A LOOK AT THE LAST THREE YEARS IN NEW ZEALAND
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September 2017 - National leader Bill English claims victory on election night, only to fall short of a majority - sending the parties to the negotiating table to form government.
October 2017 - After more than three weeks of discussions, NZ First leader Winston Peters announces his party's decision to form a government with Labour, which has already secured the support of the Green party. This allows Jacinda Ardern to become prime minister with a working majority of 63 seats in the 120-member Parliament.
January 2018 - Ardern announces she is pregnant.
February 2018 - Aucklander Simon Bridges becomes the first Maori leader of the National party after he replaces the retiring English.
June 2018 - Ardern gives birth to a baby girl, Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, and returns to work six weeks later.
September 2018 - Ardern takes Neve to the floor of the United Nations.
October 2018 - National is hit by a major scandal; with MP Jami-Lee Ross leaving the party amid suggestions of electoral fraud, deceit, sexual harassment and more. Bridges survives as leader.
March 2019 - A gunman kills 51 people in a terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques.
April 2019 - Ardern champions and passes legislation to ban semi-automatic weapons.
September 2019 - Labour is rocked by allegations of sexual assault by a staff member and a party cover-up, which forces the party's president to resign. A report later largely clears the staffer.
November 2019 - The government lands its signature climate change policies when the Zero Carbon Bill passes parliament - with National support.
December 2019 - At least 20 people are killed when the Whakaari volcano erupts with tour groups on the island.
January 2020 - Ardern calls the election for September 19.
Australian Associated Press