racing driver (born 1908) 17 July Marc Hunter, musician (born 1953) Ronald Tremain, composer, music academic (born 1923) 26 July – Dixie Cockerton, netball player and coach, cricketer, school principal (born 1925) 29 July – Alex Griffiths, conservationist (born 1911) 31 July – Athol Meyer, politician (born 1940) 3 August – Ronnie Boon, rugby union player (born 1909) 7 August – Bill Laney, politician (born 1913) 27 August – Essie Summers, novelist (born 1912) 30 August – Sir Toss Woollaston, painter and writer (born 1910) 12 September – Neville Thornton, rugby union player (born 1918) 13 September – Sir Frank Renouf, stockbroker, businessman, philanthropist (born 1918) 15 September – Amy Harper, photographer (born 1900) 18 September – Andy Wiren, cricketer (born 1911) 23 September – Trevor Berghan, rugby union player (born 1914) October–December 1 October – Jim Kearney, rugby union player (born 1920) 4 October – Tony Shelly, motor racing driver (born 1937) 18 October – Ilse von Randow, weaver (born 1901) 26 November – Sir Charles Bennett, broadcaster, military leader, public servant, diplomat, politician (born 1913) 6 December – Ken Comber, politician (born 1939) 8 December – Aaron Hopa, rugby union player (born 1971) 12 December – Phillippe Cabot, rugby union player (born 1900) See also List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica For world events and topics in 1998 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1998 References New Zealand New Zealand 1990s in New Zealand Years of the 20th century in New Zealand