2007 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State - Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand
*Governor-General - The Hon. Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO [ [http://www.gg.govt.nz/gg/former.htm] ]

Government

2007 will be the second full year since the election of the current (48th) Parliament . The current 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
*Minister of Foreign Affairs - Winston Peters (NZ First) since October 2005

Non-Labour Ministers
*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 - Dick Hubbard, since October 2004 and replaced by John Banks in the October elections.
*Mayor of Hamilton - Bob Simcock (since May 2007), Michael Redman (Oct 2004 - May 2007)
*Mayor of Wellington - Kerry Prendergast, since October 2001
*Mayor of Christchurch - Garry Moore, since October 1998 and replaced by Bob Parker in the October elections.
*Mayor of Dunedin - Peter Chin, since October 2004

Events

January

* January 3 - The official Christmas-New Year holiday period ends with the lowest holiday road toll since 1981. Nine people died on the roads. [http://tv3.co.nz/News/NationalNews/tabid/184/articleID/17742/Default.aspx (TV3)]
* January 3 - An extensive manhunt is launched for convicted murderer Graeme Burton, wanted for breaching parole.
* January 4 - A large (approx 7000m²) Tegel Foods chicken processing plant in the Christchurch suburb of Sockburn is razed. Authorities rule out arson.
* January 6 - Graeme Burton is recaptured in Wellington, after fatally shooting one man and wounding two others.
* January 12 - New Line Cinema announces that it will never work with Peter Jackson again after Jackson's allegations of financial impropriety and breach of contract. [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/film.hobbit.reut/ (CNN)]
* January 16 - The Department of Conservation declares the South Island Kōkako to be extinct. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10419370 (NZ Herald)]
* January 17 - The lawyer for Algerian refugee and alleged security risk Ahmed Zaoui lodges a formal request to be reunited with his family with the Minister of Immigration
* January 17 - Sir Edmund Hillary returns to Antarctica to take part in the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base
* January 18 - Officials in Auckland announce four cases of typhoid have been diagnosed in the South Auckland suburb of Clendon since mid-December.
* January 20 - The chainsaw used to cut down the sole Monterey pine on One Tree Hill in 1994 is found for sale on auction site TradeMe.
* January 22 - New Zealand stays resolute as the newly self-installed government of Fiji's military Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama threatens unspecified consequences if sanctions continue. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/3936900a19715.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* January 23 - Six year old Jayden Headley is handed into Hamilton police by his grandfather, after being missing for five months. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10420465 (NZ Herald)]

February

* 5 February - Former National Party leader Don Brash's resignation from Parliament takes effect.
* 5 February - Google removes a number of posts from a blog called "CYFSWATCH NEW ZEALAND", at the behest of the government, who allege the blog invites users to 'name and shame' staff at the New Zealand Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.
* 7 February - former Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere appears in court to face allegations that he had devised a fraudulent scheme designed to help ineligible Chinese migrants immigrate to New Zealand. He is cleared of all charges on March 2. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10426672 (NZ Herald)]
*9 February - Ahmed Zaoui's request to have his family join him in New Zealand is turned down by the Minister of Immigration. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/3955480a10.html (stuff)]
* 10 February - A tour bus crashes near Tokoroa injuring several of the Korean tourists on board. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423399 (nz herald)]
* 13 February - Disgraced MP Taito Phillip Field is expelled from the Labour Party caucus after announcing in an interview that he will stand for election at the next general election, either with Labour or as an independent. [http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/PoliticalNews/tabid/188/articleID/21149/Default.aspx (TV3)]
* 28 February - Parliament passes the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act, making spam originating from within New Zealand illegal.

