Jacinda Ardern, elected Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37 as the youngest female head of government in the world, announced she would leave office and Feb 7th would be her last day as prime minister after five and a half years

A judge voided a South Auckland election result over voter fraud claims and the private company running the polls has admitted to a separate privacy breach; the Electoral Services MD released to councillor election results with confidential information

A kauri cross from St. Patrick's Church in Napier was returned 44 years after it fell during the 1981 fire that destroyed the steeple, one of Hawke's Bay's largest; the artifact was recovered and has now been returned to the church

A popular brand of coloured sand sold in New Zealand has been urgently recalled over concerns it may contain asbestos following independent testing in Australia that confirmed asbestos contamination in similar products