2019 in New Zealand
New Zealand-related events during the year of 2019
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The following lists events that happened during 2019 in New Zealand.
Incumbents
Regal and vice-regal
- Head of State – Elizabeth II
- Governor-General – Patsy Reddy
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Elizabeth II -
Patsy Reddy
Government
The Sixth Labour Government, elected in 2017, continues.
- Speaker of the House – Trevor Mallard
- Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern
- Deputy Prime Minister – Winston Peters
- Leader of the House – Chris Hipkins
- Minister of Finance – Grant Robertson
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Winston Peters
-
Trevor Mallard -
Jacinda Ardern -
Winston Peters -
Chris Hipkins -
Grant Robertson
Other party leaders in parliament
- National – Simon Bridges (Leader of the Opposition)
- New Zealand First – Winston Peters
- Green – James Shaw and Marama Davidson
- ACT – David Seymour
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Simon Bridges -
Winston Peters -
James Shaw -
Marama Davidson -
David Seymour
Judiciary
- Chief Justice – Sian Elias until 13 March, then Helen Winkelmann
- President of the Court of Appeal – Stephen Kós
- Chief High Court judge – Geoffrey Venning
- Chief District Court judge – Jan-Marie Doogue, then from 27 September Heemi Taumaunu
-
Sian Elias -
Helen Winkelmann -
Stephen Kós
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland – Phil Goff
- Mayor of Tauranga – Greg Brownless, then from 24 October Tenby Powell[1]
- Mayor of Hamilton – Andrew King, then from 24 October Paula Southgate[2]
- Mayor of Wellington – Justin Lester, then from 30 October Andy Foster[3]
- Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel
- Mayor of Dunedin – Dave Cull, then from 25 October Aaron Hawkins[4]
-
Phil Goff -
Greg Brownless -
Andrew King -
Paula Southgate -
Justin Lester -
Andy Foster -
Lianne Dalziell -
Dave Cull -
Aaron Hawkins
Events
February
- 5 February – 6 March – Wildfires in Nelson cause thousands to evacuate their homes.[5]
March
- 15 March – Shootings at two Christchurch mosques result in the deaths of 51 people.[6][7]
- 16 March – Sky News Australia is pulled off the air by independently-owned Sky New Zealand. The decision was made after the channel refused to stop showing graphic video footage that had been live-streamed by the Christchurch shooter at the two mosques in Christchurch.[8]
- 26 March – A state of emergency is declared in the Westland District due to severe weather.[9]
May
- 21 May - Mine re-entry efforts into the Pike River Mine began.[10]
- 30 May – The 2019 New Zealand budget is presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson.[11]
June
- 3 June – The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are announced.[12]
- 26 June - The primary school teachers' union New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) accepts the Government's NZ$1.5 billion collective agreement, which includes a new, unified pay scale. While primary teachers voted to accept the Government's offer, primary principals rejected the offer, demanding better pay and working conditions.[13]
- 28 June - The secondary teachers' union the Post Primary Teachers' Association voted to accept the Government's pay offer.[14]
July
- 19 July – A Christchurch house destroyed in a gas explosion results in six people being hospitalised.[15]
- 26 July - The NZEI's kindergarten teacher members voted to accept a pay parity agreement with the Ministry of Education[16]
October
- 12 October – (Postal) voting for the 2019 local elections concludes.[17]
- 22 October – The Skycity Convention Centre catches fire while still under construction, causing significant disruption in the Auckland CBD.[18]
November
- 17–23 November – Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall make an official visit to Auckland, Northland, Christchurch and Kaikōura.
December
- 8 December – Severe rain causes landslides and flooding in the South Island, closing two state highways (SH 1 and SH 6) and Inland Scenic Route 72,[19] and trapping 1000 tourists in South Westland.[20]
- 9 December – Whakaari / White Island erupts, killing 21 and injuring 26.[21]
- 31 December – The 2020 New Year Honours are announced.[22]
Holidays and observances
Public holidays in New Zealand in 2019 are as follows:[23]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 2 January – Day after New Year's Day
- 6 February – Waitangi Day
- 19 April – Good Friday
- 21 April – Easter Sunday
- 22 April – Easter Monday
- 25 April – Anzac Day
- 3 June – Queen's Birthday
- 28 October – Labour Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Boxing Day
