1988 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,345,200
• Increase since 31 December 1987: 3,100
• Males per 100 Females: 97.3

  Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO

  Government

• Speaker of the House – Kerry Burke
• Prime Minister – David Lange
• Deputy Prime Minister – Geoffrey Palmer
• Minister of Finance – Roger Douglas
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Russell Marshall
• Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison

  Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger.

  Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard
• Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen
• Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich
• Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay
• Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs

  Events

• The number of unemployed reaches 100,000.
• The Federation of Labour and Combined State Unions merge to form the Council of Trade Unions.
• New Zealand Post closed 432 post offices.
• Fisheries quota package announced for Mäori iwi.
• The Hokitika Guardian and Star ceases publication.
• 6 February: Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi are suspended.
• 7 March: Cyclone Bola strikes the East Coast of the North Island
• 30 March: The State Sector Act is passed to reform the Public Service.
• April: The Royal Commission on Social Policy issues its report.
• 5 April: Gibbs Report released.
• May: Picot Report on educational administration released.
• June: The electrification of the North Island Main Trunk railway between Hamilton and Palmerston North is completed.
• 1 July: The Government announces the return of Bastion Point to its Ngāti Whātua owners.
• 1 July: Commercial TV goes 7 days a week, except Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day.

  Arts and literature

• John Dickson wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR Dave Dobbyn – Loyal
• *Shona Laing – South
• *The Warratahs – Only game in Town
• SINGLE OF THE YEAR Holidaymakers–Sweet Lovers
• *Dave Dobyyn – Love You Like I Should
• *Tex Pistol / Rikki Morris – Nobody Else
• BEST MALE VOCALIST Dave Dobbyn
• *Herbs
• *Barry Saunders
• BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Shona Laing
• *Aishah
• *Annie Crummer
• BEST GROUP Herbs
• *The Chills
• *The Warratahs
• MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Peter Marshall
• *Rikki Morris
• *Thom Nepia
• MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Mara Finau
• *Tracey Birnie
• *Helen Mulholland
• MOST PROMISING GROUP Holidaymakers
• *Straightjacket Fits
• *The Tunnellers
• INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Neil Finn
• *The Chills
• *Shona Laing
• BEST VIDEO Fane Flaws – Sweet Lovers
• *Janine Morell – Haere Mai
• *Paul Middleditch – Nobody Else
• BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK Dalvanius Prime / Dave Hurley – Poi E
• *Dalvanius / Ginane / Smith – Ngati
• BEST PRODUCER Nigel Stone–Holidaymakers
• *Tex Pistol – Nobody Else
• *Stephen McCurdy/ Shona Laing/ Graeme Myhre – South
• BEST ENGINEER Nigel Stone–Holidaymakers
• *Rhys Moody – Brazier'
• *Rhys Moody/ Doug Rogers – Sensation
• BEST JAZZ ALBUM Beaver – Live at Ronnie Scott's
• *Frank Gibsons Jazz Mobile – Spreading The Word
• *Sustenance – Sustenance 3
• BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM NZ Symphony Orchestra – Prodigal Country
• *NZ Symphony Orchestra – War and Peace/ Jack Winters Dream
• BEST FOLK ALBUM Mike Harding – From The Edge
• *Wayne Gillespie – Hearts For
• *David Hollis – With Love
• BEST COUNTRY ALBUM The Warratahs – Only Game in Town
• *Patsy Riggir – The Best OF
• *Al Hunter – Jealous Guy
• BEST GOSPEL ALBUM Derek Lind – Strange Logic
• *Barry McGuire – Sailing Free
• *Stephen Bell Booth – Timeless
• BEST POLYNESIAN ALBUM Patea Maori Club – Poi E
• *Kahurangi – Magically Maori
• *Dalvanius Prime/ Patea Maori/ Moana/ Dave Dobbyn Guinney/ Kara Pewhairangi – Ngoi Ngoi
• BEST SONGWRITER Rikki Morris – Nobody Else
• *Hona/ Lundon/ Cassells – Listen
• *Dave Dobbyn – Love You Like I Should
• BEST COVER Lesley Maclean – Pagan in a Pagan Land
• *John Collie – Bird Dog
• *Susan Pryor – You Don't Need Me

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Alma Woods MBE and Ricky May.

  Radio and television

• 1 December: The Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand is split into Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand. The Avalon studio becomes a separate subsidiary of TVNZ.

