This year has really been one for the books. All the reasons we will remember 2016 in years to come might not be positive. So if you’re feeling a little rubbed into the ground by Brexit, the US election and Brangelina's split, here are some good news tales to bring you back on up.
1. Elderly man given more than $300k in donations
An 89-year-old man who was forced to sell ice-creams to afford to raise his grandchildren received over US$300,000 from public donations.
Mexican grandfather Fidencio Sanchez sold paletas – a kind of Mexican ice-block - from a cart after the sudden loss of his daughter meant he took custody of his three grandsons.
After local man Joel Macias spotted him on the street and began a GoFundMe campaign, more than 17,000 people from over 60 countries donated money to Mr Sanchez and his family.
The goal was to raise $3000, however they ended up giving Mr Sanchez a cheque for over $300,000.
2. Penguins nursed back to health at swim school
It's not just school children who have to pass their swimming lessons before being allowed into the big wide ocean.
Four injured Fiordland crested Penguins were injured on the South Island's West Coast. Nursed back to health by vets at Wellington Zoo's clinic The Nest, the birds had to graduate from swim school before they were fit to hit the ocean.
Louis, Reggie, Gary and Denny were put through their paces to pass their warrant of fitness, including making sure they didn't get tired in the water and could preen to make their feathers waterproof.
3. Injured runners shine with Olympic spirit
This year's Rio Olympics were marked by many shows of sportsmanship and selfies between opposing countries.
But it was a moment involving one of our own that really embodied the Olympic spirit. Running Nikki Hamblin was involved in a collision with American Abbey D’Agostino, with both of them falling heavily.
D’Agostino and Hamblin both helped each other up and urged each other on, in a photo that went viral across the world.
While they both perhaps didn't get the times they were hoping for, they managed to complete the race and exchanged hugs, smiles and tears at the finish line.
4. The ‘Quake Cows’ lived to see many more days
One of the more devastating events to mark 2016 for New Zealand was November's Kaikoura earthquake. But out of the tragedy came one small story that caused smiles across the world. A trio of cows narrowly avoided death in landslides, huddling together on a small precipice caused by the shifting earth.
The animals were rescued from their precarious location after the farm owner and others dug out a track to get them down.
There were fears the cows might meet a grizzly end, perhaps on a summer barbeque. But it emerged that they were not for slaughter, and were facing a happy life back on the farm from where they came.
5. President Obama got an elderly lady dancing for joy
At 106 years old Virginia McLaurin had seen more than a dozen United States Presidents come and go, but the chance to meet the first African-American President of the US had her literally dancing for joy. The video captured hearts around the world as she met President Obama and his wife Michelle at the White House in February, to celebrate Black History Month.
Ms McLaurin pronounced the meeting "an honour", while Mrs Obama appeared in disbelief when her husband told her Ms McLaurin was 106.
"I wanna be like you when I grow up!" the First Lady said.
6. A teacher left the family of an Autistic student in tears
The Otorohanga amily of an autistic student was left speechless after a school principal's kind gesture.
The Uden family struggled for years to find a school that was the right fit for their 10-year-old son Cam, but Maihiihi Primary school had made him feel right at home.
The principal, Glenn Macphearson, sent Cam home in November with a signed t-shirt by a Northern Districts cricketer and a handwritten note.
It read: "You are like our overseas pro, you offer our school so much in many different ways. This little gift is future focused. It will not fit you now but when it does I would like you to look me up and come and tell me what career path you have chosen."
7. A little girl and an old man became besties
It was one of the more unlikely friendships of 2016, but it captured hearts around the world. Four-year-old Norah Wood stopped to talk to an elderly widow in the supermarket, and a friendship was born. For Mr Dan, an 82-year-old widow, the interaction was the "best day in a long time".
Norah's mother, Tara Wood, has been documenting the friendship on her Facebook page, posting images of the pair going for walks or sharing their favourite lunch of cheese scones.
In a recent post, Ms Wood shared that Mr Dan had attended Norah's Christmas concert with the family. Cue festive tears.
8. A Trump protester and supporter embraced
The United States, and indeed the whole world, has been divided over one of the most unusual Presidential elections ever. Support rallies for both Trump and Clinton became heated, resulting in a sucker punch thrown by an elderly man at a protester at a Trump rally in North Carolina.
However, in court the wounds were healed with a heart-warming moment between the two.
John McGraw, 79, did not contest his charges in court, but instead apologised to the man he punched in the mouth, before hugging him.
Afterwards Mr Jones told CBS that "it felt good to shake his hand" and to "face him" for the first time since the incident.
9. Pokemon Go got everyone walking again
Undoubtedly the biggest app of 2016, Pokemon Go became an international craze, with thousands of Kiwis catching on and taking to the streets. While the word 'gaming' conjures images of sitting in a dark room, shutting out the sun while living in a virtual word, Pokemon Go did the opposite.
Players gathered in public spaces to try and catch Pikachus, Zubats and the rest. Mission Bay in Auckland, Civic Square in Wellington and Hagley Park in Christchurch became hubs for players to throw down lures and compare poke-balls.
One man walked more than 500km around New Zealand to 'catch 'em all'. Pokemon Go got people outside and exercising without even realising it, and brought people together in a way that only a lure on a Pokestop could.
10. Carbon emissions dropped to their lowest in 20 years
This year has been full of surprises, not least of which was the United States' carbon dioxide emissions falling to the lowest in 20 years.
It's the result of cleaner, natural gases becoming more economically viable as a power source over dirt-burning coal.
