The following lists events that happened during 2019 in New Zealand.
Incumbents
Regal and vice-regal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Patsy Reddy
Government The Sixth Labour Government, elected in 2017, continues.
Speaker of the House – Trevor Mallard Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern Deputy Prime Minister – Winston Peters Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson Minister of Foreign Affairs – Winston Peters
Other party leaders in parliament National – Simon Bridges (Leader of the Opposition) New Zealand First – Winston Peters Green – James Shaw and Marama Davidson ACT – David Seymour
Judiciary Chief Justice – Sian Elias until 13 March, then Helen Winkelmann President of the Court of Appeal – Stephen Kós Chief High Court judge – Geoffrey Venning Chief District Court judge – Jan-Marie Doogue, then from 27 September Heemi Taumaunu
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Phil Goff Mayor of Tauranga – Greg Brownless, then from 24 October Tenby Powell Mayor of Hamilton – Andrew King, then from 24 October Paula Southgate Mayor of Wellington – Justin Lester, then from 30 October Andy Foster Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel Mayor of Dunedin – Dave Cull, then from 25 October Aaron Hawkins
Events
January
14 January – Cryptocurrency exchange Cryptopia is hacked in one of the biggest heists in New Zealand history. 23 January – A cliffside at Cape Kidnappers collapses, seriously injuring two tourists.
February 5 February – 6 March – Wildfires in Nelson cause thousands to evacuate their homes.
March
8 March – Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub opens. 15 March – Shootings at two Christchurch mosques result in the deaths of 51 people. 16 March – Sky News Australia is pulled off the air by independently owned Sky New Zealand. The decision was made after the channel refused to stop showing graphic video footage that had been live-streamed by the Christchurch shooter at the two mosques in Christchurch. 19 March – Wellington Central Library closes indefinitely due to the building's earthquake vulnerabilities. 26 March – A state of emergency is declared in the Westland District due to severe weather. May 21 May – Mine re-entry efforts into the Pike River Mine begin. 30 May – The 2019 New Zealand budget is presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson.
June 3 June – The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are announced. 26 June – The primary school teachers' union New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) accepts the Government's NZ$1.5 billion collective agreement, which includes a new, unified pay scale. While primary teachers voted to accept the Government's offer, primary principals rejected the offer, demanding better pay and working conditions. 28 June – The secondary teachers' union the Post Primary Teachers' Association voted to accept the Government's pay offer.
July 19 July – A Christchurch house destroyed in a gas explosion results in six people being hospitalised. 26 July – The NZEI's kindergarten teacher members voted to accept a pay parity agreement with the Ministry of Education October 12 October – (Postal) voting for the 2019 local elections concludes. 22 October – The Skycity Convention Centre catches fire while still under construction, causing significant disruption in the Auckland CBD.
November
17–23 November – Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, make an official visit to Auckland, Northland, Christchurch and Kaikōura. 19 November – The Disney+ streaming service launches in New Zealand. 20 November – A severe hailstorm in Timaru occurs, with hail stones reaching the size of golf balls. Insurance claims totalled $170 million, making it, at the time, the costliest New Zealand weather event in the 21st century.
December 8 December – Severe rain causes landslides and flooding in the South Island, closing two state highways ( and ) and Inland Scenic Route 72, and trapping 1000 tourists in South Westland. 9 December – Whakaari / White Island erupts, killing 21 and injuring 26. 19 December – Sky New Zealand acquires Spark New Zealand's Lightbox streaming service in order to merge it with its own Neon streaming service. 31 December – The 2020 New Year Honours are announced.
Holidays and observances Public holidays in New Zealand in 2019 are as follows:
1 January – New Year's Day 2 January – Day after New Year's Day 6 February – Waitangi Day 19 April – Good Friday 21 April – Easter Sunday 22 April – Easter Monday 25 April – Anzac Day 3 June – Queen's Birthday 28 October – Labour Day 25 December – Christmas Day 26 December – Boxing Day
Sports
Cycling 27 January – Aaron Gate wins the New Zealand Cycle Classic
Rowing New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup) Maadi Cup (boys U18 eight) – Christchurch Boys' High School Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (girls U18 eight) – St Margaret's College Star Trophy (overall points) – Christchurch Boys' High School
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Jim Bailey (Australia) John Snowden (Ashburton), second, top New Zealander
Rugby union England beat the All Blacks 19–7 in the semifinal of the 2019 Rugby World Cup
Births 28 September – Sharp 'N' Smart, Thoroughbred racehorse 15 November – Legarto, Thoroughbred racehorse
Deaths
January 1 January Ross Allen, cricket umpire and local politician, chair of Taranaki Regional Council (1989–2001) (born 1928). Elizabeth Edgar, botanist (DSIR, Landcare Research), Hutton Medal (2000) (born 1929). 11 January – Wayne Blair, cricketer (Otago) (born 1948). 18 January – Reg Hart, rugby league player (national team) (born 1936). 20 January – Ian Shirley, social work and public policy academic (Massey University, Auckland University of Technology), social justice advocate (born 1940). 23 January Aloysius Pang, Singaporean actor (born 1990). Don Stark, cricketer (Canterbury) (born 1930). 25 January – Sir John Jeffries, politician, lawyer and jurist, Deputy Mayor of Wellington (1971–1974), chairmain of Air New Zealand (1975), judge of the High Court (1976–1992), head of the Police Complaints Authority (1992–1997), chair of the New Zealand Press Council (1997–2005) (born 1929). 26 January – John Henderson, cricketer (Central Districts (born 1928). 30 January – Murray Loudon, Olympic field hockey player (1956) (born 1931).
