The following lists events that happened during 2020 in New Zealand. One overarching event is the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Other party leaders in parliament
Simon Bridges
Todd Muller
Judith Collins
Winston Peters
James Shaw
Marama Davidson
David Seymour
Judiciary
Helen Winkelmann
Stephen Kós
Main centre leaders
Phil Goff
Paula Southgate
Andy Foster
Lianne Dalziell
Aaron Hawkins
February
- 3 February – A state of emergency is declared in Milford Sound as rain and flooding hit the region.[5]
- 5 February – Residents of Gore, Mataura and Wyndham are ordered to evacuate as the Mataura River bursts its banks.[6]
- 28 February
- COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand's first case of the coronavirus is confirmed. They had recently returned from Iran via Bali.[7]
- Kiwibank stops issuing and accepting cheques as payment, becoming the first New Zealand bank to do so.[8]
March
- 5 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Information of the first human transmission case of the coronavirus within New Zealand is released.[9]
- 14 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern announces new measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. These measures provide that all people (excluding people who have come from Pacific islands where no cases have been confirmed) who arrive in New Zealand must self-isolate for 14 days. Cruise ships are also banned from docking in New Zealand ports.[10]
- 17 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: A $12.1 billion scheme is announced by the government, due to the economic impact of coronavirus on New Zealand, including $5.1 billion for an income subsidy. This is the biggest peacetime government spend in history.[11]
- 19 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association announces that all Anzac Day services, scheduled for 25 April, will be cancelled and the red poppy collection postponed due to the health risk. This is the first time that Anzac Day services have not been held since 1916.[12]
- 21 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Ardern announces the COVID-19 alert level system, with New Zealand initially being placed at alert level 2.[13]
- 23 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand is placed at alert level 3.[14]
- 25 March
- COVID-19 in New Zealand: A State of National Emergency is declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
- COVID-19 in New Zealand: New Zealand is upgraded to alert level 4 at 11:59 pm, and the country enters lockdown for a period of at least four weeks.[16][17]
- 26 March – The perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings pleads guilty to all 51 murder charges, as well as 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of engaging in a terrorist act laid under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.[18]
- 29 March – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The first coronavirus-related death in New Zealand occurs, a woman in her 70s from Greymouth.[19]
August
- 11 August – COVID-19 in New Zealand: Four new cases of COVID-19 outside of a quarantine facility are reported.[38]
- 12 August
- COVID-19 in New Zealand: At noon, Auckland enters alert level 3, while the rest of the country enters alert level 2.[38]
- The dissolution of Parliament, originally set for this day, is delayed until 17 August.[39]
- 17 August
September
- 4 September – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The first death from COVID-19 since 28 May is reported.[42]
- 6 September – The 52nd New Zealand Parliament is dissolved.[43]
- 29 September – Two people are charged over the New Zealand First Foundation investigation.[44]
November
- 9 November – A state of emergency is declared in Napier due to flooding.[47]
Public holidays in New Zealand in 2020 are as follows:[54]
Shooting
- Ballinger Belt –
- David Black (Australia)
- Allan White (Malvern), second, top New Zealander[56]
Winter Youth Olympics
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January
- 1 January – Dick Scott, historian and journalist (born 1923).[58]
- 3 January – Ian Smith, archaeologist (University of Otago) (born 1954).[59]
- 7 January – Rob Ronayne, lawyer and jurist, District Court judge (since 2013) (born 1955).[60]
- 10 January – Tiny White, equestrianism competitor, judge and administrator (born 1924).[61]
