1989 in New Zealand television

This is a list of New Zealand television-related events in 1989.

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Events

• October – Network Two is renamed to Channel 2.
• 26 November – TV3 is launched in New Zealand.
• 27 November – American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles based on the comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird begins airing on TV3.
• 2 December – American sitcom Family Matters begins premiering on New Zealand television on TV3 three months after its US television debut.
• 5 December – Australian soap Home and Away makes its ever debut in New Zealand with the series transmitting on TV3.
• 8 December – The final editions of Top Half (Auckland) and Today Tonight (Wellington) were broadcast on Channel 2 at 5.45pm.

Debuts

Domestic

• 13 February – After 2 (Network Two) (1989-1991)
• 13 February – 3:45 Live (Network Two) (1989-1990)
• 3 April – Holmes (TV One) (1989-2004)
• 3 April – Sale of the Century (Network Two) (1989-1993)
• 5 April – Shark in the Park (TV One) (1989-1991)
• 18 June – Strangers (Network Two) (1989)
• 9 July – The Shadow Trader (Network Two) (1989)
• 30 October – Blind Date (Channel 2) (1989-1991)
• 27 November – The Early Bird Show (TV3) (1989-1992)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)
• 14 Days on Trial (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
• Your Choice (Channel 2) (1989)
• Space Knights (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
• Night of the Red Hunter (1989)

International

• 8 January – Probe (Network Two)
• 13 January – The Survival Factor (Network Two)
• 12 February – The Adventures of Snelgrove Snail (TV One)
• 12 February – TUGS (TV One)
• 1 April – TV 101 (Network Two)
• 1 April – AlfTales (TV One)
• 5 April – Dear John (USA) (Network Two)
• 5 April – No Frills (TV One)
• 6 April – Stoppit and Tidyup (TV One)
• 7 April – Mission: Impossible (1988) (Network Two)
• 27 April – Count Duckula (Channel 2)
• 29 April – Saturday Night Clive (TV One)
• 7 May – Tube Mice (TV One)
• 7 May – Tumbledown Farm (TV One)
• 16 May – Charlie Chalk (TV One)
• 2 July – Gran (TV One)
• 1 September – Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (TV One)
• 3 September – A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV One)
• 27 November – Garfield and Friends (TV3)
• 27 November – The Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (TV3)
• 27 November – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (TV3)
• 27 November – The Shiralee (TV3)
• 28 November – The Nutt House (TV3)
• 1 December – In the Heat of the Night (TV3)
• 2 December – Mighty Mouse and Friends (TV3)
• 2 December – Family Matters (TV3)
• 2 December – Midnight Caller (TV3)
• 2 December – High Mountain Rangers (TV3)
• 3 December – Murphy Brown (TV3)
• 5 December – Home and Away (TV3)
• 7 December – Houston Knights (TV3)
• 8 December – Empty Nest (TV3)
• 8 December – Hey Dad..! (TV3)
• 8 December – Rafferty's Rules (TV3)
• Nightingales (Channel 2)
• Surgical Spirit (TV One)
• Island Son (Channel 2)
• A Bit of a Do (TV One)
• Colin's Sandwich (TV One)
• China Beach (Channel 2)
• Streets Apart (TV One)
• Doctor Doctor (Channel 2)
• Gruey (Channel 2)
• Unsub (Channel 2)
• Joint Account (TV One)
• Day by Day (Channel 2)
• Annie McGuire (Channel 2)
• Rockliffe's Folly (TV One)
• Paradise (Channel 2)
• Hannay (TV One)
• Dadah is Death (Channel 2)
• Baby Boom (Channel 2)
• The Comedy Company (Channel 2)
• / Denver, the Last Dinosaur (Channel 2)
• Round the Bend (Channel 2)
• Hothouse (Channel 2)
• / Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories (Channel 2)

New channels

• 26 November – TV3

Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on a New Zealand television network that had previously premiered on another New Zealand television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after previously premiering on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.

Domestic

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
What Now	Channel 2	TV One	1989
Sale of the Century	TV One	Channel 2	1989

International

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Tales of the Wizard of Oz	TV One	Channel 2	17 March
Postman Pat	TV One	Channel 2	15 August
Frank's Place	Channel 2	TV One	22 October
TUGS	Channel 2	TV One	18 November
DuckTales	TV3	Channel 2	27 November
The Wuzzles	TV3	TV One	27 November
Walt Disney's Mickey and Donald	TV3	TV One	2 December
/ The Smurfs	Channel 2	TV One	1989
The Adventures of Parsley	TV One	Channel 2	1989
Rainbow	Channel 2	TV One	1989
Mother and Son	Channel 2	TV One	1989

Television shows

• Play School (1972–1990)
• University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
• What Now (1981–present)
• Gloss (1987–1990)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)
• Blind Date (1989–1991)
• The Early Bird Show (1989–1992)
• Shark in the Park (1989–1992)
• After 2 (1989–1991)
• 3:45 Live (1989–1990)

Ending this year

• 16 April – Worzel Gummidge Down Under (also United Kingdom) (1987–1989)
• 5 November – University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)