Born in 2003
Turns 23 in 2026
Gifts for someone born in 2003
2003 Front PageTheir name. The news from their year.Unframed from $51.50Add their name
Their birth chartThe sky as astrology reads it, cast for one birth.Unframed from $51.50
The Years We Were BornThe whole family, together in years.Unframed from $51.50
Our Story timelineTheir life, told in your words.Unframed from $51.50
Front Page: New Zealand edition. The year is filled in; add their name in the editor. “Your name” is a placeholder. Light news is selected. A new keepsake, not an original newspaper.
BACK TO 2003 · New Zealand
A little history to go with their gift.
The Human Genome Project announced completion of its planned sequence ahead of schedule. Finding Nemo followed a clownfish across the ocean, while The Return of the King concluded Peter Jackson’s film trilogy based on Tolkien’s novels.
What happened in 2003?
Parliament votes to reform prostitution law
New Zealand Parliament voted for prostitution reform in 2003, passing the Prostitution Reform Act. The law changed the legal framework for sex work.
New Zealand marks Race Relations Day for the first time
Race Relations Day was celebrated for the first time in New Zealand in 2003. The observance created a new national occasion focused on race relations.
A new Supreme Court replaces Privy Council appeals
New Zealand’s Supreme Court replaced the London-based Privy Council as the country’s final court of appeal in 2003. The change established a final appeal court within New Zealand.
England wins rugby’s World Cup in extra time
England beat Australia 20–17 after extra time to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Firsts and new ideas
The Human Genome Project reached completion
The international project announced completion of its planned human genome sequence on April 14, 2003, ahead of its original schedule.
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH · International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium, Nature
Apple brought its iTunes store to Windows
Apple released a Windows version of the iTunes Music Store on October 16, 2003, expanding the service beyond Mac computers.
Apple Newsroom · Los Angeles Times, Terril Yue Jones and Jon Healey
Number ones and music in 2003
Chart positions belong to the country and chart named in each record.
Scribe tops New Zealand's 2003 singles chart
Scribe's 'Stand Up / Not Many' ranked No. 1 on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts' 2003 End of Year Top 50 Singles.
Crazy in Love launches a solo era
Beyoncé released Crazy in Love in 2003, beginning a major solo pop career.
Prices and everyday money in 2003
New Zealand figures in the money of the time. Units and sources matter: these are not today's prices.
| Item or measure | Then | Unit and source |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema (adult avg.) | $12.14 | one admission Statistics New Zealand |
| Petrol (annual avg.) | $1.05 | litre MBIE via Figure.NZ |
| Average weekly earnings | NZ$739.27 | per week Statistics New Zealand, New Zealand Official Yearbook 2010, Table 14.17 |
| Standard domestic letter postage | 40 cents | one full-rate standard domestic letter New Zealand Post |
Planning the birthday
Someone born in 2003 turns 23 in 2026. Before their birthday they are one year younger. Choose the birth year for the print; add the full date in the editor if you know it.
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