12 October

New Zealand's ‘blackest day’ at Passchendaele

1917 New Zealand's ‘blackest day’ at Passchendaele

Ever since 1917, Passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the Great War. In terms of lives lost in a single day, the failed attack on Bellevue Spur on 12 October was probably the greatest disaster in New Zealand’s history. Read more...
<em>Niagara</em>'s arrival blamed for flu pandemic

1918 Niagara's arrival blamed for flu pandemic

Many people blamed the liner Niagara for bringing a deadly new influenza virus to New Zealand. But six people had died of the flu in Auckland in the three days before it arrived, and the upsurge in cases in the city came two weeks later. Read more...
New Zealanders go to the polls in first MMP election

1996 New Zealanders go to the polls in first MMP election

In the first general election held under the new mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) voting system, New Zealand voters selected 120 members of Parliament through a mixture of electorate contests and party lists. Read more...