2023 in New Zealand

• Head of State – Charles III
• Governor-General – Cindy Kiro

• 
  Charles III
• 
  Cindy Kiro

Legislature term: 53rd New Zealand Parliament

The Sixth Labour Government, elected in 2020, continues.

• Speaker of the House – Adrian Rurawhe
• Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern until 25 January, then Chris Hipkins
• Deputy Prime Minister – Grant Robertson until 25 January, then Carmel Sepuloni
• Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins until 25 January, then Grant Robertson
• Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Nanaia Mahuta

• 
  Adrian Rurawhe
• 
  Jacinda Ardern
• 
  Chris Hipkins
• 
  Grant Robertson
• 
  Carmel Sepuloni
• 
  Nanaia Mahuta

• National – Christopher Luxon (Leader of the Opposition)
• Green – James Shaw and Marama Davidson
• ACT – David Seymour
• Te Pāti Māori – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

• 
  Christopher Luxon
• 
  James Shaw
• 
  Marama Davidson
• 
  David Seymour

• Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann

• 
  Helen Winkelmann

• Mayor of Auckland – Wayne Brown
• Mayor of Tauranga – Anne Tolley (as chair of commissioners)
• Mayor of Hamilton – Paula Southgate
• Mayor of Wellington – Tory Whanau
• Mayor of Christchurch – Phil Mauger
• Mayor of Dunedin – Jules Radich

• 
  Wayne Brown
• 
  Anne Tolley
• 
  Paula Southgate
• 
  Tory Whanau

• 4 January – Severe weather hits Coromandel and the upper North Island bringing thunderstorms and torrential rain. Holidaymakers are forced to evacuate and continuing severe weather causes numerous landslips.[1]
• 9 January – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The "Kraken" subvariant of Omicron is detected in New Zealand for the first time after genome sequencing of two cases. Health officials are confident the current COVID-19 response is appropriate.[2]
• 10 January – Cyclone Hale impacts the North Island, causing flooding and slips in Coromandel and Gisborne.
• 18 January – A Qantas flight travelling from Auckland to Sydney lands safely after issuing a mayday call.[3]
• 19 January
  • Jacinda Ardern announces her pending resignation as prime minister and Labour Party leader.[4]
  • A wild kiwi egg is laid in Wellington for the first time in more than 100 years.[5]
• 22 January – Chris Hipkins is unanimously elected leader of the Labour Party.[6]
• 25 January – Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni are sworn in as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, respectively, at Government House, Wellington.[7]
• 27 January – Torrential rain in Auckland causes widespread flooding, slips, evacuations, and the deaths of four people (from Cyclone Hale).[8][9][10]

• 1 February – A second wave of severe weather and torrential rain hits Auckland, worsening the already catastrophic flooding.[11]
• 5 February – Auckland begins a series of significant large-scale clean up operations in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding. Authorities believe the city is now out of danger.[12][13]
• 8 February – Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced the seizure of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific that was probably destined for Australia, an amount that represents 30 years of consumption in New Zealand.[14]
• 12 February – Cyclone Gabrielle: Thousands of people are left without power as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall over the North Island. The regions of Northland and Auckland are put under a state of emergency.[15]
• 14 February
  • Cyclone Gabrielle: A national state of emergency is declared as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to impact the North Island bringing extreme weather, flooding and land slides. A national state of emergency will allow the Government to step in and handle the emergency response.[16]
  • The ngaro huruhuru (native bee) is named the inaugural New Zealand Bug of the Year.[17]
• 15 February
  • Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence arrive in Wellington for their tour of New Zealand. The pair's planned military duties in Palmerston North were postponed. Instead, they will travel to the National Crisis Management Centre at the Beehive to meet with staff from agencies involved in the cyclone response. They will conduct the Service of Remembrance at the National War Memorial and pay respects at the United Kingdom memorial.[18]
  • A 6.3M earthquake hits the lower North Island, 50 kilometres (31 mi) north-west of Paraparaumu at a depth of 50 km, according to GNS Science.[19] Shaking lasted a minute, with it being felt nationwide.[20]
• 16 February – Cyclone Gabrielle: New Zealand starts accepting offers of international assistance.

