The following lists events that happened during 1990 in New Zealand. New Zealand celebrated its sesquicentennial, 150 years since the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi. In the general election in October, National was elected in a landside victory. GDP was $40.2 billion, unemployment was at 7.4% (March) and the exchange rate was 1 NZ$ per US$1.6750. This year New Zealand produced 8,000 million kWh of electricity.