1997 in New Zealand explained
The following lists events that happened during 1997 in New Zealand.
Population
- Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,802,700.[1]
- Increase since 31 December 1996: 40,400 (1.07%).
- Males per 100 Females: 97.1.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government
The 45th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was The National Party, led by Jim Bolger, in coalition with New Zealand First, led by Winston Peters.
Parliamentary leaders
Main centre leaders
Events
- 8 February: Stephen Anderson, 24, shoots 11 people, killing 6 of them (including his wife and parents) at Raurimu.[3]
- 16 July: List MP Alamein Kopu resigns from the Alliance Party but remains a member of parliament. This causes controversy because Kopu has signed contracts with the party that she would resign from Parliament should she leave the party.[4]
- 10 September: Parliament's privileges committee finds that Alamein Kopu is entitled to remain an independent MP.
- Argentina reopens its embassy in Wellington (closed since 1982).[5]
Arts and literature
- Book of the Year/Cultural Heritage: Jessie Munro, The Story of Suzanne Aubert
- First Book Awards
- Fiction: Dominic Sheehan, Finding Home
- Poetry: Diane Brown, Before the Divorce We Go To Disneyland
- Non-Fiction: Jessie Munro, The Story of Suzanne Aubert
See 1997 in art, 1997 in literature,
Music
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.[6] [7]
- Album of the Year: Strawpeople – Vicarious
- Emma Paki – Oxygen of Love
- Garageland – Last Exit to Garageland
- OMC
- The Mutton Birds – Envy of Angels
- Single of the Year: DLT Featuring Che Fu – Chains
- Bic Runga – Bursting Through
- Garageland
- Strawpeople – Taller Than God
- The Mutton Birds
- Best Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Chains
- Jeremy Eade (Garageland)
- Jon Toogood (Shihad)
- Best Female Vocalist: Bic Runga
- Emma Paki
- Fiona McDonald (Strawpeople)
- Best Group: Garageland
- Most Promising Male Vocalist: Daniel Haimona (Dam Native)
- Andrew Tilby (Breathe)
- Ed Cake (Bressa Creeting Cake)
- Most Promising Female Vocalist: Lole Usoalii
- Andrea Cook
- Maryanne Antonuvich (D Faction)
- Most Promising Group: Dam Native
- Bike
- Bressa Creeting Cake
- Cinematic
- International Achievement: OMC
- Crowded House
- Jane Campion
- Peter Jackson
- Best Video: Sigi Spath & Joe Lonie – if I Had My Way (Supergroove)
- Kevin Sprig – La La Land (Shihad)
- Jonathan King – Behold My Kool Style (Damn Native)
- Best Producer: Malcolm Welsford / Karl Steven – Backspacer (Supergroove)
- Alan Jansson – How Bizarre
- Eddie Raynor – ENZSO
- Best Engineer: Rick Huntington / Alan Jansson – How Bizarre (OMC)
- Chris Van Der Geer (Strawpeople)
- Malcolm Welsford – Backspacer (Supergroove)
- Best Jazz Album: Bluetrain – No Free Lunch
- Jazz in the Present Tense – Jazz in the Present Tense
- Nairobi Trio – Shelf Life
- Best Classical Album: the Nzso, Janos Furst, Michael Houston – Live : Tower Beethoven Festival
- New Zealand String Quartet – Bartok String Quartet 1–5
- Alexander Ivashin & Tama Vesmas – Sergie Prokofiev
- Best Country Album: Coalrangers – Coast to Coast
- Dennis Marsh – Out of Nashville
- Bartlett, Dugan, Vaughan – Together Again
- Best Folk Album: Wild Geese – Betwixt Time and Place
- Michael Scorey – Angel Station
- Bob Bickerton – Music in the Glen
- Best Gospel Album: Max Jacobson – Found
- The Lands – Arbor Day
- Evan Silva – Aint No Two Ways About It
- Best Mana Maori Album: Emma Paki – Oxygen of Love
- DLT – The True School
- Dam Native – Behold My Kool Style
- Best Mana Reo Album: St Josephs Maori Girls College – a Gift of Song
- Te Kura Tuatahi Me Te Ropu Kapahaka O Ranana – Te Wainui A Rua
- Turakina Maori Girls College – Mana Wahine
- Best Childrens Album: Universal Childrens Audio – Waiata Karahere
- Helen Willberg – Ranona Moemoea
- Love To Sing Choir – Love My First Songbook
- Best Polynesian Album: Annie Crummer – Seventh Wave
- Felise Mikaele -Se Taitau
- The Five Stars – Samoa Ea
- Best Songwriter: Dl Thompson, C Ness, A McNaughton, K Rangihuna – Chains (DLT Feat Che Fu)
- Paul Casserley, Fiona McDonald, Greg Johnson – Boxers (Strawpeople)
- Bic Runga – Bursting Through
- Best Cover: Wayne Conway – ENZSO (ENZSO)
- Jeremy Takacs, Karl & Jon – Shihad
- Rick Huntington And Alan Jansson – How Bizarre (OMC)
See: 1997 in music
Performing arts
Radio and television
- CanWest takes complete ownership of TV3 and launches TV4.
