Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,369,800
Increase since 31 December 1988: 24,600 (0.74%)
Males per 100 Females: 97.1
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Elizabeth II
Governor-General - The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO
The 42nd New Zealand Parliament continued. The fourth Labour Party government was in power.
Speaker of the House - Kerry Burke
Prime Minister - David Lange then Geoffrey Palmer
Deputy Prime Minister - Geoffrey Palmer then Helen Clark
Minister of Finance - Roger Douglas then David Caygill
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Russell Marshall
Leader of the Opposition - Jim Bolger (National).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Catherine Tizard
Mayor of Hamilton - Ross Jansen then Margaret Evans
Mayor of Wellington - James Belich
Mayor of Christchurch - Hamish Hay then Vicki Buck
Mayor of Dunedin - Cliff Skeggs then Richard Walls
First annual balance of payments surplus since 1973.
The Reserve Bank Act sets the role of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as maintaining price stability.
The Tomorrow's Schools reforms shift substantial financial and administrative responsibilities for managing schools to elected boards of trustees.
Local Government elections under a revised structure.
Mäori Fisheries Act passed.
The Sale of Liquor Act passed.
April: Swedish tourists Urban Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen disappear while backpacking in the Coromandel, leading to the largest land-based search undertaken in New Zealand.
25 April: David Lange suggests New Zealand should withdraw from the ANZUS council.
29 April: The Taranaki Herald publishes its last issue. The newspaper had published since 1852, and was New Zealand's oldest newspaper from 1935.
1 May: Jim Anderton forms the NewLabour Party.
7 August: David Lange resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand and is replaced by Geoffrey Palmer.
26 November: TV3 begins broadcasting.
10 December: Sunday trading begins.
Arts and literature
Renee wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1989 in art, 1989 in literature, Category:1989 books
New Zealand Music Awards
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.
Album of the Year: Margaret Urlich–Safety in Numbers
Fan Club - Respect The Beat
The Front Lawn - Songs from The Front Lawn
Single of the Year: Margaret Urlich - "Escaping"
Fan Club - I Feel Love
Double J and Twice the T/ Ray Columbus - She's A Mod
Best Male Vocalist: Tim Finn
Howard Morrison
Barry Saunders
Best Female Vocalist: Margaret Urlich
Moana Jackson
Aishah
Best Group: When The Cat's Away
The Warratahs
The Fan Club
Most Promising Male Vocalist: Paul Ubana Jones
Greg Johnson
Darren Watson
Most Promising Female Vocalist: Janet Roddick
Belinda Bradley
Julie Collier
Most Promising Group: The Front Lawn
Double J and Twice the T
Upper Hutt Posse
International Achievement: The Front Lawn
Kiri Te Kanawa
Straitjacket Fits
Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry: Tony Vercoe
Best Video: Paul Middleditch / Polly Walker / Debbie Watson - I Feel Love (Fan Club)
Warrick (Waka) Attewell - St Peter's Rendezvous (Barry Saunders)
Tony Johns - She's A Mod/ Mod RAP (Double J and Twice the T)
Best Film Soundtrack / Compilation: The Front Lawn - Songs From The Front Lawn
Rahda and the Brats -Kid in the Middle
Various - This Is The Moment
Best Producer: Ian Morris - Nobody Else
Mike Chunn - All Wrapped Up
Ross McDermott/Annie Crummer - Melting Pot (When The Cat's Away)
Best Engineer: Nigel Stone/ Tim Farrant - Everything Will Be Alright
DC Bell - Please Say Something
Nick Morgan - Melting Pot
Best Jazz Album: No Award
Best Classical Album: Stanley Friedman - The Lyric Trumpet
Various Artists - Bold is Brass
Michael Houston - Scriabin/ Chopin
Best Folk Album: Paul Ubana Jones - Paul Ubana Jones
Phil Powers - The Light of the Lions Eye
Phil Garland - Wind in the Tussock
Best Gospel Album: Stephen Bell-Booth–Shelter
Guy Wishart - Another Day in Paradise
Steve Apirana - Steve Apirana
Best Polynesian Album: Howard Morrison - Tukua Ahau
Moana & The Moa Hunters - Pupurutia
Black Katz Trust - Ko Wai Ka Hua
Best Songwriter: Barry Saunders - St Peters Rendezvous
Tim Finn - Parihaka
Don McGlashan / Harry Sinclair - Andy
Best Cover: Polly Walker / Debbie Watson - Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich)
Gavin Blake - Workshop
Anthony Donaldson/ Cadre Communications- The Hills Are Alive
See: 1989 in music
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Sylvia Rielly.
Radio and television
3 April: Paul Holmes makes his first broadcast.
1 July: The Broadcasting Act 1989 removes restriction of broadcasting. The public broadcasting fee of NZ$110 per annum is established.
1 July: The Dunedin station is reduced to the Natural History Unit.
2 October: TV2 introduces morning television by starting at 6.30am 7 days a week.
27 November: TV3 begins broadcasting.
See: 1989 in New Zealand television, 1989 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television programmes, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1989 film awards, 1989 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1989 films
Paul Ballinger wins his fourth national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:21 on 29 April in Rotorua, while Bernardine Portenski claims her first in the women's championship (2:46:02).
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Inky Lord
Auckland Trotting Cup: Neroship
Ballinger Belt – Ken Meade (Petone)
The Chatham Cup is won by Christchurch United who beat Rotorua City 7—1 in the final.
