2003_in_New_Zealand

2003 in New Zealand

Incumbents

The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between Labour and the small Progressive party with United Future supporting supply votes.

11 February: Donna Awatere Huata is expelled from tha caucus of political party ACT New Zealand. She remains in parliament.
30 June: Announcement that the North Island population reaches 3 million, North Shore City reaches 200,000 and Porirua City reaches 50,000
5 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 coal mine closes. [1]
28 October: Don Brash becomes parliamentary leader of the National Party.
October: Australian company Toll Holdings completes a takeover bid for Tranz Rail
18 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.

Readers' Choice: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
Non-fiction: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Fiction: The Shag Incident Stephanie Johnson
Poetry: Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
History: No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840-1914 Jim McAloon
Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Biography: A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip Temple
Illustrative: Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len Castle
Reference & Anthology: Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw
Environment* Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff Chapple

Todd Stevens wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:30:09 on May 3 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 final

the 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 - Italy (70 - 7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
17 October: New Zealand beat Canada (68 - 6) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
24 October: New Zealand beat Tonga (91 - 7) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup
2 November: New Zealand beat Wales (53 - 37) in pool D of the Rugby World Cup, finishing top of pool D
8 November: New Zealand beat South Africa (29 - 9) in the first Quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup
15 November: New Zealand lose to Australia (10 - 22) in the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup
November 20: Playoff: (Loser SF1 - Loser SF2) New Zealand beat France (40 - 13) to take 3rd place in the Rugby World Cup

Bartercard Cup won by Canterbury Bulls
The New Zealand Warriors finiished 6th (of 15 teams) in the minor premiereship, qualifying for the finals series, where they won two games before losing the preliminary final to monor premieres the Penrith Panthers.

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 Cup