Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM DBE QSO^[2]

Government

The 46th New Zealand Parliament continued until 10 June. Government was The Labour Party led by Helen Clark, In coalition with Alliance, led by Jim Anderton. In the 2002 general election Labour was returned to power, in coalition with The Progressive Party led by Jim Anderton, and backed with supporting supply votes by United Future, led by Peter Dunne.

• Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt
• Prime Minister – Helen Clark
• Deputy Prime Minister – Jim Anderton then Michael Cullen
• Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff
• Chief Justice — Sian Elias

Opposition leaders

See: Category:Parliament of New Zealand, New Zealand elections

• National – Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition)
• Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
• Act – Richard Prebble
• New Zealand First – Winston Peters
• United Future – Peter Dunne

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – John Banks
• Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite
• Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast
• Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore
• Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner

Music

Performing arts

• Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Tom Sharplin.

Dance

• 7–24 January: Inaugural Footnote Choreolab runs in Wellington under the direction of Deirdre Tarrant and guest choreographer Justin Rutzou (Australia) with New Zealand choreographers Kristian Larsen and Jacob Sullivan and 22 dancers from throughout New Zealand.
• 30 January – 3 February, Jan Bolwell premieres her theatre work Standing On My Hands at BATS Theatre, Wellington, subsequently touring it throughout New Zealand over the course of the year.
• 20–21 February, Footnote Dance Company premieres Banding Together 2002, a programme of short works by choreographers Michael Parmenter, Merenia Gray, Raewyn Hill, subsequently touring this programme throughout New Zealand. The dancers are: Annabel Reader, Tane Duncan, Melissa Tate, Georgina White, Tim Fletcher and Paora Taurima.
• 15–17 March, Inland by Douglas Wright Dance Company, premieres at the NZ International Festival of the Arts who commissioned the work. Subsequently, the work tours to Dunedin, Christchurch and Auckland to considerable acclaim.
• 19 April to 5 May, the Auckland Dance Festival (later rebranded as Tempo Dance Festival) runs throughout the month at a number of Auckland venues, presenting professional and community performances, classes, workshops, and public participatory events. Events include: Shake a Leg Youth Dance performances at ASB Theatre; Platform 2002 choreographic development project at UNITEC; Dancing City to City, ESCAPE by Black Grace Urban Youth Movement, Polished Up at St Kevins Arcade, Prayers in the Forest of Mirrors by Edna Katz-Levy at the Maidment Studio, Scratch 'n Sniff Dance Shorts, a mixed bill of dance films, short works and improvisational performances curated by Wilhimeena Gordon at Woonton's Lane in Titirangi, Sub-urban Legends by Atamira Dance Collective at UNITEC Studios, Living Room (short works by Melanie Turner, Becca Wood, Karen Barbour, Katie Burton, and film by Alyx Duncan) at UNITEC Studios, and Still Life 2002, a triple bill by Sean Curham (Speedy Horse and Royal Crown plus excerpts from the Perfect Lie) at the Dorothy Winston Centre.
• 19–22 April, MEDANZ Festival in Christchurch
• On 3 May, Creative New Zealand launches {https://web.archive.org/web/20140726175934/http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/news/creative-new-zealand-launches-contemporary-dance-strategy Moving to the Future: Ngä Whakanekeneke atu ki te Ao o Apöpö], a strategy for professional contemporary dance with specific funding support for emerging artists.
• On 16 June, the Mandelbrot Set presents another in their bi-monthly series of improvisational performances at The Space in Newtown, in Wellington – dancers are Lyne Pringle, Kristian Larsen and Emily Kerr with local musicians.
• The rising of Matariki is formally marked with performance installations in Auckland under the title Cluster. Soundscore and imagery by Karl Chitham, performance devised and facilitated by Louise Potiki Bryant and by Light/off-site Productions with performers Corinna Hunziker, Dolina Wehipeihana, Maaka Pepene, Justine Hohaia, Karl Chitham, and Cathy Livermore (from Atamira Dance Collective).
• 28–29 June in Hamilton and 10–13 July in Auckland, the double bill Fracture: Reality is Fragile choreographed by Guy Ryan, and Weather Vain People choreographed by Malia Johnston is presented. Dancers were Natasha Alpe, Kerryn McMurdo, Alexa Wilson, Jenny Nichols, Geoff Gilson, Guy Ryan, Stu Armstrong.
• During July, the NZ International Film Festival features a programme of NZ dance films with premieres of Fly by Shona McCullagh, Canopy by Mary Jane O'Reilly, Asylum by Wilhimeena Gordon, Wireless by Daniel Belton, and Rover by Morag Brownlie. Fly subsequently wins Official Selection for Clermond-Ferrand 2002, Winner of both the Reeldance Award and People's Choice Awards, Australia 2002
