1840 in New Zealand

1840 is considered a watershed year in the history of New Zealand: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed, British sovereignty over New Zealand was proclaimed, organised European settlement began, and Auckland and Wellington were both founded.

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1840 was 80,000 Māori and 2,050 non-Māori. [Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (extrapolating where necessary) at cite web |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm |title=Long-term data series |accessdate=2008-03-14 |format= |work= , in particular cite web |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm |title=A1.1 Total population.xls |accessdate=2008-03-14 |format=Excel|work= ]

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State - Queen Victoria
*Governor of New South Wales – Sir George Gipps
*Lieutenant-Governor – Captain William Hobson

Government and law

Events

January - June

*3 January - the "Cuba" arrives in Port Nicholson with a survey party to prepare for the New Zealand Company settlement. [ [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline/3/1 Today in History | NZHistory ] ]
*22 January – The first shipload of New Zealand Company immigrants arrives in Wellington on the "Aurora" and lands at Petone.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 499.]
*29 January – Lieutenant-Governor Captain William Hobson arrives in the Bay of Islands.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 486.] With Hobson are the members of the Executive Council, Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Treasurer George Cooper and Attorney-General Francis Fisher and the Legislative Council comprising the Executive Council and three Justices of the Peace.
*5 February – Māori chiefs assemble at Waitangi to discuss the terms of the Treaty.
* 6 February – Hone Heke is the first to sign the Treaty of Waitangi at Bay of Islands.
*19 February – French settlers under the command of Captain C. Lavaud, unaware of the Treaty of Waitangi, depart France in the "L’Aube" on their way to Akaroa.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 4.] (see 1838)
*1 March - Governor Hobson suffers a stroke.
*24 March - The first bank in New Zealand, the Union Bank, is opened in Petone (then known as Brittania).
*March – Jean Langlois leaves France in the "Comte de Paris" with more colonists for Akaroa.:: - Johnny Jones sends the first settlers (as opposed to whalers or sealers) to the South Island. They land from the "Magnet" and settle behind Cornish Head at Waikouaiti.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 472.]
*6 April - George Clarke is appointed Protector of Aborigines by Governor Hobson. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/C/ClarkeGeorge/ClarkeGeorge/en New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: George Clarke Biography] ]
*18 April - "The New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator" prints its second issue in Petone, becoming the first newspaper published in New Zealand. The first issue was printed in England the previous year. The paper published weekly, changing its name to "The New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator" a few months later. [cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.NZGWS|title=New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator|publisher=National Library of New Zealand]
*21 May - Governor Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand.
*May - First capital established at Okiato, which was renamed "Russell".:: - Reverend James Watkin, sent by Johnny Jones, arrives at Waikouaiti and starts the first mission in the South Island.
* 15 June: The "New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette" begins publishing in Kororareka. The newspaper published its last issue on 10 December 1840. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf|title=Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century|format=PDF|pages=p 13|work=Statistical Publications 1840–2000|publisher=Statistics New Zealand] It was suppressed because of anti-government tendencies.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 388.]
*16 June - HMS "Herald", Captain Joseph Nias, arrives at Port Underwood with Major Thomas Banbury to obtain signatures from southern chiefs to the Treaty of Waitangi. The final signatures are added the next day.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 457.] Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 149.]
*June - Later in the month (see above) the "Herald" arrives in Stewart Island. Major Banbury formally takes possession of the island in the name of Queen Victoria.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.405.]

July - December

*14 July - The first hotel licence in New Zealand is issued to the "Duke of Marlborough" in Kororareka.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 388.]
*July – The "L’Aube" arrives in New Zealand. Lavaud is made aware of the Treaty of Waitangi.:: - Governor Hobson sends "HMS Britomart" under Captain Stanley, along with 2 British magistrates to Akaroa.
*10 August – "HMS Britomart" arrives in Akaroa.
*11 August – Union Jack is flown over Akaroa.
*13 August – William Brown and John Logan Campbell take up residence on Browns Island (Motukorea).Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 45.]
*15 August – French settlers on the "L’Aube" arrive in Akaroa.
*16 August – The "Comte de Paris" arrives in Akaroa.
*15 September - The "Anna Watson" arrives in the Waitemata Harbour from the Bay of Islands to establish a new capital for New Zealand. [cite web|url=http://www.theviaduct.com/theviaduct/history/|title=History - Auckland City|publisher=The Viaduct]
*18 September - The British flag is raised at the fort on Point Britomart on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour marking the foundation of Auckland.Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 18.]
*September – After discovering their original site is prone to flooding, the Wellington settlers move around the harbour to Thorndon, the site of the present city.
*20 October - convert|3000|acre|km2 is purchased from local Ngāti Whātua chiefs for the Auckland settlement.
*November - Queen Victoria signs a Royal charter for New Zealand to become a Crown colony separate from New South Wales.

Undated

* The first post office in New Zealand is established in Kororareka by William Hayes.

Arts and literature

Appointments and awards

port

Cricket

References

*

Births

Deaths

ee also

*List of years in New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand history
*History of New Zealand
*Military history of New Zealand
*Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

"For world events and topics in 1840 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1840