2026 in New Zealand

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

The following lists events that have happened or are expected to happen during 2026 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and vice-regal

• Head of state – Charles III
• Governor-General – Cindy Kiro

• 
  Charles III
• 
  Cindy Kiro

Government

Legislature term: 54th New Zealand Parliament.

The Sixth National Government, elected in 2023, continues.

• Speaker of the House – Gerry Brownlee
• Prime Minister – Christopher Luxon
• Deputy Prime Minister – David Seymour
• Leader of the House – Chris Bishop
• Minister of Finance – Nicola Willis
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Winston Peters

• 
  Gerry Brownlee
• 
  Christopher Luxon
• 
  David Seymour
• 
  Chris Bishop
• 
  Nicola Willis
• 
  Winston Peters

Other party leaders in parliament

• Labour – Chris Hipkins (Leader of the Opposition)
• Green – Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick
• ACT – David Seymour
• NZ First – Winston Peters
• Te Pāti Māori – Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

• 
  Chris Hipkins
• 
  Marama Davidson
• 
  Chlöe Swarbrick
• 
  David Seymour
• 
  Winston Peters
• 
  Rawiri Waititi
• 
  Debbie Ngarewa‑Packer

Judiciary

• Chief Justice – Helen Winkelmann
• President of the Court of Appeal – Christine French
• Chief High Court judge – Sally Fitzgerald
• Chief District Court judge – Heemi Taumaunu

• 
  Helen Winkelmann
• 
  Christine French

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Wayne Brown
• Mayor of Tauranga – Mahé Drysdale
• Mayor of Hamilton – Tim Macindoe
• Mayor of Wellington – Andrew Little
• Mayor of Christchurch – Phil Mauger
• Mayor of Dunedin – Sophie Barker

• 
  Wayne Brown
• 
  Mahé Drysdale
• 
  Tim Macindoe
• 
  Andrew Little
• 
  Phil Mauger