Film

• Illustrious Energy
• Mauri
• Send a Gorilla
• The Grasscutter

Internet

Sport

Athletics

• Paul Ballinger wins his third national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:16:05 on 30 April in Rotorua, while Jillian Costley claims her second in the women's championship.

  Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Luxury Liner
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Luxury Liner – 2nd win

  Olympic Games

Summer Olympics

• New Zealand sends a team of 83 competitors in 16 sports.

Winter Olympics

• New Zealand sends a team of nine competitors across three sports.

Paralympic Games

Summer Paralympics

Winter Paralympics

• New Zealand sends a team of three competitors in one sport.

Rugby

League

• 17 July – The 1988 Great Britain Lions tour concludes with New Zealand defeating Great Britain in a Test match at Addington Showground, Christchurch before a crowd of 8,525.
• 9 October – In the 1988 Rugby League World Cup Final Australia defeats New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland before a crowd of 47,363.

  Union

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – John Whiteman

  Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Waikato United who beat Christchurch United on the basis of away goals.

  Births

January

• 2 January – Joseph Paulo, rugby league player
• 3 January – Steven Kent, swimmer
• 4 January – Peter Saili, rugby union player
• 6 January – Esther Lanser, cricketer
• 11 January – Andre Taylor, rugby union player
• 12 January – Ben Afeaki, rugby union player
• 15 January – Riki Hoeata, rugby union player
• 17 January – Kade Poki, rugby union player
• 18 January – Andrew Wheeler, basketball player
• 20 January – Rushlee Buchanan, cyclist
• 23 January – Shaun Kenny-Dowall, rugby league player

  February

• 1 February – Katie Duncan, association footballer
• 2 February
• * Kieron Fonotia, rugby union player
• * Kirsten Hudson, water polo player
• 3 February – Daniel O'Regan, rugby league player
• 7 February – Mataupu Poching, rugby league player
• 8 February
• * Graham Oberlin-Brown, rower
• * Mathieu Wilson, figure skater
• 13 February – Eddy Pettybourne, rugby league player
• 15 February
• * Sam Anderson-Heather, rugby union player
• * Claire Garrood, cricketer
• 16 February
• * James Baker, cricketer
• * Sarah Murphy, biathlete
• 20 February – Troy Garton, boxer
• 23 February – Ashley Cooper, singer
• 24 February
• * Levi Hanssen, association footballer
• * Emma Hayman, tennis player
• 25 February – Lagi Setu, rugby league and rugby union player

  March

• 6 March
• * Marina Erakovic, tennis player
• * Frank Halai, rugby union player
• 8 March – Hannah Broederlow, netball player
• 9 March – Ash Moeke, rugby union player
• 10 March – Josh Hoffman, rugby league player
• 17 March – Patrick Ah Van, rugby league player
• 18 March – Grace Rasmussen, netball player
• 20 March – Sonny Fai, rugby league player
• 21 March – Anthony Cherrington, rugby league player
• 23 March – Suaia Matagi, rugby league player
• 24 March – Matt Todd, rugby union player
• 30 March – Petrea Webster, field hockey player
• 31 March – Curtis McGrath, canoeist

  April

• 5 April – Quade Cooper, rugby union player
• 14 April
• * Francis Mossman, actor
• * Dan Pryor, rugby union player
• 16 April – Simon Child, field hockey player
• 18 April
• * Sam Belkin, amateur wrestler
• * Erin Bermingham, cricketer
• 21 April – Niall Williams, rugby union and touch player
• 24 April – Junior Tia-Kilifi, rugby league player
• 25 April – Liam Foran, rugby league player

  May

• 3 May – Brent Renouf, Australian rules footballer
• 4 May – Westley Gough, cyclist
• 5 May
• * Jaimee Lovett, canoeist
• * Ant Pedersen, motor racing driver
• 6 May
• * Evie, professional wrestler
• * Rhys Phillips, cricketer
• 11 May – Stephen Paea, American football player
• 13 May
• * Charlie Huber, ice hockey player
• * Trent Renata, rugby union player
• 16 May
• * Marty Kain, cricketer
• * Daniel Quigley, rowing coxswain
• 17 May – Scott Curry, rugby union player
• 20 May – Nikki Hamblin, athlete
• 24 May – Kimberley Crossman, actor and television presenter
• 29 May – Tom Furniss, comedian
• 30 May – Antonio Winterstein, rugby league player

