The following lists events that happened during 1990 in New Zealand.
New Zealand celebrated its sesquicentennial, 150 years since the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi.
In the general election in October, National was elected in a landside victory.
GDP was $40.2 billion, unemployment was at 7.4% (March) and the exchange rate was 1 NZ$ per US$1.6750. This year New Zealand produced 8,000 million kWh of electricity.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,410,400. Increase since 31 December 1989: 40,600 (1.20%). Males per 100 females: 97.3.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Paul Reeves followed by Catherine Tizard
Government The 42nd New Zealand Parliament continued, until the general election, held 27 October. The governing Labour Party was defeated. and The National Party, led by Jim Bolger, formed the new government.
Speaker of the House – Kerry Burke then Robin Gray Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer then Mike Moore then Jim Bolger Deputy Prime Minister – Helen Clark then Don McKinnon Minister of Finance – David Caygill then Ruth Richardson Minister of Foreign Affairs – Russell Marshall then Mike Moore then Don McKinnon Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger (National), until 2 November, then Mike Moore (Labour) . NewLabour Party – Jim Anderton (after 2 November General election)
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard then Les Mills Mayor of Hamilton – Margaret Evans Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich Mayor of Christchurch – Vicki Buck Mayor of Dunedin – Richard Walls
Events
Unknown Telecom sold for $ 4.25 billion. New Zealand Bill of Rights Act passed The Tongariro National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its natural values. Creation of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site The Royal New Zealand Navy tanker and the frigates and were deployed to Bougainville as a neutral venue for peace talks between the government of Papua New Guinea and secessionist leaders of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. New Zealand ratifies the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New Zealand and the Netherlands signed a reciprocal Social Security Agreement in October 1990, which came into effect in 1992. Banning of wood chip exports. Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed. Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund (later renamed "Nature Heritage Fund"). Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established Penny Jamieson, Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, was ordained the first women Diocesan bishop in the world. The New Zealand Phone Number Update begins and continues through to 1993, standardising telephone numbers in New Zealand to seven-digit local numbers and reducing the number of area codes from around 80 to just five.
January 24 January: Commonwealth Games are officially opened by Prince Edward in Auckland.
February 1–16 February: Her Majesty Elizabeth II of New Zealand visits. 3 February: Commonwealth Games are officially closed by Elizabeth II in Auckland, with New Zealand winning 58 medals, 6 February: New Zealand celebrates its sesquicentennial.
March 1 March – Royal New Zealand Navy discontinues the daily rum ration.
April 30 April: One- and two-cent coins are withdrawn from legal tender.
May 13 May: 6.2 Magnitude earthquake in Hawke's Bay
June
9 June – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Gisborne switches to seven-digit local telephone numbers. 29 June – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Ashburton and parts of Christchurch switch to seven-digit local telephone numbers. The full transition in Christchurch would not be completed until 22 August 1992.
July 1 July: Tariffs were eliminated between Australia and New Zealand under the Closer Economic Relations agreement. This was five years ahead of schedule. 18 July: A new automatic telephone exchange comes into service at Waitangi on the Chatham Islands, phasing out the last manual telephone exchange in New Zealand.
August
24 August – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Timaru and Oamaru switch to seven-digit local telephone numbers.
September 4 September: Geoffrey Palmer: resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by Mike Moore.
October 1 October: The Health Research Council of New Zealand is formed. 5 October – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Dunedin, Greymouth and Invercargill switch to seven-digit local telephone numbers. 13 October – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Napier and Hastings switch to seven-digit local telephone numbers. 27 October – New Zealand general election returns National with record number of seats – 67; Labour 29, NewLabour 1 27 October: Referendum to increase Parliamentary term from three to four years defeated: 30.7% For, 69.3% Against. October: The Edmonds factory in Christchurch is controversially demolished.
November 2 November: Jim Bolger becomes Prime Minister. 2 November: Don McKinnon becomes Deputy Prime Minister 2 November: Ruth Richardson became the first woman Minister of Finance. 3 November – New Zealand Phone Number Update: Whanganui switches to seven-digit local telephone numbers. 13 November: David Gray, an Aramoana resident, began a 22-hour shooting spree that left 13 people and Gray dead.
December Government announces $1.275 Billion worth of social welfare cuts. 12 December: Dame Catherine Tizard becomes first woman Governor-General of New Zealand.
