As 2025 winds down, it’s the perfect time to celebrate some Kiwi wins. 

One Reddit user, fed up with the constant negativity of news online, asked, “What are the 10 coolest things that happened in New Zealand this year?”, and the comments are really hitting the spot. 

 From sports heroes to scientific breakthroughs, here are some of the best things that have happened in NZ this year:  

Sport

Sam Ruthe is only 16, but he’s already smashing records. At 15, he became "the youngest person to ever break 4 minutes for a mile at 15”. Many comments agreed that he has an “incredible future” ahead. 

Ultramarathon runner Ruth Croft won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) race this year, one of the world’s toughest 174km races. She’s the first Kiwi to do it, and the first woman to win all three UTMB World Series finals. 174km - what the actual heck?! 

Hamish Kerr and Geordie Beamish both became world champions this year. Kerr added another gold to his collection at the World Athletics Championships, with Beamish snagging first place in the 3000m steeplechase. Of course, Kerr has now gone on to win the 2025 Lonsdale Cup. 

 Lastly in sport, Black Caps Tom Latham and Devon Conway became “the first opening batters to score centuries in both innings of a test match”. Reddit fans were STOKED about this one. 

Science, Environment and Cool Discoveries 

Science seemed to be a strong suit for us this year, with breakthroughs that maybe not all Kiwis are aware of. 

Dr Mathew Anker, a senior lecturer at Wellington University, grabbed a Hamilton award for a Chemistry breakthrough. Some people are so smart that it's beyond me. 

Another Reddit commenter pulled out some more niche scientific discoveries made in NZ in 2025: “We discovered 12 new species of jumping siders, six new species of landhoppers and three previously unknown species of tiny marine foraminifera.”  

“Two Takahe at Zealandia had a baby,” was another piece of really good news. It is a welcome relief for the endangered species, with one also being born at Willowbank this year. 

 On another note, an ocean voyaging waka from the mid-1400s was found on Chatham Island. This is “one of the most important discoveries in New Zealand archaeology.” 

Predator control on Stewart Island successfully cleared out feral cats and possums to such a low level that they are “undetectable”. Great news for the beautiful Pukunui. 

Healthcare 

One commenter expressed how grateful they were for our healthcare system. Someone said they “personally found out how good our health system is when you’re really in the shit.” 

The commenter went on to say, “they saved my life”, and many replies shared the same opinion, expressing their gratitude for healthcare workers in 2025. 

In New Plymouth, a new $56 million cancer centre opened, bringing radiation therapy closer to home. This means patients don’t have to make the three-hour mission to Palmerston North for their treatment. A commenter described the oncology services as “exceptional”, saying that its facilities are “on par with overseas facilities”. 

Workplace + Financial 

Rocket Lab's share price is at an all-time high with a market cap of about $64b NZD and is making a lot of Kiwis rich,” said one finance bro in the comments. Get investing, people!

Other good news was NZ topping the Global Life-Work Balance index for the third consecutive year. 

Lastly, it’s been confirmed that consumer confidence in New Zealand has risen to its highest level in four years, with card spending data showing a positive increase (partially all my Christmas shopping, oops). 

2025 may have had its ups and downs, but it’s always nice to focus on the good old Kiwi wins, from athletes and scientists to healthcare heroes and everyday life. 

Here’s to celebrating the good stuff and starting 2026 with all the energy of a Ruth Croft ultramarathon finish.