With 2020 almost at a close, it'll be a year many will be glad to see come to an end.
It's been a year that's seen the world changed by the coronavirus pandemic, Donald Trump ousted as US President, and New Zealand dealing with its own election and response to the virus.
Here's 2020 in photos and the events that shaped the year.
January
The year began with bushfires in Australia continuing to ravage the nation.
On January 6, Newshub first reported that a "mystery virus" was spreading through central China and dozens of people had been hospitalised. At the time only 59 people had been infected.
At the time people thought the virus could be SARS, and they had ruled out Bird Flu and Middle East respiratory syndrome.
By mid-January, the virus had begun to spread from its epicentre in Wuhan throughout China and was confirmed as a new strain of coronavirus.
Even though the virus hadn't spread to New Zealand yet, cases had been recorded in Japan, Thailand, and Korea.
Otago University Professor of Public Health Michael Baker said it would be "very responsible" for authorities in New Zealand to start looking at what parts of the pandemic plan should be rolled out here.
"We do need to think about whether border screening and this risk-based screening is needed," he said.
But at the time, the Ministry of Health said there were no direct flights between Wuhan and New Zealand, and it wasn't "recommending screening to be used at airports here".
In late January several cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Australia and the Ministry of Health admitted the likelihood of the virus getting to New Zealand was "high".
Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26.
Tributes flowed from around the world for him and his daughter as news of their tragic deaths spread.
On January 30 the NZ Government chartered an Air New Zealand flight to assist New Zealanders stranded in Wuhan.
February
On February 2, the Government announced a ban on foreign travellers from China to protect the country from coronavirus.
A New Zealander on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan tested positive for coronavirus.
PPE takes off in February with a US businessman seen wearing a plastic tent on a plane.
The World Health Organization names the virus COVID-19 - short for coronavirus disease 2019 - on February 11. By then over 43,000 people had been infected worldwide, and more than 1000 dead from the illness.
Residents in low-lying areas of Gore, Wyndham, and Mataura in Southland had to be evacuated as flooding ravaged the area.
US President Donald Trump's impeachment drew demonstrations across the country, but he was ultimately acquitted in his US Senate impeachment trial.
New Zealand reports its first case of coronavirus on February 28, a person in their 60s who returned to New Zealand from Iran via Bali.
By the end of February there were more cases of COVID-19 outside of China than inside. The World Health Organisation said the sudden increase of cases was deeply concerning, but they were still not prepared to declare a worldwide pandemic.
March
On March 4, New Zealand's second case of COVID-19 was confirmed and from then on there was almost a new case recorded every day.
The pandemic was then taking off in Europe, which later became the new epicentre, and Italy's Prime Minister placed the country into lockdown.
The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on March 10.
Cases continued to climb and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand's border would close to everyone who was not a citizen or permanent resident.
On March 23, Ardern placed the country in Alert Level 3 immediately, moving to Level 4 lockdown 48 hours later.
The announcement spurred panic buying at petrol stations and supermarkets.
The first day of New Zealand's lockdown on March 26 made the usually busy motorways eerily quiet.
On March 29, New Zealand recorded the country's first death from COVID-19. The West Coast woman in her 60s had underlying health conditions. By then, NZ had recorded 514 cases of COVID-19.
April
On April 2, New Zealand had its biggest increase of cases in one day - 89.
Cases continue to rise around the world to over 1 million and deaths surpass 50,000.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hospitalised with the virus and is looked after by Invercargill-born nurse Jenny McGee.
Former Health Minister David Clark apologised after he drove 2.3 kilometres to go mountain biking during the alert level four lockdown.
At the time he said it was his only chance to "get out for some exercise in daylight hours", but said it was a timely reminder for him to "think carefully about how best to fit some exercise into my new-normal routine".
As the country's lockdown continued, the streets were still left bare as Kiwis obeyed the stay-at-home rules.
There was a supermarket frenzy ahead of the Easter supermarket shutdown. Amid lockdown, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced supermarkets would close on Good Friday, but open on Easter Sunday.
Queues snaked around footpaths and stretched down the road at one Wellington supermarket ahead of the one-day closure.
