| Name |
Year |
Region |
Overview |
| Polynesian settlement |
950 AD |
North Island |
Polynesian people settle in North Island |
| Second Polynesian group |
1350 AD |
|
Second group of Polynesian people settle |
| Abel Tasman discovers New Zealand |
1642 AD |
|
Sights country but does not set foot |
|
|
|
|
| Treaty of Waitangi signed |
1840 |
Northland |
New Zealand become British colony |
| New Zealand Wars |
1845 |
|
Anglo-Maori wars |
| NZ granted constitution |
1952 |
|
|
| NZ Gold Rush |
1861 |
|
Attracts people from around the world |
| Second New Zealand Wars |
1870 |
|
Second Maori War |
| Peace declared |
1881 |
|
Declared between Maori and settlers |
| Women granted vote |
1893 |
|
First country to do so; important international development |
| Dominion established |
1907 |
|
Dominion of New Zealand established |
| World War I |
1914 |
|
New Zealand in war against central powers |
| New Zealand gains Western Samoa |
1918 |
|
NZ territory after Treaty of Versailles |
| World War II |
1939 |
|
NZ sends 157000 troops, 12000 killed or missing |
| ANZUS signed |
1951 |
|
Security treaty between Australia, New Zealand and USA |
| International Antarctic Treaty |
1960 |
Antarctica |
Reserves Antarctica for scientific research |
| Rainbow Warrior sabotaged |
1985 |
|
Sabotage of Greenpeace ship by French in New Zealand |
| Nuclear Free Zone established |
1985 |
|
To prevent nuclear experiments by French |
| Ozone hole discovered |
1987 |
Antarctica |
Discovered above Antarctica |