The centre-left leader announced Kiwis would go to the polls on September 19, two months ahead of the last possible date for the ballot, when she will seek a second three-year term.
Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out of Auckland Classic due to a viral illness, while Jelena Ostapenko withdrew for "personal reasons."
From protests in several Middle Eastern countries to the Christchurch shooting in New Zealand, the outgoing year will be remembered as one of the violent ones in the decade of the 2010s.
In New York alone, there has been a 21 percent increase in crimes targeting Jewish people in the past year.
Police believe one of the missing bodies was sighted in the water close to the island by rescue teams on Tuesday, the day after the eruption. The location of the other body is not known.
Peter Snell, who is regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all-time, won the 800 meters at the 1960 Rome Olympics aged 21, and the 800-1,500 double at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Four days after the devastating volcanic eruption, New Zealand's military team could recover six bodies, but two remain unaccounted for.
Eight people believed to be still on the White Island are presumed dead, buried under ash and debris from Monday's eruption. Eight people were confirmed killed and dozens were severely burned in the blast of steam and ash.
Police listed another nine to be missing, potentially bringing the death toll to 15.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said he understood the frustration of family members who wanted their loved ones' remains returned but said recovery teams had no choice but to wait.
There was little hope of finding the missing alive after overnight aerial reconnaissance flights found no signs of life on White Island after the volcanic eruption.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said about dozens of tourists were on or near White Island when it erupted in the afternoon.
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