This is a list of New Zealand television-related events in 1989.
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Events edit
- 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 edit
Domestic edit
- 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 edit
- 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 edit
- 26 November – TV3
Changes to network affiliation edit
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 edit
| 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 edit
| 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 edit
- 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 edit
- 16 April – Worzel Gummidge Down Under (also United Kingdom) (1987–1989)
- 5 November – University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
- Betty's Bunch (1989)