The following lists events that happened during 1999 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,851,100 Increase since 31 December 1998: 22,500 (0.57%) Males per 100 Females: 96.5 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State - Elizabeth II Governor-General - The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO Government The 45th New Zealand Parliament continued. until the general election, held 27 November for the 46th New Zealand Parliament starting 10 December. The governing National Party was defeated. The Labour Party, led by Helen Clark, in coalition with Alliance, led by Jim Anderton, formed the new government. Speaker of the House - Doug Kidd then Jonathan Hunt Prime Minister - Jenny Shipley then Helen Clark Deputy Prime Minister - Wyatt Creech then Jim Anderton Minister of Finance - Bill Birch then Bill English then Bill Birch then Michael Cullen Minister of Foreign Affairs - Don McKinnon then Phil Goff Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum (until 17 May), Sian Elias (starting 17 May) 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 - Winston Peters United New Zealand - TBD Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland - Christine Fletcher Mayor of Hamilton - Russell Matthew Rimmington Mayor of Wellington - Mark Blumsky Mayor of Christchurch - Garry Moore Mayor of Dunedin - Sukhi Turner Events The Animal Welfare Act 1999 is passed into law The Pohatu Marine Reserve was formally established 3 May: The Daily Telegraph and The Hawke's Bay Herald Tribune merge to form Hawke's Bay Today. 11–15 September: State visit by United States President Bill Clinton to attend the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders meeting; the second Presidential visit after Lyndon Johnson in 1966; see Visit. 11 October: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan visits New Zealand. 27 November: The last "dry" electorates in New Zealand (Eden, Roskill and Tawa) voted to go "wet" and to allow alcohol sales. 1 December: Changes to alcohol licensing in the Sale of Liquor Amendment Act: Sunday sales in on-licence and off licence premises, supermarkets could sell beer (they sold wine from 1989) and the drinking age dropped from 20 to 18; the changes were passed by Parliament, 59 to 55. Arts and literature Michael King and Paula Boock win the Robert Burns Fellowship. Montana New Zealand Book