February 3 February – Peter Posa, Hall of Fame guitarist (born 1941). 6 February – John Cocks, builder and television personality (My House My Castle) (born 1966). 9 February Judith McKinlay, biblical scholar (Knox College, University of Otago) (born 1937). Neville Young, lawyer, National Party president (1986–1989), chair of the Earthquake Commission (1998–2006) (born 1940). 11 February – Allan Wild, architect and academic (University of Auckland), Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (since 1968) (born 1927). 12 February – George Grindley, geologist (New Zealand Geological Survey), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1968) (born 1925). 14 February – Barrie Hutchinson, water polo player, British Empire Games silver medallist (1950), rugby union player (Wellington, Auckland) (born 1926). 18 February George Cawkwell, classical scholar (University College, Oxford) and rugby union player (Scotland national team), Rhodes Scholar (1946) (born 1919). Laura Solomon, novelist, playwright and poet, Bridport Prize (2004, 2005) (born 1974). Peter Wells, writer and film-maker (Desperate Remedies), co-founder of the Auckland Writers Festival (born 1950). 23 February – Brian Halton, organic chemist (Victoria University of Wellington), president of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (1986–1987), Shorland Medal (2001), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1992) (born 1941). 24 February – Ian Eliason, rugby union player (Taranaki, national team) (born 1945). 27 February – Bill Playle, cricketer (Auckland, national team, Western Australia) (born 1938).
March 1 March – Mike Tamoaieta, rugby union player (North Harbour, Blues) (born 1995). 2 March – Keith Davis, rugby union player (Auckland, New Zealand Māori, national team) (born 1930). 3 March – Leo de Castro, musician (born ). 5 March – David Kear, geologist (New Zealand Geological Survey) and science administrator, DSIR director-general (1980–1983), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1973) (born 1923). 7 March – Ron Russell, Canadian politician (born 1926). 8 March – Ian Lawrence, local politician and Jewish community leader, Mayor of Wellington (1983–1986), Wellington Regional Councillor (1989–1995) (born 1937). 11 March – John Dawson, botanist (Victoria University of Wellington), New Zealand Post Book of the Year (2012) (born 1928). 14 March – Thomas Goddard, lawyer and jurist, chief judge of the Employment Court (1989–2005) (born 1937). 15 March – Atta Elayyan, futsal player (national team) (born 1985). 22 March – Denzil Meuli, writer, newspaper editor, lawyer and Catholic priest, editor of Zealandia (1969–1971) (born 1926). 24 March – Finn Lowery, water polo player (national team) and lawyer, Rhodes Scholar (2014) (born 1990). 28 March – Bill Culbert, artist (born 1935). 30 March – Ron Elvidge, rugby union player (Otago, national team), oldest living All Black (since 2016) (born 1923).
April 2 April – George Salmond, public health administrator, Director-General of Health (1986–1991) (born 1937). 4 April – Ray Harper, rugby union player (Southland) and administrator, NZRFU councillor (1974–1987) (born 1927). 5 April – Trevor McKee, Thoroughbred racehorse trainer (Sunline) (born 1937). 8 April – Anzac Wallace, actor (Utu, The Quiet Earth, Mauri) (born 1945). 9 April – George McConnell, cricketer (Wellington) (born 1938). 13 April – Dame Yvette Corlett, Hall of Fame track and field athlete, Olympic long jump champion (1952), long jump world record holder (1954–1955), British Empire and Commonwealth Games long jump (1950, 1954), discus throw (1954) and shot put (1954) champion, New Zealand Sportsman of the Year (1950, 1952) (born 1929). 16 April – Len Hoogerbrug, architect (born 1929). 17 April – Peter Cartwright, lawyer and statesman, viceregal consort (2001–2006) (born 1940). 19 April – Philip Liner, radio broadcaster (National Radio) (born 1925).
May 2 May Duncan MacRae, rugby league player (Auckland, national team) (born 1934). Sister Pauline O'Regan, educator and writer, principal of Villa Maria College (1950–1966), principal of Mercy College (1967–1968) (born 1922). 7 May – Te Wharehuia Milroy, Māori language academic (University of Waikato) (born 1937). 8 May – Peter Webb, art dealer, gallery director and auctioneer (born 1933). 10 May Carey Adamson, air force officer, Chief of the Air Staff (1995–1999), Chief of Defence Force (1999–2001) (born 1942). Malcolm Black, musician (Netherworld Dancing Toys) and music lawyer, APRA Silver Scroll (1985) (born 1961). 11 May Sir Hector Busby, Māori traditional navigator and waka builder (born 1932). Pua Magasiva, actor (Shortland Street, Power Rangers Ninja Storm, Sione's Wedding) and radio host (Flava) (born 1980). 15 May – Roger Blackley, art historian (Auckland Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington) (born 1953). 18 May Quentin Pongia, rugby league player (Canberra Raiders, Auckland Warriors, Wigan, national team) (born 1970). Doug Wilson, rugby union player (Canterbury, Wellington, national team) (born 1931). 21 May – Colin Atkinson, cricketer (Central Districts) (born 1951). 24 May – Sharon McAuslan, lawyer and jurist, District Court judge (1995–2015) (born 1945). 26 May – Percy Erceg, rugby union player (North Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Māori, national team), Tom French Cup (1951) (born 1928). 27 May – Guy Jansen, music educator (University of Queensland, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music), choral founder and director (New Zealand Youth Choir) (born 1935).