Events

January

• 1 January – Manage My Health, provider of the country's biggest patient health information portal, confirms a data breach affecting "6–7 percent of the approximately 1.8 million registered users", around 120,000 people. The breach may have resulted from ManageMyHealth's outdated encryption software. A ransom demand for $60,000, for 108 GB of data, was reportedly made by a person or group named Kazu.
• 2 January:
  • Members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) stage a one-hour strike at mid-day as part of a pay dispute with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
  • The Mayoral Relief Fund is activated for Horowhenua residents in response to recent windstorm damage in late December 2025.
• 3 January:
  • Heavy rain causes flash flooding in Wairoa. MetService issues heavy rain and severe thunderstorm warnings in the upper and eastern North Island. Overnight flooding in Tolaga Bay leads to the closure of State Highway 35 between Tolaga Bay and Okitu, and the evacuation of local residents.
  • Social networking website Neighbourly confirms that 150 GB of data including usernames, emails, GPS coordinates, posts and messages were stolen during a data breach that occurred on New Year's Day.
• 5 January – The High Court of New Zealand grants an injunction filed by ManageMyHealth to prevent third parties from accessing patients' data obtained during a recent data breach. Health Minister Simeon Brown commissions a review in response to the ManageMyHealth cyber security breach.
• 7 January – High Court Justice David Johnston issues an injunction preventing anyone from publishing stolen data from Neighbourly.
• 8 January:
  • The MV Connemara is forced to return to Wellington due to a mechanical fault with its ramp. 200 passengers are stranded overnight.
  • 55 pilot whales are stranded on Farewell Spit in the upper South Island.
• 9 January:
  • The Department of Conservation reports that the critically endangered kākāpō started breeding previous week for the first time in four years.
  • A 5.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Waverley, Taranaki at a depth of 107km.
  • Members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union stage a second one-hour strike at midday during an industrial dispute. The strike coincides with a fire in Pakuranga that destroys a grocery store.
  • Six pilot whales die on Farewell Spit. They were part of a pod of whales that had become stranded yesterday.
• 11 January – 15 pilot whales restrand themselves in Farewell Spit despite efforts by Project Jonah volunteers to refloat them, with two dying overnight.
• 12 January – Project Jonah volunteers euthanize the 13 remaining stranded pilot whales in Farewell Spit following five failed attempts to refloat them.
• 13 January – Protesters expressing solidarity with the 2025–2026 Iranian protests gather outside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington. Police monitor the protests and arrest two people for willful damage.
• 16 January – Heavy rain causes landslides in the Waioweka Gorge, trapping several commuters and leading to the closure of State Highway 2 between Mātāwai and Waioweka. Police and helicopters evacuate 40 people overnight.
• 18 January:
  • Heavy rain causes flooding, travel disruptions and landslides in parts of the Northland Region including the Whangarei District, east and south of Kawakawa and south of the Far North District.
  • About 100 people march in Army Bay in the Whangaparāoa Peninsula to protest against the depletion of sea life in local rock pools by recreational fishers.
• 19 January – Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Kiribati Vice-President Teuea Toatu sign a statement in Tarawa renewing New Zealand's aid assistance to Kiribati.
• 20 January – A preemptive state of emergency is declared in the Whangarei District in response to an approaching heavy rain front.
• 21 January:
  • Christopher Luxon announces the 2026 New Zealand general election will be held on 7 November.
  • A precautionary state of emergency is declared in the Thames-Coromandel District in response to expected heavy rain and flooding.
• 22 January – Several people are reported missing after a slip crashes into a Mount Maunganui camp-site, and two bodies are recovered after a slip damages a house in Welcome Bay, seriously injuring another person. Multiple roads are closed in the Thames-Coromandel District after widespread flooding and slips.
• 24 January – Police confirm the deaths of six missing people during a landslip at a Mount Maunganui campsite on 22 January.
• 27 January:
  • New Zealand Post announces that it plans to close 142 retail stores nationwide.
  • Sky Network Television signs an exclusive content sharing agreement with Paramount Skydance.
• 28 January:
  • Cabinet minister Judith Collins announces she will retire as an MP in the middle of the year.
  • The Tauranga City Council evacuates 150 people in Pāpāmoa in response to a new landslip.
• 29 January:
  • The governing National and opposition Labour parties agree to co-sponsor new legislation targeting modern slavery despite opposition from the ACT party.
  • The New Zealand Parliament passes legislation formalising the New Zealand Crown's Treaty of Waitangi settlement with Ngāti Hāua; which includes NZ$19 million worth of financial redress, the return of 64 culturally-significant sites and posthumous pardons for Mātene Rita Te Whareaitu and Te Rangiātea.
• 30 January – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirm that New Zealand will not join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which aims to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza.
• 31 January:
  • EB Games shuts down all of its retail stores in New Zealand, followed by the expected closure of its distribution centre on 28 February.
  • The Destiny Church-affiliated The Freedoms & Rights Coalition and Eru Kapa-Kingi's Toitū te Aroha movement hold separate protests in Auckland. Police establish a cordon at the Fanshawe Street motor ramps to prevent Coalition protesters from marching onto the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
  • A Black Cat Cruises passenger vessel capsizes in Akaroa Harbour, leading to the evacuation of 38 passengers and three crew members. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) launches an investigation into the incident.