- TVNZ broadcasts MTV.
- July: Prime Television in Australia purchases 34 licences covering all major New Zealand centres.
See: 1997 in New Zealand television, 1997 in television, List of TVNZ television programming,, TV3 (New Zealand),, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See:, 1997 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand,
Internet
See: NZ Internet History
Sport
Athletics
Basketball
Cricket
Golf
Horse racing
Harness racing
Thoroughbred racing
Netball
Rugby league
See main article: 1997 New Zealand rugby league season.
- The Auckland Warriors competed in the breakaway Super League and finished 7th out of 10 teams.
- Waikato won the Super League Challenge Cup, defeating Canterbury 34–18 in the final. Waikato also won the Rugby League Cup.
- 25 April, New Zealand lost to Australia 22–34
- 26 September, New Zealand defeated Australia 30-12
Rugby union
Shooting
Soccer
Births
January–February
- 3 January – Jacob Cowley, rugby union player
- 7 January – Dylan Schmidt, trampolinist
- 10 January – Patrick Herbert, rugby league player
- 20 January – James Munro, motor racing driver
- 21 January – Josh Clarkson, cricketer
- 23 January – Duncan Campbell, snowboarder
- 24 January
- 3 February – Paige Hourigan, tennis player
- 11 February – Rosé, singer and member of South Korean girl group Blackpink
- 12 February
- 13 February – Sevu Reece, rugby union player
- 17 February – Jordie Barrett, rugby union player
March–April
- 1 March
- 3 March – Du'Plessis Kirifi, rugby union player
- 5 March – Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, rugby union player
- 11 March – Ata Hingano, rugby league player
- 12 March – Stephen Perofeta, rugby union player
- 13 March – Orbyn Leger, rugby union player
- 14 March – Sam Dobbs, cyclist
- 18 March – Rieko Ioane, rugby union player
- 19 March – Zak Gibson, cricketer
- 20 March – Bobby Cheng, chess player
- 21 March – Moses Dyer, association footballer
- 23 March – Sirocco, kakapo
- 8 April – Ella Greenslade, rower
- 20 April – Luke Jacobson, rugby union player
- 23 April – Myer Bevan, association footballer
- 24 April – Lydia Ko, golfer
- 26 April – Tima Fainga'anuku, rugby union player
- 30 April
May–June
- 1 May – Terina Te Tamaki, rugby union player
- 2 May – Aotearoa Mata'u, rugby union player
- 5 May – Asafo Aumua, rugby union player
- 6 May – Carlos Garcia Knight, snowboarder
- 7 May – Harry Allan, rugby union player
- 8 May
- 13 May – Ngatokotoru Arakua, rugby league player
- 23 May – Sam Timmins, basketball player
- 24 May – Olivia Podmore, cyclist (died 2021)
- 30 May
- 5 June – Ross ter Braak, cricketer
- 8 June – James Rolleston, actor
- 11 June – Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, rugby union player
- 17 June
- 28 June – Henry Cameron, association footballer
July–August
September–October
- 9 September – Erin Clark, rugby league player
- 10 September – Jacob Pierce, rugby union player
- 11 September – Zoe Hobbs, sprinter
- 16 September – Martine Puketapu, association footballer
- 17 September – Christian Leopard, cricketer
- 21 September – Maia Wilson, netball player
- 27 September – Hail, Thoroughbred racehorse
- 30 September – Ryan Coxon, rugby union player
- 1 October
- 8 October – Taniela Paseka, rugby league player
- 10 October – Josh McKay, rugby union player
- 11 October – Dalton Papalii, rugby union player
- 23 October – Jaydn Su'A, rugby league player
- 30 October – Abbie Palmer, squash player
November–December
Deaths
January–March
- 1 January – Nora Crawford, police officer (born 1917)
- 2 January – Keith Hay, construction company founder, politician, conservative activist (born 1917)
- 10 January – John Rodgers, Roman Catholic bishop (born 1915)
- 15 January – Ted Smith, rower (born 1922)
- 29 January – Sir Clifford Richmond, jurist (born 1914)
- 2 February – Ray Dalton, rugby union player (born 1919)
- 26 March – Sir Norman Alexander, physics academic, university administrator (born 1907)
April–June
- 8 April – Lord Module, Standardbred racehorse (foaled 1974)
- 10 April – Sir Robert Aitken, medical academic, university administrator (born 1901)
- 14 April – Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk, poet, pretender to the Polish throne (born 1903)
- 17 April – Henry Lang, public servant, economics academic (born 1919)
- 24 April – Hugh McLean, rugby union player (born 1907)
- 25 April – Terry O'Sullivan, rugby union player (born 1936)