• 3 March – Large climate protests take place across the country as thousands march to demand immediate climate action from the government. The protesters make a number of demands and briefly stage a "sit in" at Christchurch City Council.[21]
• 7 March – The 2023 census takes place.[22]
• 16 March
  • New Zealand enacted a ban of TikTok on devices connected to parliament citing cybersecurity concerns.[23]
  • Early childhood, primary, and secondary school teachers affiliated with the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) hold a nationwide strike following the breakdown of negotiations with the Government over salaries and work conditions.[24][25]
• 15 March – Stuart Nash resigned as Minister of Police following revelations he asked the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to appeal a decision he felt was too light, a breach of the expectation that the Government remains neutral in regards to operational Police matters.[26]
• 17 March – Nash subsequently admitted to a third incident of misconduct where he contacted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to advocate for a migrant health professional in Napier in September 2022.[27]
• 25 March
  • A rally organised by Posie Parker in central Auckland ends in chaos after counter-protesters, estimated to number in the thousands, make too much noise for her to speak. Parker later left by police escort.[28]
  • Marama Davidson, Green Party co-leader is hit by a motorcyclist and injured.[29] On the same day, she made controversial comments about white cisgender men committing violence.[30]
  • Kea are spotted in Christchurch's Port Hills for the first time in many years.[31]
• 28 March – A forth incident involving Nash reveals that in 2020, he emailed two of his donors, who were commercial property owners, about a commercial rent relief policy Cabinet was discussing. Nash is stripped of all his remaining ministerial portfolios.[32]
• 29 March
  • Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announces a review into Stuart Nash's communications with his two donors.[33]
  • Secondary school teachers stage a second national strike following the breakdown of negotiations with the Government.[34][35]
• 30 March – New Zealand records its first case of rabies in a human. A patient who had been in hospital since early March died from the disease, which did not spread further.[36]

• 10 April – A tornado sweeps through the Tasman Region damaging fifty properties. It tears the roofs off at least twelve houses, brings down trees and powerlines and leaves one person trapped in their car.[37][38]

• 3 May – Meka Whaitiri resigns from the Labour Party and loses her ministerial portfolios, but remains in Parliament as an independent MP sitting with Te Pāti Māori.[39][40]
• 5 May
  • Heavy rain hits the lower North Island and the upper South Island bringing surface flooding and landslips. Evacuations take place in Tasman District after a river bursts its banks and several other regions issue weather warnings.[41]
  • Elizabeth Kerekere resigns from the Green Party, but remains in Parliament as an independent MP.[42]
• 6 May – The coronation of Charles III takes place in London.[43]
• 16 May – A fire in Loafers Lodge in Wellington kills multiple residents.
• 18 May – The 2023 budget is delivered.[44]

• 5 June – The 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours will be announced.
• 14 October – The 2023 general election will take place.[4]
• 30 December – The 2024 New Year Honours will be announced.

• 20 July – 20 August: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup[46]

• Wellington Cup – Leaderboard[47]

• New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup)[48]
  • Maadi Cup (boys' U18 coxed eight) – St Bede's College
  • Levin Jubilee Cup (girls' U18 coxed eight) – Rangi Ruru Girls' School
  • Star Trophy (overall points) – Rangi Ruru Girls' School

• 15 January – The New Zealand SailGP team win the Singapore SailGP event, giving them their third event win of the 2022–2023 season[49][50]

• Ballinger Belt – John Snowden (Ashburton)[51]

• 2–14 January – The WTA Auckland Open and ATP Auckland Open (collectively known as the ASB Classic) are held for the first time since 2020, after two years of cancellations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[52]