On April 13, New Zealand recorded a fifth COVID-19 related death and the next day a further four deaths were announced.
New Zealand moved to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm on April 27.
May
For the first time in months, New Zealand recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on May 4.
Globally, the number of cases surpassed 4 million with the death toll over 282,000.
New Zealand entered it's first day at Level 2 on May 14.
The National Party had its first change of leadership in May, with Todd Muller rolling Simon Bridges.
Protests on police brutality against African Americans following US man George Floyd's death erupted across the world.
June
Black Lives Matter protests continued into June, with one being held in Auckland.
June brought the Pike River Mine families one step closer to finding answers after a robot sent into the mine's drift days after the 2010 explosion was recovered.
"For years we were told that the drift was too dangerous to enter. This shows that we can get in and we can get evidence out," Pike River widow Anna Osborne said.
"The last time this robot saw the light of day we were being told by the mine management that our men would still be alive down there eating their crib. It was the start of years of lies that are finally being put to rest by this recovery."
On June 8, New Zealand entered Alert Level 1.
New Zealand's run of zero active coronavirus cases ended on June 16 after two women who left managed isolation on compassionate grounds later tested positive.
July
New clusters of COVID-19 emerged in Melbourne bringing parts of the city back into lockdown, however all of NZ's cases were in managed isolation.
National's second leadership crisis of the year saw Judith Collins and Gerry Brownlee become the new leaders. The pair continued to lead the party through the election.
Northland's one-in-500-year flood brought destruction to the region.
A massive landslip at Mangamuka Gorge meant an entire road was blocked off by a deluge of fallen trees and dirt.
Disgraced former Labour minister Iain Lees-Galloway was sacked from Cabinet over having a relationship with a former staffer.
August
On August 12, Auckland moved back in Alert Level 3 lockdown, and the rest of the country to Level 2, after four members of a family tested positive for COVID-19.
After the announcement of Auckland's second lockdown, many flocked to supermarkets to panic-buy essential items.
The next day 13 new cases were announced, and new cases were recorded daily around Auckland and Waikato as the Ministry of Health attempted to find the source and perimeter of the cluster. The Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship subcluster also emerged.
Jacinda Ardern announced the 2020 Election will be moved to October following the second outbreak.
On August 27, the Christchurch mosque attack terrorists was sentenced to life without parole, an outcome that victims celebrated.
September
As Auckland's alert level 2.5 continued, some protesters responded with a "campaign to end lockdowns".
A large crowd turned out to the event despite restrictions on the size of gatherings at the time.
Wildfires in California wreaked havoc across the state and forced some to flee their homes. Among them was Kiwi Jody Brettkelly, who described the blaze as "unbelieveable".
"We're inside and your eyes are sort of streaming. Everything is so dry and you can smell the smoke inside which is really scary," she said.
Auckland was brought to a standstill after a central strut on the Harbour Bridge was damaged when strong winds toppled a medium-sized truck.
It took some Aucklanders hours to get home since several lanes on the bridge were blocked and traffic backed up for kilometres.
On September 29, the COVID-19 death toll surpassed 1 million.
October
On October 2, former US President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalised as a precaution.
Auckland later moved to Alert Level 1.
A fire ripped through the small village of Oahu in Canterbury and resulted in the evacuation of residents.
Streets of houses were destroyed in the blaze and the lost of property was "significant", according to Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher.
The election was held on October 17 after being delayed one month due to COVID-19. It resulted in a landslide win for Labour who were able to govern alone on the results.
November
The United States election drew people's attention from across the world. Joe Biden ousted Donald Trump and was declared president-elect.
The kākāpō won the title of bird of the year for the second time. The victory was despite a desperate attempt to steal the election after scrutineers discovered 1500 votes were cast from the same IP address early one morning.
December
Monoliths popping up in various places around the world was one of the more mystifying stories of the year.
Not only did one appear in New Zealand, but others were found in Utah, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Romania.
Seven years after the Roast Busters alleged group sex ring was exposed, charges were filed against three men. An alleged victim said she was "shocked" but "relieved" at the development.