March

* March 2 - for the second time in twelve months, former deputy Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and two accomplices are cleared of sexual assault charges. [http://stuff.co.nz/3979509a10.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* March 18 - Mount Ruapehu's crater lake overflows resulting in a lahar. No major damage is reported.
* March 22 - Prime Minister Helen Clark meets United States President George W Bush in Washington DC. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/03/20070321.html (whitehouse.gov)]

April

* April 1 - Severe flooding in Northland results in millions of dollars worth of damage. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/10/story.cfm?c_id=104&objectid=10431990 (NZ Herald)]
* April 2 - Auckland Hospital reveals that one of its patients is suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and that up to 43 of its patients could be at risk. [http://nz.news.yahoo.com/070402/2/962.html (Yahoo/Newstalk ZB)]
* April 3 - the Bazley Report into police conduct is released, citing "disgraceful" conduct among policemen going back to 1979. The release of the report prompts a public apology from police commissioner Howard Broad. [http://stuff.co.nz/4015419a10.html (stuffco.nz)]

May

* May 10 - The Privy Council quashes the conviction of David Bain for the May, 1995 murder of his family in Dunedin, ordering a retrial, alleging a "substantial miscarriage of justice". [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1500919&objectid=10438946 (NZ Herald)]
* May 16 - Parliament passes the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Act, (commonly misrepresented as the "anti-smacking bill"), removing 'reasonable force' as a justification in child assault cases. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10440080 (NZPA)] United Future MP Gordon Copeland quits his party after United's leader Peter Dunne votes in favour of the bill. Copeland announces his intention to form a new party called Future New Zealand. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10440050 {NZ Herald)]
* May 30 - Folole Muliaga dies after the power to her Auckland home is disconnected by electricity company Mercury Energy for failure to pay her overdue account; Mrs Muliaga was dependent on an oxygen life support machine. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501212&objectid=10442847 (NZ Herald)]

June

* June 6 - Emirates Team New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton Cup 5-0 against Luna Rossa in Valencia. [http://www.americascup.com (Americas Cup Official Website)]
* June 7 - The Reserve Bank intervenes in the currency market by selling New Zealand Dollars to try and halt the increase in value of the currency. This was the first such intervention since the NZD was floated in 1985 ( [http://www.currencynews.co.uk/20070611-404.html Currency News] )
* June 14/15 - The military government of Fiji expels New Zealand high commissioner Michael Green. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6751133.stm (BBC)] The following day, Fairfax journalist Michael Field is deported. [http://stuff.co.nz/4095504a10.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* June 21 - The Solicitor General announces that David Bain, currently released on bail after the Privy Council quashed his convictions for the May, 1995 murder of his family and siblings, will face a retrial in 2008. [http://stuff.co.nz/4103431a10.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* June 21 - A polar blast moving north over the South Island causes major disruptions and claims at least one life. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1193603 (One News)]

July

* 1 July - Introduction of several government reforms, including 20 hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds and the Kiwisaver retirement savings scheme. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/1211222 (TVNZ)]
* 2 July - Corporal Bill Apiata of the SAS is awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery under fire in Afghanistan. This is the first time the VC has been awarded to a New Zealander since World War II. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10449084 (NZ Herald)]
* 4 July - The first of a swarm of tornadoes hits New Plymouth. No injuries are reported, but the tornadoes have inflicted major structural damage to buildings in a 140km radius, and on 6 July, a seven-day state of emergency is declared in Taranaki. [http://stuff.co.nz/4118348a10.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* July 11 - Major storms cause flooding and cut off communities, leaving up to 50,000 people without power in Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula. [http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/WeatherEnvironmentVideo/tabid/316/articleID/30546/Default.aspx#video (TV3)]
* July 11 - The Government greenlights oil and gas exploration worth over a billion dollars off in four areas off the Southland coast [http://stuff.co.nz/4124256a11.html (stuff.co.nz)]
* July 12 - Two New Zealand oil workers kidnapped at gunpoint on July 4 in Nigeria's Niger Delta are released unharmed. [http://stuff.co.nz/4125307a11.html (stuff.co.nz)]

August

* 25 August - 69 people are arrested following Undie 500 student riots in Dunedin [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10460661|title=Charges upgraded after Undie 500 riots|date=August 30, 2007|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2008-08-30]

October

* 13 October: Elections were held for all of New Zealand's city, district and regional councils, and all District Health Boards.
* 15 October: Police conduct a series of raids across the country, charging 17 people with various firearms offences. They state that they are acting in response to an alleged paramilitary-style training camp in the Uruweras.
* 31 October: Cabinet reshuffle prepares Helen Clark's Labour government for the coming election year.

