2023 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 2023 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

Head of State – Charles III
Governor-General – Dame Cindy Kiro

Government

Legislature term: 53rd New Zealand Parliament until 8 September, then 54th New Zealand Parliament from 5 December.
The [Sixth New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Government of New Zealand|Sixth Labour Government], elected in 2017 and 2020, then the [Sixth New Zealand National Party|National Government of New Zealand|Sixth National Government] elected in 2023.

Speaker of the House – Adrian Rurawhe until 5 December, then Gerry Brownlee
Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern until 25 January, then Chris Hipkins until 27 November, then Christopher Luxon
[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister] – Grant Robertson until 25 January, then Carmel Sepuloni until 27 November, then Winston Peters
Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins until 25 January, then Grant Robertson until 27 November, then Chris Bishop
Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson until 27 November, then Nicola Willis
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Nanaia Mahuta until 11 November, then Grant Robertson until 27 November, then Winston Peters

Other party leaders in parliament

National – Christopher Luxon until 27 November
Labour – Chris Hipkins from 27 November
Green – James Shaw and Marama Davidson
ACT – David Seymour
NZ First – Winston Peters from 14 October
Te Pāti Māori – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Judiciary

Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann
President of the Court of Appeal – Mark Cooper
Chief High Court judge – Susan Thomas until 19 December, then Sally Fitzgerald
Chief District Court judge – Heemi Taumaunu

Main centre leaders

Events

January

4 January – Severe weather hits Coromandel and the upper North Island bringing thunderstorms and torrential rain. Holidaymakers are forced to evacuate and continuing severe weather causes numerous landslips.
9 January – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The "Kraken" subvariant of Omicron is detected in New Zealand for the first time after genome sequencing of two cases. Health officials are confident the current COVID-19 response is appropriate.
10 January – Cyclone Hale impacts the North Island, causing flooding and slips in Coromandel and Gisborne.
18 January – A Qantas flight travelling from Auckland to Sydney lands safely after issuing a mayday call.
19 January
* Jacinda Ardern announces her pending resignation as prime minister and Labour Party leader.
*A wild kiwi egg is laid in Wellington for the first time in more than 100 years.
22 January – Chris Hipkins is unanimously elected leader of the Labour Party.
25 January – Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni are sworn in as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, respectively, at Government House, Wellington.
27 January – Torrential rain in Auckland causes widespread flooding, slips, evacuations, and the deaths of four people.
28 January – The Interislander ferry MV Kaitaki loses power in heavy seas and drifts near rocks off Sinclair Head on Wellington's south coast.

February

1 February – A second wave of severe weather and torrential rain hits Auckland, worsening the already catastrophic flooding.
5 February – Auckland begins a series of significant large-scale clean up operations in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding. Authorities believe the city is now out of danger.
8 February – Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced the seizure of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific that was probably destined for Australia, an amount that represents 30 years of consumption in New Zealand.
12 February – Cyclone Gabrielle: Thousands of people are left without power as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall over the North Island. The regions of Northland and Auckland are put under a state of emergency.
14 February
* Cyclone Gabrielle: A national state of emergency is declared as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to impact the North Island bringing extreme weather, flooding and land slides. A national state of emergency will allow the Government to step in and handle the emergency response.
* The ngaro huruhuru is named the inaugural New Zealand Bug of the Year.
15 February
*Cyclone Gabrielle: Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence arrive in Wellington for their tour of New Zealand. The pair's planned military duties in Palmerston North were postponed. Instead, they travelled to the National Crisis Management Centre at the Beehive to meet with staff from agencies involved in the cyclone response. They also conducted the Service of Remembrance at the National War Memorial and paid respects at the United Kingdom memorial.
*A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits the lower North Island, north-west of Paraparaumu at a depth of 54 km. Shaking was felt nationwide and it caused cracks to form in the town's fire station.
16 February – Cyclone Gabrielle: New Zealand starts accepting offers of international assistance.

