landslide – January 22nd:
Following extreme rainfall, Mount Maunganui (otherwise known as Mauao) suffers a devastating landslide, destroying both the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, and the well-known hot pools. Six people die as the massive amounts of mud, silt, and water engulf the main amenities block, including a well-known Morrinsville teacher who was regarded as the hero of the day, as she was killed running into the block trying to save people. 42 seperate landslides occur during this time, and conversations are had amongst the wider Bay of Plenty council as to whether the mountain should ever be reopened. No final conclusion is reached, but the Maunga remains closed as it continues to slip and break down, even months after the event occurs. An ignored 2025 risk report is highlighted as an ominous message as to what was to come, and raises questions about the organisational quality of both the region and holiday park management, as well as a lack of evacuation procedure.
Epstein – January 30th
Three million pages of files related to Jeffery Epstein and his notorious island are released, although heavily redacted. All over the internet these files go viral, being referred to as “The Epstein Files”. These files become a global meme, but also draw attention to concerning elements of how money and fame can cover anything up in high enough amounts. Photos also circulate of Donald Trump on said island, which becomes a point of contention regarding the fitness of the current American government. The heavy redaction of these files makes them nearly impossible to read, but points to everyday words such as “pizza” being used as a way to traffic young girls onto the island without being caught.
Strait Of Hormuz closed… – 28th of February
Airstrikes launched by Israel against Iran during nuclear negotiations resulted in the death of the long-reigning Ayatollah, Ali Khameni, and the IRGC announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the 28th of February this year. The paranoia of prolonged closure resulted in the fastest spike in oil prices in recent history.
Moa point wastewater – February 2026
Starting on the 4th of February, a malfunction in the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant in Wellington resulted in 14 billion litres of untreated raw sewage into the sea surrounding Tarakena Bay and other nearby beaches, resulting in closures. It led to a lot of finger pointing, with some accusing the local council of focusing too much on bike lanes for hipsters and not enough on essential infrastructure. A crown review found that years of neglect, mismanagement, and unclear accountability. Wellington city council and Tikai Wai, the council owned water management service for Wellington, faced 10 legal charges for violating the Resource Management Act.
hantavirus – 1st of april
On the 1st of April, the MV Hondius sets sail from Argentina. International passengers begin to contract and pass around a rare and barely understood disease from the Andes called ‘Hantavirus’. it is believed that this was spread by human-to-human contact before the ship set sail, and international red flags are raised as fears of another COVID-19 style epidemic begin to surface. Three passengers die from the disease, some on the ship and some off, as it finally docks in Tenrife, Spain in May. The remaining passengers are confined to a 42-day quarantine as a way to prevent the disease from entering the public, and there are no more cases or deaths. The WHO declares the threat as contained on the 2nd of July.
Artemis – April:
Launched on April 1, 2026, NASA makes its first manned flyby of the moon in 50 years. Lasting 9 days, 1 hour, and 32 minutes, this was a part of a mission to return to the moon as they had in 1972. This set a new record for space travel, marking the greatest distance humans had ever been through space. Despite being special for this reason, Artemis also made history for being the first mission to the moon with a woman on board. This created huge applause on the internet, as the famous photo of Christina Koch looking out the spaceship window towards earth makes waves amongst women and children that grew up wanting to be astronauts. Although some great horrors occurred in 2026, this shines as a great move of hope.
…Strait Closed… Again! – April 16th
Tensions continued in the region, with the United States’ counterblockade resulting in a negotiation meltdown and the reclosure of the strait after a narrow 10-day open window where the strait was open. The National government’s fuel hardship fund comes into effect.
Fees Free – 8th may
Winston Peters prematurely announced on the 8th of May this year that the Fees Free scheme would be axed following the unveiling of the 2026 budget later that month. The removal of the scheme, which would have seen University students having their final year of university covered by the government, triggered a surge in tertiary student activism, including a protest outside the Pā at the Hamilton campus. The presidents of multiple student unions around the country came together to release a joint statement condemning the coalition government’s handling of the scheme, the scheme’s future under a left coalition remains unclear.
PLAYSTATION PHYSICAL – July 1st
Sony confirmed that after January 2028 that physical discs for PlayStation games would no longer be released. The announcement ignited a controversy surrounding what constitutes owning a game and the importance of physical media. Sony and their supporters have argued that despite the resistance, physical sales are at an all-time low. Detractors state that it poses a threat to customers’ purchases. There were calls for a boycott of Sony products, including the soon-after released Wolverine which dropped to abysmal reviews.
MAGNITUDE 5.9 Quake – 25th July
A 5.9 magnitude quake originating 5km south of Taumarunui struck in the early hours of the morning. Shakes were felt across the Motu, from Auckland to the top of the South Island, also causing a small geothermal eruption in Rotorua. 73 aftershocks were reported by Geonet after the initial quake.
NEPAL FLASH FLOOD – AUGUST 26th
The collapse of a Glacier in Nepal led to an avalanche which subsequently triggered catastrophic flooding along the mountainous Nepal-Tibet border. Villages throughout the Lhende Khola river valley suffered immense damage and death, with the loss of life rising to 1,455 by the time the Nepalese authorities called off their extensive search-and-rescue operations in the beginning of October. Balendra Shah, the Prime Minister of Nepal, presented a speech at the 81st of Assembly of the United Nations the following month, stating “The […] disaster was not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world. And I ask you today: have we really heard that warning?”
Greenland
Donald Trump’s musing of having control of Greenland seems to have been granted through the powers of waning, desperate hegemony. A trilateral treaty signed by The United States, Greenland, and Denmark. Trump states that it grants the US permanent control over the security and all other needs of Greenland. The country’s position in the arctic – standing between America and the north of Russia – as well as the potential for mineral extraction, has made it an object of the Trump administration’s desire for the better part of a year. It’s expected to function as a northernmost military outpost defending against any potential threats.
FRENCH STUDENT PROTESTS – OCTOBER
The student protest movement in France, started in Paris in late September by disgruntled Highschool students, spreads nationwide and tertiary education students also mobilise. The movement stands in defiance against reports of worsening conditions, resource shortages and budget cuts to the sector that have been floated. Protestors in city centres have clashed violently with police, one student loses a hand. The French government blames Far-Left agitators for encouraging political violence in the country that invented the guillotine.
