This is a timeline of the history of New Zealand that includes only events deemed to be of principal importance.
Before humans (before c. 1300 CE) 85 mya: Around this time New Zealand splits from the supercontinent Gondwana. 5 mya: New Zealand's climate cools as Australia drifts north. Animals that have adapted to warm temperate and subtropical conditions become extinct. 26,500 BP: The world's most recent supereruption occurs at the Taupō Volcano. The eruption covers much of the country with volcanic ash and causes the Waikato River to shift course from the Hauraki Plains to its current path to the Tasman Sea, while its caldera becomes modern Lake Taupō. 18,000 BP: New Zealand's North and South islands are connected by a land bridge during the Otira Glacial Maximum of the last ice age. Glaciers spread from the Southern Alps carving valleys and making fiords in the South Island. The land bridge is submerged around 9,700 BCE. 181 CE: Hatepe eruption of Lake Taupō.
After Polynesian arrival (c. 1300 to 1839) c. 1300 to c. 1500 : Humans first settled New Zealand, according to evidence from the earliest archaeological sites. : Most likely period of ongoing early settlement of New Zealand by Polynesian people (the Archaic Moa-Hunter Culture). : Rangitoto Island near Auckland is formed by a series of eruptions. : Development of the Classic Māori Material Culture including expansion of Māori settlement from coastal to inland areas, increase in horticulture and development of pā : Most likely extinction of the moa.
17th century 1601 onwards Expansion and migration of Māori groups and formation of classic iwi, many of which still exist today 1642 13 December: Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sights the South Island. He originally named it Staten Landt, but the Dutch East India Company cartographer Joan Blaeu subsequently changed it to Nieuw Zeeland. 18 December: Abel Tasman's expedition sails around Farewell Spit and into Golden Bay. Dutch sailors sight local Māori. 19 December: Four of Tasman's crew are killed at Wharewharangi (Murderers) Bay by a Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri war party. Tasman's ships are approached by 11 waka as he leaves and his ships fire on them, hitting a Māori standing in one of the waka. Tasman's ships depart without landing. The Dutch chart the west of the North Island. 18th century 1701 to 1730 Ngāi Tahu migrate from Wellington to the South Island, as far south as Banks Peninsula. 1769 8 October: English explorer James Cook makes his first visit to New Zealand on board the Endeavour, and sails into Poverty Bay Cook maps the majority of the New Zealand coastline. French trader Jean de Surville explores parts of the New Zealand coast. 25 December: The first Christian service in New Zealand waters when Mass is celebrated on Christmas Day in Doubtless Bay by Father Paul-Antoine Léonard de Villefeix of the de Surville expedition.Michael King, The Penguin History of New Zealand, Penguin, Auckland, 2003, p. 110. 1772 April: Expedition of French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne visits Northland, and anchors at Spirits Bay. 12 June: Marion du Fresne is killed at Tacoury's Cove, Bay of Islands by local Māori. 1773 April: Cook's second expedition arrives in Queen Charlotte Sound 18 December: A skirmish at Grass Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound results in the deaths of two Māori and nine members of Cook's expedition. 1777 Cook returns to New Zealand aboard the Resolution, accompanied by the Discovery captained by Charles Clerke.McLauchlan, Gordon A Short History of New Zealand Penguin Group, 2005. 1788 New South Wales founded, which, according to Governor Phillip's Commission, includes the islands of New Zealand. 1790 An epidemic of rewha-rewha (possibly influenza) kills 60% of the Māori population in the southern North Island. 1791 29 November: Chatham Islands sighted by HMS Chatham commanded by William Broughton. 1792 Group of sealers from the Britannia landed in Tamatea / Dusky Sound. 1793 Dusky Sound sealers picked up. A Spanish expedition led by Italian explorer Alessandro Malaspina charts Doubtful Sound La Recherche and L'Espérance, captained by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux and Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec sight New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. Early 19th century 1806 First Pākehā (European) women arrive in New Zealand. c. 1807 Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa and allied tribes from the west coast south of the Waikato, the southern North Island and the east coast attack Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto, supported by Ngāti Whātua and Hauraki, in the Battle of Hingakaka, the largest battle ever fought in New Zealand, with the defenders prevailing. 1807 or 1808 Ngāpuhi fight Ngāti Whātua, Te-Uri-o-Hau and Te Roroa iwi at the battle of Moremonui on the west coast of Northland, the first battle in which Maori used muskets. 1809 Ngati Uru attack and burn the ship Boyd, killing all but four of its crew and passengers. Whalers wrongly blame Te Puna chief Te Pahi and in a revenge attack kill 60 of his followers.
1814 22 December: British missionary Samuel Marsden, of the (Anglican) Church Missionary Society, arrives at Rangihoua at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands to establish the country's first mission station. Sheep, cattle, horses and poultry are introduced. 25 December: Marsden holds the first Christian service on land, on Christmas Day. 1815 February: Thomas Holloway King is the first Pākehā child born in New Zealand, at Rangihoua.
1819 Raids on Taranaki and Te Whanganui-a-tara regions by Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Toa people led by chiefs Patuone, Nene, Moetara, Tuwhare, and Te Rauparaha. 17 August: the country's second mission station is established, at Kerikeri, when Rev Marsden, John Butler, Francis Hall and William Hall mark out the site which was previously visited by Marsden in 1815. 25 September: Rev Marsden plants 100 vines, the first grapes grown in New Zealand. 4 November: Chiefs Hongi Hika and Rewa sell 13,000 acres (5260 hectares) at Kerikeri to the Church Missionary Society for 48 felling axes.
