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As we break ground on 2023, there may well be many who would like to bury 2022 and forget about it. But before we consign the year to the compost heap of history here’s part one of the Sunday Star-Times quiz of the year...
January
1. When Tonga’s Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15, emitting the biggest atmospheric explosion recorded on Earth in more than 100 years the amount of seafloor displaced was the equivalent to how many Olympic-sized swimming pools: a) 26,000, b) 260,000 or c) 2.6 million?
2. Who was the first Aussie to win an Australian Open singles title for 44 years - only to then two months later decide to retire from tennis at the grand old age of 25?
3. Who played his 112th and final Test match for New Zealand against Bangladesh after a 15-year career? For an extra point which Black Caps bowler took his 300th wicket in the same test?
4. After the first confirmed Omicron cases were confirmed on January 23, the country went to the ‘‘red’’ traffic light setting for how many days: a) 18 days, b) 80 days, or c) we’re still in the red light setting?
5. Fill in the missing name from this statement from Buckingham Palace released on January 13: ‘‘With the Queen’s approval and agreement, X’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. X will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.’’
February
1. Why was Speaker Trevor Mallard in the news for playing 90s popdance track the Macarena, and songs by Barry Manilow?
2. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was officially on February 6 - but four days of celebrations were actually held in the UK and New Zealand in which month?
3. What was the name of the excyclone that contributed to the month-long drenching that led to nine locations observing their wettest February on record, including 553% of normal February rainfall at Masterton, where records began in 1926, and 475% of normal at Westport, where records began in 1893?
4. All Blacks Joeli Vidiri and Va’aiga Tuigamala died within a day of each other on February 23 and 24, but for which countries of their births did they also play rugby?
5. How many medals were won in New Zealand’s most successful Winter Olympics ever, and who were the athletes that won them?
March
1. What 27km stretch of road was finally opened on March 31 - more than seven years after construction began and after a $336,712 opening ceremony?
2. After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, you’d be forgiven for forgetting anything else about the ceremony, but can you remember who won best actor, actress, film and director awards?
3. Kiwi musician Stella Rose Bennett released her EP Lychee as a follow-up to her global hit single Supalonely and album Hey U X but by what stage name is she better known?
4. What event during the first few weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to announce, ‘‘If there will be an explosion, it will be the end to all of us: the end of Europe, the evacuation of Europe.’’? 5. Tickets for US rock band Foo Fighters’ December concerts went on sale in March - but why were the gigs were cancelled later the same month?
April
1. Of whose decision to step down from public office was Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern talking about when she said ‘‘He has been central to our Covid success as a nation, and he’s done it with humour and grace (I’ll keep the details of his sporadic mockery of me to myself!).’’
2. Te Ka¯hui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill passed its third reading in Parliament on April 7, establishing Matariki as a public holiday in New Zealand, but when is that holiday celebrated?
3. Which former cricketer was deposed as prime minister of Pakistan following a motion of no confidence on April 9?
4. Country music legend Willie Nelson released his 72nd solo studio album A Beautiful Time at the end of April, but with which Kiwi songstress did he duet on the single Beyond the Stars, a song that appeared on her album Kingmaker and earnt her three New Zealand Music Awards?
5. ‘‘Today I have received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police relating to an event in Downing Street on19th June 2020, and let me say immediately that I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology… I have to say in all frankness, at the time, it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules. But of course the police have found otherwise and I fully respect the outcome of their investigation. Who is talking about what?
May
1. Pioneering musician Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, aka Vangelis, died on May 17. For what sport-themed 1981 movie did he win an Academy award?
2. The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 was held in Turin, Italy, from May 10-14. From Which country does folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra, who won with their song Stefania, come?
3. The outbreak of what viral disease, which has now been transmitted around the world started when a first case was detected in London on May 6, 2022?
4. Which of these actors from the original Top Gun film did not reprise their role in Top Gun: Maverick, which was released on May 27: a) Val Kilmer as Iceman, b) Anthony Edwards as Goose, or, c) Tom Cruise as Maverick?
5. Which former Black Caps captain announced he had signed up to be an assistant coach with Australia’s cricket set-up?
June
1. Who won the Tauranga byelection for the National Party on June 18 following the resignation from Parliament of Simon Bridges?
2. Which high-profile celebrities were both held liable for defamation against each other after a much-publicised court case although the jury awarded him $10m in compensatory damages and $5m in punitive damages, while she was awarded $2m in compensatory damages and no money for punitive damages?
3. Who finished first and second in Super Rugby Pacific’s regular season; after the finals series, who then contested the final; and who won that final?
4. Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck was crowing after a successful launch from Ma¯hia. ‘‘This is a mission all New Zealanders can and should be proud of. We’re going to the Moon and so few countries can say that.’’ But what was the rocket’s special payload?
5. What was the name of the shortlived Breakfast TV presenter, who left TVNZ after less than a month in the job and broke his silence over allegations of sexual harassment in an article by Alison Mau in the Sunday Star-Times in June?