Arts and literature David Eggleton wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1990 in art, 1990 in literature, :Category:1990 books
Music
New Zealand Music Awards Winners are shown first with nominees underneath. Album of the Year: The Chills – Submarine Bells Brian Smith – Moonlight Sax Straitjacket Fits – Melt Single of the Year: The Chills – "Heavenly Pop Hit" Margaret Urlich – Number One Ngaire – To Sir With Love Top Male Vocalist: Barry Saunders John Grenell Barry Saunders Top Female Vocalist: Margaret Urlich Patsy Riggir Aishah Top Group: The Chills Straitjacket Fits Fan Club Most Promising Male Vocalist: Guy Wishart Alan Galloway John Kempt Most Promising Female Vocalist: Merenia Ngaire Caroline Easther Most Promising Group: Strawpeople Merenia & Where's Billy D-Faction International Achievement: Fan Club The Chills Margaret Urlich Best Video: Niki Caro – Bad Note for a Heart (Straitjacket Fits) Paul Middleditch – One Good Reason (Strawpeople) Lance Kelliher – Don't Let Me Fall Alone (The Fan Club) Best Producer: Ian Morris – Heartbroke Carl Doy – Moonlight Sax (Brian Smith) Murray Grindlay – Welcome To Our World Best Engineer: Strawpeople – Hemisphere Ian Morris – Heartbroke (Rikki Morris) Murray Grindlay – Welcome To Our World Best Jazz Album: No Award Best Classical Album: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa / Nszo — Kiri's Homecoming Dame Malvina Major – Malvina Major Kiri Te Kanawa/NZSO – Kiri at Aotea Best Country Album: The Warratahs – Wild Card John Grenell – Welcome To Our World Bartlett/ Duggan/ Vaughn – Together Again Best Folk Album: Rua — Commonwealth Suite Martha Louise – Changing Tides Iain Mitchell/Paul Yielder – Every Man And His Dog Best Gospel Album: Cecily Phio — Light in the Darkness Sound Ministry – Lead Me to the Rock Scripture in Song – We Will Triumph Best Polynesian Album: Herbs – Homegrown National Maori Choir – Stand Tall Te Mokai – Totara Tree Best Songwriter: Martin Phillips — Heavenly Pop Hit (The Chills) Shayne Carter – Bad Note for a Heart (Straitjacket fits) Barry Saunders – Wild Card Best Cover: John Collie – Melt (Straitjacket Fits) Steve Garden/ Giles Molloy/ Kim Wesney – State of the Harp Marc Mateo/ John Pitcairn – Hole Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry: Murdoch Riley
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Billy T. James MBE.
Radio and television 1 January: Avalon becomes a separate limited liability company. 5 February: The Auckland Television Centre is opened by Elizabeth II. May: TV3 goes into receivership but continues broadcasting. May: Sky Television launches with three channels. May: CTV takes over TVNZ's Christchurch assets.
See: 1990 in New Zealand television, 1990 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, :Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), :Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film An Angel at My Table Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree Meet the Feebles Ruby and Rata
See: :Category:1990 film awards, 1990 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1990 films
Literature Once Were Warriors published.
Sport
Athletics Tom Birnie wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:33 on 3 March in New Plymouth, while Jillian Costley claims her third in the women's championship (2:36:43).
Commonwealth Games
Total 17 14 27 58
Cricket State Championship, won by Auckland.
Hockey
Netball
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup: Neroship Auckland Trotting Cup: The Bru CzarAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Thoroughbred racing Auckland Cup: Miss Stanima
Rugby union Ranfurly Shield Retained by Auckland. Auckland beat King Country 58-3 in Auckland. Auckland beat Poverty Bay 42-3 in Gisborne. Auckland beat Southland 78-7 in Auckland. Auckland beat Otago 45-9 in Auckland Auckland beat North Auckland 41-21 in Auckland Auckland beat North Harbour 18-9 in Auckland Auckland beat Canterbury 33-30 in Auckland 16 June: The All Blacks beat Scotland 31 – 16 at Carisbrook. 23 June: The All Blacks beat Scotland 21 – 18 at Eden Park. 21 July: The All Blacks beat Australia 21 – 6 at Lancaster Park. 4 August: The All Blacks beat Australia 21-18 at Eden Park. 18 August: The All Blacks lose to Australia 9 – 21 at Athletic Park. 3 November:The All Blacks beat France 24-3 at Stade de la Beaujoire. 10 November: The All Blacks beat France 30-12 at Parc des Princes.
Rugby league
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Alistair "Sandy" Marshall (Kaituna/Blenheim)
Squash Susan Devoy wins the World Championship beating Martine Le Moignan 9-4, 9–4, 9–4.
Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Mount Wellington who beat Christchurch United 3–3 (4-2 on penalties) in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com New Zealand National Soccer League: Waitakere City The inaugural Winfield Provincial Championship was held between regional representative teams. The winner was Canterbury, who beat Auckland 2-1 (after extra time) in the final.Winfield Provincial Championship
Tennis
Births
January 3 January – Monikura Tikinau, rugby league player 4 January Liaki Moli, rugby union player Augustine Pulu, rugby union player 5 January – Larissa Harrison, netball player 10 January – Dion Prewster, basketball player 11 January – Vaughn Scott, taekwondo practitioner 12 January – Neccrom Areaiiti, rugby league player 13 January David Bishop, gymnast Teneale Hatton, flatwater canoeist 14 January – Tom Scully, road and track cyclist 15 January – Kane Morgan, rugby league player 16 January Jason Hicks, association footballer Sam Prattley, rugby union player 17 January – Cameron Leslie, Paralympic swimmer 18 January – Taioalo Vaivai, rugby league player 19 January – Kerry-Anne Tomlinson, cricketer 22 January – Dean Whare, rugby league player 24 January – James Fuller, cricketer 25 January – Liam Coltman, rugby union player 29 January – Kalifa Faifai Loa, rugby league player
February 3 February – Martin Taupau, rugby league player 7 February – Elias Shadrock, netball player 10 February – Nathan Vella, rugby union player 11 February – Joe Tomane, rugby union player 12 February – Tamati Clarke, cricketer 13 February – Dan Hooker, mixed martial artist 19 February – Kosta Barbarouses, association footballer 20 February Mark Abbott, rugby union player Samuel Brunton, rugby league player 24 February – Morna Nielsen, cricketer 27 February - Elijah Taylor, rugby league player
March