The following lists events that happened during 2004 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 4,114,300 Increase since 31 December 2003: 52,800 (1.30%) Males per 100 Females: 96.1 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Dame Silvia Cartwright Government The 47th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was a coalition between Labour and the small Progressive party with United Future supporting confidence and supply votes. Speaker of the House – Jonathan Hunt (Labour) Prime Minister – Helen Clark (Labour) Deputy Prime Minister – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Finance – Michael Cullen (Labour) Minister of Foreign Affairs – Phil Goff (Labour) Opposition leaders National – Don Brash (Leader of the Opposition) Greens – Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald Act – Richard Prebble to Rodney Hide New Zealand First – Winston Peters United Future – Peter Dunne Māori Party – Tariana Turia Judiciary Chief Justice — Sian Elias Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – John Banks to Dick Hubbard Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby Mayor of Hamilton – David Braithwaite to Michael Redman Mayor of Wellington – Kerry Prendergast Mayor of Christchurch – Garry Moore Mayor of Dunedin – Sukhi Turner to Peter Chin Other State Services Commissioner – Mark Prebble Events January 27 January: National Party leader Don Brash delivers a speech at Orewa highly critical of the government's policy towards Māori. February March April 8 April: New Zealand First party announces it would give its support to the government's foreshore legislation. 30 April: Tariana Turia announces she will vote against the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation. May 5 May: A hikoi against the foreshore and seabed legislation arrives in Wellington. 7 May: The government's foreshore and seabed Bill passes its first vote in Parliament. 11 May: The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act is passed. The Act allows people who have not reoffended for seven years to not declare minor criminal convictions in most circumstances. June 30 June: Statistics New Zealand estimates for this date put the Cities of Lower Hutt and Tauranga at over 100,000 residents for the first time and Waimakariri District at over 40,000 July 1 July: First sitting of the new Supreme Court. 10 July: Te Tai Hauauru by-election won by Tariana Turia for the new Māori Party. 15 July: 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal: New Zealand imposes diplomatic sanctions against Israel after two Israeli citizens are