- 14 January – Bernard Diederich, author, journalist (Time), and historian, Maria Moors Cabot Prize (1976) (born 1926).[62]
- 18 January – Piri Sciascia, Māori leader, kapa haka exponent, and university administrator (Victoria University of Wellington), kaumātua to the governor-general (since 2016) (born 1946).[63]
- 22 January – John Kasper, cricketer (Auckland, Natal) (born 1946).[64]
- 25 January
- 26 January – Gordon McLauchlan, author, broadcaster and social historian, GOFTA for television presenter of the year (1987) (born 1931).[67]
- 29 January
- 31 January
Dick Scott
Piri Sciascia
Tony Ford
February
- 1 February – Denford McDonald, mechanical engineer and businessman (Todd Motors, Mitsubishi New Zealand) (born 1929).[72]
- 2 February – Mike Moore, politician and diplomat, MP (1972–1975, 1978–1999), Minister of Tourism (1984–1987), Minister of Overseas Trade (1984–1990), leader of the Labour Party (1990–1993), Prime Minister (1990), Director-General of the World Trade Organization (1999–2002), ambassador to the United States (2010–2015) (born 1949).[73]
- 4 February
- 8 February – Lew Mander, organic chemist (University of Adelaide, Australian National University) (born 1939).[76]
- 13 February
- Sir Des Britten, restaurateur, radio broadcaster (2ZB), television chef, and Anglican priest, Wellington City Missioner (1994–2011) (born 1939).[77]
- Jimmy Thunder, boxer, Commonwealth Games gold medallist (1986), IBO heavyweight world champion (1994–1995) (born 1966).[78]
- 15 February – Alan Henderson, television cameraman and puppeteer (Thingee) (born c. 1962).[79]
- 16 February – Graeme Allwright, singer and songwriter (born 1926).[80]
- 17 February – Terry Lineen, rugby union player (Auckland, national team) (born 1936).[81]
- 18 February – James Lobet, aircraft designer (Lobet Ganagobie) (born 1932).[82]
- 19 February – Wes Sandle, physicist (University of Otago) (born 1935).[83]
- 27 February – Tina Carline, radio announcer (2ZB, 2ZM, 2YA), television continuity announcer and weather presenter (WNTV1, TV One) (born 1948).[84]
Mike Moore
Sir Des Britten
Terry Lineen
March
- 2 March – Roger Cooper, paleontologist (GNS Science), Hutton Medal (2017) (born 1939).[85]
- 3 March – Kerry Marshall, local politician, Mayor of Richmond (1986–1989), Mayor of Tasman (1989–1998), Mayor of Nelson (2007–2010) (born 1940).[86]
- 4 March – Helen Courtney, cartoonist and illustrator (Broadsheet) (born 1952).[87]
- 5 March
- 11 March – Sir Rob Fenwick, Hall of Fame businessman and environmentalist, leader of the Progressive Green Party (1996–1998), chancellor of St John New Zealand (2006–2008), chair of Antarctica New Zealand (2008–2015) (born 1951).[91]
- 14 March – Henry Smith, Olympic discus thrower (1984, 1988), South Pacific Games gold medallist (1983), shot putter (born 1955).[92]
- 21 March – Cindy Beavis, radio broadcaster (Radio New Zealand, Access Radio) (born 1934).[93]
- 22 March
- 26 March – Colin Graham, cricketer (Otago) (born 1929).[96]
- 29 March – Claire Stewart, local politician, New Plymouth District Councillor (1989–1992), Mayor of New Plymouth (1992–2001) (born 1941).[97]
Kerry Marshall
Troy Collings
Jeanette Fitzsimons
Sir Rob Fenwick
April
- 3 April – Eric Verdonk, Olympic rower (1988, 1992), Olympic bronze medallist (1988), world championship bronze medallist (1990), Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (1986) (born 1959).[98]
- 6 April – Jock Edwards, cricketer (Central Districts, national team) (born 1955).[99]
- 8 April – Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Māori language activist and trade unionist (Tertiary Education Union) (born 1929).[100]
- 11 April – Might and Power, Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse, Caulfield Cup (1997), Melbourne Cup (1997), W. S. Cox Plate (1998) (foaled 1993).[101]
- 14 April – Dean Parker, screenwriter (Came a Hot Friday, Old Scores), playwright, journalist, and political commentator, GOFTA Award (1986), TV Guide Television Award (1998), New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate (2010) (born 1947).[102]
- 22 April – Dennis Copps, cricket umpire (born 1929).[103]
- 23 April – Bruce Allpress, actor (Close to Home, The Scarecrow, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers), Feltex Television Awards best actor (1981, 1983) (born 1930).[104]
- 24 April – Phil Broadhurst, jazz musician, composer, music educator (Massey University), and radio presenter (Radio New Zealand), New Zealand Music Awards best jazz artist (2016) (born 1949).[105]
