Early Contact Period 1800 - 1840

Main

Abel Tasman arrives in New Zealand

December 18, 1642

Captain James Cook rediscovers New Zealand

October 6, 1769

First Sealers arrive in New Zealand

Nov 6, 1792

The first timber and flax traders return to Sydney from New Zealand

Mar 15, 1795

First Whalers arrive in the Pacific

Jan 1, 1799

The Boyd Incident

Dec 22, 1809

Arrival of the Missionaries

Dec 14, 1814

James Busby arrives

May 17, 1833

34 Maori Chiefs sign the Declaration of Independence

Oct 28, 1835

William Hobson arrives

May 27, 1837

The Treaty of Waitangi is signed by 40 Maori Chiefs

Feb 6, 1840