Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Elizabeth IIGovernor-General - The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSOThe 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between Labour and the small Progressive party with United Future supporting supply votes.
Speaker of the House - Jonathan Hunt (Labour)Prime Minister - Helen Clark (Labour)Deputy Prime Minister - Michael Cullen (Labour)Minister of Finance - Michael Cullen (Labour)Minister of Foreign Affairs - Phil Goff (Labour)National - Bill English then Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition)Greens - Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod DonaldAct - Richard PrebbleNew Zealand First - Winston PetersUnited Future - Peter DunneMain centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - John BanksMayor of Hamilton - David BraithwaiteMayor of Wellington - Kerry PrendergastMayor of Christchurch - Garry MooreMayor of Dunedin - Sukhi Turner11 February – Donna Awatere Huata is expelled from the caucus of political party ACT New Zealand. She remained in parliament.1 April - the Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 received Royal Assent24 April – New Zealand's population reaches the 4,000,000 mark, according to Statistics New Zealand's population clock.30 June – Announcement that the North Island population reaches 3 million, North Shore City reaches 200,000 and Porirua City reaches 50,0005 July – 350 skiers and 70 staff were trapped in skifield facilities on Mount Ruapehu when a sudden storm closes the access road. All descend safely the next day.August – The Refugee Status Appeals Authority declares that Ahmed Zaoui is a genuine asylum seeker. He is moved from a maximum security to medium security prison as a result.15 August – The Strongman Mine closes28 October – Don Brash becomes parliamentary leader of the National Party.October – Australian company Toll Holdings completes a takeover bid for Tranz Rail18 November – the Supreme Court declares that Donna Awatere Huata has no right to her parliamentary seat.Evangelical Christian based political party Destiny New Zealand formed.Nick Ascroft and Sarah Quigley win the Robert Burns Fellowship.New Zealand Book Awards
Readers' Choice: Playing God Glenn ColquhounNon-fiction: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael CooperFiction: The Shag Incident Stephanie JohnsonPoetry: Playing God Glenn ColquhounHistory: No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840-1914 Jim McAloonLifestyle and contemporary culture: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael CooperBiography: A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip TempleIllustrative: Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len CastleReference & Anthology: Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike GrimshawEnvironment* Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff ChappleNew Zealand Music Awards
A number of new categories were introduced this year: 'Highest Selling NZ Album', 'Highest Selling NZ Single', 'Best Pacific Island Album' (its predecessor 'Best Polynesian Album' last presented in 1997), and 'Best Roots Music Album'. 'Best R&B/ Hip Hop Album' was renamed 'Best Urban Album'. Two categories were retired 'Best Children's Album', and 'Best Compilation'. This year was also the first to feature a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Album of the Year: The Datsuns – The DatsunsPacifier - PacifierGoldenhorse - RiverheadBic Runga - Beautiful CollisionNesian Mystik - PolysaturatedSingle of the Year: Goodshirt - SophieChe Fu - Misty FrequenciesBic Runga - Get Some SleepAnika Moa - Falling in Love AgainNesian Mystik - It's OnTop Group: The Datsuns – The DatsunsGoodshirt - SophieNesian Mystik - PolysaturatedBreakthrough Artist of the Year: The Datsuns – The DatsunsGoldenhorse - RiverheadBlindspott - BlindspottBest Male Vocalist: Che Fu – Misty FrequenciesJon Toogood- Pacifier (Pacifier)Te Awanui Pine Reeder (Nesian Mystik) - For The PeopleBest Female Vocalist: Bic Runga – Beautiful CollisionAnika Moa - Falling in Love AgainKirsten Morrell - Riverhead (Goldenhorse)Best Solo Artist (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful CollisionAnika Moa - Falling in Love AgainCarly Binding - Alright With MeBest Urban Album: Nesian Mystik – PolysaturatedP Money - Big ThingsDeceptikonz - EliminationBest Folk Album: not awardedBest Music Video: Joe Lonie - Sophie (Goodshirt)Che Fu - Misty FrequenciesChris Graham / Bic Runga - Something Good (Bic Runga)Outstanding International Achievement: The DatsunsBest Mana Reo Album: Ngahiwi Apanui – E Tau NeiHareruia