music Performing arts Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Paul Bennett. Radio and television CanWest takes complete ownership of TV3 and launches TV4. TVNZ broadcasts MTV. July: Prime Television in Australia purchases 34 licences covering all major New Zealand centres. See: 1997 in New Zealand television, 1997 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, :Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), :Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand Film Lost Valley Topless Women Talk About Their Lives See: :Category:1997 film awards, 1997 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1997 films Internet See: NZ Internet History Sport Athletics Peter Buske wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:20:49 on 8 March in New Plymouth, while Terri-Lee Farr claims her first in the women's championship (2:55:20). Beatrice Faumuina became the first New Zealander to win an event at a World Athletics Championships. Basketball The Men's NBL was won by the Auckland Stars Tall Blacks Cricket Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team Golf New Zealand Open won by Greg Turner Horse racing Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup: Iraklis Auckland Trotting Cup: Kate's First Thoroughbred racing Netball Silver Ferns National Bank Cup Rugby league The Auckland Warriors competed in the breakaway Super League and finished 7th out of 10 teams. Waikato won the Super League Challenge Cup, defeating Canterbury 34–18 in the final. Waikato also won the Rugby League Cup. 25 April, New Zealand lost to Australia 22–34 26 September, New Zealand defeated Australia 30-12 Rugby union Super 12 Rugby Union World Cup National Provincial Championship Bledisloe Cup Tri Nations Series Ranfurly Shield Shooting Ballinger Belt – Ross Geange (Masterton) Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Central United who beat Napier City Rovers 3–2 in the final (after extra time). Births January–February 3 January – Jacob Cowley, rugby union player 7 January – Dylan Schmidt, trampolinist 10 January – Patrick Herbert, rugby league player 20 January – James Munro, motor racing driver 21 January – Josh Clarkson, cricketer 23 January – Duncan Campbell, snowboarder 24 January Hailey Duff, Scottish curler Jordan Uelese, rugby union player 3 February – Paige Hourigan, tennis player 11 February – Rosé, singer 12 February Anna Grimaldi, athlete Clayton Lewis, association footballer 13 February – Sevu Reece, rugby union player 17 February – Jordie Barrett, rugby union player March–April 1 March