November

December

* December 20 - A 6.8 magnitude earthquake causes significant damage and one death when it strikes the town of Gisborne. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10483683 (NZ Herald)]

Holidays and Observances

* 6 February - Waitangi Day
* 25 April - ANZAC Day
* 4 June - Queen's Birthday
* 16 June - Matariki
* 22 October - Labour Day

Media, Arts and Literature

Music

*May - was New Zealand Music Month
**Album of the Year: The Mint Chicks - "Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!"
**Single of the Year: Evermore - "Light Surrounding You"
**Vodafone People's Choice Award: Opshop
**Best Group: The Mint Chicks - "Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!"
**Best Male Solo Artist: Tim Finn - "Imaginary Kingdom"
**Best Female Solo Artist: Hollie Smith - "Long Player"
**Breakthrough Artist of the Year: "Hollie Smith - Long Player"
**Best Rock Album: The Mint Chicks - "Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!"
**Best Urban/Hip Hop Album: PNC - "Rookie Card"
**Best Aotearoa Roots Album: "Hollie Smith - Long Player"
**C4 Best Music Video: Sam Peacocke - "Crazy?Yes!Dumb?No!" (The Mint Chicks)
**Best Dance/Electronica Album: Shapeshifter - "Soulstice"
**Best Maori Album: Richard Nunns & Hirini Melbourne - "Te Whaiao: Te Ku Te Whe Remixed"
**Best Gospel/Christian Album: Rapture Ruckus - "I Believe"
**Best Classical Album: John Psathas - "View From Olympus"
**The New Zealand Herald Legacy Award: Johnny Devlin
**International Achievement: Evermore
**Highest Selling Album: Brooke Fraser - "Albertine"
**Highest Selling Single: Atlas - "Crawl"
**Airplay Record of the Year: Brooke Fraser - "Deciphering Me"

Television

* January 30 - Bill Ralston quits his post as head of head of News and Current Affairs at TVNZ, having presided over a slide in the 6pm bulletin's ratings and revenues. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/3945414a10.html (stuff)]
* April 13 - Television New Zealand announces a round of job cuts, with at least 140 staff being made redundant; the worst hit area being its news division. [http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/209/articleID/25021/Default.aspx (TV3)]
* May 2 - The Freeview digital broadcasting platform is officially switched on. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411419/1092751 (One News)]

Film

* February 3 - A remastered edition of" This is New Zealand", shot by Wellington filmmaker Hugh Macdonald for Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan wins a bronze medal in the New York Festivals Film and Video Competition. [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00055.htm (scoop)]

Internet

*March 1 - Telecom New Zealand and Yahoo! launch Yahoo!Xtra, a joint venture web portal replacing XtraMSN [http://nz.yahoo.com/ {Yahoo!Xtra)] ,
*August 9 - Telecom begins unbundling the local loop, opening exchanges in Ponsonby and Glenfield to competitors. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10456880|title=Telecom's great unbundling exercise finally gets under way |last=Twose|first=Helen|date=10 August 2007|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2008-09-13]

port

Cricket

"see also 2007 in cricket"