Aperama - Waiata Of Bob Marley Vol 2Adam Whauwhau - He Hua O RotoBest Mana Maori Album: Upper Hutt Posse – Te Reo Maori RemixesSoul Paua - PohewaMahinarangi Tocker - Hei HaBrother J - Be Bop A NuiHighest Selling NZ Album (new category): Bic Runga – Beautiful CollisionHighest Selling NZ Single (new category): Katchafire – Giddy UpProducer of the Year: Bic Runga – Beautiful CollisionP Money - Big Things (P Money)Geoffrey Maddock - Riverhead (Goldenhorse)Engineer of the Year: Clint Murphy And Dave Rhodes – BlindspottJeremy Greor - Carbon (50HZ)Barbara Griffin - Love Not War (Annie Crummer)Simon Holloway & Shane Mason - K'Lee (K'Lee)Best Dance Album: Salmonella Dub – Outside The DubplatesRhombus -Bass PlayerSubware - SubwareBest Country Album: not awardedBest Jazz Album: Kevin Clark – Once Upon A Song I FlewTwinset - It's A Summer FeelingMatt Penman - The UnquietBest Gospel Album: not awardedBest Pacific Island Album (new category): Pacific Soul – Pacific SoulJamoa Jam - Tama Mai Le PasifikaLapi Mariner - Just MeBest Roots Music Album (new category): Trinity Roots – TrueTe Vaka - NukukeheDarren Watson - King SizeBest Classical Album: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Douglas Lilburn: The Three SymphoniesNew Zealand Symphony Orchestra -Simon Boccanegra -Giuseppe VNew Zealand String Quartet - Beethoven Rasumovsky QuartetSongwriter of the Year: Goodshirt - SophieChe Fu - Misty FrequenciesNesian Mystik - It's OnBest Cover Design: Campbell Hooper-Johnson - 'Flock: The Best Of The Mutton BirdsDamian Alexander - Blindspott (Blindspott)Spencer Levine - Trade Secrets (Dubious Brothers)New Zealand Radio Programmer of the Year: Andi Dawkins - More FM ChristchurchAndrew Szusterman - Channel ZJohn Budge - Classic HitsManu Taylor - Mai FMLifetime Achievement Award (new category): Dylan TaiteBenny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Jim Joll.3 October: TV4 is replaced by C4.Kombi NationThe Last SamuraiThe Whale Rider17 December: World premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in WellingtonSee: NZ Internet History
Todd Stevens wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:30:09 on 3 May in Rotorua, while Maree Turner claims her first in the women's championship (2:55:40).The NBL won by the Wellington Saints who beat the Waikato Titans 97–88 in the final.The Women's NBL was won by the Wellington Swish who beat the Waikato Lady Titans 86–82 in the finalNew Zealand Trotting Cup – Just an ExcuseAuckland Trotting Cup – ElsuNew Zealand Free For All – Jack Cade12 October – Scott Dixon wins the Indy Racing League ChampionshipThe 11th Netball World Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand won, beating Australia in the final.11 October – Auckland defeat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield, ending Canterbury's run of 23 defences.11 October – New Zealand beat Italy (70–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup17 October – New Zealand beat Canada (68–6) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup24 October – New Zealand beat Tonga (91–7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup2 November – New Zealand beat Wales (53–37) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup, finishing top of pool D8 November – New Zealand beat South Africa (29–9) in the first quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup15 November – New Zealand lose to Australia (10–22) in the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup20 November – Playoff: (Loser SF1 v Loser SF2) New Zealand beat France (40–13) to take 3rd place in the Rugby World CupBartercard Cup won by Canterbury BullsThe New Zealand Warriors finished 6th (of 15 teams) in the minor premiership, qualifying for the finals series, where they won two games before losing the preliminary final to minor premieres the Penrith Panthers.Ballinger Belt –Ian Shaw (United Kingdom)Ross Geange (Masterton), fourth, top New ZealanderNew Zealand National Soccer League won by Miramar RangersThe Chatham Cup is won by University - Mount Wellington who beat Melville United 3–1 in the final.19 January – Swiss yacht Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Oracle BMW Racing 4–1 to win the Louis Vuitton Cup off Auckland and goes on to challenge Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.2 March – Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, beats Team New Zealand boat New Zealand skippered by Dean Barker 5–0 to win the America's Cup23 August – Efficient, thoroughbred racehorse24 November – Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman, face of campaign against meningococcal disease