Eric Verdonk
Te Huirangi Waikerepuru
Phil Broadhurst
May
- 3 May – Geoff Anderson, cricketer (Otago) (born 1939).[106]
- 4 May – Alan Sutherland, rugby union player (Marlborough, national team) (born 1944).[107]
- 7 May
- 8 May – James Hill, Olympic rower (1956, 1960), British Empire and Commonwealth Games gold (1962), silver and bronze (1958) medallist (born 1930).[110]
- 14 May – Tony Coll, rugby league player (West Coast, national team), local-body politician, Grey District Councillor (2011–2019) (born c. 1950).[111]
- 15 May – Rick Muru, rugby league player (Waikato, New Zealand Māori, national team) (born c. 1950).[112]
- 29 May – Susie Simcock, squash player and administrator, president of the World Squash Federation (1996–2002), New Zealand Olympic Committee board member (1996–2008) (born 1938).[113]
June
- 1 June – Giyannedra Prasad, Fijian lawyer and politician (born 1959)[114]
- 2 June
- 10 June
- 11 June
- 13 June – Krystyna Tomaszyk, writer and social activist (born 1932).[121]
- 16 June – Alistair Soper, rugby union player (Southland, national team) (born 1936).[122]
- 17 June – Paul Matete, rugby league player (Auckland, New Zealand Māori, national team) and coach (South Africa) (born 1949).[123]
- 18 June - Jim Young, boat builder and designer (born 1925).[124]
- 19 June - Matthew Hunt, police officer (born 1991).[125]
- 20 June – Aaron Tokona, musician (Weta, Fly My Pretties, Cairo Knife Fight) (born 1975).[126]
- 21 June – Dennis Young, rugby union player (Canterbury, national team) (born 1930).[127]
- 22 June – Stewart Speed, cricketer (Auckland) (born 1942).[128]
- 23 June – Mike McCool, rugby union player (Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa Bush, national team) (born 1951).[129]
- 24 June – Toni Waho, Māori language advocate and educationalist (born c. 1961).[130]
- 28 June
Lindsay Townsend
Murray Hill
Basil Meeking
Krystyna Tomaszyk
Jim Young
Dennis Young
John Kneebone
July
- 1 July – Bill Black, pilot, live deer capture pioneer (born 1943).[133]
- 2 July – Bill Massey, Hall of Fame softball player (national team), coach and umpire, world championship bronze medallist (1966) (born 1936).[134]
- 10 July – Genevieve Westcott, journalist and television presenter (TV3) (born 1955).[135]
- 12 July – Kevin Dwyer, cricketer (Auckland) (born 1929).[136]
- 14 July – James Brown, public servant, official secretary to the governor-general (1977–1985) (born 1925).[137]
- 20 July – Ross Dallow, police officer and local-body politician, Waitakere City Councillor (1992–2010) (born 1937).[138]
- 21 July – Bruce McPhail, rugby union player (Canterbury, Nelson, national team) (born 1937).[139]
- 29 July – Andy Haden, rugby union player (Auckland, national team) (born 1950).[140]
August
- 2 August – Tony Campbell, biblical scholar (United Faculty of Theology) (born 1934).[141]
- 4 August – Murray Cheater, Olympic (1976) and Commonwealth Games (1974) hammer thrower (born 1947).[142]
- 6 August – Lindsay Brown, accountant and university administrator, chancellor of the University of Otago (2004–2008) (born c. 1944).[143]
- 8 August – Jean Stewart, Hall of Fame swimmer, Olympic bronze medallist (1952), British Empire Games silver medallist (1950) and British Empire and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (1954) (born 1930).[144]
- 9 August – Heta Hingston, 82, lawyer and jurist, Māori Land Court judge (1984–1999) (born 1938).[145]
- 10 August
- 12 August – Jean Anderson, pianist and professor of music (Royal Academy of Music) (born 1923).[148]
- 21 August – Sir Bob Elliott, paediatrician (University of Auckland) (born 1934).[149]
- 23 August – Jack Tynan, Olympic field hockey player (1956), and cricketer (Wellington) (born 1925).[150]
- 25 August – Graham Newdick, cricketer (Wellington) (born 1949).[151]
- 26 August
- 27 August – Ivan Keats, Olympic marathon runner (1964) (born 1937).[154]
- 28 August – Don Bacon, microbiologist (University of Otago, Massey University) (born 1926).[155]
- 31 August – Megan Wraight, landscape architect (Waitangi Park, Wynyard Quarter, Pukeahu National War Memorial Park), Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award (2013) (born 1961).[156]
Lindsay Brown
Jean Stewart
Heta Kingston
Vinka Lucas
Sir Bob Elliott
Keri Kaa
Douglas MacDiarmid
Don Bacon
September
- 2 September – John Shrapnell, journalist, actor and singer (born 1934).[157]