* 7 December 2006 - January 9, 2007 - The Sri Lankan cricket team tours New Zealand.
* January 12-13 February: The Commonwealth Bank Series, a three-way cricket tournament between New Zealand, Australia and England takes place in Australia. The Black Caps are eliminated on February 6.
* 26 January - Nathan Astle announces his retirement from international cricket.
* 28 January - Jacob Oram hits an unbeaten 101 off 72 balls against Australia, the fastest ever one-day century by a New Zealander
* February 16-20 - the best of three Chappell-Hadlee trophy series between the Black Caps and Australia is played; New Zealand win the series 3-0. Craig McMillan hits a century off 67 balls in the final match, beating the record set on January 28 for the fastest one day century by a New Zealander. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=29&objectid=10425022 (NZ Herald)]
* March 11 -April 28 - The 2007 Cricket World Cup is held in the West Indies; The Black Caps make it to te semifinals before being beaten by Sri Lanka.
* April 24 -Stephen Fleming resigns as New Zealand's One Day International captain.

Motorsport

* January 21 - A round of the international A1 Grand Prix is held at Taupo, with Germany winning both races.
* August 31-September 3 - the Rally of New Zealand, a leg of the World Rally Championship is won by Marcus Grönholm who beat Sébastien Loeb by the narrowest margin in WRC history, 0.3 seconds.

Netball

* April 5-June 22 - The final season of the National Bank Cup competition is played. The Southern Sting, win, beating the Northern Force 50-49 in the final. From 2008 the National Bank Cup and its sister competition in Australia will be replaced by the ANZ Championship.
* November 10-17 - The 2007 Netball World Championships will take place in West Auckland. The champs were originally to be held in Fiji, but the hosting rights were withdrawn after that country's military coup.The Silver ferns come 2nd after losing to Australia in the final.

Rugby league

"see also Rugby league in New Zealand" and "Rugby league in 2007"

* March 17 - September 30 - the NRL Telstra Premiership is played in various venues across Australia and New Zealand.
* April 20 - The eighth annual ANZAC Test between Australia and New Zealand is be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with Australia runaway winners, 30 to 6.
* April-September - the Bartercard Cup domestic competition will be played
* October - the New Zealand national rugby league team will tour Great Britain to celebrate one hundred years of rugby league in New Zealand.

Rugby union

* February 2 - May 19 - The 2007 Super 14 season was played. For only the second time in Super Rugby, no New Zealand team makes the final.
* February 2 - 3 - The 2007 Wellington Sevens, the third leg of the IRB Sevens World Series take place at Westpac Stadium. Samoa win the tournament. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/3950729a1823.html (stuff)]
* July 21 - The All Blacks win the 2007 Tri Nations Series and the Bledisloe Cup with a 26-12 win over Australia at Eden Park. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6900264.stm (BBC News)]
* July 26 - The first game of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup will be played.
* September 8 - The All Blacks begin their quest to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, with their first game against Italy in Marseille.

Rowing

* June 22-24 - the second of three legs of the Rowing World Cup is held in Amsterdam. New Zealand rowers win three gold and three silver medals. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=78&objectid=10447873 (NZ Herald)]

Soccer

* March 19 - A slot in the A-League previously held by the New Zealand Knights is awarded to a Wellington consortium. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=242&objectid=10429659 (NZ Herald)] . On March 28, it is revealed the new team will be called the Wellington Phoenix, and they will play their home games at Wellington's Westpac Stadium. Their first regular season fixture, a home game against the Melbourne Victory on August 26.
* September 10-30 - The New Zealand women's national football team will compete in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, their fist appearance in a Women's World Cup since 1991.

