Sources: BBC
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern goes into labour with her first child. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is now Acting Prime Minister, and will be for six weeks while Ardern is on maternity leave. 2018-06-20
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
New Zealand says it plans to hold a referendum regarding the change of its national flag. 2014-03-11
The City Council in the New Zealand city of Christchurch announces plans to rebuild its central business district after the recent earthquake. 2011-08-11
A South Korean deep sea trawler sinks in the Southern Ocean two thousand kilometres south of New Zealand with at least five people dead and seventeen missing. 2010-12-13
"The Hobbit" is set to be most expensive movie ever. The New Zealand company, Wingnut Films, is waiting for the green light for its planned adaptation. 2010-10-11