January • 3 January – The Waitangi Treaty Grounds and its museums are evacuated following a bomb threat received in an email. • 6 January – Learner licence driver tests are changed in order to drop high wait times. Testees must wait 10 days until attempting another test if they fail twice in a day. • 9 January – A seven-year legal battle concludes, marking three and a half hectares of
Titirangi bush to be removed for a water treatment plant. • 10 January – Train lines in Wellington lose power at around 3pm. Power is restored about six hours later. • 11 January – 10 hectares of scrub in
Tītahi Bay,
Porirua is lit on fire, starting at around 11pm. It is contained the following day. • 14 January – The
Auckland Light Rail project is cancelled by the government. The project oversaw building light rail system in Auckland. • 15 January • Train stations on Auckland's
Eastern Line between
Ōrākei and
Sylvia Park reopen after being closed for 10 months to allow tracks to be rebuilt. • Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with the Māori King,
Kīngi Tūheitia. Their discussions include the government's plans to remove Māori names from public organisations. • 16 January –
Golriz Ghahraman announces her resignation as a
Green Party Member of Parliament following three accusations of shoplifting in Auckland and Wellington. • 17 January • Wellington enters level two water restrictions due to its ageing infrastructure during summer demand spikes. Almost half of Wellington's water is lost to over 3,000 pipe leaks. The restrictions enact a ban of residential sprinklers and irrigation sprinklers in Wellington City, Porirua City, Hutt City and Upper Hutt City. • 2023
NCEA results are revealed, showing a drop in secondary school pass rates for the third year in a row. This is attributed to the
COVID-19 pandemic. • MetService issues a heat alert in Auckland due to night temperatures forecasted at 20–21 degrees. • 19 January • Four separate wildfires break out in
Amberley and
Loburn,
Canterbury, reaching an estimated area of 10 hectares. The fires are contained in the evening by over 100 firefighters. Three homes and a church are lost in the fires. •
Celia Wade-Brown is declared elected a
list MP for the Green Party following the resignation of Golriz Ghahraman. •
Westland declares a state of emergency due to heavy rain. • 20 January • A national hui is held at
Tūrangawaewae Marae, called by the
Māori King Tūheitia Paki, which has several thousand attendees. • A second wildfire on the north side of the
Waimakariri River, by
Swannanoa breaks out, reaching an estimated area of 12 hectares. Forty firefighters and four helicopters are used to fight the fire. • 21 January – A pod of 40
false killer whales and
bottlenose dolphins were
euthanised after becoming stranded on a reef near
Māhia Peninsula in the
Hawke's Bay region. • 22 January – The
Commerce Commission launches investigations into pricing and promotional practices of the two supermarket chains
Woolworths New Zealand and
Foodstuffs. • 23 January – The
New Zealand Defence Force deploys six personnel to assist the
United States-led coalition in countering the
Houthi movement's attacks on international shipping in the
Red Sea following the
Gaza war. • 24 January •
Albert Park in Auckland is evacuated along with surrounding streets after a man made "concerning comments". •
Waipukurau water supply drops to 26% due to a leak. Level four water restrictions are put in place, banning outdoor water use, and residents are asked not to use dishwashers or washing machines. • 26 January • Local Government Minister
Simeon Brown says that the government does not want to
decrease the voting age to 16, after a similar comment was made on 16 January. This ends the previous government's intention to decrease the age. • Members of the
Ngāti Kahu iwi (tribe) block access to
Taipa ahead of the Doubtless Bay Fishing Competition to protest the Government's proposed
Treaty of Waitangi Principles legislation and overfishing. Protesters vowed to continue their blockade over the weekend (27–28 January). • 30 January •
James Shaw, co-leader of the
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand announces his resignation, effective March. • New Zealand suspends its aid contribution to
UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) following
allegations that at least 12 UNRWA workers had participated in the
2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. • 31 January • The government announces that the ending of providing free COVID-19
rapid antigen test kits will be extended to 30 June. • A heat alert is issued for Auckland, and outdoor fires are banned in Canterbury.
February • 4 February – A wildfire along the banks of the Waimakariri River near
Kirwee reaches 80 hectares in size, leading to evacuations and the closure of Old West Coast Road. • 5 February –
Rangiora High School closes for one day due to a high
COVID-19 infection rate among its staff. • 6 February – Large crowds gather outside
Treaty House in
Waitangi, Northland, to protest against the Government's
Māori language policies and proposed Treaty Principles legislation. • 7 February –
Supreme Court rules that
iwi leader and climate activist
Mike Smith can sue seven companies for pollution including
Fonterra,
Z Energy and
Genesis Energy Limited. • 8 February – Local state of emergency declared in the
Southland township of
Bluecliffs due to erosion caused by heavy rain and sea swell. • 10 February •
Westpac experiences an outage in which customers are unable to withdraw funds and use eftpos cards for more than 12 hours. • A
South Dunedin Countdown supermarket closes for at least a week, after suffering a rodent infestation. • 11 February – The government announces a $63 million funding increase for
Cyclone Gabrielle recovery, to remove sediment and debris. • 12 February – The Ministry of Primary Industries starts an investigation at a Christchurch Countdown supermarket, after a mouse is spotted running across an uncovered deli-made salad. • 13 February – A memorial service is held at
Muriwai to remember the death of two firefighters during Cyclone Gabrielle. A plaque was also unveiled. • 14 February •
2024 Port Hills fire: A
state of emergency is declared in
Christchurch and
Selwyn, as firefighters battle to control a
bushfire in the city's
Port Hills region. • Six residents of a rest home in Whitianga have died after a third of residents and staff were infected with Influenza A over a 12-day period. • Parliament repeals under urgency the
Three Waters programme. • 20 February: •
Labour Member of Parliament and former cabinet minister
Grant Robertson announces his resignation from politics to take up the position of
Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Otago commencing July 2024. • Thousands of
shortfin eels are found dead in the Low Burn Stream near
Mataura,
Southland. • 21 February – Green MP
Efeso Collins collapses and dies during a charity event. • 25 February – Food labels now must contain potentially life-threatening allergens bolded in the ingredients list. • 26 February –
State Highway 1 over
Brynderwyn Hills closes for repairs until 27 March. • 28 February • Parliament passes legislation under urgency repealing the
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 and disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora (the
Māori Health Authority). • The official cash rate is kept at 5.5%. •
Warner Bros. Discovery releases a proposal to shut down television news broadcaster
Newshub by 30 June 2024. • 29 February • Petrol stations
Z,
Allied Petroleum,
Gull,
Waitomo, etc. experience nationwide self-service pump outages due to a software problem caused by the leap year. •
New Zealand Blood Service lifts the
mad cow disease blood and plasma donation restriction. • The entirety of
Hamas is designated as a terrorist entity by the government, which follows a 2010 designation of its military as terrorist.