Tennis

* 6 January: Top seed Jelena Janković wins the ASB Classic women's pro tournament held in Auckland, beating Vera Zvonareva (5th seed) 7-6 (11-9) 5-7 6-3 in the final.
* 13 January: Third seed David Ferrer of Spain wins the Heineken Open men's pro tournament held in Auckland, after he defeated top seed and compatriot Tommy Robredo 6-4 6-2

Yachting

* June 6 - Team New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia, Spain, thus winning the right to challenge for the America's Cup.
* June 23-July 3 - Team New Zealand faces Alinghi in a best of nine series to determine the winner of the 2007 America’s Cup. Alinghi are the eventual winners, by five races to two. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=531&objectid=10449488]

Births

April 25: Felicity-Amore Castle-Hughes, daughter of actress Keisha Castle-Hughes [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10437015 (NZ Herald)]

Deaths

* 10 January: Aaron Mahoney, golfer [http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NationalNews/tabid/184/articleID/19284/Default.aspx#top (TV3)]
* 7 February: Helen Duncan, politician [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423213 (NZ Herald)]
* 7 February: Alan McDiarmid, Nobel Laureate chemist [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423031 (NZ Herald)]
* 13 April: Don Selwyn, actor and director.
* 13 April: Dame Marie Clay, distinguished literacy researcher [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/world/asia/20clay.html|title=Marie M. Clay, Remedial Reading Specialist, Dies at 81|last=Fox|first=Margalit|date=20 April 2007|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-09-27]
* 16 April: Frank Bateson, astronomer. [http://rasnz.org.nz/FrankBateson.htm]
* 26 April: Harry Lapwood, soldier and politician [cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/4/2/7/48HansD_20070501_00000001-Obituaries-Hon-Henry-Robert-Lapwood-OBE.htm|title=Obituaries — Hon Henry Robert Lapwood OBE|work=Hansard|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|pages=Volume:638;Page:8735|accessdate=2008-09-27]
* 29 April: Dick Motz, cricketer [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=000257DA-F87C-1634-9A1783027AF1011B]
* 2 May: Brad McGann, film director ("In My Father's Den") [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1093690 (TVNZ)]
* 2 May: Henare Te Ua, Māori radio broadcaster [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=252&objectid=10437434 (NZ Herald)]
* 19 May: Dean Eyre, politician.
* 10 June: Augie Auer, meteorologist. ( [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10444825 NZ Herald] ).
* 15 June: Haydn Sherley - radio personality [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00319.htm Press Release: New Zealand Government] .
* 20 June: Sir Trevor Henry, supreme court judge. [http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=3&t=158&id=2967] .
* 26 June: Joey Sadler, 1935-36 All Black scrum half [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/27/sports/AS-SPT-RUGU-Obit-New-Zealand-Sadler.php] .
* 23 July: Jarrod Cunningham, 7 September 1968 - 23 July 2007 - Hawkes Bay, Central Vikings, New Zealand Maori, Hurricanes and Blues, and London Irish Rugby union player.
* 7 August: Sir Angus Tait, electronics innovator.
* 15 August: Geoffrey Orbell, rediscoverer of the Takahē [cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/geoffrey-orbell-462273.html|title=Geoffrey Orbell|last=Marren|first=Peter |date=20 August 2007 |publisher=The Independent|accessdate=2008-09-27]
* 28 August: Nikola Nobilo, winemaker.
* 29 August: Sir James Fletcher II, industrialist.
* 1 September: Sir Roy McKenzie, philanthropist.
* 3 September: Syd Jackson, Māori activist and trade unionist.
* 13 September: Whakahuihui Vercoe, Bishop of Aotearoa and Archbishop of New Zealand. [cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1347379|title=Eminent Anglican church leader dies|date=September 13, 2007|publisher=TVNZ|accessdate=2008-08-25]
* 19 September: Neil Morrison, city councillor and MP. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10465147|title=Obituary: Neil Morrison |date=September 22, 2007|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2008-08-25]
* 24 October: Ian Middleton, novelist.
* 3 December: John Belgrave, senior public servant and Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand. [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4312682a6479.html|title=Chief Ombudsman 'a fine gentleman'|last=Patterson|first=Colin|date=5 December 2007|publisher=The Dominion Post |accessdate=2008-08-25]

ee also

*List of years in New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand history
*History of New Zealand
*Military history of New Zealand
*Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

"For world events and topics in 2007 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 2007

References