• NZ School of Dance turns 35 and marks the occasion with a weekend of open performances; Student choreography season Finding Jimmy is presented at Te Whaea.
• Premiere season of WHITE by Raewyn Hill (with dancers Sarah-Jayne Howard and Sarah Sproull and dramaturg Duncan Sarkies) running from 24 July – 4 August at Bats, Wellington.
• Black Grace & Friends at Sky City is a season of short works and two significant events for the company. Female "guest" dancers perform with the company for the first time and the gender differences between the male and female dancers are the subject for Ieremia's new Human Language. A choreographer from outside the company is commissioned for the first time—Daniel Belton creates Whai, a kinetic sculptural work with stage-wide elastic bands manipulated by the dancers. A third work by dancer Taiaroa Royal marks the passing of his father.
• The September Dance Your Sox Off festival in Wellington includes four dance seasons by professional dancers: Raewyn Hill premieres When Love Comes Calling from 4–7 September at Bats, subsequently touring to Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland; Native is presented by Leonie Douglas and the Epitome Company (Sean McDonald, Seonaid Lyons and Claire Barret) with sound design by Blackbridge Productions – musicians Andrew McMillan and Paul Stanley, and live triggering of sound and lighting, a STAB Commission at BATS; Streamline Danceworks present new works by Leigh Evans, Angela Westerby, THROW Disposable Choreography (aka Kristian Larsen), Anne Anderson and Kay Muir, at Bats Theatre, 11–14 September; and The Mandelbrot Set presents another evening of improv contemporary dance and music at The Space, Newtown. 13 Sept. Performers: Lyne Pringle, Sarah Sproull, Emily Kerr and 5 musicians.
• In Auckland, on 13 September, emerging choreographic collective Fresh Produce perform their inaugural Vacuum Packed show at Kingsland central as a fundraiser, departing on tour the next day to present their show in Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.
• In Christchurch, The Body dance & physical theatre festival – workshops & performances runs from 13–29 September and includes 10 professional productions: Closed Circuit Orbit (touring from Wellington); Footnote's Banding Together 2002 (touring from Wellington); Poised by Hagley Dance Company; Vacuum Packed (7 short works touring from Auckland), Standing on My Hands by Jan Bolwell (touring from Wellington); Raewyn Hill's When Love Comes Calling (touring from Wellington); the Danceworks 2002 development project presents new short works by Richard Bullock and Shay Horay (for Ricochet Predicament), Sarah Franks, Sheryl Robinson (for Local Weeds), Andrew Shepherd, Fleur de Thier (for Scrambled Legs), Megan Platt, Julia Sadler (for Fresh Produce), and Sally Williams,(for the clinic); Slow Stride Eyes Open by Scrambled Legs; Wilderness/Weather by Michael Parmenter with Sarah-Jayne Howard (touring from Wellington), and three dance films by Daniel Belton – Lumin, Henge and Wireless.
• In Auckland on 21 September, the 2002 Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit takes over at The Edge – 8 crews battle in finals, plus workshops and performances throughout the day. That same weekend, Axess Interdisciplinary Collective (Kerryn McMurdo, Brent Harris, and Alexa Wilson) hold a fundraiser at MIC with guests Prue Cunningham, Mark Harvey, Dion Hitchens, Val Smith, Dianna Brinsden, Charles Koroneho, Wilhemeena Gordon, DJ Joe Fish vs Krutov.
• Mika Haka tours the country on return from the Edinburgh Festival.
• In Auckland, Touch Compass takes to the big stage of the ASB Theatre for the first time on 28–29 September with a major new dance theatre work, Lighthouse co-developed by Catherine Chappell and Christian Penny with the cast. This subsequently tours to Tauranga and is recognised as a major highlight of the dance year.
• Black Grace launches a season of short New Works by company members in Wellington at Te Whaea on 24 September, subsequently touring throughout New Zealand before closing in Auckland on 30 November
• During October, two major awards are made to New Zealand choreographers – Shona McCullagh becomes a Laureate of the Arts Foundation, and Raewyn Hill winning an AMP Scholarship for international travel and study.
• 6–8 November The Carlisle House Project was a site specific project presented in two semi-derelict buildings on Richmond Road, Auckland. Produced by Michele Powles with choreography by Lou Potiki Bryant, Geoff Gilson, Vicky Kapo, Cathy Livermoore, Michele Powles, and Strange Fruit (Alyx Duncan and Maria Dabrowska).
• In Wellington, Propulsion presented Black Body: a multi-sensory design journey involving dance theatre, literature and theatrical technology. Dancers were Kilda Northcott, Lyne Pringle and Sarah Sproull with Jean Betts, Edward Davis, David Holmes, Gabe McDonnell, Ciara Mulholland, Peter Petrovich, Lizz Santos, Heidi Simmonds, Alana Spragg, Annemiek Weterings. A STAB commission 13–23 November at Bats.
• And in Dunedin, a week long creative workshop for dancers and photographers was led by choreographer Carol Brown and photographer Mattias Ek, 12–17 November. Subsequently, a week later, Wilderness/Weather by Michael Parmenter with Sarah-Jayne Howard was also presented in Dunedin.