• 2 January – Frank Cameron, cricket player (Otago, national team) and national cricket selector (born 1932).[53]
• 3 January – Jeremy Salmond, heritage architect (Auckland Synagogue, Pompallier House), NZIA Gold Medal (2018) (born 1944).[54]
• 6 January
  • Sir Patrick Hogan, Hall of Fame racehorse breeder, founder of Cambridge Stud (born 1939).[55]
  • Stuart McCutcheon, university administrator, vice-chancellor of the University of Auckland (2005–2020) and Victoria University of Wellington (2000–2004) (born 1954).[56]
• 10 January – Bruce Murray, cricketer (Wellington, national team), cricket administrator, historian, and schoolteacher, principal of Naenae College (1981–1989) and Tawa College (1989–2002) (born 1940).[57]
• 11 January – Jim Howland, local politician, mayor of Putāruru (1974–1989), Waikato District Councillor (1989–2007) (born 1929).[58]
• 13 January – Bob Stott, railway industry commentator and writer, editor and owner of Rails magazine (born 1940).[59]
• 15 January – Ewing Stevens, Presbyterian minister, writer, newspaper editor and radio talkback host (Radio Pacific, Radio Live) (born 1926).[60]
• 16 January – Geoff Harrow, mountaineer and environmentalist, first ascent of Baruntse (1954), rediscovered Hutton's shearwater breeding colonies (1964) (born 1926).[61]
• 17 January – Larry Morris, Hall of Fame singer (Larry's Rebels) (born 1947).[62]
• 20 January
  • Chris Leitch, politician, leader of the Social Credit Party (since 2018) (born c. 1954).[63]
  • Rodney Macann, operatic bass-baritone and Baptist minister (born 1942).[64]
• 22 January – Bob Jackson, Hall of Fame croquet player, world doubles champion (1989) and world singles bronze medallist (1993), and table tennis player (born 1931).[65]
• 25 January – Titewhai Harawira, Māori activist (Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine) (born 1932).[66]
• 26 January
  • Matthew During, neuroscientist, number 72 of New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers (2005) (born 1956).[67]
  • Keith Thomson, Olympic field hockey player (1968), and cricketer (Canterbury, national team) (born 1941).[68]
• 29 January – Ross Gillespie, Olympic field hockey player (1960, 1964) and coach (1972, 1976) (born 1935).[69]

• 
  Sir Patrick Hogan
• 
  Stuart McCutcheon
• 
  Bruce Murray
• 
  Geoff Harrow
• 
  Rodney Macann
• 
  Titewhai Harawira

• 4 February – Rob Williams, army general, Chief of the General Staff (1981–1984) (born 1930).[70]
• 5 February – Hilary Alexander, fashion journalist (The Daily Telegraph), British Fashion journalist of the year (1997, 2003) (born 1946).[71]
• 7 February – John Harré, social anthropologist (born 1931).[72]
• 8 February – George Preddey, atmospheric physicist (born 1941).[73]
• 10 February – Nancy Tichborne, watercolour artist and gardener (born 1942).[74]
• 12 February – Dennis McGrath, teacher and academic administrator, principal of Auckland College of Education (1985–2001) (born 1940).[75]
• 14 February – John Prince, Hall of Fame croquet player, first player to complete a sextuple peel in competition (born 1945).[76]
• 18 February – Peter Wolfenden, Hall of Fame harness-racing driver and trainer (Cardigan Bay) (born 1935).[77]
• 20 February – Jim Savage, shot putter, archer and table tennis player, Paralympic bronze medallist (1972, 1976) (born 1936).[78]
• 23 February – Alice Wylie, local politician and community leader, Mount Albert borough and city councillor (1962–1989) and deputy mayor (1983–1989) (born 1924).[79]
• 26 February – Ans Westra, photographer (Washday at the Pa), Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon (since 2007) (born 1936).[80]
• 27 February
  • Chester Borrows, police officer, politician and lawyer, MP for Whanganui (2005–2017), Minister for Courts (2011–2014), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (2014–2017) (born 1957).[81]
  • Paul East, lawyer, politician and diplomat, MP for Rotorua (1978–1996), National list MP (1996–1999), Attorney-General (1990–1997), Minister of Defence (1996–1997), High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (1999–2002), King's Counsel (since 1995), Privy Counsellor (since 1998) (born 1946).[82]
• 28 February – Grant Turner, association footballer (Gisborne City, national team) (born 1958).[83]

