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LOCAL HISTORY

Sept 4 - At 4.35am an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the richter scale struck the greater Canterbury area. There was widespread property damage but no lives were lost. There were numerous aftershocks.

Oct 1 - GST increased from 12.5% to 15%

Nov 18 - A gas explosion in the Pike River coalmine between Reefton and Greymouth, traps 31 miners underground. 2 miners who were making their way into the mine walk out. Poisonous gas frustrates any rescue attempt and on Wednesday 25 Nov a further explosion extinguishes all hope of rescuing the remining 29 miners.

Dec 26 - A swarm of more than 32 shallow aftershocks, many centred directly under the city, occurred throughout the day beginning with a 4.2 jolt at 2:07am. The largest of these, with a magnitude of 4.9, at a depth of 12 km below Opawa was felt very strongly and caused further damage to at least 20 buildings, the closure of the central city, and cut power to more than 40,000 for some time.

July 15: The Fiordland earthquake was magnitude 7.8 and struck at 6.22pm. The earthquake was centred in the remote region of Fiordland. It was the largest New Zealand earthquake since the 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake, which also had a magnitude of 7.8. It was felt throughout the South Island, and in the lower North Island as far as New Plymouth. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and it caused only minor property damage.

11 January - Sir Edmund Hillary dies

April - The Trans-Tasman ANZ Netball Championship Begins

27 November: (28 November NZ Time.) XL Airways Germany A320 Flight 888T, an aeroplane owned by Air New Zealand crashes in the Mediterranean Sea off the south coast of France, killing all seven on board, 5 of whom are New Zealanders.

Helen Clark is named Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ranking third in the UN office.

1 April - Severe Flodding in Northland results in millions of dollars worth of damage.

May: Freeview is launched, providing free-to-air digital television.

1 July: KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme introduced.

2 July - Corporal Bill Apiata of the SAS is awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery under fire in Afghanistan. This is the first time a Victoria Cross has been awarded to a New Zealander since World War II.

20 December - A 6.8 magnitude earthquake causes significant damage and one death when it strikes Gisborne

David Bain's final Privy Council appeal results in the quashing of his convictions for the murder of his family. A re-trail is ordered by the Solicitor-General of New Zealand.

Crusaders Rugby team win the first Super 14 title.

Banks Peninsula joins City Council

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

August 13 - David Lange was New Zealand's youngest 20th-century prime minister. Renowned for his sharp wit and oratory, he is best remembered as the leader of the fourth Labour government from 1984 to 1989.

The new Christchurch Women's Hospital opens.

The Crusaders win the last Super 12 competition before it is expanded to 14 teams.

Measures designed to counter the smog are introduced.

The Kate Valley landfill is operational.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

May - Government sparks intense debate over proposed bill to nationalise the sea bed. Maori protesters contend bill would infringe ancestral rights. Government survives no-confidence vote.

The Return of the King, the last film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy produced in NZ and directed by Peter Jackson scoops the Academy Awards winning 11, among others Best Director, Best Picture, Best Costume Design and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Southern Alps claim 13 lives during the climbing season.

NZ wins three golds at the Athens Olympic Games.

National Party leader Don Brash sparks debate over race relations with his Orewa speech; an anti-racism rally was held in central Ch-Ch.

February - Team NZ loses the Americas Cup to Alingi of Switzerland captained by New Zealander Russell Coutts.

The population of NZ passes four million.

The new Ch-Ch Art Gallery opens.

The Silver Ferns defeat Australia at the netball world cup.

Seven staff from Lincoln's Crop & Food Research are killed in a light-plane crash.

Parliament decriminalises prostitution.

The seabed and foreshore dispute prompts changes to the law.

The All Blacks are defeated 22-10 by Australia in the semi-finals of the Rugby world Cup

The Queen vists.

The Helen Clark led Labour party becomes the minority government in coalition with Jim Anderton's Progressive Party and with the support from the Greens and United Future.

Kiwibank opens.

Double-amputee Mark Inglis climbs Mount Cook.

Crusaders win their fourth Super 12 title.

October - Government rescues Air New Zealand 12 years after it was privatised and takes an 83% share in the carrier.

The Canterbury museum seeks funds for redevelopment.

Anika Moa leads the charge of Kiwi music; Hayley Westenra signs an international recording deal.

Royal Commission on Genetic Modification recommends proceeding with caution.