Radio and television

• 29 April: Ian Fraser becomes CEO of TVNZ.

See: 2002 in New Zealand television, 2002 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Tongan Ninja

See: Category:2002 film awards, 2002 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:2002 films

Internet

See: NZ Internet History

Athletics

• Mark Bright wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:29:24 on 27 April in Rotorua, while Bernardine Portenski claims her third in the women's championship (3:01:36).

Basketball

• The NBL was won by the Waikato Titans who beat the Nelson Giants 85–83 in the final
• The Waikato Lady Titans won the Women's NBL, beating the Canterbury Wildcats 88–60 in the final.

Commonwealth Games

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
11	13	21	45

Cricket

• Cricket: Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team, Chappell–Hadlee Trophy

Golf

See New Zealand Open, Check Category:New Zealand golfers in overseas tournaments.

Horse racing

Netball

see Silver Ferns, National Bank Cup ,

Olympics

• New Zealand sends a team of 10 competitors in five sports.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
0	0	0	0

Paralympic Games

• New Zealand sends a team of two competitors in one sport.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
4	0	2	6

Rugby union

• Rugby: Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Super 14, Rugby Union World Cup, National Provincial Championship, Category:All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations Series, Ranfurly Shield

Rugby league

• The New Zealand Warriors had their best season ever in the Australian NRL competition, winning the Minor Premiership and making the Grand Final, which they lost to the Sydney Roosters, 30-8
• The Bartercard Cup was won by the Mt Albert Lions who defeated the Hibiscus Coast Raiders 24–20 in the grand final, the last match ever played at Carlaw Park.
• The New Zealand national rugby league team played in six test matches, winning three and drawing one:
  • 12 October – Lost to Australia 24–32;
  • 3 November – Defeated Wales 50–22;
  • 9 November – Defeated Great Britain 30–16;
  • 16 November – Drew with Great Britain 14–all;
  • 23 November – Lost to Great Britain 10–16;
  • 30 November – Defeated France 22–14.

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Trevor Oliver (Onslow)^[11]

Soccer

• The All Whites won the OFC Nations Cup held in Auckland, beating Australia 1–0 in the final. This qualified the team for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico.
• New Zealand National Soccer League was won by Miramar Rangers
• The Chatham Cup is won by Napier City Rovers who beat Tauranga City United 2–0 in the final.^[12]