BMW Racing 4–1 to win the Louis Vuitton Cup off Auckland and goes on to challenge Team New Zealand for the 2003 America's Cup. 2 March – Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Team New Zealand boat New Zealand skippered by Dean Barker 5–0 to win the 2003 America's Cup
Births
January–March 3 January – Harry Godfrey, rugby union player 8 January – Sosefo Fifita, rugby league player 9 January – Ali Leiataua, rugby league player 13 January – Prudence Fowler, cyclist 27 January – Brianna Edwards, association footballer 2 February – Ajay Faleafaga, rugby union player 5 February – Santo Taumata, rugby union player 13 February – Flora Devonshire, cricketer 18 February – Jeremiah Nanai, rugby league player 24 February – Jackson Manuel, association footballer 13 March – Patricia Maliepo, rugby union player 19 March – Caleb Tangitau, rugby union player 23 March – Davvy Moale, rugby league player 27 March – Kees Sims, association footballer 29 March – Macca Springer, rugby union player
April–June 4 April – Siua Wong, rugby league player 17 April – Taha Kemara, rugby union player 19 April – April Ngatupuna, rugby union and rugby league player 22 April – Che Clark, rugby union player 23 April – Benjamin Culhane, field hockey player 25 April – Deine Mariner, rugby league player 3 May – Kaelin Nguyen, association footballer 8 May – Kyren Taumoefolau, rugby union player 12 May – Kelsey Teneti, rugby union player 23 May – Noah Hotham, rugby union player 25 May – Deine Mariner, rugby league player 30 May – Siale Lauaki, rugby union player 8 June – Tahlor Cahill, rugby union player 17 June – Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, rugby league player 25 June Finn Hurley, rugby union player Jack Taylor, rugby union player
July–September 4 July – Oliver Colloty, footballer 15 July – Hannah Cotter, field hockey player 20 July – Charlie Morrison, field hockey player