1820 3 May: At Kerikeri, Reverend John Butler uses a plough for the first time in the country. Hongi Hika visits England, meets King George IV and secures supply of muskets. 1821 Continuation of musket wars by Hongi Hika and Te Morenga on southern iwi throughout the decade. 1822 Ngāti Toa begin migration south to Cook Strait region, led by Te Rauparaha. 1823 Jurisdiction of New South Wales courts is extended to British citizens in New Zealand. First Wesleyan Missionary Society mission, Wesleydale, established, at Whangaroa. First Church of England marriage, between Phillip Tapsell and Maria Ringa, conducted by Thomas Kendall in the Bay of Islands. 1824 Te Heke Niho-puta migration of Taranaki iwi to the Kāpiti Coast. 1825 The battle of Te Ika-a-ranganui between Ngāpuhi and hapu against Ngatiwhatua, resident occupiers of the land fought upon. 1827 Te Rauparaha's invasion of the South Island from Kapiti begins. Wesleyan Methodist missionary station at Wesleydale is plundered by Ngāpuhi warriors, and abandoned by the missionaries.
1831 Whaling stations established at Tory Channel and Preservation Inlet. 1832 19 April: stonemason William Parrott begins work on the missionaries' Stone Store at Kerikeri. James Busby appointed British Resident. 1833 May: James Busby arrives at the Bay of Islands. 1834 March: United Tribes of New Zealand flag adopted by some 25 northern chiefs at Busby's suggestion. The battle of Haowhenua is fought on the Kāpiti Coast between Ngāti Raukawa and Te Āti Awa, with various allies on both sides. 1835 22 April: Wesleyan missionaries extend south beyond their main base at Hokianga to the Waikato Coast, among them James and Mary Wallis. October: Declaration of Independence of New Zealand by the "Confederation of United Tribes" signed by 34 northern chiefs (and later by another 18). 19 November: The brig Lord Raglan carrying 500 Māori from Ngati Tama and Ngati Mutunga arrives at the Chatham Islands. It is followed by another sailing with 400 more on 5 December. Those Moriori that are not killed are enslaved.Michael King (2000). Moriori: a People Rediscovered (Revised edition). Published by Viking. . Original edition 1989. 1837 Captain William Hobson sent by New South Wales Governor to report on New Zealand. He suggested a treaty with the Māori and imposition of British Law. New Zealand Association formed in London, becoming the New Zealand Colonisation Society in 1838 and the New Zealand Company in 1839, under the inspiration of Edward Gibbon Wakefield. 1838 Bishop Pompallier founds Roman Catholic Mission at Hokianga. 1839 William Hobson instructed to establish British rule in New Zealand, as a dependency of New South Wales. Colonel William Wakefield of the New Zealand Company arrives on the Tory to purchase land for a settlement.
Colony and self-government (1840 to 1946)
1840s 1840 22 January: New Zealand Company settlers arrive aboard the Aurora at Te Whanganui a Tara which becomes Port Nicholson, site of Wellington. 29 January: William Hobson arrives in the Bay of Islands and reads out the proclamation of sovereignty. 6 February: Hōne Heke is the first to sign the Treaty of Waitangi at Bay of Islands. 21 May: Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand. The North Island by treaty and the South Island by discovery. May: First capital established at Okiato, which was renamed Russell. St Peter's School, the first Catholic school in New Zealand, opened in Kororareka.Dinah Holman, Newmarket Lost and Found, 2nd edition, The Bush Press of New Zealand, Auckland, 2010, p. 247. 18 August: French colony established in Akaroa. Hobson becomes first governor and sets up executive and legislative councils. Rawiri Taiwhanga in Bay of Islands is running the first dairy farm in New Zealand, near Kaikohe. 1841 European settlements established at New Plymouth and Wanganui. February: Capital shifted from Russell (Okiato) to Auckland. 3 May: New Zealand proclaimed a colony independent of New South Wales. 27 September 1841: Foundation of a Catholic school for boys, Auckland's first school of any sort.A. G Butchers, Young New Zealand, Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd, Dunedin, 1929, pp. 124 – 126."Auckland's First Catholic School – And its Latest", Zealandia, Thursday, 26 January 1939, p. 5E.R. Simmons, In Cruce Salus, A History of the Diocese of Auckland 1848 – 1980, Catholic Publication Centre, Auckland 1982, pp. 53 and 54. 1842 Main body of settlers arrive at Nelson. 10 September: Governor Hobson dies in Auckland. 1843 Twenty-two European settlers and four Māori killed in the Wairau Affray at Tuamarina, near the Wairau River, in Marlborough, marking the start of the New Zealand Wars. Robert FitzRoy succeeds Hobson as governor. 1844 Hone Heke begins the Flagstaff War. New Zealand Company suspends its colonising operations due to financial difficulties. 1845 George Grey becomes governor. 1846 Flagstaff War with the capture of Ruapekapeka. First Constitution Act passed. Charles Heaphy, William Fox, and Thomas Brunner begin exploring the West Coast. First steam vessel, HMS Driver, arrives in New Zealand waters. 1848 Settlement of Dunedin founded by Scottish Otago Association. New Ulster Province and New Munster Province set up under 1846 Act. Coal discovered at Brunner on the West Coast. Earthquake centred in Marlborough damages most Wellington buildings.
1850s 1850 Canterbury settlement founded. 1852 Second New Zealand Constitution Act passed creating General Assembly and six provinces with representative government. 1853 Idea of a Māori King canvassed by Tāmihana Te Rauparaha and Hēnare Mātene Te Whiwhi. About 100 Māori – mostly chiefs – enrolled to vote in the forthcoming election. 4 July–1 October: 1853 New Zealand general election 1854 First session of the General Assembly opens in Auckland. 1855 Governor Thomas Gore Browne, appointed in 1854, arrives.