2008 in New Zealand

All you want to know about 2008 in New Zealand

2008 in New Zealand:
Other years in New Zealand
2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

Head of State - Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand
Governor-General - The Hon. Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO^[1]

Government

The 48th New Zealand Parliament continues. The government is a Labour-Progressive coalition with supply and confidence from United Future and New Zealand First in exchange for two ministerial spots outside Cabinet.

Speaker of the House - Margaret Wilson (Labour) since March 3, 2005
Prime Minister - Helen Clark (Labour) since December 5, 1999
Deputy Prime Minister - Michael Cullen (Labour) since August 15, 2002
Minister of Finance - Michael Cullen (Labour) since December 5, 1999

Non-Labour Ministers

Minister of Foreign Affairs - Winston Peters (NZ First) since October 2005
Jim Anderton (Progressives) - Minister of Agriculture (within Cabinet)
Peter Dunne (United Future)- Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health (outside Cabinet)

Other Party Leaders

National - John Key (Leader of the Opposition) since November 27, 2006
Act - Rodney Hide, since June 13, 2004
Greens - Jeanette Fitzsimons (since 1995) and Russel Norman (since 2006)
Māori Party - Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, both since July 7, 2004

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland - John Banks, since October 2007
Mayor of Hamilton - Bob Simcock, since May 2007
Mayor of Wellington - Kerry Prendergast, since October 2001
Mayor of Christchurch - Bob Parker, since October 2007
Mayor of Dunedin - Peter Chin, since October 2004

Events

22 January: State funeral for Sir Edmund Hillary
5 June: A newly redesigned flag for the Governor General of New Zealand is flown for the first time at Government House, Auckland. ^[2]
1 July: Rail transport network is renationalised as KiwiRail
1 August: Crown entities Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand merge to form the NZ Transport Agency
16 August: Dunedin Public Hospital is put in lockdown for a week after approximately 170 staff and patients fall ill to a norovirus outbreak, resulting in 2,300 appointments and procedures being delayed.^[3]
5 September: Fonterra advise Prime Minister Helen Clark of the 2008 baby milk scandal.^[4]
8 November: General Election to be held on this day.^[5]

Holidays and Observances

6 February - Waitangi Day (Wednesday)
21 March/24 March Good Friday/Easter Monday
25 April - ANZAC Day (Friday)
2 June - Queen's Birthday Monday
5 June - Matariki (Thursday)
27 October - Labour Day Monday

Arts and literature

New Books

Awards

Music

May - New Zealand Music Month

Television

Film

Internet

Sport

This article or section contains information about a future sporting event or team.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the event approaches and more information becomes available.

Cricket

New Zealand men's cricket team, the Black Caps plays three test matches against England and draws the series, each team having won a game

Netball

The ANZ Netball Championship begins in April 2008.

Motorsport

Olympic Games

Main article: New Zealand at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Rugby league

Rugby union

Rowing

Soccer

30 October-16 November — New Zealand hosts the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Matches will be held in Albany, Christchurch, Hamilton and Wellington.

Tennis

Births

Deaths

January 1: Joan Dingley, mycologist
January 4: Bert Walker, former National Party politician, minister.
January 10: George Laking, diplomat and public servant.^[6]
January 11: Sir Edmund Hillary, mountaineer and first person to climb Mount Everest.^[7]
January 16: Hone Tuwhare, poet.^[8]
February 12: Ron Chippindale, Chief Inspector of Accidents^[9]
February 19: Barry Barclay, Māori film-maker^[10]
March 21: Merv Wallace, cricketer and test match captain.^[11]
April 6: Tony Davies, All Blacks rugby union player^[12]
April 11: Fraser Colman, former Labour Party politician, minister.
April 12: Dame Augusta Wallace, former judge, first woman District Court judge.^[13]
June 5: Colin Kay, Mayor of Auckland and New Zealand triple jump champion.^[14]
August 25: Hardwicke Knight, Otago historian. ^[15]
September 7: Sir Hamish Hay, Mayor of Christchurch from 1974 to 1989.^[16]
September 8: A. R. Guthrey, Mayor of Christchurch from 1968 to 1971.^[17]
September 13: Duncan Laing, swimming coach, trainer of 11 Olympic athletes.^[18]
September 13: Sue Garden-Bachop, women's rugby international player and administrator.^[19]
September 25: Brian Donnelly, politician and diplomat.^[20]
October 2: Rob Guest, actor and singer.^[21]

See also

For world events and topics in 2008 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 2008

References

^ [1]
^ "The Governor-General’s new flag".
^ Schofield, Edith (22 August 2008). "Dunedin Hospital to lift lockdown". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ Yardley, Jim (September 15, 2008). "Chinese Baby Formula Scandal Widens as 2nd Death Is Announced". New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.
^ "Clark announces election date". TVNZ (12 September 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-12.
^ "PM pays tribute to Sir George Laking". TVNZ (January 11, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Everest hero Edmund Hillary dies". BBC News (11 January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Maori poet Hone Tuwhare dies". New Zealand Herald (January 16, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Erebus investigator killed in crash". New Zealand Herald (February 12, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Film maker Barry Barclay dies". New Zealand Herald (February 19, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Former New Zealand cricket captain Merv Wallace dead at 91". International Herald Tribune (March 22, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Former All Black Davies dies". New Zealand Herald (April 9, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "NZ's first female district court judge dies". New Zealand Herald (April 14, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ Falconer, Phoebe (June 6, 2008). "Devotee of sport and politics". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
^ "Hardwicke Knight commemorative display". Dunedin Public Libraries (10 September 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-18.
^ "Sir Hamish Hay dies". TVNZ (8 September 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-08.
^ "Former mayor and wife die within minutes of each other", The Press (9 September 2008). Archived from the original on 2008-09-09.
^ "Master coach Duncan Laing dies". Otago Daily Times (13 September 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-13.
^ "Former Black Fern dies". RugbyHeaven.co.nz (13 September 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-18.
^ "Ex-NZ First MP dies", The New Zealand Herald (25 September 2008).
^ "Theatre star Rob Guest dies", New Zealand Herald (2008-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-10-01.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_in_New_Zealand"

Categories: Future sporting events | 2008 in New Zealand | 2008 in Oceania | 2008 by country

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