2008 in New Zealand
Incumbents
Regal and Vice Regal
Government
The 48th New Zealand Parliament continued until the general election in November. The government was a Labour-Progressive coalition with supply and confidence from United Future and New Zealand First in exchange for two ministerial spots outside Cabinet.
Non-Labour Ministers
The 49th New Zealand Parliament was formed after the general election, with the National Party governing with confidence and supply agreements with the ACT, Māori and United Future parties.
Other Party Leaders
After the November election, Helen Clark resigned as leader of the Labour Party. She was replaced as leader by Phil Goff, who also became Leader of the Opposition.
Main centre leaders
Events
Holidays and Observances
Arts and literature
New Books
- Brower, Ann (August 2008). Who Owns the High Country? The controversial story of tenure review in New Zealand. New Zealand: Nelson: Craig Potton Publishing. ISBN 978-1-877333-78-1.
Awards
- BEST BOOK Title: Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning
- BEST COVER Winner: Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning
- NON-ILLUSTRATED Winner: Dear to Me
- ILLUSTRATED Winner: Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning
- EDUCATIONAL Winner: Astronomy Aotearoa NCEA Level 1 by Robert Shaw ISBN 978-0-7339-9261-2[10]
- CHILDREN’S Winner: The King’s Bubbles by Ruth Paul
Music
- May - New Zealand Music Month
- Nokia album of the year: Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords
- Vodafone single of the year: Opshop - One Day
- Steinlager Pure best group: Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords
- Best male solo artist: Liam Finn - I'll be Lightning
- Mazda best female solo artist: Anika Moa - In Swings The Tide
- Kiwi FM breakthrough artist of the year: Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords
- C4 best music video: Ian Hart - Her Hairagami Set (The Brunettes)
- Best rock album: Shihad - Beautiful Machine
- Best urban/hip hop album: Scribe - Rhymebook
- Best Aotearoa roots album: Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future
- Best dance/electronica album: Recloose - Perfect Timing
- Best Maori album: Ruia - 12:24 Tekau Ma Rua, Rua Tekau Ma Wha
- Best gospel/Christian album: All Left Out - The Conquest
- Best classical album: Michael Houstoun - Inland
- The Vodafone People's Choice Award, voted by New Zealand music fans: Parachute Band
- Opshop also won Highest Selling NZ Single (One Day), Highest Selling NZ Album (Second Hand Planet), and NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year (Maybe).
Television
- The country's first Chinese television channel, CTV8 (Chinese Television 8) is launched in early October.
Film
Internet
Sport
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
Horse racing
Harness racing
Thoroughbred racing
Netball
Motorsport
Olympic Games
Rugby league
Rugby union
Sport rowing|Rowing
Soccer
Tennis
Births
Deaths
- 1 January: Joan Dingley, mycologist
- 4 January: Bert Walker, former National Party politician, minister.
- 10 January: George Laking, diplomat and public servant.[14]
- 11 January: Sir Edmund Hillary, mountaineer and first person to climb Mount Everest.[15]
- 16 January: Hone Tuwhare, poet.[16]
- 12 February: Ron Chippindale, Chief Inspector of Accidents[17]
- 19 February: Barry Barclay, Māori film-maker[18]
- 21 March: Merv Wallace, cricketer and test match captain.[19]
- 6 April: Tony Davies, All Blacks rugby union player[20]
- 11 April: Fraser Colman, former Labour Party politician, minister.
- 12 April: Dame Augusta Wallace, former judge, first woman District Court judge.[21]
- 5 June: Colin Kay, Mayor of Auckland and New Zealand triple jump champion.[22]
- 25 August: Hardwicke Knight, Otago historian.[23]
- 7 September: Sir Hamish Hay, Mayor of Christchurch from 1974 to 1989.[24]
- 8 September: Ron Guthrey, Mayor of Christchurch from 1968 to 1971.[25]
- 13 September: Duncan Laing, swimming coach, trainer of 11 Olympic athletes.[26]
- 13 September: Sue Garden-Bachop, women's rugby international player and administrator.[27]
- 25 September: Brian Donnelly, politician and diplomat.[28]
- 2 October: Rob Guest, actor and singer.[29]
- 29 October: John Darwin, mathematician and statistician
- 8 November: Hedley Howarth, Test cricketer.[30]
- 27 November: Mike Minogue, Hamilton ex-Mayor and MP
- 13 December" John Drake, All Black.[31]
- 24 December: Ian Ballinger, Olympic bronze medal-winning shooter.[32]
See also
For world events and topics in 2008 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 2008
References
External links
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:2008_in_New_Zealand 2008 in New Zealand] at Wikimedia Commons