March • 1 March – Judge Evangelos Thomas imposes a total of NZ$10.21 million in reparations and NZ$2 million in fines on five companies and
GNS Science over their involvement in the
2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption. • 5 March: • Parliament votes to end taxpayer funding for
cultural reports. •
New Zealand Media and Entertainment acquires
Tauranga-based media company
SunMedia. • 6 March –
Lawrence Xu-Nan is elected as a list MP for the Green Party following the death of Efeso Collins. • 8 March – State-owned television news broadcaster
TVNZ proposes eliminating 68 jobs and axing several current affairs programs including
Fair Go,
Sunday,
1News' midday and late night news segments due to financial difficulties. • 9 March – The
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival takes place. • 10 March •
Chlöe Swarbrick is
elected co-leader of the Green Party, following the resignation of James Shaw. •
Firefighters respond to multiple wildfires in the
Waitaki District. • 11 March – 50 passengers and crew are injured after
LATAM Airlines Flight 800 experiences an inflight
upset while landing at
Auckland International Airport. • 12 March • Scientists on an expedition to the
Bounty Trough discover more than a hundred species previously unknown in New Zealand waters. •
New Zealand Media and Entertainment acquires the family-owned
Gisborne Herald and its website. • 13 March • Golriz Ghahraman pleads guilty to shoplifting. • The government gives
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts a $7 million bailout. • 14 March • The
Wellington City Council approves a plan to increase housing density in Wellington. • The
Dunedin City Council votes to consult ratepayers on a proposal to sell energy company
Aurora Energy in order to pay off the company's forecast debt of NZ$750 million. • 15 March –
World of Music, Arts and Dance takes place in
New Plymouth. • 19 March – The
Rotorua Lakes Council cancels a scheduled Coco and Erika Flash
Drag Queen Story Hour event due to safety concerns. • 20 March – The government announces that it will ban disposable vapes, and increase the maximum fine from selling to under-18s from $10,000 to $100,000. • 21 March • It is announced that the country has entered a recession, with a GDP drop of 0.1% following a 0.3% drop in the September 2023 quarter. • A meteorite is discovered in
Mackenzie Country after it hit the ground on 13 March. It is the country's first meteorite to be recovered in 20 years, and is the country's tenth recovered meteorite. • 22 March –
MediaWorks New Zealand confirms that a hacker has compromised the personal information of 403,000 individuals who had participated in its online competitions. • 24 March – Two people are killed and three critically wounded following a street brawl involving 100 people in
Gisborne. • 26 March •
NZ Post confirms plans to lay off 750 workers over the next five years due to declining mail volume. • Members of
Destiny Church protest against Erika and Coco Flash's Drag Queen reading event at the
Gisborne library. • The
Hastings District Council cancels an upcoming Erika and CoCo Flash Rainbow Story event due to safety concerns. • 27 March: • The 2024
New Zealander of the Year Awards are announced, with climate scientist
Jim Salinger named New Zealander of the Year. • The
New Zealand Parliament passes major tax legislation restoring interest deductibility for residential investment property, reducing the bright-line test for residential property, and eliminating depreciation deductions for commercial and industrial buildings. • 28 March: • The Government halts work on legislation to create an ocean sanctuary around the
Kermadec Islands. • Parliament passes legislation requiring
electric cars and
plug-in hybrids to pay road user charges. • 29–31 March – The
2024 Warbirds over Wanaka airshow is held, with 64,800 people attending.
April • 1 April • The minimum wage is increased from $22.70 to $23.15 an hour. • Pharmacies become permitted to vaccinate children under the age of five. • Electric and hybrid electric vehicles under 3.5 tonnes now have to pay
road user charges, after previously being exempt. • 4 April – The New Zealand Government announces that local councils will have to hold referendums on
Māori wards and constituencies. • 5 April – Thousands of students participate in 20 "
climate strikes" events across the country. • 7 April – Changes to the
Accredited Employer Worker Visa are announced due to 'unsustainable' immigration levels. • 9 April –
TVNZ confirms its decision to discontinue its consumer affairs programme
Fair Go, along with its midday and late night news bulletins. • 10 April • The OCR remains at 5.5%. • Heavy rain in the West Coast causes the closure of
State Highway 6 and power outages due to three power poles being knocked down. Sandbags are placed in some places in Hokitika. 46 Air New Zealand flights are cancelled. • TVNZ confirms its decision to cancel its current affairs programme
Sunday. •
Warner Bros. Discovery confirms its decision to shut down its
Newshub news service by 5 July. • 12 April • A pier on a rail bridge over the
Rangitata River gets washed away due to heavy rain, causing the bridge to sag. • 52 Air New Zealand flights are cancelled due to bad weather and "engineering issues". • 16 April • The
Commerce Commission brings
One NZ to the High Court for allegedly breaching the
111 Contact Code, which was made to allow customers to contact emergency services during a power outage. • Media companies
Warner Bros. Discovery and
Stuff announce an agreement to replace
Newshub with a 6pm news bulletin provided by Stuff. • 17 April • The
Ministry of Education and
Oranga Tamariki (Ministry of Children) announce significant job cuts to meet Government budget savings targets of up to 7.5%. • Organisers of the
New Zealand A&P Agricultural Show announce that the 2024 event will not go ahead, citing financial issues. • Members of the
New Zealand Police Association vote to reject the Government's latest pay offer, which includes an overtime rate, NZ$1,500 cash payment and a pay increase for the third year. • 23 April – The
Wellington City Council cancels a NZ$32 million agreement with cinema chain
Reading Cinemas to refurbish and earthquake-strengthen its Wellington building. • 24 April –
Paul Goldsmith replaces
Melissa Lee as the Media and Communications Minister, and
Penny Simmonds has her Disability Issues portfolio removed. Lee is removed from cabinet and is replaced by
Simon Watts. In a statement, Luxon referenced issues in the media sector and "major financial issues with programmes run by the Ministry of Disabled People". • 25 April – The
Rangitata River rail bridge in the
Canterbury Region reopens after damage from severe weather two weeks earlier. • 28 April – A protest of several hundred people occurs in
Petone to oppose council's proposed demolition of
Petone Wharf after it was closed in 2021 due to earthquake damage. • The government's
school cellphone ban comes into force on the first day of Term Two. • The first
Popeyes restaurant in New Zealand opens. •
NZTA launches a mobile app which serves several functions, such as paying vehicle registrations and road user charges.
