New Zealand History Timeline

circa 1300 AD

The start of the continuous Polynesian settlement. These people, and subsequent arrivals, were the ancestors of present-day Māori.

1642

Abel Janszoon Tasman, Dutch explorer, discovers part of the western littoral of New Zealand and names his discovery "Staten Landt".

1644 - 1647

Part of New Zealand's coastline appears beside the name "Zeelandia Nova" on printed world and Pacific charts and globes.

1769

James Cook, British explorer, makes his first visit to New Zealand. He claims parts of the country in the name of King George III.

1769

French explorer, Jean-François-Marie de Surville casts anchor at Spirit's Bay, on 17th December.

1772

French explorer Marc-Joseph-Marion du Fresne casts anchor at Spirit's Bay.

1790

Deep sea whaling, sealing, flax and timber trades commence.
The Māori suffer the first serious introduced epidemic.

1791

First known visit of a whaling ship to Doubtless Bay : the "William and Ann".

1806

First European women arrive in New Zealand.

1814

Samuel Marsden, British Missionary, makes his first visit to New Zealand. The Anglican mission is established at the Bay of Islands.

1815

Thomas Holloway King becomes the first pakeha (European) child born in New Zealand.

1819

Chiefs Te Rauparaha, Patuone, Nene, Moetara and Tuwhare lead raids on the Taranaki and Te Whanganui-a-tara (Port Nicholson) regions.

1820

Ngapuhi chief Hongi Hika visits England, meets with King George IV, and is able to obtain muskets on the return trip.

1821

Hongi Hika and Te Morenga commence Musket Wars against southern tribes.

1822

Te Rauparaha leads the migration of the Ngati Toa south, to the Cook Strait region.

1823

Wesleyan Missionary Society established.

1824

French explorer Isidore Duperrey visits the Bay of Islands. Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville is second-in-command of the expedition.

1827

Dumont d'Urville leads his own expedition and charts large sections of New Zealand's coastline in detail for the first time.
Te Rauparaha commences his invasion of the South Island, from Kapiti Coast.

1831

Whaling stations established at Tory Channel and Preservation Inlet.

1833

James Busby arrives at the Bay of Islands, in his capacity as Official British Resident.

1834

Around 25 northern Māori chiefs adopt the United Tribes flag, on Busby's initiative.

1835

Declaration of Independence by the United Tribes of New Zealand, signed by 34 northern Chiefs.

1837

The New Zealand Association is formed in London. It becomes the The New Zealand Company in 1839.
Son of French escapees from the French Revolution, Baron Charles Philippe Hippolyte de Thierry returns to New Zealand with a group of French colonists, after having bought land from Hokianga chiefs.

1838

Bishop John Baptiste Francis Pompallier, from France, founds the first Marist mission at Hokianga.

1839

William Hobson is instructed to establish British rule in New Zealand, which initially becomes a dependency of New South Wales.
Colonel William Wakefield arrives on board the "Tory" with instructions from his brother Edward to buy as much land as possible for future colonists.

1840

The first New Zealand Company settlers arrive at Port Nicholson.
Dumont d'Urville visits New Zealand for the third and last time and charts additional large sections of the coastline, previously uncharted, in detail.
The Treaty of Waitangi is signed at the Bay of Islands, on 6th February. (external government link here : Treaty of Waitangi )
French settlers arrive at Akaroa just after the signing of the Treaty.
William Hobson becomes the first Governor.

1841

European settlers are established at New Plymouth and Wanganui.
Auckland becomes the capital from the Bay of Islands.

1842

Settlers arrive at Nelson.

1843

The "Wairau Affair". Violent confrontation between Europeans and the Māori.
Robert Fitzroy becomes Governor.

1845

Hone Heke and Te Kawiti commence the northern wars.
The New Zealand Company is in financial difficulty, and suspends its colonisation operations.
George Grey becomes Governor.

1846

The wars in the north end with the taking of Ruapekapeka.

1848

The Scottish Otago Association founds a settlement.

1850

The Canterbury settlement is founded.

1853

Tamihana Te Rauparaha and Matane Te Whiwhi propose the idea of a Māori King.

1858

Te Wherwhero installed as first Māori King, with the name of Potatau I.

1859

Gold discovered in Buller.

1860

War in Taranaki, resulting from the Waitara dispute.

1861

Gold discovered at Gabriel's Gully - the Otago gold rushes commence.

1862

First telegraph line between Christchurch and Lyttelton opens.

1863

War recommences in Taranaki.The New Zealand Settlements Act is passed to push through land confiscation.
First steam railway in New Zealand commences.

1864

The Waikato war ends. Land in Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay is confiscated.

1865

Auckland streets lit by gas for the first time.
Māori resistance continues.

1868

Māori resistance continues under the leadership of Te Kooti Arikirangi and Titokowaru.

1870

The last of the British Imperial Forces leave New Zealand.
Vogel's public works and immigration policy commences. Over 1.000 miles of railway are constructed.

1872

Te Kooti retreats into the King Country. Māori armed resistance ceases.
Telegraph communication links Auckland, Wellington and the southern provinces.

1881

Parihaka community forcibly broken up by troops. Te Whiti, Tohu Kakahi and their followers are arrested and imprisoned.

1883

Te Kooti officially pardoned.

1884

King Tawhiao visits England with a petition for the Queen, appealing to the Treaty. He is refused access.

1886

The eruption of Mount Tarawera.
Oil discovered in Taranaki.

1887

Reefton becomes the first town to have electricity.

1888

Birth of writer Katherine Mansfield.

1893

Women granted the right to vote.

1897

Apirana Ngata and other Young Māori intellectuals form the Te Aute College Students Association.

1898

Old age pensions act.

Source : The New Zealand Official Year Book.