- 3 May – Bruce Beetham, politician (born 1936)
- 7 May – Owen Jensen, musician, composer, music critic and broadcaster (born 1907)
- 17 May – James Newhook, veterinary science academic (born 1915)
- 21 May – Sir Tristram, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1971)
- 22 May – Rachael Zister, Māori community leader (born 1893)
- 2 June – Oscar Garden, aviator (born 1903)
- 14 June – Sir Jack Hunn, public servant (born 1906)
- 15 June – Kim Casali, cartoonist (born 1941)
- 26 June – Dent Harper, cricketer (born 1937)
- 28 June – Jack Hinton, soldier (born 1909)
- 29 June – Ian Clarke, rugby union player, referee and administrator (born 1931)
July–September
- 3 July – Ron Westerby, rugby league player (born 1920)
- 6 July – Brun Smith, cricketer (born 1922)
- 8 July – Ray Speed, association football player (born 1914)
- 12 July – Frank Shuter, speedway rider (born 1943)
- 23 July – David Warbeck, actor (born 1941)
- 25 July
- 31 July – Sir Hepi Te Heuheu, Māori leader (born 1919)
- 15 August – Dave Solomon, rugby union and league player (born 1913)
- 16 August – Kitty Kain, dietician, WAAF leader (born 1908)
- 21 August – Jean Horsley, artist (born 1913)
- 25 August – James Gould, rower (born 1914)
- 5 September – Emily Schuster, master weaver (born 1927)
- 17 September – Trevor Redmond, speedway rider (born 1927)
- 22 September – Silver Lad, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1973)
- 23 September – Christopher John Lewis, criminal (born 1964)
- 26 September – Geoff Gerard, politician (born 1904)
October–December
- 8 October – Desmond Scott, fighter pilot (born 1918)
- 11 October – Sidney Koreneff, French resistance worker, newspaper managing director, Anglican priest (born 1918)
- 18 October
- 31 October – Adrian Rodda, public servant (born 1911)
- 9 November – Margaret Pawson, netball player (born 1940)
- 16 November – Roy Sheffield, cricketer (born 1906)
- 21 November – Stanley Dallas, radio technician and recording engineer (born 1926)
- 27 November – Jim Kershaw, association football player (born 1906)
- 6 December – Eva Rickard, Māori land and women's rights activist (born 1925)
- 10 December – Ted Coubray, filmmaker (born 1900)
See also
For world events and topics in 1997 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1997
Notes and References
- Web site: Historical population estimates tables . https://web.archive.org/web/20171231000952/http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/historical-population-tables.aspx . 31 December 2017 . Statistics New Zealand.
- http://gg.govt.nz/node/1371 The Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO
- http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/09/new.zealand.update/ CNN report on Raurimu massacre
- http://www.crownlaw.govt.nz/uploads/Kopu.pdf Privileges committee report on the Kopu case
- Web site: New Zealand and Argentina. NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 26 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818002835/http://www.nzembassy.com/argentina/relationship-between-nz-and-argentina/nz-and-argentina. 18 August 2010 . live.
- Web site: Awards 1997 . Listing . NZ Music Awards . 29 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016024252/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1997-winners/ . 16 October 2013 .
- Web site: 1997 New Zealand Music Awards . Web page . RIANZ . 28 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120305094744/http://www.rianz.org.nz/awards2008/history1997.asp . 5 March 2012 .
- Web site: Lost Valley, the.
- Web site: Beatrice Faumuina wins athletics world championship gold.
- Web site: List of NZ Trotting cup winners . 6 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222233106/http://www.hrnz.co.nz/data/major_races/nz_trotting_cup.htm . 22 February 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- http://www.hrnz.co.nz/data/major_races/major_race2.htm Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
- Web site: New Zealand champion shot / Ballinger Belt winners . National Rifle Association of New Zealand . 11 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150125012900/http://www.nranz.com/competitions/ballinger_belt . 25 January 2015 .
- http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/chatham_cup_records.html Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com
- Web site: Athletes - Hailey DUFF Beijing 2022 Olympics . www.eurosport.com . 20 February 2022 . en.