• 
  Hilary Alexander
• 
  Alice Wylie
• 
  Ans Westra
• 
  Chester Borrows
• 
  Paul East

• 2 March – Frank Dickson, banker, chief executive of the Canterbury Savings Bank (1963–1988) (born 1931).[84]
• 6 March – Georgina Beyer, politician, world's first openly transgender mayor and member of parliament, Mayor of Carterton (1995–2000), MP for Wairarapa (1999–2005), Labour list MP (2005–2007) (born 1957).[85]
• 7 March – Grant Bridger, actor (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Gloss), singer and radio presenter (born 1947).[86]
• 13 March – John Wignall, bridge player and administrator (born 1932).[87]
• 14 March – Russ Hoggard, athletics coach (Beverly Weigel, Dave Norris, Portia Bing) (born 1929).[88]
• 16 March – Terence Broad, architect (National Library of New Zealand) (born 1945).[89]
• 17 March
  • Peter Harwood, social scientist (Monash University, Auckland University of Technology), founder of New Zealand's first Citizens Advice Bureau (1970) (born 1939).[90]
  • Mary Ronnie, librarian and writer, National Librarian (1976–1981) (born 1926).[91]
• 19 March – Ralph Roberts, Olympic sailor (1960, 1968) and sports administrator, president of Yachting New Zealand (1986–1989), Olympic team chef de mission (1992) (born 1935).[92]
• 21 March – Arthur Joplin, World War II pilot (No. 617 Squadron RAF) (born 1923).[93]
• 28 March – Judith Barker, medical anthropologist (University of California, San Francisco) (born 1947).[94]

• 
  Georgina Beyer
• 
  Russ Hoggard
• 
  Mary Ronnie

• 2 April – Bushwhacker Butch, Hall of Fame professional wrestler (WWF, WWC, PNW) (born 1944).[95]
• 5 April – Ross Murray, golfer, New Zealand Amateur champion (1972) (born 1933).[96]
• 8 April – Simon France, lawyer, academic (Victoria University of Wellington), and jurist, judge of the High Court (2005–2022) and Court of Appeal (2022–2023) (born 1958).[97][98]
• 9 April – Ken McNatty, reproductive biologist (AgResearch, Victoria University of Wellington), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 1992), Pickering Medal (2009), Shorland Medal (2010) (born 1944).[99]
• 13 April – Nanette Cameron, interior designer and design educator (born c. 1928).[100]
• 20 April – Margaret Nielsen, pianist, piano teacher and academic (Victoria University of Wellington) (born 1933).[101]
• 25 April – Alapati Lui Mataeliga, Samoan Roman Catholic prelate, archbishop of Samoa-Apia (since 2003) and superior of Tokelau (since 2015) (born 1953).[102]
• 28 April – Taini Jamison, Hall of Fame netball coach (national team) and administrator (born 1928).[103]

• 
  Bushwhacker Butch

• 1 May – John Dunmore, historian (Massey University), author, playwright, and publisher (born 1923).[104]
• 7 May – Lindsay Crocker, cricketer (Northern Districts) and cricket administrator, national team manager (2003–2009) (born 1958).[105]
• 11 May – Sue Maroroa, chess player, Woman International Master (since 2014) (born 1991).[106]
• 12 May – Bruce Robertson, rugby union player (Counties, national team) (born 1952).[107]
• 14 May
  • Dame Rosie Horton, philanthropist (born 1940).[108]
  • Murray Inglis, radio broadcaster (Radio Avon, 3ZM, Solid Gold FM), Billboard South Pacific radio personality of the year (1976) (born 1943).[109]
• 15 May – Billy Guyton, rugby union player (Tasman Mako, Blues, Māori All Blacks) (born 1990).[110]
• 19 May – Kevin Ireland, poet, short-story writer, novelist and librettist, Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement (2004) (born 1933).[111]

• 
  John Dunmore
• 
  Sue Maroroa
• 
  Dame Rosie Horton
• 
  Kevin Ireland