May • 1 May – The government stops funding public transport fares which make trips free for children, and half price for people under 25. • 2 May – The former
Australian Foreign Minister,
Bob Carr, says he will take 'legal action', after Winston Peters makes remarks on his views on the
AUKUS arrangement. • 3 May –
The Wairoa Star newspaper ends after 103 years of publication. • 5 May –
Environment Canterbury Chair Cr Peter Scott steps down after admitting to illegal irrigation during a
Newstalk ZB radio interview. • 7 May •
Green Party MP
Julie Anne Genter is referred to the
New Zealand Parliament's privileges committee following complaints that she intimidated
National Party's MP
Matt Doocey during a heated parliamentary exchange. • Junior doctors hold a nationwide strike and pickets to protest pay cuts in several healthcare sectors. •
Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown abandons plans to sell the
Ports of Auckland, which will remain in the hands of the
Auckland Council. • The
Whanganui District Council votes to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza in response to the
Gaza war. • 10 May • The
Employment Relations Authority orders public broadcaster
TVNZ to enter into mediation with the
E tū union over staff redundancies caused by cutbacks to several news and current affairs programmes. •
Penguin Random House New Zealand cuts eight roles as part of a major restructure. • 11 May –
Transpower issues a power grid emergency in anticipation of
an extreme geomagnetic storm, which was the most intense solar storm since 2003. As a precaution, several transmission lines are disabled. Aurorae are visible as far north as Auckland. • 12 May –
TVNZ's current affairs show
Sunday airs its final episode after being broadcast for 22 years. • 13 May •
New Zealand Court of Appeals overturns a
High Court decision squashing the
Waitangi Tribunal's summons to
Children's Minister Karen Chhour to testify at a hearing about the Government's proposed legislation to overturn Section 7AA of the
Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. • TVNZ airs the final episode of its consumer affairs programme
Fair Go after being broadcast for 47 years. • 14 May • The
Department of Internal Affairs apologises for lengthy delays in processing
New Zealand passport applications. •
Warner Bros. Discovery cancels the reality television series
The Block NZ after being broadcast for 12 years. • 16 May • Junior doctors stage a second strike to protest for better pay and working conditions. • Dairy company
Fonterra announces plans to sell its global consumer business and 17 manufacturing sites in New Zealand and overseas as part of a shift towards becoming a global business-to-business supplier of dairy nutritition products. • 21 May •
National Party MP
David MacLeod is suspended by Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon from his Environment and Finance select committee roles after failing to declare 19 candidate donations worth NZ$178,000. • Heavy rainfall nationwide leads to flash flooding in
Auckland, the
Bay of Plenty and
Christchurch. • Residents in
Ngongotahā's Western Road were told to temporarily evacuate due to rising water levels in the Ngongotahā Stream. • 22 May • The government invests NZ$24 million into
Mike King's I Am Hope's Gumboot Friday programme providing counselling to young people. • Former
Labour Party MP and cabinet minister
Kiri Allan pleads guilty to charges of careless driving and failing to accompany a police officer in July 2023. • 23 May – A sixteen year old
Trinity Catholic College student
Enere McLaren-Taana dies after being stabbed at
Dunedin's bus hub in Great King Street. • 24 May – A thirteen-year-old boy is charged with murder in relation to McLaren-Taana's death. • 30 May •
Te Pāti Māori and the Toitu Te Tiriti movement hold a nationwide day of protest in opposition to the Government's perceived assault on
Tangata whenua and the
Treaty of Waitangi. Protest marches and car convoy rallies occur in several urban centres including
Auckland,
Tauranga,
Christchurch and Invercargill. • Junior doctors affiliated with the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) and
New Zealand Blood Service employees affiliated with APEX and the
Public Service Association stage twin strikes to demand better wages and working conditions. • The
2024 budget is delivered. • 31 May •
Jetstar Flight JQ225 slides off the runway at
Christchurch Airport, after suffering steering issues caused by a possible hydraulic leak. •
Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter reaches an agreement with
Meridian Energy on an electricity supply deal, allowing it to remain open until 2044. •
Employment Court Chief Judge Christina Inglis dismisses television broadcaster
TVNZ's appeal against the
Employment Relations Authority's ruling orders TVNZ to enter into collective bargaining with its employees. • Hawke's Bay iwi (tribe)
Ngāti Kahungunu hosts a second national hui of unity at
Omāhu Marae near
Hastings. • The
Wellington City Council votes to sell its 34% minority stake (worth NZ$278 million) in
Wellington Airport, investing the proceeds in a major disaster investment fund.
June • June – Eleven
pseudoephedrine cold and flu medicines return to shelves without the requirement of a prescription after the
Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Act 2024 was passed in April 2024. In 2011 they became prescription-only due to being a
methamphetamine precursor ingredient. • 1 June – Police in
Levin arrest two individuals and impound six cars after a gathering with over 200 cars turns violent. • 3 June – The
2024 King's Birthday Honours are announced. • 5 June – Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon and
Niuean Premier Dalton Tagelagi announce an agreement to enhance the
free association relationship between the two countries and that New Zealand would invest NZ$20.5 million into a new renewable energy project on Niue. • 7 June –
National Party MP
David MacLeod is referred by the
Electoral Commission to the Police over undeclared election donations totalling almost NZ$178,000. • 8 June – 20,000 people take part in the "March for Nature" protest in Auckland against the Government's proposed
Fast-track Approvals Bill. • 8–10 June – Rail workers affiliated with the Rail and Maritime Transport Union strike for over weekend leave and workload issues. • 10 June – The
Public Service Commission launches an investigation into alleged privacy data breaches by
Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party) during the
2023 New Zealand general election. • 11 June – The
Commerce Commission files 21 criminal charges against
Kiwibank for errors resulting in over 36,000 customers being overcharged by a total of NZ$7 million. • 13 June –
Chinese Premier Li Qiang undertakes a state visit to reaffirm
China–New Zealand relations. • 16 June –
Air New Zealand Flight NZ607 experiences turbulence during a flight between
Wellington and
Queenstown, causing injury to a crew member and passenger. • 17 June •
Green Party co-leader
Marama Davidson announces her breast cancer diagnosis. •
Virgin Airlines Boeing 737 VA148 makes an emergency landing in
Invercargill after a bird strike. • 20 June • A falling transmission tower causes a power outage that affects almost 100,000 properties in
Northland, which is most of the region. The power outage was caused by Omexon contractors removing all the nuts securing the tower to its baseplate in breach of safety protocols. • New GDP figures are revealed, marking the country's exit out of a recession. GDP rose by 0.2% since the last quarter although GDP per capita dropped by 0.3%. This is the sixth consecutive quarter that GDP per capita has fallen. • 21 June – Due to a steering problem, the
Interislander ferry
Aratere runs aground near
Picton. There are no injuries. • 22 June –
Aratere is refloated. • 24 June – The
Department of Conservation delays plans to create six marine reserves in the southeast South Island, which had been announced by the previous
Labour Government in October 2023. • 25 June • Parliament receives a 60,000 strong petition opposing the
National-led coalition government's plans to reverse the ban on live animal exports. • Torrential rain leads to
flooding in
Hastings and
Wairoa, resulting in evacuations and local states of emergency. • Media company
Stuff announces the closure of its last remaining
Northland community newspapers:
The Northern News,
The Whangārei Leader and
Far North Real Estate. • 26 June • Frederick Hobson and Shane Tane are sentenced for their roles in the
murder of Janak Patel. • Lauren Dickason is sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for
murdering her three children. • Three fishermen are found dead following heavy rainfall and winds that caused coastal inundation along the Eastern coast. • 27 June • Former
Green Party MP
Golriz Ghahraman is convicted of four charges of shoplifting and fined $1600 and court costs of $260. •
Cadbury confirms that it had stopped production of
chocolate fish in 2023 due to a lack of demand. • 29 June –
Postal voting for the
2024 Tauranga local elections opens. • 30 June – Te Aka Whai Ora (the
Māori Health Authority) is dissolved.
July • 1 July •
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi reduces funding for the
Te Huia passenger railway line between Auckland and
Hamilton from 75% to 60%. • The
Earthquake Commission is renamed the
Toka Tū Ake Natural Hazards Commission. • Launch of the
Sport Integrity Commission, the country's anti-doping agency and professional sports oversight body. • 5 July – The last episode of
Newshub is aired on television, ending 34 years of broadcasting. • 6 July –
Newshub replacement news bulletin
ThreeNews premieres on
Three TV channel. • 10 July – The Crown admits that a
miscarriage of justice occurred in the convictions of Gail Maney and Stephen Stone for the
murder of Deane Fuller-Sandys. • 12 July – The New Zealand Government extends the
New Zealand Defence Force's deployment to assist US-led efforts to combat
Houthi forces in the
Red Sea until 31 January 2025. • 15 July – A pay dispute between the New Zealand Government and
New Zealand Police Association is settled in the Government's favour following third-party arbitration. • 16 July –
Kiwibank pleads guilty to "systemic breaches" of the
Fair Trading Act 1986. • 18 July • Two buses travelling as part of a convoy carrying Chinese tourists overturn within 100 metre of each other along
State Highway 8 between
Lake Tekapo and
Twizel, injuring 15 people. • After admitting to breaching the Gambling Act,
SkyCity Auckland casino announces that it will close for five consecutive days. • 19 July –
Global IT outages affect several businesses in the country, including
ANZ,
ASB,
Kiwibank,
Westpac,
Woolworths, Auckland Transport's
HOP card and
Jetstar. • 20 July –
Mahé Drysdale is
elected as
Mayor of Tauranga.
Local body elections are also held, ending four years of rule by commissioners. • 22 July – Skipper Lance Goodhew is acquitted of breaching his duties as a worker aboard the fishing boat
Enchanter, which capsized at
North Cape in March 2022, resulting in four deaths. • 23 July • Four former
Gloriavale Christian Community members file a NZ$10 million class action lawsuit against Gloriavale and five government agencies, alleging that members had been subject to
modern slavery from childbirth. • A wildfire near
Lake Pukaki burns 50 hectares of land, leading to the evacuation of four properties. • 24 July – A formal inquiry by the
New Zealand government concludes that since 1950, about 200,000 people in state and religious care were
abused, experiencing abuses such as
rape,
sterilization, and
electric shocks. • 28 July –
Stuff publishes the last issue of the
Sunday News newspaper, ending a 61-year printing run. • 29 – The Government's new
boot camp pilot for youth offenders opens in
Palmerston North. • 30 July: • The remains of real estate agent
Yanfei Bao are discovered after she went missing a year prior. • Parliament passes
legislation reinstating the referendum requirement for
Māori wards and constituencies in local councils.
August • 1 August – A three-year boil water notice is issued for the Eastern Bush/Otahu Flat area in the
Southland Region. • 2 August – Leaders of the
Ngāpuhi,
Ngāti Manuhiri and
Te Roroa iwi (tribes) boycott an Iwi Chairs Forum meeting with several government ministers to protest the Government's alleged anti-Māori government policies. • 3 August – Three people die after their boat capsizes on the
Riverton bar. • 5 August –
New Zealand Warriors player and
2023 Dally M Awards winner
Shaun Johnson announces his retirement from
rugby league at the end of the 2024 season. • 7 August: • The
Kaipara District Council votes to disestablish its
Māori ward. • Lead contamination is reported in
Tokomaru's water supply, with residents being told to use bottled water. • 12 August: • Severe weather hits the country from
Gisborne to
Canterbury.
MetService issues a severe thunderstorm warning for the lower North Island. • Five schools in
Nelson and Nelson Hospital go into lockdown as a precaution against a family harm incident. • 14 August: • The Reserve Bank drops the
official cash rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent, the first drop since March 2020. •
Methamphetamine-laced lollies are accidentally distributed by anti-poverty charity
Auckland City Mission, prompting a Police investigation in the
Auckland Region. • 15 August –
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith issues an extradition order against fugitive Internet entrepreneur
Kim Dotcom, allowing him to be moved to the United States. • 20 August – Unionised
Hato Hone St John ambulance workers and call centre staff stage their first strike in response to a pay dispute. • 21 August – Three South Korean nationals are killed in a collision between a van and a four-wheel-drive vehicle near
Geraldine,
Canterbury Region. • 22 August: –
Whakaari / White Island erupts, prompting flight cancellations. • 24 August – Unionised Hatone Hone St John ambulance workers and call centre staff hold a second nationwide strike in response to a pay dispute. • 26 August: • The
Commerce Commission imposes a fine of NZ$420,000 on the dairy firm Milkio Foods Limited for mislabeling its
ghee products as produced locally in New Zealand despite importing butter from India. • The
Court of Appeal of New Zealand upholds the
Employment Court's 2022 ruling that
Uber drivers should be treated as employees rather than contractors. • 27 August: • The Commerce Commission imposes a fine of nearly NZ$2.5 million on
TSB Bank for overcharging customers. •
High Court Justice Peter Andrew orders the
Head Hunters gang and its alleged boss Wayne Doyle to forfeit NZ$15 million worth in cash and property assets to the
New Zealand Police. •
Australian Police and
New Zealand Police announce they have concluded a joint
illicit drug operation that resulted in 1,611 arrests and 2,962 charges
nationwide. The police also confiscated almost 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lb) of illicit drugs and over 2,500
cannabis plants, worth 93 million
AUD (US$63 million). • Three Samoan seasonal workers are killed in a multi-vehicle crash in
Ramarama,
Auckland. • The
Auckland Council cancels
e-scooter company Beam after the company deployed more e-scooters than its licence allowed. • 28 August: • A roll out of an encypted emergency services radio system begins in South Canterbury, which prevents eavesdropping by the public. It is expected to be operating nationwide by 2026. • Parliament passes
legislation requiring
local councils to develop plans for delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services as part of its "
Local Water Done Well" programme. • 30 August –
Tūheitia Paki, the
Māori King,
dies unexpectedly at the age of 69 after heart surgery. • 31 August – The
Manahau tank barge runs aground near
Westport.
September • 2 September – The Government unveils its
National Land Transport Programme, which aims to build 17 "Roads of National Significance" over the next three years and complete several public transportation projects including
Auckland's
City Rail Link. • 5 September –
Nga wai hono i te po succeeds her father Tūheitia to become the
Māori queen. • 7 September – Several
local councils voice opposition to the
National-led government's plans to reverse "blanket" speed limit reductions introduced by the previous
Labour Government. • 9 September: • Two Auckland
Muslim schools Al-Madinah School and Zayed College go into lockdown after receiving an email threat. •
SkyCity Auckland closes for five days for failing to stop a problem gambler from spending over NZ$1 million in pokies. •
KiwiRail pays a fine of NZ$432,500 for exposing passengers to risk after the
Kaitaki lost power while travelling across the
Cook Strait in late January 2023. • An
Mpox case linked to the Winter Pride festival in
Queenstown in late August 2024 is reported. • 10 September: • Thousands of union-affiliated
Woolworths New Zealand supermarket workers strike to demand better wages and working conditions. •
Winstone Pulp International closes down its Karioi pulp mill and
Tangiwai timber mill, affecting 230 jobs in the
Ruapehu District. • 11 September: • An independent government-commissioned review criticises the
Hawke's Bay Regional Council's lack of preparation and community engagement prior to
the flooding in
Wairoa in June 2024. • A second mpox case linked to the Queenstown Winter Pride festival is reported. • 12 September: •
Parliament passes a private member's bill amending the
Fair Trading Act 1986 to ensure that
gift cards have a minimum expiry date of three years from their initial purchase. •
Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary is accredited by
DarkSky International as New Zealand's third international dark sky sanctuary. • 13 September – Heavy snowfall in
Central Otago and the
Canterbury High Country leads to road and school closures, and power outages affecting thousands of residents. • 16 September: • The
hoiho is named
Bird of the Year for 2024. • The
Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority bans 32
New World supermarkets in the
South Island from selling alcohol for 48 hours after the chain offered an illegal 26% discount on alcohol beverages on 9 January 2024. • 17 September: • Police charge the 41 members of the New Zealand chapter of the
Comanchero Motorcycle Club with a total of 137 charges and seize NZ$9.2 million worth in assets following a complex three-year investigation. •
Te Papa National Museum introduces a new NZ$35 entry fee for international visitors. • 18 September: •
Oji Fibre Solutions announces that it will close its
Penrose pulp and paper recycling mill effective 18 December, leading to 72 job losses. •
Ravensdown announces that it will close its
Dunedin fertiliser plant effective January 2024, leading to 30 job losses. • 19 September •
The Wairoa Star is revived after selling to a new owner. The 103-year-old newspaper had previously closed in May. • Parliament passes two new laws banning the public display of gang insignia, imposing non-consorting orders on gang members and making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing. • Over 200
New Zealand Defence Force civilian employees opt for
voluntary redundancy as part of a restructuring plan. •
StraitNZ ferry
MV Connemara loses power at 10:30pm while crossing the
Cook Strait, prompting an investigation by
Maritime New Zealand. • 20 September: • The
Supreme Court of New Zealand orders the
New Zealand Crown to fund four Te Kāhui litigants NZ$105,000 in court costs prior to their customary marine title case that is scheduled to be held in November 2024. • Former
Green Party Member of Parliament
Darleen Tana loses her bid for a judicial review of her party's decision to expel her. • A total of 11 mpox cases, including several Clade II, cases are linked to the Queenstown Winter Pride outbreak. • 21 September – New Zealand pilot
Philip Mehrtens is released by
West Papuan rebels after one and a half years in captivity following negotiations involving Indonesian authorities and New Zealand government agencies. • 23 September – Auckland retired eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne is acquitted of his wife
Pauline Hanna's death following an eight-week murder trial. • 24 September: •
Bayfield High School in
Dunedin and
Wellington East Girls' College are evacuated after receiving email threats. •
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is appointed as the next chief executive of the
Social Investment Agency, effective 11 November. •
High Court Justice Robert Osborne rules against a
Queenstown Lakes District Council bylaw restricting
freedom camping in
Queenstown and
Wānaka. • 25 September • The
New Zealand Parliament passes legislation reviving
charter schools. •
Dunedin City Council votes to retain ownership of
Aurora Energy. • Social housing provider
Kāinga Ora announces a second round of job cuts, affecting 321 jobs. •
GNS Science confirms that 59 roles will be cut, amounting to 10% of its workforce. • The
Engineering New Zealand Disciplinary Committee upholds a complaint against senior engineer
Alan Reay for inadequately supervising the construction of the
CTV Building, which collapsed during the
2011 Christchurch earthquake. • 26 September • Associate Education Minister
David Seymour announces plans to prosecute parents for school
truancy and to remove teacher-only days during school term time. • The Government confirms that the
Dunedin Hospital rebuild would be scaled back significantly, citing its projected NZ$3 billion cost and upgrading projects at other regional hospitals. •
Education Minister Erica Stanford reallocates NZ$30 million from the "Te Ahu o
te Reo Māori" teacher training programme to refreshing the mathematics curriculum. • 100 protesters gather outside the Israeli Embassy in Wellington to protest the recent escalation in the
Israel-Hezbollah conflict in
Lebanon. • Science, Innovation and Technology Minister
Judith Collins confirms plans to give the
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) oversight over fellow weather forecaster and
MetService following a review of the national weather forecasting system. • New Zealand signs a
free trade agreement with the
United Arab Emirates that would remove duties on 99% of New Zealand exports over the next three years. • 27 September • Public broadcaster
Whakaata Māori (Māori Television) proposes job cuts as part of an internal restructuring due to budgetary constraints and a digital transition. • The
Alliance Group proposes shutting down its
Timaru Alliance Smithfield meatworks plant, which would affect about 600 jobs. • The
Hastings District Council votes by a split majority to grant non-elected youth councillors voting rights during committee meetings. • 28 September: • Thousands gather in
Dunedin,
Westport and
Reefton to protest health sector cuts including the Government's plans to scale back the reconstruction of the
Dunedin Hospital. • Launch of the
Buller Declaration petition campaign for better health services nationwide.
October • 1 October: • Fines for illegally parking in disabled cark parks rise from NZ$150 to NZ$750. • The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) rise from NZ$35 to NZ$100. •
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests cease to be free. • The
Commerce Commission blocks the proposed merger of
Foodstuffs'
North Island and
South Island divisions. • Regulations requiring
vaping devices to have removable batteries and child safety devices come into force. • 2 October: • The
Court of Appeal of New Zealand quashes Gail Maney's conviction for the
murder of Deane Wade Fuller-Sandys. •
Philip Morris withdraws its
IQOS heated tobacco products from the New Zealand market due to new vaping regulations. •
MetService issues a red heavy rain warning for
North Otago,
Dunedin and the coastal
Clutha District. • A
state of emergency is declared in Dunedin in response to
heavy rainfall and flooding. Residents in low-lying suburbs are told to evacuate. • 4 October: A state of emergency is declared in the
Clutha District due to
heavy rainfall and flooding. • 5 October – The Government approves a NZ$226 million roads and highways resilience package to reduce the impact of severe weather events. • 6 October: • A magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs 25 kilometres west of Wellington. A 16-storey apartment complex in Wellington is evacuated and temporarily cordoned off. •
HMNZS Manawanui catches fire and sinks off Samoa, after running aground on 5 October. All 75 people aboard are rescued. The sinking marks the first loss of a
Royal New Zealand Navy vessel in service since
World War II. • Dunedin and the Clutha District lift their states of emergency as flooding subsides. • 7 October: • Public broadcaster
TVNZ proposes a second round of restructuring including closing the
1News website in February 2025 and investing more in its
TVNZ+ streaming service. • Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters staged competing protesters outside TVNZ to mark the first anniversary of the outbreak of the
Gaza war. • 8 October – The Government allocates NZ$6 million to improve wait times and patient care and services at
Palmerston North Hospital. • 9 October: • The official cash rate is cut by 50 basis points to 4.75 per cent. • 200 pro-Palestinian protesters call on the
University of Otago to condemn the "
Gaza Genocide" and end collaborations with Israeli universities and corporations. • 10 October • The
Wellington City Council votes not to sell their 34% share in
Wellington International Airport. •
KiwiRail proposes slashing 50 operational and head office roles in the state-owned
Interislander ferry service. • 11 October – The
MV Connemara loses power a second time while approaching
Wellington Harbour. • 13 October – Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt the
New Zealand First's party's annual conference in
Hamilton. • 14 October: •
Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka announces 19 new marine protection areas in the
Hauraki Gulf. •
Mayor of Tauranga Mahé Drysdale and the
Tauranga City Council adopt a resolution to
fluoridate Tauranga's water supply, effective 24 October. • 16 October – Parliament unanimously passes
Deborah Russell's private member's bill exempting victims of domestic violence from waiting a mandatory two years to seek a divorce upon the granting of a protection order from their spouse. • 17 October – The
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand's membership votes to initiate
waka-jumping legislation against former Green MP
Darleen Tana. • 18 October: • The
Alliance Group confirms that it will close its Smithfield meat processing plant in
Timaru, affecting about 600 jobs. • New Zealand initiates mandatory negotiations with Canada under the multilateral
CPTPP trade framework in response to a bilateral dispute over Canadian dairy tariffs. • 19 October –
Air New Zealand Flight NZ247 is grounded at
Sydney International Airport following a
bomb threat. • 20 October – A wildfire near
Meremere in
Waikato burns over 2,471 acres of the protected
Whangamarino Wetland, prompting an emergency response from
firefighters. • 22 October: • Former Green Party MP
Darleen Tana is expelled from the New Zealand Parliament using the
Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act 2018. • Associate Education Minister
David Seymour releases the Government's revised
school meal programme. • The Government decides to appoint a
Crown observer to
Wellington City Council in response to the council's budgetary problems. • The Government amends resource management legislation to prevent
local government bodies from implementing new freshwater plans before the Government can update its national policy statement for freshwater management (NPSFM). • The
New Zealand Police arrest 28 people and seize NZ$800,000 worth in assets during a
North Island-wide operation targeting the
Mongrel Mob Barbarians MC gang's
East Bay chapter in
Ōpōtiki. In response,
Te Pati Māori co-leader accused Police of terrorising Māori communities in Opotiki during Operation Highwater.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell has defended the conduct of Police during the operation. • Thousands, including
Māori queen Nga wai hono i te po, attend a third national
hui for unity at
Tuahiwi Marae in
North Canterbury focusing on indigenous economies. • 23 October: • Thousands attend nationwide protests in 12 centres organised by the
