weightlifter (born 1926) 28 March – Jelal Natali, community leader, anti-racism activist (born 1899) 31 March – Wharetutu Stirling, Ngāi Tahu leader, conservationist (born 1924) April–June 2 April – Ted Chamberlain, plant pathologist (born 1906) 4 April – Sir Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy, air force officer (born 1911) 15 April – Herbert Dudley Purves, medical researcher (born 1908) 17 April – Doris Palmer, political activist, welfare worker (born 1898) 21 April – Lincoln Hurring, swimmer (born 1931) 28 April – Sir Monita Delamere, rugby union player, Māori leader (born 1921) 29 April – Cyril Kay, aviator, military leader (born 1902) 22 May – Colleen Dewe, politician (born 1930) 24 May – Eric Lee-Johnson, artist and photographer (born 1908) 30 May – Frank Robson, marine conservationist (born 1912) 3 June – Lester Harvey, rugby union player (born 1919) 7 June – Rita Smith, communist, political activist (born 1912) 10 June – Nellie Schroder, community leader (born 1903) 20 June – Sir Keith Sinclair, historian (born 1922) July–September 7 July – Sir Alexander Turner, lawyer and jurist (born 1901) 20 July – Harata Solomon, community leader (born 1925) 26 July – Phyllis Williams, singer (born 1905) 28 July – Vincent McCarten, cricketer (born 1913) 3 August – Sir Laurie Francis, diplomat, lawyer (born 1918) 4 August – Sir Harcourt Caughey, rugby union player, businessman (born 1911) 7 August – Paul Little, rugby union player (born 1934) 9 August – Jack Parker, boxer (born 1915) 10 August – Mike Bungay, lawyer (born 1934) 24 August – James Bertram, journalist, writer, university academic (born 1910) 25 August – Florence James, author and literary agent (born 1902) 7 September – Guy Overton, cricketer (born 1919) 17 September – John Robson, public servant, penal reformer (born 1909) 18 September – Rodger Freeth, motorsport competitor (born 1953) 24 September – Monte Holcroft, essayist and novelist (born 1902) October–December 1 October Mabel Corby, cricketer (born 1913) Tom Marshall, Christian writer (born 1921) 4 October – Fred Lucas, military and commercial pilot, farmer, tourist operator (born 1915) 8 October – Gu Cheng, writer (born 1956) 17 October – Gordon Grieve, politician (born 1912) 19 October – Ring the Bell, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1977) 1 November – Sir Arthur Ward, dairy researcher, university administrator (born 1906) 3 November – Redmond Phillips, actor, writer (born 1912) 6 November – Zena Abbott, weaver (born 1922) 19 November – Sir John Stallworthy, obstetrician