February

• 1 February:
  • A change to the Government's fees prescription policy comes into force. People can pay $5 co-payments for 12-monthly prescriptions instead of having to pay $5 for every single prescription.
  • General practitioners and nurse practitioners are able to diagnose adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and prescribe stimulant medicines.
• 2 February:
  • The New Zealand Government launches a new five-point student achievement grading system focusing on reading, writing and mathematics.
  • The Tauranga City Council votes to commission an independent external review into the Mount Maunganui landslide.
• 4 February:
  • Equipment failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant cause 70 million litres of untreated wastewater daily to seep into Wellington's south coast waters. Local authorities issue a warning for people not to swim or collect seafood from these waters due to waste contamination.
  • Health New Zealand declares the end of the 2025 New Zealand measles outbreak, after 42 days had passed since the last confirmed case on 21 December 2025.
• 5 February – The fast-track approvals panel issues a draft decision declining Trans-Tasman Resources's application to mine the South Taranaki Bight for 30 years, citing credible risks to local fauna and concerns about sediment plume and noise levels. A final decision is expected on 18 March 2026.
• 9 February:
  • The Court of Appeal of New Zealand begins hearing convicted Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant's appeal against his convictions and life sentence.
  • Georgie Dansey is elected as a list MP for the Labour Party following the resignation of Adrian Rurawhe.
  • The Government announces it would build a new liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, which would be funded by a levy on electricity of between $2 and $4/MWh.
• 11 February:
  • The Government initiates a review of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic to lower the Official Cash Rate to 0.25 and inject NZ$55 million worth of digital money into the New Zealand economy.
  • Former Member of Parliament Arthur Anae leads a delegation presenting a 45,000-strong petition to the New Zealand Parliament urging the Government to ease visa requirements for nationals of Pacific Islands countries. The delegation is received by Winston Peters.
• 12 February:
  • Health New Zealand abandons plans to charge market rates for hospital car parks.
  • Flight attendants affiliated with the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand and E tū unions launch a two-day strike, affecting several Air New Zealand flights.
• 13 February:
  • MetService issues an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki and the Gisborne District north of Tolaga Bay. A yellow heavy rain warning is issued for the rest of the North Island.
  • The Hastings District Council issues an evacuation order for residents of the Clifton Motor Camp's campground near Cape Kidnappers due to a high landslide risk.
  • Food manufacturing company Talley's Group lodges an appeal at the Court of Appeal against a High Court ruling dismissing its defamation case against broadcaster TVNZ.
• 14 February:
  • 80 people are evacuated following flash flooding in the Ōtorohanga District. A local state of emergency is declared. Many road and highways in the district are flooded. The body of a man is recovered from a submerged car at Puketotara on State Highway 93.
  • A state of emergency is declared in the Waipā District following heavy rain and flash flooding.
  • The Christchurch City Council issues a boil water notice for several eastern Christchurch suburbs due to bacteria contamination in the Rawhiti water supply zone.
• 15 February:
  • Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett resigns following a major breakdown at the Moa Point sewage treatment plant on 4 February.
  • A state of emergency is declared in response to flash flooding in the Tararua District. Red heavy rain warnings are issued in the Manawatū, Rangitikei and Ruapehu Districts. Stormy weather also causes the cancellation of several Interislander and Bluebridge ferry services across the Cook Strait.
  • Members of the Rainbow Action Tāmaki group stage a protest at the 2026 Big Gay Out festival in Auckland to protest the presence of several government ministers including associate Health Minister Matt Doocey.
  • States of emergency are declared in the Manawatū, Rangitīkei, and Tararua District in response to heavy rain and flash flooding overnight. Heavy rain warnings are issues for Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains.
• 16 February:
  • Train services and several flights are cancelled in the Wellington Region due to strong winds and a train collision with a fallen tree near Wairarapa yesterday.
  • 30,000 properties in the lower North Island including Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington experience power outages due to strong winds toppling trees and power lines. Local authorities evacuate several homes in Masterton due to the threat of fallen trees.
  • The Government confirms it will launch an independent review into the Moa Point sewage plant failure that occurred on 4 February.
• 17 February
  • A state of emergency is declared throughout the Manawatū-Whanganui region in response to flash flooding.
  • Banks Peninsula and Christchurch experience heavy rain and flash flooding. A boil water notice is issued in Wainui after the local water supply is contaminated by flooding. A state of emergency is also declared in the Banks Peninsula.
  • Flooding destroys a single-lane bridge in the southern Wairarapa district, isolating several local settlements including Lake Ferry, Ngawi and Whāngaimoana.
  • Pharmacists affiliated with the Pharmacy Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX) vote to accept a pay agreement with Health New Zealand that will lead to a 4.5% salary increase between 2026 and 2027.
  • Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop releases the first "National Infrastructure Plan," which details 16 recommendations and 10 priorities for the next decade.
  • Parliament passes the Government's controversial Employment Relations Amendment Bill which creates a new "gateway test" for differentiating between employees and contractors.
• 18 February:
  • A landslip in Dunedin's Musselburgh suburb leads to the evacuation of seven properties.
  • The Government scraps plans to hold a referendum on extending the parliamentary term from three to four years at the 2026 New Zealand general election.
• 19 February:
  • The Government reduces the number of proposed houses in its Auckland housing intensification plan from 2 million to 1.6 million following community pushback.
  • Trans-Tasman Resources withdraws its fast-track application to mine the South Taranaki Bight's seabed.
  • The fast-track approvals panel approves a new housing project in Queenstown's Homestead Bay.
• 20 February
  • The avatar moth (Arctesthes avatar) is named the 2026 New Zealand Bug of the Year.
  • Local states of emergency are extended in the flood-stricken Wāipa and Ōtorohanga Districts for another seven days.
• 22 February – The New Zealand government confirms it will amend the Summary Offences Act 1981 to give Police new dispersal powers to remove rough sleepers and people displaying disorderly behaviour. While the Newmarket Business Association has supported the proposed policy, homeless people said that the policy does not address the lack of housing.
• 23 February – Mayor of Christchurch Phil Mauger lifts a local state of emergency in the Banks Peninsula.
• 24 February:
  • Health New Zealand declares two new cases of measles linked to overseas travel in Auckland. Three areas of interest including Waitakere Hospital and Auckland International Airport are identified.
  • Digital medication management company MediMap confirms that its database was hacked on 22 February, with patients' data being altered resulting in significant disruption to aged care, hospice and disability providers. The company reports the privacy breach to the Privacy Commissioner.
  • A grass fire burns 20 hectares of land near Springvale in Central Otago, leading to the evacuation of several residents.
• 25 February:
  • The Government seeks public feedback on several proposed changes to road rules including allowing children under the age of 12 years to ride their bikes on footpaths and allowing e-scooters to ride on bike paths
  • The Public Service Association and Health New Zealand reach a pay agreement for allied health workers.
• 27 February — The Commerce Commission's new disclosure rules for local councils and water service entities' spending, rates and plans under the Local Water Done Well policy come into effect.

