18 June: A magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes 5 kilometres south-west of
Arthur's Pass, Canterbury.[3]
20 June: Robin and Margaret Bain and three of their four children – Arawa, Laniet, and Stephen – were shot to death in
Dunedin.[4] The
Bain Family Murder case has been described as "the most widely discussed and divisive in New Zealand's criminal history".[5]
17 September: Anne-Maree Ellens was murdered in Christchurch. Michael October (he later changed his name to Mikaere Oketopa) was later convicted of murdering her. The
Criminal Cases Review Commission sent the case back to the
Court of Appeal of New Zealand in 2023 for it to be reconsidered over "strong concerns with the police investigation, and his convictions".[6]
4 March: Australian police drama Blue Heelers comes to New Zealand when the series begins screening on
TV One.
4 April: US children's television series Barney & Friends first airs on
TV2.
27 April: US science fiction drama The X-Files makes its New Zealand television debut on
TV2.
19 July: Australian children's cartoon series The Adventures of Blinky Bill begins airing on
TV2 in New Zealand (the same country where the author of the books
Dorothy Wall was born).
4 September: British children's animation based on the books by
Sarah FergusonBudgie the Little Helicopter appears on New Zealand television screens for the first time on
TV3. It was also the first British cartoon to air on
TV3 as well as making the New Zealand the first country outside of the UK to broadcast it.
8 September: Acclaimed British children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends screens on
TV2 as a stand alone for the very last time.
The
Classic Hits brand is rolled out nationwide when heritage stations operated by
Radio New Zealand are rebranded as Classic Hits originally retaining local programming.
Paul Smith wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:19:12 on 30 April in
Rotorua, while
Nyla Carroll claims her first in the women's championship (2:37:37).
18 June: A magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes 5 kilometres south-west of
Arthur's Pass, Canterbury.[3]
20 June: Robin and Margaret Bain and three of their four children – Arawa, Laniet, and Stephen – were shot to death in
Dunedin.[4] The
Bain Family Murder case has been described as "the most widely discussed and divisive in New Zealand's criminal history".[5]
17 September: Anne-Maree Ellens was murdered in Christchurch. Michael October (he later changed his name to Mikaere Oketopa) was later convicted of murdering her. The
Criminal Cases Review Commission sent the case back to the
Court of Appeal of New Zealand in 2023 for it to be reconsidered over "strong concerns with the police investigation, and his convictions".[6]
4 March: Australian police drama Blue Heelers comes to New Zealand when the series begins screening on
TV One.
4 April: US children's television series Barney & Friends first airs on
TV2.
27 April: US science fiction drama The X-Files makes its New Zealand television debut on
TV2.
19 July: Australian children's cartoon series The Adventures of Blinky Bill begins airing on
TV2 in New Zealand (the same country where the author of the books
Dorothy Wall was born).
4 September: British children's animation based on the books by
Sarah FergusonBudgie the Little Helicopter appears on New Zealand television screens for the first time on
TV3. It was also the first British cartoon to air on
TV3 as well as making the New Zealand the first country outside of the UK to broadcast it.
8 September: Acclaimed British children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends screens on
TV2 as a stand alone for the very last time.
The
Classic Hits brand is rolled out nationwide when heritage stations operated by
Radio New Zealand are rebranded as Classic Hits originally retaining local programming.
Paul Smith wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:19:12 on 30 April in
Rotorua, while
Nyla Carroll claims her first in the women's championship (2:37:37).