← 1989 1988 1987 1990 in New Zealand → 1991 1992 1993
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

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.

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,410,400.^[1]
• Increase since 31 December 1989: 40,600 (1.20%).^[1]
• Males per 100 females: 97.3.^[1]

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Paul Reeves followed by Catherine Tizard^[2]

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

• Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger (National), until 2 November, then Mike Moore (Labour) .^[3]
• NewLabour Party – Jim Anderton (after 2 November General election)

• 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

• 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 Endeavour and the frigates Wellington and Waikato 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.

• 24 January: Commonwealth Games are officially opened by Prince Edward in Auckland.

• 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.

• 1 March – Royal New Zealand Navy discontinues the daily rum ration.

• 30 April: One- and two-cent coins are withdrawn from legal tender.

• 13 May: 6.2 Magnitude earthquake in Hawke's Bay

• 1 July: Tariffs were eliminated between Australia and New Zealand under the Closer Economic Relations agreement. This was five years ahead of schedule

• 4 September: Geoffrey Palmer: resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by Mike Moore.

• 1 October: The Health Research Council of New Zealand is formed.
• 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.^[4]

• 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.
• 13 November: David Gray, an Aramoana resident, began a 22-hour shooting spree that left 13 people and Gray dead.

• Government announces $1.275 Billion worth of social welfare cuts.
• 12 December: Dame Catherine Tizard becomes first woman Governor-General of New Zealand.

• David Eggleton wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1990 in art, 1990 in literature, Category:1990 books

Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.^[5]

• 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

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Billy T. James MBE.

• 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. [1] Archived 22 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine

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

• 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

Once Were Warriors published.

• 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).

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
17	14	27	58

• State Championship, won by Auckland.

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Neroship^[6]
• Auckland Trotting Cup: The Bru Czar^[7]

• Auckland Cup: Miss Stanima

• 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.

• Ballinger Belt – Alistair "Sandy" Marshall (Kaituna/Blenheim)^[8]

• Susan Devoy wins the World Championship beating Martine Le Moignan 9-4, 9–4, 9–4.

• The Chatham Cup is won by Mount Wellington who beat Christchurch United 3–3 (4-2 on penalties) in the final.^[9]
• 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.^[10]

• History of New Zealand
• List of years in New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment

Media related to 1990 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons