2024 In New Zealand

Decades:	2000s; 2010s; 2020s; ; ;
See also:	History of New Zealand; List of years in New Zealand; Timeline of New Zealand history;

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

Head of state – Charles III
Governor-General – Cindy Kiro

Charles III
Cindy Kiro

Government

Legislature term: 54th New Zealand Parliament.

The Sixth National Government, elected in 2023, continues.

Speaker of the House – Gerry Brownlee
Prime Minister – Christopher Luxon
Deputy Prime Minister – Winston Peters
Leader of the House – Chris Bishop
Minister of Finance – Nicola Willis
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Winston Peters

Gerry Brownlee
Christopher Luxon
Winston Peters
Chris Bishop
Nicola Willis

Other party leaders in parliament

Labour – Chris Hipkins (Leader of the Opposition)
Green – James Shaw until 10 March then Chlöe Swarbrick, and Marama Davidson
ACT – David Seymour
NZ First – Winston Peters
Te Pāti Māori – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Chris Hipkins
James Shaw
Marama Davidson
Chlöe Swarbrick
David Seymour
Winston Peters

Judiciary

Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann
President of the Court of Appeal – Mark Cooper
Chief High Court judge – Sally Fitzgerald
Chief District Court judge – Heemi Taumaunu

Helen Winkelmann
Mark Cooper

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland – Wayne Brown
Mayor of Tauranga – Anne Tolley (as chair of commissioners)
Mayor of Hamilton – Paula Southgate
Mayor of Wellington – Tory Whanau
Mayor of Christchurch – Phil Mauger
Mayor of Dunedin – Jules Radich

Wayne Brown
Anne Tolley
Paula Southgate
Tory Whanau
Phil Mauger

Events

January

3 January – The Waitangi Treaty Grounds and its museums are evacuated following a bomb threat received in an email.
6 January – Learner license 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.
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 uncovered a 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.
21 February – Green MP Efeso Collins collapses and dies during a charity event.
24 February – The new Kaeo Bridge in Northland opens after starting in 2021 and being unveiled in 2015.
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
- 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.
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, 1 News' 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.
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.
20 March – The government announces that it will ban disaposable vapes, and increase the maximum fine from selling to under-18s from $10,000 to $100,000.
19 March – The Rotorua Lakes Council cancels a scheduled Coco and Erika Flash Drag Queen Story Hour event due to safety concerns.
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.
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.
28 March – The Government halts work on legislation to create an ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands.
29–31 March – The 2024 Warbirds over Wanaka airshow is held, with 60,000–70,000 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.
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 New Zealand 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".
- The government pledges $8.2 million to the Pacific Connect cable and a further $8.2 million to fund building a Pacific oceans and fisheries research vessel.
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 New Zealand 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 Canterbury 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.
29 April
- The government increases Pharmac funding by $1.7 billion over the next four years, increasing it to $6.3 billion.
- 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.

Predicted and scheduled events

Six new marine reserves in the southeast South Island are expected to be gazetted.
1 May – The government will stop funding public transport fares which make trips free for children, and half price for people under 25.
30 May – The 2024 budget will be delivered.
Around June – 11 pseudoephedrine cold and flu medicines will go back on 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.
3 June – The 2024 King's Birthday Honours will be announced.
July – Elections for the Tauranga City Council will be held.
October – King Charles III and Queen Camilla plan to visit New Zealand.
31 December – The 2025 New Year Honours will be announced.

Holidays and observances

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2024 are as follows:

1 January – New Year's Day
2 January – Day after New Year's Day
6 February – Waitangi Day
29 March – Good Friday
1 April – Easter Monday
25 April – Anzac Day
3 June – King's Birthday
28 June – Matariki
28 October – Labour Day
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day

Sport

Cricket

January

New Zealand defeats Pakistan 4–1 in a five-match Twenty20 International series in New Zealand.
The 2024 Women's T20I Pacific Cup is played in Auckland, with New Zealand Māori losing to Papua New Guinea in the final.
The 2023–24 Women's Super Smash is won by the Wellington Blaze, their eighth title.
The 2023–24 Men's Super Smash is won by the Auckland Aces, their fifth title.

February

New Zealand beats South Africa 2–0 in a two-Test series in New Zealand, becoming the inaugural winners of the Tangiwai Shield and winning a Test series against South Africa for the first time.
Australia defeats New Zealand 3–0 in a three-match T20I series in New Zealand.

March

Australia defeats New Zealand 2–0 in a two-match Test series in New Zealand.
The England women's cricket team defeats New Zealand 4–1 in a five-match T20I series in New Zealand.

April

The England women's cricket team defeats New Zealand 2–1 in a three-match ODI series in New Zealand.
New Zealand and Pakistan draw 2–2 in a five-match Twenty20 International series in Pakistan.

Horse racing

Thoroughbred racing

Auckland Cup – Mahrajaan
Wellington Cup – Mary Louise

Olympics

New Zealand will compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August.

Rowing

New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup)
- Maadi Cup (boys' U18 coxed eight) – St Bede's College
- Levin Jubilee Cup (girls' U18 coxed eight) – Christchurch Girls' High School
- Star Trophy (overall points) – Hamilton Boys' High School

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke)

Tennis

The ASB Classic tournament is held in Auckland from 1 to 13 January:

Women's singles – Coco Gauff
Women's doubles – Anna Danilina / Viktória Hrunčáková
Men's singles – Alejandro Tabilo
Men's doubles – Wesley Koolhof / Nikola Mektić

Winter Youth Olympics

New Zealand sends a team of 22 competitors across seven sports to the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, held in Gangwon, South Korea, from 19 January to 1 February.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	2	4	7