  June

• 1 June – Natalie Rooney, sports shooter
• 6 June – Israel Dagg, rugby union player
• 8 June – Charlotte Kight, netball player
• 19 June – Grayson Hart, rugby union player
• 23 June
• * Kane Easterbrook, ice hockey player
• * Nick McLennan, rugby union player
• 24 June – Ryan Sissons, triathlete
• 25 June – Eliana Rubashkyn, transgender refugee
• 28 June – Alana Millington, field hockey player

  July

• 1 July – Kendra Cocksedge, cricketer and rugby union player
• 3 July
• * Cole Peverley, association footballer
• * Winston Reid, association footballer
• 6 July
• * Andrew de Boorder, cricketer
• * Jesse Sergent, cyclist
• 7 July – Katie Perkins, cricketer
• 8 July – Mike Harris, rugby union player
• 10 July – Sarah Walker, BMX rider
• 11 July – Paula Griffin, netball player
• 13 July – Robbie Fruean, rugby union player
• 16 July – Lyndon Sheehan, freestyle skier
• 18 July – Andrew Horrell, rugby union player
• 20 July – B. J. Anthony, basketball player
• 21 July – Julian Matthews, athlete
• 26 July
• * Derek Carpenter, rugby union player
• * Tetera Faulkner, rugby union player
• 27 July – John Hardie, rugby union player
• 31 July
• * Alex Glenn, rugby league player
• * Brackin Karauria-Henry, rugby union player

  August

• 1 August
• * Tim Perry, rugby union player
• * Bodene Thompson, rugby league player
• 6 August – Kayla McAlister, netball and rugby union player
• 8 August – Brad Cachopa, cricketer
• 12 August – Suliasi Taufalele, rugby union player
• 14 August – Dave Thomas, rugby union player
• 15 August – Nasi Manu, rugby union player
• 18 August – Michael Boxall, association footballer
• 22 August – Sarah Major, actor
• 24 August
• * Cathryn Finlayson, field hockey player
• * Manu Maʻu, rugby league player
• 28 August – Kane Hames, rugby union player
• 29 August
• * Fritz Lee, rugby union player
• * Lewis Marshall, rugby union player

  September

• 1 September – Ash Dixon, rugby union player
• 4 September – David Eade, rower
• 5 September – Jackson Willison, rugby union player
• 7 September – Tevita Koloamatangi, rugby union player
• 12 September – Andrew Pahulu, rugby union player
• 14 September
• * Callum Gibbins, rugby union player
• * Sean Maitland, rugby union player
• 16 September – Nathaniel Neale, rugby league player
• 17 September – Michael Fitzgerald, association footballer
• 18 September – Joe Moody, rugby union player
• 19 September – Rebecca Spence, triathlete
• 22 September – Jeet Raval, cricketer
• 23 September
• * Hayley Crofts, netball player
• * Ryan Crotty, rugby union player
• 25 September
• * Quentin MacDonald, rugby union player
• * Josh Rowland, rugby union player
• 30 September – Joelle King, squash player

  October

• 3 October – Helen Collins, association footballer
• 4 October
• * Mitchey Greig, freestyle skier
• * Daniel Jackson, water polo player
• 5 October – Luke Braid, rugby union player
• 7 October
• * Kurt Baker, rugby union player
• * Michael Leitch, rugby union player
• 8 October – Kate Ronaldson, rhythmic gymnast
• 10 October – Rose McIver, actor
• 12 October – Sam Whitelock, rugby union player
• 14 October – Terefe Ejigu, athlete
• 16 October
• * Fiona Bourke, rower
• * Karl Filiga, rugby league player
• 18 October – Luuka Jones, slalom canoeist
• 19 October – Naturalism, Thoroughbred racehorse
• 27 October – Rodney Ah You, rugby union player
• 29 October
• * Roman Van Uden, cyclist
• * Kayne Vincent, association footballer

  November

• 1 November
• * Nick Barrett, rugby union player
• * Hamish Carson, athlete
• 2 November – James Hennin, gymnast
• 4 November – Paea Faʻanunu, rugby union player
• 8 November – Shaun Teasdale, archer
• 10 November
• * Lord Gyllene, Thoroughbred racehorse
• * Jeremy Su'a, rugby union player
• 14 November – Mitchell Crosswell, rugby union player
• 18 November – Lucy Oliver, athlete
• 20 November – Vicky Rodewyk, actor, model and dancer
• 21 November – Aaron Smith, rugby union player
• 22 November – Tu'u Maori, rugby league player
• 23 November – Tony Goodin, cricketer
• 25 November – Mat Luamanu, rugby union player
• 28 November
• * Daniel Kirkpatrick, rugby union player
• * Nic Mayhew, rugby union player
• * Christy Prior, snowboarder
• 29 November – Corey Webster, basketball player
• 30 November – Edward Purcell, rugby league player