March

1 March – Protesters disrupt a Drag Queen Story Hour event at the Avondale Library in Auckland, forcing its closure.
3 March
*Large climate protests take place across the country as thousands march to demand immediate climate action from the government. The protesters make a number of demands and briefly stage a "sit in" at the Christchurch City Council.
*The Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme, which is rebuilding and repairing 115 earthquake-damaged schools in greater Christchurch, is given $301 million. This increases the total investment in it to $1.6 billion.
7 March – The 2023 census takes place.
14 March – Protesters picket the "Queens Telling Stories" event at Christchurch's Turangi Library.
15 March – Stuart Nash resigned as Minister of Police following revelations he asked the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to appeal a decision he felt was too light, a breach of the expectation that the Government remains neutral in regards to operational Police matters.
16 March
*New Zealand enacts a ban of TikTok on devices connected to parliament citing cybersecurity concerns.
*Early childhood, primary, and secondary school teachers affiliated with the New Zealand Educational Institute and Post Primary Teachers' Association hold a nationwide strike following the breakdown of negotiations with the Government over salaries and work conditions.
17 March – Nash subsequently admitted to a third incident of misconduct where he contacted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to advocate for a migrant health professional in Napier in September 2022.
25 March
* A rally organised by Posie Parker in central Auckland ends in chaos after counter-protesters, estimated to number in the thousands, make too much noise for her to speak. Parker later left by police escort.
* Marama Davidson, Green Party co-leader is hit by a motorcyclist and injured. On the same day, she made controversial comments about white cisgender men committing violence.
* Kea are spotted in Christchurch's Port Hills for the first time in many years.
28 March – A forth incident involving Nash reveals that in 2020, he emailed two of his donors, who were commercial property owners, about a commercial rent relief policy Cabinet was discussing. Nash is stripped of all his remaining ministerial portfolios.
29 March
*Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announces a review into Stuart Nash's communications with his two donors.
*Secondary school teachers stage a second national strike following the breakdown of negotiations with the Government.
30 March – New Zealand records its first case of rabies in a human. A patient who had been in hospital since early March died from the disease, which did not spread further.

April

10 April – A tornado sweeps through the Tasman Region damaging fifty properties. It tears the roofs off at least twelve houses, brings down trees and powerlines and leaves one person trapped in their car.
11 April – Prime Minister Hipkins and Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall confirm that the New Zealand Government would retain some COVID-19 restrictions such as the seven-day mandatory isolation period for positive cases and mask wearing requirements at health facilities.
The New Zealand Government overhauls its Three Waters water infrastructure reform programme, renaming it the Water Services Reform Programme.
29 April – The Dominion Post is revamped as The Post. On 27 April 2023, Stuff confirmed that The Dominion Post would adopt its new name The Post on 29 April. Stuff also announced that it would launch a new subscription-based website for The Post that would co-exist with the free Stuff news website.

May

3 May – Meka Whaitiri resigns from the Labour Party and loses her ministerial portfolios, but remains in Parliament as an independent MP sitting with Te Pāti Māori.
4 May – Secondary school teachers affiliated with the Post Primary Teachers' Association launch a series of nationwide rolling strikes throughout the month of May in response to a pay dispute with the Ministry of Education.
5 May
* Heavy rain hits the lower North Island and the upper South Island bringing surface flooding and landslips. Evacuations take place in Tasman District after a river bursts its banks and several other regions issue weather warnings.
* Elizabeth Kerekere resigns from the Green Party, but remains in Parliament as an independent MP.
6 May – The coronation of Charles III takes place in London.
12 May – Early childhood education teachers affiliated with the New Zealand Educational Institute accept a pay offer from the Ministry of Education, which also increases sick leave by 15 days. Their primary school colleagues have voted to hold out on the Ministry's pay offer.
16 May – A fire in Loafers Lodge in Wellington kills five residents.
18 May – The 2023 budget is delivered.
22 May – The two main teachers' unions, the PPTA and NZEI, suspended strike action in response to progress in pay and work negotiations with the Education Ministry and Education Minister Jan Tinetti.
26 May – From that date bank transactions were processed every day, and weekend transactions would no longer held until the next "working day" i.e.. Monday.
26 May – Several school climate strike protests are held across New Zealand.