Predicted and scheduled

• 12 March — A two-year ban on taking shellfish from rock pools in the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, Kawau Bay and Ōmaha Bay is expected to come into effect.
• 30 March – The Greater Wellington Regional Council is expected to introduce contactless payment options alongside Snapper cards on public transportation, citing delays with the national ticket solution Motu Move.
• 31 March – One NZ is expected to shut down its 2G call network. Spark NZ is expected to shut down its 3G network.
• 12 May – A by-election triggered by the death of Dunedin City Councillor and former Mayor of Dunedin Jules Radich will be held in Dunedin.
• 28 May – The 2026 New Zealand budget is expected to be released.
• Mid-2026 — Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to launch HBO Max as a standalone streaming service in New Zealand.
• 1 June – The 2026 King's Birthday Honours will be announced.
• 1 July – Tiaki Wai is expected to assume the functions and responsibilities of the water services entity Wellington Water.
• 1 November – The New Zealand government is expected to end welfare assistance to 18- and 19-year olds whose parents earn over NZ$65,000.
• 7 November – The 2026 general election is expected to be held.
• 31 December – The 2027 New Year Honours will be announced.

Holidays and observances

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2026 are as follows:

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

Sport

Commonwealth Games

Main article: New Zealand at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

A New Zealand team will compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 23 July – 2 August.

Horse racing

Thoroughbred racing

• Wellington Cup – Manzor Blue

Lawn bowls

• Men's singles champion – Rohan Ware (Belfast Bowling Club)
• Men's pair champions – Ethan Kelleher and Hamish Kelleher (Halswell Bowling Club)
• Women's singles champion – Mandy Boyd (Elmwood Park Bowling Club)
• Women's pair champions – Mandy Boyd (Elmwood Park Bowling Club) and Kirsten Edwards (Stoke Bowling Club)

Olympics

Main article: New Zealand at the 2026 Winter Olympics

New Zealand sent a team of 17 athletes across three sports to the 2026 Winter Olympics, held in northern Italy from 6 to 22 February.

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
0	2	1	3

Paralympics

Main article: New Zealand at the 2026 Winter Paralympics

A New Zealand team will compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, 6–15 March.

Sailing

Main article: 2026 SailGP championship

• Auckland hosted the second round of the 2026 SailGP championship on 14–15 February. On 14 February, two sailors including New Zealander Louis Sinclair were injured when the French and New Zealand yachts collided during a high speed chase.

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Mike Collings (Te Puke)

Tennis

The ASB Classic tournament was held in Auckland, 5–17 January.

