This is a list of New Zealand television related events from 2005.

Events

• 20 June - Rugby player Norm Hewitt and his partner Carol-Ann Hickmore win the first series of Dancing with the Stars.
• 17 October - Rosita Vai wins the second series of New Zealand Idol.
• American animated sitcom American Dad! begins airing on TV3.

Debuts

Domestic

• 21 March - Campbell Live (TV3) (2005-2015)
• 1 May - Dancing with the Stars (TV One) (2005-2009, 2015)
• The Unauthorised History of New Zealand (TVNZ) (2005-2009)
• Downsize Me! (TV3) (2005-2007)
• Ghost Hunt (TV2) (2005-2006)
• Kiwifruit (TVNZ) (2005-2006)

International

• 7 July - Doctor Who (2005) (Prime)
• Krypto the Superdog (TV2)
• Blue Water High (TV2)
• Justice League Unlimited (TV2)
• Silversun (TV One)
• American Dragon: Jake Long (TV2)
• Fifi and the Flowertots (TV2)
• American Dad! (TV3)
• Bob the Builder: Project Build It! (TV3)
• Transformers: Cybertron (TV2)
• The Batman (TV2)
• Foreign Exchange (TV One)
• Trollz (TV2)
• / The Tofus (TV2)
• Brandy and Mr. Whiskers (TV2)
• Lost (TV2)
• Pokémon Chronicles (TV2)
• The Robinsons (TV One)
• Shoebox Zoo (TV One)
• Noah and Saskia (TV2)
• Scrappy Races (TV4)
• Boohbah (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

Television shows

1980s

• What Now (1981-present)

1990s

• 60 Minutes (1990-present)
• Shortland Street (1992-present)
• Breakfast (1997-present)
• Target (1999-2013)
• Mitre 10 Dream Home (1999-present)

2000s

• Street Legal (2000-2005)
• Piha Rescue (2001, 2003–2017)
• My House My Castle (2001-2009 2011)
• Police Ten 7 (2002-present)
• Sticky TV (2002-2017)
• Eating Media Lunch (2003-2008)
• bro'Town (2004-2009)
• Saturday Disney (2004-2006)
• New Zealand Idol (2004-2006)
• Border Patrol (2004-present)
• Studio 2 LIVE (2004-2010)
• Kiwifruit (2005-2006)
• Campbell Live (2005-2015)
• Dancing with the Stars (2005-2009, 2015)

Ending this year

• 17 November - New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers (2005)
• December - Frontier of Dreams (2005)

Births

Deaths