June

5 June – The [2023 Birthday and Coronation Honours (New Zealand)|2023 King's Official Birthday|King's Birthday and Coronation Honours] are announced.
7 June – Primary school teachers affiliated with the New Zealand Educational Institute voted to accept the Education Ministry's collective agreement offer, which increases salaries and work leaves.
9 June – Secondary school teachers affiliated with the Post Primary Teachers' Association voted to reject the Education Ministry's collective agreement offer and to resume rolling strikes throughout the month.
14 June – Schools and public transportation in Ōpōtiki are suspended due to disruption caused by a tangihanga for slain Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini.
16 June – North Auckland's Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway is officially opened by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and other officials. The motorway opened to traffic on 19 June 2023.
21 June – The PPTA suspends strikes action after agreeing to an arbitration process to resolve its pay dispute with the Education Ministry.
22 June
* John Adams is appointed as the third bishop of Palmerston North by Pope Francis. He is consecrated on 30 September by numerous senior Catholic clergy.
* A state of emergency is declared in Tairāwhiti due to severe weather.
29 June – Primary school principals affiliated with the NZEI vote to accept the Education Ministry's pay offer consisting of progressive pay rises over the next two years.

July

1 July
* Plastic ban for fresh produce. New Zealand bans thin plastic bags for fresh produce from supermarkets, becoming the first country to do so. The ban will also extend to plastic straws and cutlery.
* The fuel tax subsidy introduced in March 2022 is removed.
9 July – Chris Hipkins signs a free trade agreement with the European Union in Brussels.
11 July
* Waka Kotahi announces a temporary ban on Te Huia entering Auckland after twice running through red signals.
* The University of Otago announces a $1.3 million rebrand, including a new te reo Māori name and tohu.
* Three years after the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption, the trial over failings of health and safety begin. The legal proceedings are the result of WorkSafe's most extensive and complex investigation to date
13 July – Police announce that there have been 388 ram raid style events resulting in 218 prosecutions in the six months ended May.
16 July
* Two children are found safe after going missing for one night at Mavora Lakes.
* The United Kingdom officially joins the CPTPP in Auckland.
17 July – Lauren Dickason goes to trial for causing the deaths of her three daughters in 2021.
20 July – A shooting in Central Auckland leaves three people dead.
31 July – An arbitration panel recommends that secondary school teachers receive a 14.5% pay rise in an effort to end a pay dispute between the Ministry of Education and the Post Primary Teachers Association.

August

3 August – The Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, Wairoa District Council and Central Hawke's Bay District accept the Government's NZ$556 Cyclone Gabrielle recovery cost-sharing agreement.
4 August – Results for the 2023 Invercargill City Council by-election are released.
7 August – Nurses affiliated with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation vote to accept a collective pay offer agreement with Te Whatu Ora.
9 August
* Secondary school teachers affiliated with the Post Primary Teachers' Association vote to accept a 14.5% pay rise agreement with the Ministry of Education.
* 900 unionised Westpac bank workers affiliated with First Union New Zealand stage a two-hour strike seeking a wage increase.
15 August – COVID-19 in New Zealand: The last remaining COVID-19 public health requirements—namely the seven-day mandatory isolation period for positive cases, and the wearing of face masks in healthcare settings—are removed at 12:01am.
16 August – Lauren Dickason is found guilty for murdering her three daughters in 2021.
21 August – Area school teachers accepted a 14.5% pay rise in a pay agreement negotiated by both the PPTA and NZEI.

September

5 September – Senior doctors and dentists affiliated Association of Salaried Medical Specialists launched a two-hour strike, rejecting a pay offer from Te Whatu Ora.
8 September – The 53rd New Zealand Parliament is formally dissolved ahead of the 2023 general election.
13 September
* Senior doctors and dentists affiliated with ASMS continue with a second round of strikes in response to a pay dispute with Te Whatu Ora.
*Corrections officers affiliated with the Corrections Association and Public Service Association reject an offer by the Department of Corrections to settle the Prisons' Collective Agreement.
17 September – Strong wind causes weather warnings and watches are issued throughout country, over 10,000 people lose power. A gust of wind measuring 246 km/h is measured in Cape Turnagain, near the highest ever wind reading in New Zealand at 250 km/h. Over 60 flights are cancelled by Air New Zealand.
18 September – The Queenstown Lakes District Council issues a "boil water" notice for Queenstown and Frankton following an [2023 Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown gastro outbreak|outbreak of cryptosporidium].
19 September – A Westpac helicopter crashes near Mount Pirongia while heading towards a patient.
20 September
* A 6.0M hits 45 km north of Geraldine at a depth of 10 km.
* Properties are evacuated as a large scrub fire burns in Pukaki Downs, near Twizel.
21 September – A state of emergency is declared in the Gore District, following heavy rain and flooding. It is later updated to cover the entire Southland region.
26 September – Multiple ferry sailings in the Cook Strait are cancelled due to high winds.

