Linden Saunders, music teacher and critic, broadcaster (born 1908) 26 March – Winnie Davin, writer, literary editor (born 1909) April–June 22 April – Henry May, politician (born 1912) 1 May – Wynn Abel, businessman, racehorse owner, athlete (born 1911) 2 May – James Godwin, military aviator, war crimes investigator (born 1995) 9 May – John McIndoe, artist (born 1898) 23 May – Edna Pearce, police officer (born 1906) 6 June – Sir James Barnes, politician (born 1908) 9 June – Gordon Rowe, cricketer (born 1915) 10 June – Bruno Lawrence, musician, actor (born 1941) 14 June – Dame Rangimarie Hetet, tohunga raranga (born 1892) 16 June – Ron Smith, public servant, communist, peace activist (born 1921) 22 June – Spencer Digby, photographer (born 1901) July–September 2 July – Richard Toy, architect (born 1911) 22 July – Jack Bergin, neurologist, anti-abortion campaigner (born 1921) 25 July Eddie Isbey, politician (born 1917) Gloria Rawlinson, poet, novelist, short-story writer, editor (born 1918) 31 July – Joan Cochran, social reformer, sex educator, teacher (born 1912) 1 August – Colin Gray, World War II fighter ace (born 1914) 8 August – Dot McNab, military administrator, political organizer (born 1921) 13 August – Bruce Grant, alpine skier (born 1963) 14 August – Freda White, show-jumper and racehorse trainer (born 1909) 25 August – Erich Geiringer, physician, peace activist, writer (born 1917) 27 August – Sir Geoffrey Roberts, military aviator and leader, airline manager (born 1906) 1 September – Sylvia Chapman, doctor (born 1896) 2 September – Ivan Vodanovich, rugby union player, coach and administrator (born 1930) 3 September – Sir Lance Adams-Schneider, politician, diplomat (born 1919) 5 September John Britten, mechanical engineer, designer (born 1950) Brian Poananga, sportsman, military leader, diplomat (born 1924) 11 September – Peter McIntyre, painter and author (born 1910) 21 September – Alan Deere, air force pilot (born 1917) 24 September – Peter Butler, trade unionist, politician (born 1901) October–December 15 October – Poul Gnatt, ballet dancer, balletmaster (born 1923) 16 October Cam Campion, politician (born 1943) Peter Murdoch, rugby union player (born 1941) 23 October – Harold Taylor, mathematician, physicist, university administrator, architectural historian (born 1907) 25 October – Noel Crump, swimmer (born 1916) 29 October – Fred Gerbic, politician (born 1932) 31 October – Sir Wallace (Bill) Rowling, 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand (born 1927) 5 November – Gordon Walters, painter (born 1919) 13 November – Dale Trendall, classical