  December

• 1 December – Taione Vea, rugby union player
• 7 December – James Marshall, rugby union player
• 8 December – Simon van Velthooven, cyclist
• 11 December – Tim Southee, cricketer
• 12 December – Isaac John, rugby league player
• 13 December – James Tamou, rugby league player
• 16 December – Robin Cheong, taekwando competitor
• 17 December – Steve Rapira, rugby league player

  Exact date unknown

• Eli Kent, playwright and actor
• Sam McCarthy, songwriter and musician

  Deaths

January–February

• 2 January – Bill Crawford-Compton, World War II air ace, air force commander
• 10 January – Ron King, rugby union player and selector
• 11 January – Arthur Collins, rugby union player
• 9 February – Zelma Roberts, writer
• 17 February – Reginald Uren, architect
• 23 February – Charlie Jackman, cricketer
• 29 February – Sister Mary Gabriel, nun, pharmacist

  March–April

• 16 March – Harold Turbott, medical practitioner, public health administrator, broadcaster and writer
• 23 March – Cyril Walter, cricketer, field hockey player and coach, sports writer
• 30 March – Sir Donald McKay, politician
• 7 April – Christopher Rollinson, boxer
• 16 April – Doug Mudgway, amateur wrestler
• 17 April – Ormond Wilson, politician

  May–June

• 9 May – Robert Alexander, cricketer
• 14 May – Fred Atkins, professional wrestler
• 22 May – Leslie Stephen-Smith, cricketer
• 24 May – Tom Burtt, cricketer
• 26 May – Neta Neale, theatre director, speech and drama teacher
• 27 May – Alwyn Warren, Anglican bishop, university chancellor
• 28 May – Evelyn Page, artist
• 1 June – Ricky May, musician
• 3 June – Christabel Robinson, vocational guidance and community worker
• 4 June – Elizabeth Turnbull, woollen mill worker
• 5 June – Brian Ashby, Roman Catholic bishop
• 17 June – Cyril Crawford, cricketer
• 24 June
• * Alexander Astor, rabbi, community leader
• * Anthony Rohrs, cricketer
• 25 June – Neville Pickering, politician, mayor of Christchurch
• 30 June – Hubert Ryburn, university administrator

  July–August

• 8 July – Enga Washbourn, artist and writer
• 12 July – Robert Monteith, cricket umpire
• 18 July – Ralph Bulmer, ethnobiologist
• 21 July – Dame Cecily Pickerill, plastic surgeon
• 24 July – May Smith, painter, engraver, textile designer
• 1 August – G. S. Carter, surveyor and road engineer
• 4 August – Brian Brake, photographer
• 5 August – Nora Sipos, humanitarian and welfare worker
• 28 August – Paul Whitelaw, cricketer
• 30 August – Sir Jack Marshall, politician, 28th Prime Minister of New Zealand
• 31 August – Ivan Tomašević, political activist

  September–October

• 4 September – Rona Stevenson, politician
• 11 September – Bernard Holman, artist
• 13 September – Ron Rangi, rugby union player
• 17 September – Jim Watt, rugby union player, paediatrics academic
• 9 October – Bob Goslin, boxer
• 31 October – Gwen Somerset, teacher, adult education director, educationalist, writer

  November–December

• 1 November – Louis Johnson, poet
• 4 November – Saul Goldsmith, political candidate
• 7 November
• * Aubrey Begg, politician
• * Sir Douglas Carter, politician
• 12 November – Pat Perrin, potter
• 28 November – Robert Stewart, sailor
• 29 November – Thomas Lemin, cricketer
• 5 December – Monica McKenzie, dietitian
• 8 December
• * Airini Grennell, singer, pianist, broadcaster
• * Sir Andrew McKee, air force leader
• 10 December – Beau Cottrell, rugby union player, Rotarian
• 16 December – John Cameron, cricketer
• 21 December
• * Bruce Ferguson, army officer
• * Charlie Peek, child welfare administrator, billiards player
• 27 December – William Fea, rugby union and squash player