October

1 October – Driving test resit fees are removed by Waka Kotahi.
5 October
*The Government announces six new marine reserves in the southeast of the South Island.
*A dairy owner was seriously wounded during a robbery attempt at a New Windsor dairy in Auckland. A 24-year-old man was arrested and subsequently charged in relation to the incident.
6 October – Queenstown Airport was evacuated following a security scare involving items that were subsequently deemed non-threatening by a New Zealand Defence Force ordnance unit. Air New Zealand subsequently cancelled 10 flights.
10 October – Allied Press journalists and print distribution staff affiliated with the E tū union stage a 24-hour strike seeking better wages.
14 October
* An emergency alert is issued to residents of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula due to strong winds reaching 140 km/h.
* The 2023 New Zealand general election takes place, leading to National's Christopher Luxon becoming Prime Minister-designate.
21 October – A gyrocopter crashes at the Omaka Aerodrome, killing its only occupant.
22 October – A new ferry service is announced for Waiheke Island.
24 October – Christchurch mosque shootings: The deputy chief coroner of New Zealand opens an inquest into the shootings to investigate police response times.
25 October – Richard Laurenson is appointed as the fourth bishop of Hamilton by Pope Francis. His consecration then took place on 8 December by numerous senior Catholic clergy. His appointment means that all six Catholic Dioceses in New Zealand have a bishop, the first time since 2019.
29 October – Almost 2,000 Northland homes lose power due to ex-Cyclone Lola. Lanes close on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
30 October
*United Airlines starts a new route between Auckland and Los Angeles.
*Online supermarket Supie goes into voluntary administration, leaving 120 employees unemployed.
31 October – Judge Evangelos Thomas convicts Whakaari Management Limited of one health and safety charge relating to the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption.

November

3 November – The Electoral Commission concludes vote counting, which shows that the leading National Party requires support from both ACT and New Zealand First parties to form a government after the final tally reveals a shift in parliamentary seats.
4 November – Miramar Peninsula is declared pest free.
8 November – Over 100 early childhood education centres strike for the first time.
10 November – China Southern Airlines starts its seasonal route between Christchurch and Guangzhou.
13 November – Interislander ferry Kaiarahi has a hole ripped out of its hull as it comes into berth. It will be out of service for about a week.
21 November – The water treatment plant of Te Aroha temporarily shuts down due to bad weather.
23 November
*Prime Minister-designate Christopher Luxon announces coalition arrangements and deals have finished with ACT and New Zealand First.
*16 institutions nationwide including St Kentigern College, Wellington Hospital, Bowen Hospital, Auckland City Hospital and Manukau Superclinic receive email bomb threats, prompting lockdowns and police searches.
*Pro-Palestinian protesters blockade the entry to the Ports of Auckland in response to the Gaza war. Police arrested at least six protesters.
24 November
*A formal signing ceremony and announcement of ministerial roles for the Sixth National Government takes place.
*Several North Auckland schools including Orewa College receive email bomb threats, which are linked to the threats yesterday.
25 November – The Port Waikato by-election takes place.
27 November – The Sixth National Government is sworn in by the Governor-General, Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House.
29 November
*The official cash rate is kept at 5.5%.
*Prime Minister Luxon unveils his "100-day plan", with 49 policy changes.

