"In 2019, I hope New Zealanders will lead the world again," Dame Patsy Reddy said.
Four others were injured in the crash, two seriously.
One person died at the scene at Waimamaku in the Hokianga.
Three unauthorised drones were in the skies above Spaghetti Junction in the early hours of this morning.
"It is devastating to know that many of these deaths were preventable."
The Pitch Perfect star was on a trip to the popular winter destination in Colorado when she got into difficulty.
Police say they dealt with minor disorder incidents, liquor ban breaches and intoxication.
Southland shearer Winton Tuhakaraina was struck by a car in Warrnambool on Christmas Eve.
The driver survived with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Armed police swarmed the central city station late this morning.
Doubles player Jurak was just 19 when she first played in Auckland a decade and a half ago.
Foodstuffs has stopped providing plastic bags after Countdown scrapped them in October.
Properties were threatened by the midnight fire, but escaped undamaged.
The emergency services' response included a helicopter flown to the island this afternoon.
The blunder was projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a million revellers watched.
The water has been steadily rising over the past year.
The man's death brings New Zealand's holiday road toll to eight.
