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1990:Commonwealth Games held in Auckland.
Pay Television Network Sky TV began broadcasting.
Big earthquake in Hawke's Bay.
1991:An avalanche on Aoraki/Mount Cook reduces its height by 10.5 metres.
1992:State housing commercialized.
Student Loan system is started / Tertiary Fees raised
1994:Government commits 250 soldiers to front-line duty in Bosnia.
New Zealand's first casino opens in Christchurch.
First fast-ferry service begins operation across Cook Strait.
1997:TV4 begins daily broadcasts.
Customs Service cracks down on imported Japanese used cars following claims of odometer fraud.
1998:Auckland city businesses hit by a power cut lasting several weeks. The crisis of over a month results in an inquiry into Mercury Energy.
Several cases of tuberculosis discovered in South Auckland in the worst outbreak for a decade.
Prime TV launched
1999:Alcohol purchase age for off-licenses reduced from 20 to 18 years of age
2001:Interest accrual is removed from student loans while studying. Students who accrued interest prior to 2001 are still required to pay.
2002:30 June: The population of Canterbury reaches half a million.
27 July: 2002 general election, Labour-led government returned for a second term.
2003:Population of New Zealand exceeds 4 million.
2004:Foreshore and Seabed Act passed.
Civil Union Act passed
Māori Party formed.
Maori TV begins broadcasting
2006:Labour enacts its election promise to remove interest on loans to students living in New Zealand.
Five cent coins are dropped from circulation and existing 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent coins are replaced with smaller coins.
The government announces a NZ$11.5 billion surplus, the largest in the country's history and second only to Denmark in the Western World.
South Island population reaches 1 million
2007:2 May: Freeview is launched, providing free-to-air digital television.
1 July: KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme introduced.
18 December:Electoral Finance Act enacted.
2008:11
Pay Television Network Sky TV began broadcasting.
Big earthquake in Hawke's Bay.
1991:An avalanche on Aoraki/Mount Cook reduces its height by 10.5 metres.
1992:State housing commercialized.
Student Loan system is started / Tertiary Fees raised
1994:Government commits 250 soldiers to front-line duty in Bosnia.
New Zealand's first casino opens in Christchurch.
First fast-ferry service begins operation across Cook Strait.
1997:TV4 begins daily broadcasts.
Customs Service cracks down on imported Japanese used cars following claims of odometer fraud.
1998:Auckland city businesses hit by a power cut lasting several weeks. The crisis of over a month results in an inquiry into Mercury Energy.
Several cases of tuberculosis discovered in South Auckland in the worst outbreak for a decade.
Prime TV launched
1999:Alcohol purchase age for off-licenses reduced from 20 to 18 years of age
2001:Interest accrual is removed from student loans while studying. Students who accrued interest prior to 2001 are still required to pay.
2002:30 June: The population of Canterbury reaches half a million.
27 July: 2002 general election, Labour-led government returned for a second term.
2003:Population of New Zealand exceeds 4 million.
2004:Foreshore and Seabed Act passed.
Civil Union Act passed
Māori Party formed.
Maori TV begins broadcasting
2006:Labour enacts its election promise to remove interest on loans to students living in New Zealand.
Five cent coins are dropped from circulation and existing 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent coins are replaced with smaller coins.
The government announces a NZ$11.5 billion surplus, the largest in the country's history and second only to Denmark in the Western World.
South Island population reaches 1 million
2007:2 May: Freeview is launched, providing free-to-air digital television.
1 July: KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme introduced.
18 December:Electoral Finance Act enacted.
2008:11