The following lists events that happened during 2001 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,916,200. Increase since 31 December 2000: 43,100 (1.11%). Males per 100 Females: 96.2.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO followed by The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO
Government
The 46th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was The Labour Party led by Helen Clark, in coalition with Alliance, led by Jim Anderton.
Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt
Prime Minister – Helen Clark
Deputy Prime Minister – Jim Anderton
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 – TBD (Leader of the Opposition) Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald Act – TBD New Zealand First – TBD United Future – TBD Māori Party – TBD Labour – TBD Progressives – TBD United Future – TBD
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Christine Fletcher then John Banks
Mayor of Hamilton – Russell Matthew Remmington then David Braithwaite
Mayor of Wellington – Mark Blumsky then Kerry Prendergast
Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore
Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner
Events
New Zealand establishes an embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Arts and literature
Jo Randerson wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. Montana New Zealand Book Awards: Montana Medal: Michael King, Wrestling with the Angel: A Life of Janet Frame Deutz Medal: Lloyd Jones, The Book of Fame Reader's Choice: Michael King, Wrestling with the Angel: A Life of Janet Frame First Book Awards Fiction: Karyn Hay, Emerald Budgies Poetry: Stephanie de Montalk, Animals Indoors Non-Fiction: Paul Tapsell, Pukaki: A Comet Returns