• Women's singles – Elina Svitolina
• Women's doubles – Guo Hanyu / Kristina Mladenovic
• Men's singles – Jakub Menšík
• Men's doubles – Theo Arribage / Albano Olivetti

Deaths

January

• 1 January
  • Dame Karen Poutasi, public health administrator and public servant, Director-General of Health (1995–2006), chief executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (2006–2020), chair of Te Whatu Ora (2023–2024) (born 1950).
  • Leslie Snape, oral and maxillofacial surgeon (Christchurch Hospital, University of Otago, Christchurch), president of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (2011–2013), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (since 2007) (born 1947).
• 4 January – Jules Radich, businessman and local politician, Dunedin City Councillor (2019–2022, since 2025), Mayor of Dunedin (2022–2025) (born 1954).
• 6 January – Justin Taylor, priest and historian (École Biblique) (born 1943).
• 7 January – Gus Gale, mathematics educator, principal of Hornby High School (1983–1994), B. H. Neumann award (1992) (born 1934).
• 8 January – Sir Tim Shadbolt, activist and politician, Mayor of Waitemata City (1983–1989), Mayor of Invercargill (1993–1995, 1998–2022) (born 1947).
• 11 January – Grahame Champness, national park ranger and Antarctic field assistant (born 1944).
• 12 January – Juno Hayes, local politician, Mayor of Clutha (1998–2010) (born 1943).
• 14 January – Aroha Awarau, journalist (TVNZ, Māori Television) and playwright (born 1976).
• 15 January – John Langdon, Hall of Fame harness-racing driver and trainer, Inter Dominion trotting (1975, 1992) and pacing champion (1975), Auckland Cup (1989), New Zealand Cup (1990) (born 1947).
• 16 January:
  • Grant Batty, rugby union player (Wellington, Bay of Plenty, national team) and coach (Yamaha Jubilo) (born 1951).
  • Joy Tonks, writer, historian and archivist (NZSO) (born 1939).
• 17 January – Sani Lakatani, Niuean politician, Premier of Niue (1999–2002) (born 1936).
• 19 January – Richard Wixon, cricketer (Central Districts, Otago) (born 1957).
• 20 January – Alan Musgrave, philosopher (University of Otago), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 2009) (born 1940).
• 23 January – Helen Leach, food anthropologist (University of Otago), Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (since 2004) (born 1945).
• 24 January – Iain Sharp, poet, librarian and journalist (New Zealand Listener) (born 1953).
• 29 January – John Andreae, electrical and computer engineer (University of Canterbury) (born 1927).

• 
  Dame Karen Poutasi
• 
  Jules Radich
• 
  Sir Tim Shadbolt
• 
  Juno Hayes
• 
  Aroha Awarau
• 
  Sani Lakatani
• 
  Alan Musgrave
• 
  Helen Leach

February

• 2 February:
  • Boris Moiseiwitsch, radio broadcaster (RNZ National) (born 1931).
  • John Terris, politician, Anglican priest and broadcaster, MP for Western Hutt (1978–1990), Mayor of Lower Hutt (1995–2004) (born 1939).
• 10 February
  • Sir Selwyn Cushing, accountant and company director, chair of Air New Zealand (1998–2001), Brierley Investments (1998–2001) and Skellerup (1987–1992, 2008–2017) (born 1936).
  • Anne Gambrill, lawyer and judge, master of the High Court (1987–2002) (born 1934).
• 11 February:
  • Ray Bennett, local politician, Mayor of Timaru (1971, 1977–1982) (born 1932).
  • Pip Cheshire, architect, NZIA Gold Medal (2013), president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (2014–2016) (born 1950).
  • Nathan McDonald, woodchopper, world championship bronze medallist (2022) (born c. 1990).
• 12 February – Norman Geary, business executive, chief executive of Air New Zealand (1982–1988), chair of New Zealand Tourism Board (1991–1996) (born 1938).
• 20 February – Michael Worth, pharmacist and local politician, Mayor of Tokoroa (1980–1983) (born 1934).
• 22 February – Roger Fowler, trade unionist, anti-Apartheid and Palestinian solidarity activist, founder of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign and Kia Ora Gaza.

• 
  Pip Cheshire