- 4 September – Joe Williams, politician, doctor and health researcher, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (1999) (born 1934).[158]
- 5 September – David Walter, local-body politician and journalist (Taranaki Daily News), Mayor of Stratford (1989–1998), Chair of Taranaki Regional Council (2001–2007) (born 1939).[159]
- 6 September – Sir Vaughan Jones, mathematician (Jones polynomial, Aharonov–Jones–Landau algorithm), Fields Medal (1990), Rutherford Medal (1991), Fellow of the Royal Society (since 1990) (born 1952).[160]
- 8 September – Jane Soons, geomorphologist (University of Canterbury), president of the International Union for Quaternary Research (1977–1982) (born 1931).[161]
- 13 September
- 15 September – Nigel Te Hiko, historian, Ngāti Raukawa leader (born c. 1966).[165]
- 17 September – Don McGregor, zoologist (University of Otago) and science advisor, Ministry of Research, Science and Technology chief scientist (1992–1997) (born 1938).[166]
- 24 September – Max Merritt, Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Slipping Away", Max Merritt and the Meteors) (born 1941).[167]
- 25 September – Matt Ratana, police officer (born 1966).[168]
- 29 September – John Whittaker, rugby league player (Wellington, Warrington, national team) (born 1950).[169]
- 30 September – Guy Natusch, architect (born 1921).[170]
John Shrapnell
Joe Williams
Sir Vaughan Jones
October
- 5 October – John Tanner, rugby union player (Otago, Auckland, national team) (born 1927).[171]
- 8 October – Jack Sutherland, athlete, British Empire Games bronze medallist (1950) (born 1927).[172]
- 14 October – John Reid, Hall of Fame cricketer (Wellington, Otago, national team) and cricket administrator, international match referee (1993–2002), president of New Zealand Cricket (2004–2006), New Zealand Sportsman of the Year (1955), Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1959) (born 1928).[173]
- 18 October – Eddie Tonks, rugby union administrator, chair of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (1990–1995) (born 1934).[174]
- 23 October – David Barnes, sailor, 470 world champion (1981, 1983, 1984) and world championship bronze medallist (1982), America's Cup skipper (KZ1, 1988) (born 1958).[175]
November
Bones Hillman
Alan Powell
December
- 4 December – Anand Singh, Fijian politician (born 1948).[182]
- 5 December – Des Ferrow, cricketer (Northern Districts) (born 1933).[183]
- 7 December – Malcolm Simpson, Olympic (1952) and British Empire Games (1950) cyclist (born 1933).[184]
- 8 December – Gerard Stokes, rugby league player (Canterbury, national team, Workington Town) and coach (Workington Town, Whitehaven, Serbia national team) (born 1955).[185]
- 10 December – Barry Wynks, Commonwealth Games lawn bowls player (2002, 2014, 2018) and silver medallist (2014, 2018) (born 1952).[186]
- 11 December – James Flynn, political scientist (University of Otago), intelligence researcher (Flynn effect), and politician (NewLabour, Alliance) (born 1934).[187]
- 13 December – Rose Pere, educationalist, Māori language advocate, and conservationist (born 1937).[188]
- 16 December – Brian Pickworth, Olympic (1960) and British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) fencer, British Empire and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (1962) (born 1929).[189]
- 17 December – Ed Nichols, Paralympic alpine skier (1980) (born 1923).[190]
- 20 December – Arthur Campbell, analytical chemist (University of Otago) (born 1925).[191]
- 25 December – David Thorns, sociologist (University of Auckland, University of Canterbury), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1995) (born 1943).[192]
- 27 December – Manukura, white North Island brown kiwi (hatched 2011).[193]
- 28 December – John Reid, cricketer (Auckland, national team) (born 1956).[194]
Wikinews has related news:
"Ballinger Belt". National Rifle Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
Crampton, James; Beu, Alan; Simes, John; Fortey, Richard. "Roger Cooper (1939–2020)". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
Glyn, Justin; Horvat, Chris (2 August 2020). "Vale Fr Tony Campbell SJ". Australian Province of the Society of Jesuits. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
Pryor, Ian (4 September 2020). "John Shrapnell". NZOnScreen. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
Carment, David. "Powell: Alan Walter". Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 23 July 2023.