Yearbook 2019
 New Zealand. During the World Economic Forum in Davos in
January, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented a new
alternative way of measuring growth. From 2019, the
country's government would annually present a "well-being
budget". The idea was to get a bigger overall picture of the
well-being of the residents, unlike GDP which only measures
economic growth. According to Ardern, New Zealand had 3%
growth and 3.9% unemployment, while the country's share of
homeless people was large. In addition, New Zealand was one
of the OECD countries with the highest suicide rate among
young people.
In March, 51 people died and 49 were injured when a lone
man fired two mosques in central Christchurch. According to
a 70-page manifesto, which the perpetrator posted on social
media, the attack had been planned for two years, the AFP
news agency reported. The 28-year-old man, who came from
Australia, also posted the horrific mass shooting live on
Facebook. After the deed, authorities warned that
dissemination of the material could result in up to ten
years in prison.
According to
CountryAAH, both the country's Muslim population and other residents
were shocked by the terror attack, which was labeled as
extreme right.
Shortly thereafter, the sale of automatic carbines and
semi-automatic weapons of the type used in the act was
banned. At the same time, a state program to buy back banned
weapons would be introduced.
In April, six New Zealanders were indicted for sharing
the 28-year-old Australian terror video online.
The perpetrator himself was charged with, for example,
murder, attempted murder and terrorist offenses. The trial
was due to take place only in May 2020. In a preliminary
court hearing in June, the 28-year-old denied all of the
charges, which were around 100. The man participated in the
negotiations via video link from a high-security prison.
In July, Prime Minister Ardern stated that the government
planned to introduce a firearms register and introduce new
rules on weapons licensing, which means that gun owners must
renew their licenses every five years.
In the same month, a weapons collection began, which
resulted in the submission of more than 10,000
semi-automatic firearms in August.
Parliament in November passed a new law that the
country's net carbon dioxide emissions should be zero by
2050. At the same time, the country's emissions of methane
should be reduced by 24-47%.
In December, 56,000 firearms had been filed since a
weapons collection began in July.
The same month, a volcanic eruption erupted on White
Island. The island is a popular tourist destination where
boat trips from Whakatane in the northern part of the North
Island go. In the outbreak, 47 people died, most of whom
were Australian tourists, according to media reports at the
end of December.
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