December

1 December – The Government begins a reserve against proposed amendments to World Health Organisation health regulations to consider these against a 'National Interest Test'.
3 December – New Zealand signs the "COP28 UAE declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action".
5 December
*Te Pāti Māori organises a series of nationwide protests known as the National Māori Action Day to protest against the Sixth National Government's policies on co-governance and the Treaty of Waitangi. The protests coincided with the first meeting of the 54th New Zealand Parliament.
*The 54th New Zealand Parliament begins, following the Commission Opening of Parliament where MPs were sworn in and Gerry Brownlee was elected as Speaker of the House.
*Hundreds of Palestinian solidarity protesters gather at the New Zealand Parliament calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
6 December – The State Opening of Parliament takes place.
8 December – Queenstown lifts its water boil notice after two months.
10 December – United Airlines starts its seasonal route between Christchurch and San Francisco. It marks the first time an American airline has flown non-stop between the South Island and the United States.
11 December
*A protest is held at Te Papa. The English translation on a wooden display of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Te Papa is defaced with spray paint.
*Bishop Michael Gielen reconsiders the future for a catholic cathedral for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.
12 December – Severe hailstorms, lightning, thunderstorms and a tornado hit the Canterbury Plains and Wellington regions, leading to flooding and power outages for thousands of customers.
15 December
*The Criminal Cases Review Commission sends Mikaere Oketopa's case back to the Court of Appeal of New Zealand for it to be reconsidered over "strong concerns with the police investigation, and his convictions". Oketopa has a conviction for the 1994 rape and murder of Anne-Maree Ellens in Christchurch.
*Winston Peters has an engagement with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who each exchange gifts. This marks Peters' first overseas engagement as foreign minister.
*Judith Collins is appointed as King's Counsel.
16 December – Cathay Pacific starts its seasonal route between Christchurch and Hong Kong.
17 December – Let's Get Wellington Moving, a plan to improve Wellington's public transport, is cancelled by the new government.
20 December
*The government announces new rules for primary and intermediate schools. Starting in Term 1 2024, students will be taught one hour of reading, writing and maths for each subject per day. Starting in Term 2, cellphones will be banned during school for the students.
*Finance Minister Nicola Willis releases the 2023 mini-budget.
30 December – The 2024 New Year Honours are announced.
31 December – The Clean Car Discount scheme ends.

Holidays and observances

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2023 are as follows:

1 January – New Year's Day
2 January – Day after New Year's Day
3 January – New Year's Day observed
6 February – Waitangi Day
7 April – Good Friday
10 April – Easter Monday
25 April – Anzac Day
5 June – King's Birthday
14 July – Matariki
23 October – Labour Day
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day

Arts and entertainment

List of 2023 box office number-one films in New Zealand

Sport

Association football

20 July – 20 August: The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and becomes the highest attended women's world cup to date.

Horse racing

Harness racing

Auckland Cup – Akuta
New Zealand Cup – Swayzee
Rowe Cup – Love N The Port

Thoroughbred racing

Auckland Cup – Platinum Invador
New Zealand Cup – Mahrajaan
Wellington Cup – Leaderboard

Mountain biking

4 August – At the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, New Zealand takes a clean sweep in the junior women's downhill, with Erice van Leuven taking the world championship ahead of fellow Kiwis Poppy Lane and Sacha Earnest.

Motorsports

2 July – Shane van Gisbergen wins his first ever NASCAR Cup Series race start at the Grant Park 220.
27 August – Liam Lawson finished his first ever Formula One race in 13th at the Dutch Grand Prix, deputizing for the injured Daniel Ricciardo. Lawson was the first New Zealander to compete in Formula One since Brendon Hartley in 2018.
17 September – Lawson scores his first Formula One points, finishing 9th at the Singapore Grand Prix.
8 October – 16 year old Christchurch born Louis Sharp won the British F4 Championship with 6 wins on the season beating out William Macintyre. Sharp marks the first time a New Zealander has won the British F4 Championship.
8 October – Van Gisbergen and kiwi teammate Richie Stanaway win the 66th running of the Bathurst 1000.

Rowing

New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup)
* Maadi Cup – St Bede's College
* Levin Jubilee Cup – Rangi Ruru Girls' School
* Star Trophy – Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Sailing

15 January – The New Zealand SailGP team win the Singapore SailGP event, giving them their third event win of the 2022–2023 season

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – John Snowden

Tennis

2–14 January – The WTA Auckland Open and ATP Auckland Open are held for the first time since 2020, after two years of cancellations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deaths