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions to protest the New Zealand Government's cuts to public services and alleged attack on the
Treaty of Waitangi. • The
Christchurch City Council passes a resolution to amend its procurement policy to exclude companies involved in building and maintaining
Israeli settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian territories. • A woman is stabbed to death while travelling on a bus in
Onehunga, the first violent fatality aboard an
Auckland Transport public transport service since 2010. • 24 October: • High winds disrupt 28 flights and the berthing of a
StraitNZ ferry in Wellington. • The New Zealand Government appoints retired cabinet minister
Richard Prebble and senior insurer Ken Williamson to the
Waitangi Tribunal. Kevin Prime is reappointed for a second term. • 25 October: • High winds lead to the cancellation of 30 flights in Wellington and power outages in
Ohariu. Heavy rain, snow and wind warnings are issued throughout the
North and
South Islands. • Kael Leona is charged with murder of Bernice Louise Marychurch in relation to the Onehunga bus stabbing incident on 23 October. • 26 October – Heavy rain, strong winds and snow lead to flooding, road closures and adverse weather warnings in the
Nelson-
Marlborough,
West Coast Regions and
Central Otago. • 27 October – Firefighters contain the
Whangamarino Wetland wildfire, which has destroyed more than 1,000 ha of wetland. • 30 October: • American streaming platform
Max launches on
Sky New Zealand's channels and platforms including its
Neon streaming service. • The
Education Review Office releases truancy figures confirming that over 80,000 students were absent from school for more than three weeks during Term 2 of the 2024 school year. •
Tamah Alley succeeds
Tim Cadogan as
Mayor of Central Otago. • The New Zealand Government reimburses 95
Lake Alice Hospital survivors, who had part of their compensation payments deducted by legal fees in 2001. • 31 October — New Zealand signs a free trade agreement with the six-member
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). As part of the agreement, 99% of New Zealand exports to the GCC would become duty-free over a ten-year period.
November on
Lambton Quay, Wellington • 2 November — The
Queenstown-based news website
Crux ceases publication due to business difficulties. • 4 November: •
New Zealand Police ceases to respond to mental health call outs. • Two
University of Canterbury residential halls report a food poisoning outbreak affecting over 100 students. • 5 November: • The
Inland Revenue Department ceases sharing taxpayers' encrypted details with social media platforms following criticism from 8,000 taxpayers. • The Imam Raza Mosque in
Auckland's
New Lynn suburb is the target of an attempted arson attempt, prompting a response from Police and firefighters. • 6 November: • Police arrest a 19-year-old man in relation to the Imam Reza Mosque arson attempt in New Lynn yesterday. • The Government signs a NZ$25.2 million compensation settlement with three
Kurahaupō iwi tribes to resolve a post-
Treaty of Waitangi settlement issue of contaminated land at
RNZAF Base Woodbourne. • 7 November – The
Treaty Principles Bill is introduced to the
New Zealand Parliament ahead of schedule, sparking protests in
Wellington and
Auckland's
Epsom suburb. • 8 November – Heavy rain leads to flooding and road closures in the southern
Westland District. • 9 November –
Mayor of Westland Helen Lash declares a
state of emergency in southern Westland after the region experiences 375 mm of rain in the last 24 hours. Homes in and around
Haast are also flooded.
New Zealand State Highway 6 was also temporarily closed by a land slide. • 10 November: • The local state of emergency in southern Westland is lifted. State Highway 6 between Haast and
Franz Josef Glacier remains closed due to slips. •
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announces the Government will introduce new anti-stalking legislation with new restraining and harmful digital communications orders. • 11 November: • The
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty) opposing the
Treaty Principles Bill begins marching to
Wellington in two convoys from
Cape Reinga in
Northland and
Bluff in
Southland. • Dairy company
Fonterra confirms the sale of several consumer brands including Anchor and Mainland, its subsidiaries Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka, and 17 manufacturing sites in New Zealand and overseas. •
Sistema Plastics confirms plans to lay off 100 workers at its
Auckland factory by Christmas 2024. • The Government appoints
Lindsay McKenzie as the
Crown Observer to the
Wellington City Council. • 12 November: • Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon delivers the Government's apology to survivors of
abuse in state and faith-based care. • The elephant
Burma is moved from
Auckland Zoo to
Monarto Safari Park in South Australia, leaving New Zealand without any elephants. • 13 November – Thousands of
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti participants cross the
Auckland Harbour Bridge on their way to Wellington. • 14 November: •
NZME proposes shutting down 14 of its community newspapers due to declining advertising. • The
Treaty Principles Bill passes its first reading in the
New Zealand Parliament amidst heated debate and opposition. • 15 November – The Government sets aside 9,000 hectares off the coast of
Southland for offshore aquaculture. • 16 November –
Destiny Church leader
Brian Tamaki leads a "Make New Zealand Great Again" motor rally in Auckland. • 17 November – Thousands attend a
referendum on
Khalistan independence organised by
Sikhs for Justice in
Auckland's
Aotea Square. • 18 November – About 1,000 people gather in the
Dunedin Town Hall to oppose the Government's proposed cuts to
Dunedin Hospital. • 19 November – 42,000 people attend the ninth and final day of the
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti protest march outside the
New Zealand Parliament, drawing international media attention. • 20 November: •
Oji Fibre Solutions proposes halting paper processing at its Kinleith Mill in
Tokoroa by 2025, affecting 230 jobs. •
Richard Chambers is confirmed by Police Minister
Mark Mitchell as the next
Police Commissioner, effective 25 November. • The New Zealand Government designates both
Hezbollah and the
Houthis as terrorist entities. • The
New Zealand Parliament passes
legislation restoring the right to
New Zealand citizenship for people born in
Samoa between 1924 and 1949. • 21 November: • The
Gangs Act 2024's provisions including a ban on
gang patches comes into force. •
Health New Zealand declares a
whooping cough epidemic after an outbreak of 263 cases over the past month. • 24 November – Volunteers led by whale rescue organisation
Project Jonah manage to refloat 40 stranded whales near
Ruakākā. Four whales died. • 27 November – A bus carrying foreign tourists collides with two other vehicles outside
Hamilton, killing one person and injuring 13 others. • 28 November – The report into the first phase of the
Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned is released to the public. • 29 November: • A man is convicted of discharging effluent into the Low Burn Stream near
Mataura in mid-February 2024, which killed thousands of
shortfin eels. • The first report from the naval inquiry into the sinking of
HMNZS Manawanui attributes the sinking to human error. • The
Waitangi Tribunal found that the
New Zealand Crown had breached the
Treaty of Waitangi by disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority). • The
Whangārei District Council votes to reject a directive by the
Ministry of Health to
flouridate their water supply.
