The first years of motoring were very much a hobby for the wealthy. This tinted photograph from the "Motor" shows a party in a 1904 Decauville posed in front of a suitably imposing background. Src: New Zealand's Heritage

1906 New Zealand's Prime Minister Richard Seddon died suddenly, ending a 13-year premiership and Sir Joseph Ward was sworn in as Prime Minister.
1907 Fire destroys Parliament buildings.
1908 The Auckland to Wellington main trunk railway line opens. New Zealanders compete at the Olympics as part of Australasian team and Harry Kerr becomes the first New Zealander to win an Olympic medal (a bronze in the Men's 3500 metre walk).
Ernest Rutherford is awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
New Zealand's population reaches one million. - General election, 1908.

In 1909 Compulsory military training introduced. Stamp–vending machine invented and manufactured in New Zealand.

In 1910 Halley's Comet sighted in New Zealand. General election, 1911.