That's a wrap on 2023, a year with plenty of stories – but a few headlines stood out from the crowd.
Kiwis were captivated by a Lotto draw with a unique difference, a quirky caravan and a bizarre whodunnit in Tauranga.
A grandmother's response to a ram-raid captured the nation's attention amid soaring reports on retail crime, and we took pride in a South Island town's international reputation.
That's before even mentioning political drama and the Rugby World Cup.
Here are some of 1News' top stories from 2023:
January set the tone for the rest of the 2023. Where were you when Jacinda Ardern quit as prime minister?
Just weeks into the year, Ardern shocked New Zealand and the world by announcing her resignation.
"I will not be seeking re-election," she told stunned viewers.
Ardern said there was no "real reason" why she wanted to resign, only that she was "human".
An at-times emotional Ardern thanked New Zealanders for the "opportunity" to fulfil the "greatest role" of her life.
Ardern believed she "no longer had enough in the tank" to do the job justice, but there were colleagues who could.
Chris Hipkins took over and began an eventful year of his own, both becoming prime minister and losing the gig.
If this is your thing, be sure to tune in for the 2023 edition soon.
The most declined name in 2022 was King, with nine attempts being rejected. It was followed by Saint (eight) and Royal (seven).
Around the same time, the most popular baby names in New Zealand for 2022 were revealed.
However, Kiwis were more keen to learn you can't call your kid "Messiah".
The first of two horrific weather events to hit New Zealand this year, the Auckland floods in January (again) captured the country's attention. This gallery showed the scale of the event and the human impact of an extreme amount of water rushing through the streets.
Cyclone Gabrielle would later add to the extreme weather that characterised the summer.
A more positive story. Snoop Dogg was welcomed in Auckland with a heartwarming pōwhiri when he touched down in Aotearoa for his I Wanna Thank Me Tour, taking photos with fans.
More than 30,000 Kiwis watched the industry legend perform in Christchurch and Auckland.
This was a bit of positive news after Cyclone Gabrielle slammed the North Island's East Coast.
As the region reeled, Kiwis rallied – and Lotto put on a special must-win draw with half of the ticket proceeds going towards Cyclone Gabrielle relief. One ticket won a whopping $15.5 million in the draw.
All up, the special draw raised over $11m for cyclone relief.
To some, it looked like a giant USB stick, a Bluetooth speaker or even a Swiss army knife.
However, its designer said it's the "ultimate caravan".
This dwelling-with-a-difference raised plenty of eyebrows – and it's fair to say, Kiwis across the country were intrigued.
Both the caravan community and online readers were divided by the unique and futuristic style of the Romotow.
Amid national concern over retail crime, a Cambridge grandma took justice into her own hands.
She witnessed a ram-raid in progress – and smashed her vehicle into thieves' one, prompting them to flee.
She noticed one of the group was a "little guy" slipping around in jandals.
"Builder's crack – it was hilarious," the anonymous grandmother said. It was "worth it", she added.
For a few days in August, everyone wanted to know one thing.
Where on earth had the pole cemented into Sophie Hucker's driveway come from?
The Tauranga teacher arrived home one night and saw a wrapped pole standing in her drive. She first believed it was a delivery for her neighbours – but when she got out of the car, she found it was cemented in.
After a desperate search for answers, the culprit was revealed.
Hucker called it a "tradie oopsie".
The company was "baffled as to how they managed to get it wrong" and gave Hucker a bottle of bubbles for the inconvenience.
New Zealanders have always taken pride in making a splash on the world stage – and this was one of those times we did just that.
Kaikōura made the cut in Condé Nast's list of the 50 most beautiful small towns worldwide.
Everyone wanted to read about what makes the town so special.
"The place used to be where you stopped for a pee and a pie, but now people come here for our hospitality and our coffee," former Kaikōura mayor Kevin Heays said.
"We're all good bastards. I think really, it's our people that make the place really what it is, along with all [the scenery]."
The All Blacks might not have quite been able to take the top gong at this year's Rugby World Cup, but there were plenty of memorable moments – and this was one of them, at the end of a big win over Ireland in the quarterfinal.
A picture taken by a Getty photographer showed that Ioane cupped his ear towards Irish fans who had been vocal throughout the showdown at the Stade de France.
His actions didn't impress the Irish Times' Gerry Thornley, who said the centre "put his finger to his lips while looking at the Irish crowd".
However, the All Blacks later formed a guard of honour for the defeated Irish, clapping them down the tunnel.
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