December • 2 December: • The Hillgrove Egg Farm in
Moeraki, which is run by Mainland Poultry, reports the country's first case of the H7N6 subtype of
avian influenza, leading to the culling of 40,000 chickens.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard orders a halt to all New Zealand poultry exports until the country is free of the H7N6 subtype. • The
Supreme Court of New Zealand rules in favour of the
Attorney-General's appeal against a 2023 decision by the
Court of Appeal which lowered the threshold for proving Māori customary
foreshore and seabed customary claims. • 3 December: • A second shed at the Hillgrove Egg Farm is infected with the H7N6 subtype of
avian influenza, leading to the culling of about 80,000 chickens. • 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants stage an eight-hour strike to protest adverse pay and working conditions at hospitals nationwide. •
Transport Minister Simeon Brown and
Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown announce an overhaul of
Auckland municipal transport agency
Auckland Transport's functions and mandate. • Thirteen beached
pilot whales die in
Golden Bay despite local efforts to refloat them. • Three American and Canadian hikers are reported missing on
Aoraki / Mount Cook. • 4 December: • Ten Auckland high schools receive email threats, prompting a Police investigation. •
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins announces that the New Zealand Government will end
Marsden grants for humanities and social science research in favour of
STEM research. • 5 December: • A wildfire breaks out near
Bridge Hill in the
Canterbury Region, engulfing 535 hectares of scrubland and leading to the closure of
State Highway 73 between
Springfield and
Arthur's Pass. • Two Dunedin high schools including
Bayfield High School and ten early childhood centres in Auckland receive email threats. • 6 December – The
2024 New Zealand bravery awards are announced. • 7 December – A third shed at the Hillgrove Egg Farm tests positive for the H7N6 bird flu virus.
Biosecurity New Zealand also confirms plans to cull another 40,000 chickens at a fourth shed, bringing the total number of culled birds to 160,000. • 8 December – Firefighters work on containing the Bridge Hill fire, which has engulfed nearly 1,000 hectares of land northwest of Springfield, Canterbury. • 9 December: • 40,000 rearing hens at the Hillgrove Egg Farm are culled in order to contain the H7N6 bird flu, bringing the total number of culled birds to 200,000. •
Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke Van Velden announces that the Government will enact policies to allow employers to deduct pay for striking employees. • The
Court of Appeal of New Zealand allows the
Bank of New Zealand to proceed with action to close
Gloriavale Christian Community's accounts, citing breaches of the bank's human rights policy. • 10 December: • The
Commerce Commission announces that it will file criminal charges against
Woolworths New Zealand and two
Pak'nSave supermarkets, alleging inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. •
Winston Peters announces that the New Zealand Government will ban
greyhound racing by July 2026. • 11 December: • Winston Peters is appointed
Minister for Rail. • The
National Iwi Chairs Forum issues an open letter to
King Charles III requesting that he intervene to address the
New Zealand Crown's alleged breaches of
Treaty of Waitangi obligations towards
Māori. • 12 December - Parliament passes legislation introducing pet bonds for tenants and reinstating 90 day no-cause evictions. • 13 December: • The
New Zealand Parliament passes
legislation reinstating the
three strikes law that was repealed by the
Sixth Labour Government. • The Government abandons plans to progress the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, which proposed a tax on social media companies for using New Zealand media content. • 16 December – Supermarket chain
Woolworths New Zealand signs a new collective bargaining agreement with
First Union, giving union-affiliated workers a 6.8 percent pay rise over a period of two years. • 17 December: • The New Zealand Government's
Fast-track Approvals Bill passes its third reading. • 3,000
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) workers commence a partial strike in opposition to a zero percent pay offer from the Government. • 18 December: • The Government offers survivors of abuse and torture at
Lake Alice Hospital lump sum payments of NZ$150,000 each. •
Fire and Emergency New Zealand imposes a total fire ban in
Wairarapa due to dry conditions. • 19 December: • The
Nelson-
Tasman Region introduces a new regional cat control plan requiring all new cats to be microchipped, de-sexed and registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register. • Fire and Emergency New Zealand bans fireworks, sky lanterns and open fires in the
Hawke's Bay and
Queenstown Lakes District in response to dry conditions. • The
New Zealand economy enters into a state of
recession, with its third quarterly GDP dropping by 1%. • 21 December – A lightning strike disrupts power for 50,000
Transpower customers in
Hawke's Bay,
Gisborne and
Wairoa. • 23 December: • A total fire ban comes into force in the
Canterbury Region due to recent wildfires and dry conditions. • The
Interislander ferry
Kaiārahi experiences a technical fault while sailing from
Wellington to
Picton. The ferry resumes sailing after repairs are made to its lubrication pump. • 26 December –
Auckland's passenger rail network shuts down for up to 96 days between Christmas 2024 and late January 2026 for upgrades ahead of the
City Rail Link project's completion. • 31 December: • Parent support and education provider
Parents Centres New Zealand ceases operations. • The
2025 New Year Honours are announced. • 100 union-affiliated
Immigration New Zealand border staff commence strike action until 20 January 2025 to demand a pay rise from the Government. •
Kapiti Island and
Mana Island are returned to
Ngāti Toa Rangatira after a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown in 2014. == Holidays and observances ==