Regal and vice-regal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand PCNZM QSO, succeeded by the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO
2011 was the third and last full year of the 49th Parliament, which was dissolved on 20 October. A general election was held on 26 November to elect the 50th Parliament, which saw the Fifth National Government elected for a second term.
Speaker of the House – Lockwood Smith
Prime Minister – John Key
Deputy Prime Minister – Bill English
Minister of Finance – Bill English
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Murray McCully
Labour – Phil Goff until 13 December, then David Shearer from 13 December. (Leader of the Opposition)
ACT – Rodney Hide until 30 April, then Don Brash 30 April to 26 November (John Boscawen parliamentary leader), then TBD.
Green – Metiria Turei and Russel Norman
Māori Party – Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Len Brown
Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby
Mayor of Hamilton – Julie Hardaker
Mayor of Wellington – Celia Wade-Brown
Mayor of Christchurch – Bob Parker
Mayor of Dunedin – Dave Cull
16 February – Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard becomes the first foreign head of government to address the New Zealand Parliament while in session.
22 February – A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Christchurch, causing major damage to the city and killing 185 people.
23 February – Prime Minister John Key declares a national state of emergency following the Christchurch earthquake, the first national state of emergency in 60 years.
5 March – A by-election is held in the Botany electorate and won by Jami-Lee Ross of the National Party.
8 March – Five-yearly New Zealand Census was scheduled but cancelled due to the effects of the Christchurch earthquake.
18 March – A memorial service for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake is held at Hagley Park, attended by Prince William on behalf of the Queen of New Zealand.
24 March – New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy: The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill, an act to replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004, passes its third reading in Parliament.
30 April – The national state of emergency put into place after the 22 February Christchurch earthquake is lifted.
3 May – A tornado hits the suburb of Albany in northern Auckland, killing one and causing property damage.
19 May – Minister of Finance Bill English delivers the "Zero Budget", an atypical election year government budget which plans $1.2b worth of spending cuts over the next four years.
13 June – A magnitude 6.3 earthquake aftershock strikes Christchurch, causing additional earthquake damage to the city.
16–26 June – Ash from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano in Chile causes widespread disruption to flights across New Zealand.
21 June – An emperor penguin, later nicknamed "Happy Feet" after the 2006 film, is found washed up on the Kapiti Coast, the first emperor penguin to be found in New Zealand for 44 years.
25 June – A by-election is held in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate and won by Hone Harawira of the Mana Party.
15 August – The largest cold snap in fifty years causes widespread snow on both the North and South Islands, causing disruption to power supplies and the closures of roads and Wellington International Airport.
31 August – Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae is sworn in as New Zealand's 20th Governor-General, replacing Sir Anand Satyanand.
9 September – The Rugby World Cup begins, the first time the event has been held in New Zealand since 1987. New Zealand playing Tonga at Eden Park, Auckland in the opening game, which was marred with overcrowding problems on the Auckand Waterfront fan zone and transport failures resulting in some spectators missing the game.
28 September – A New Zealand Special Air Service soldier dies fighting in Afghanistan, the second in two months.
30 September – Credit agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's both downgrade New Zealand's long-term credit rating from AA+ to AA.
5 October – The container ship MV Rena runs aground on the Astrolabe Reef 12 nmi (22 km) off the coast of Tauranga, causing a large oil spill into the Bay of Plenty.
11–13 October – The Tauranga oil spill becomes the nation's worst maritime environmental disaster, as tonnes of fuel oil from the MV Rena washes ashore near Tauranga and containers begin to fall off the damaged ship.
23 October – The Rugby World Cup concludes, with the New Zealand All Blacks winning the tournament and the Webb Ellis Cup after defeating France 8–7 in the final at Eden Park, Auckland.
25–30 October – Natural gas supply to the Upper North Island is severely cut back after a major leak is found in the Maui high pressure gas line in northern Taranaki, affecting 255,000 consumers including many several major industrial users, thermal power stations, dairy factories, hospitals and businesses.
10 November – Pike River Mine disaster: The Department of Labour files 25 criminal charges in relation to the disaster.
26 November – 2011 general election and 2011 voting system referendum:
The National Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister John Key, wins a plurality of 60 seats in the general election, and indicates he will work with ACT, United Future and the Māori Party to form a minority government.
On advance vote counts, the existing Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system gains the majority of the vote, and will be kept to elect the Parliament.
10 December – Official results for the 26 November general election and voting system referendum are released:
The National Party is confirmed to hold a plurality of the votes and seats. With confidence and supply agreements with ACT New Zealand and United Future confirmed, National announces it will form a minority government with a one-seat majority, returning the Fifth National Government to a second term in office.
Full results of the referendum on the voting system confirm that the Mixed Member Proportional voting system, with 57.8% of the vote, will be kept but will be reviewed. The First Past the Post voting system gains the most votes for the preferred alternative voting system.
11 December – The National Party signs a confidence and supply agreement with the Maori Party, extending its majority to govern to seven seats (64 seats to 57).
13 December – A fault disconnects Huntly Power Station from the national grid at 12:38pm, resulting in 200,000 customers across the North Island losing power as Transpower employs load shedding to prevent a cascade failure of the North Island electricity network. Electricity is gradually restored to customers as reserve generation comes online to replace Huntly.
14 December – A state of emergency is declared in the Nelson region after nearly 200mm of rain falls on the region in 24 hours, causing widespread flooding.
20–21 December – The 50th New Zealand Parliament is opened, with members elected at the 26 November general election being sworn in and the Governor-General delivering the Speech from the Throne.
23 December – A magnitude 5.8 and a magnitude 6.0 earthquake strike Christchurch at 1:58pm and 3:18pm respectively, causing damage, liquefaction, minor injuries, and majorly disrupting shopping and travel in the lead-up to the Christmas holiday period.
Holidays and observances
6 February - Waitangi Day
25 April - ANZAC Day
6 June - Queen's Birthday Monday
24 October - Labour Day
The Devil's Rock (Horror film)
Love Birds
My Wedding and Other Secrets
The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (Family / Adventure film)
Operation 8: Deep in the Forest (Documentary)
The Most Fun You Can Have Dying
Dreamer by Design
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Shane Hales.
C4 to be renamed FOUR
3 October – The New Zealand Warriors are defeated 10–24 in the 2011 NRL grand final against the Manly Sea Eagles in Sydney.
23 October – The All Blacks win the 2011 Rugby World Cup, defeating France 8–7 in the final at Eden Park, Auckland.
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Henry Greaves
Ballinger Belt – Richard Rowlands (Malvern)
