By Tim Lambert
10th Century
The Maori arrive in New Zealand
1642
Abel Tasman arrives at New Zealand
1769
Captain Cook arrives in New Zealand
1773
Captain Cook sails to New Zealand again
1777
Captain Cook arrives in New Zealand again
1792
Sealers arrive in New Zealand
1814
Missionary Samuel Marsden arrives in New Zealand
1817
The laws of New South Wales are extended to New Zealand
1833
James Busby is sent to New Zealand as ‘official British resident’
1840
The Maori accept annexation by the Treaty of Waitangi. Auckland is made the capital of New Zealand
1844
Chief Hone heke cuts down the British flag and begins a 2 year war
1848
Dunedin is founded
1850
Christchurch is founded
1852
New Zealand is divided into 6 provinces
1858
New Zealand is given self-government
1860-72
A long war is fought with the Maori
1861
The population of New Zealand is almost 100,000
1865
Wellington is made the capital of New Zealand
1877
All men in New Zealand are given the vote. State education is introduced in New Zealand.
1881
The population of New Zealand is nearly 500,000
1882
A refrigerated ship takes meat from New Zealand to Britain
1893
Women in New Zealand are allowed to vote in parliamentary elections
1895
Minnie Dean is the only woman to be hanged in New Zealand
1898
Old age pensions are created in New Zealand
1907
New Zealand is made a dominion
1914-1918
17,000 men from New Zealand are killed in the First World War
1933
Unemployment in New Zealand is 12%
1947
New Zealand becomes completely independent from Britain
1951
New Zealand joins the Anzus Defence Pact
1975
The Treaty of Waitangi Act is passed
1983
The Closer Economic Relations Pact is signed with Australia
1984
A Labour government is elected and begin to roll back the welfare state
1993
Proportional representation is introduced in New Zealand
1997
Jenny Shipley becomes the first woman Prime Minister of New Zealand
2011
Christchurch is devastated by an earthquake
2017
The population of New Zealand is 4.7 million
