Sources: BBC
New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2 outside Auckland with mandatory scanning in bars, restaurants, churches, and close-contact businesses, social distancing increasing to 2 m in public places, and masks being mandatory in indoor public places. 2021-09-8
Restrictions are eased in New Zealand, with Auckland downgraded to alert level 2 and the rest of the country to alert level 1. Most Auckland schools are reopened and masks are made mandatory on public transportation. 2021-02-18
New Zealand's Ministry of Health reports its first death from COVID-19, a woman in her 70s. 2020-03-29
New Zealanders vote to retain the current flag over the proposed design in the nation's flag referendum. More than 2 million people vote in the referendum. 2016-03-24
Voting begins for the second stage of New Zealand's flag referendum with the current flag going up against the design chosen on the first stage of the referendum. Voting will end on March 23 with polling showing the current flag is favoured to win. 2016-03-3
New Zealand announces the flag design chosen by the public that will challenge the current flag in a March 2016 vote. Voters will choose between the current flag, which features the British Union Jack with a dark blue background, and the challenger, a silver fern and four red stars on a black and blue background. 2015-12-15
Four alternatives to the current New Zealand flag are chosen for a Spring referendum (20 November – 11 December 2015) in which New Zealanders will determine their favorite of the new designs. 2015-09-1
A government appointed panel chooses 40 finalist flag designs out of more than 10,000 submitted. 2015-08-12
Police in New Zealand announce they are investigating threats to contaminate infant formula, after letters were sent to dairy cooperative Fonterra and farming lobby group Federated Farmers containing packages of infant formula laced with 1080 poison. 2015-03-10
New Zealand says it plans to hold a referendum regarding the change of its national flag. 2014-03-11