On February 7.1863 ; HMS Orpheus sinks off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, killing 189. source
On February 7.1863 ; HMS Orpheus sinks off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, killing 189.
On February 12.1909 ; New Zealand's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century happens when the SS Penguin, an inter-island ferry, sinks and explodes at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. source
On February 12.1909 ; New Zealand's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century happens when the SS Penguin, an inter-island ferry, sinks and explodes at the entrance to Wellington Harbour.
On February 18.1957 ; Walter James Bolton becomes the last person legally executed in New Zealand. source
On February 18.1957 ; Walter James Bolton becomes the last person legally executed in New Zealand.
On February 24. 1989 ; United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, rips open during flight, blowing nine passengers out of the business-class section. source
On February 24. 1989 ; United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, rips open during flight, blowing nine passengers out of the business-class section.
On March 7.1827 ; Shrigley abduction: Ellen Turner is abducted by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a future politician in colonial New Zealand. source
On March 7.1827 ; Shrigley abduction: Ellen Turner is abducted by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a future politician in colonial New Zealand.
On March 15.1877 ; First ever official cricket test match is played: Australia vs England at the MCG Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia. source
On March 15.1877 ; First ever official cricket test match is played: Australia vs England at the MCG Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia.
On March 17.1860 ; The First Taranaki War begins in Taranaki, New Zealand, a major phase of the New Zealand land wars. source
On March 17.1860 ; The First Taranaki War begins in Taranaki, New Zealand, a major phase of the New Zealand land wars.
On March 23. 1848 ; The ship John Wickliffe arrives at Port Chalmers carrying the first Scottish settlers for Dunedin, New Zealand. Otago province is founded. source
On March 23. 1848 ; The ship John Wickliffe arrives at Port Chalmers carrying the first Scottish settlers for Dunedin, New Zealand. Otago province is founded.
On April 1.1937 ; Royal New Zealand Air Force is Formed as an independent Air Force. source
On April 1.1937 ; Royal New Zealand Air Force is Formed as an independent Air Force.
On April 25.1916 ; Anzac Day is commemorated for the first time on the first anniversary of the landing at ANZAC Cove. source
On April 25.1916 ; Anzac Day is commemorated for the first time on the first anniversary of the landing at ANZAC Cove.
On June 9.1987 ; New Zealand's Labour government establishes a national nuclear-free zone under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987. source
On June 9.1987 ; New Zealand's Labour government establishes a national nuclear-free zone under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987.
On June 11.1901 ; The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the UK to include the Cook Islands. source
On June 11.1901 ; The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the UK to include the Cook Islands.
On June 17.1843 ;The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place. source
On June 17.1843 ;The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place.
Cricket arrived in Australia in 1788. New Zealand and South Africa followed in the early years of the 19th century. source
Cricket arrived in Australia in 1788. New Zealand and South Africa followed in the early years of the 19th century.
Australasia, a region of Oceania, comprises Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. source
Australasia, a region of Oceania, comprises Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean.
On August 3.1860 ; The Second Maori War begins in New Zealand. source
On August 3.1860 ; The Second Maori War begins in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Wars were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand government and indigenous Māori.
The Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.
On August 4.1965 ; The Constitution of the Cook Islands comes into force, giving the Cook Islands self-governing status within New Zealand. source
On August 4.1965 ; The Constitution of the Cook Islands comes into force, giving the Cook Islands self-governing status within New Zealand.
On August 10.1993 ; Two earthquakes affect New Zealand. A 7.0 Mw shock (intensity VI (Strong)) on the South Island was followed nine hours later by a 6.4 Mw event (intensity VII (Very strong)) on the North Island. source
On August 10.1993 ; Two earthquakes affect New Zealand. A 7.0 Mw shock (intensity VI (Strong)) on the South Island was followed nine hours later by a 6.4 Mw event (intensity VII (Very strong)) on the North Island.
On August 18. 1971 ; Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam. source
On August 18. 1971 ; Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.
On August 29.1918 ; Bapaume taken by the New Zealand Division in the Hundred Days Offensive. source
On August 29.1918 ; Bapaume taken by the New Zealand Division in the Hundred Days Offensive.
On September 4.2010 ; A 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes the South Island of New Zealand causing widespread damage and several power outages. source
On September 4.2010 ; A 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes the South Island of New Zealand causing widespread damage and several power outages.
On October 19.1974 ; Niue becomes a self-governing colony of New Zealand. source
On October 19.1974 ; Niue becomes a self-governing colony of New Zealand.
On October 28.1835 ; The United Tribes of New Zealand is established with the signature of the Declaration of Independence. source
On October 28.1835 ; The United Tribes of New Zealand is established with the signature of the Declaration of Independence.
On November 2.1868 ; Time zone: New Zealand officially adopts a standard time to be observed nationally. source
On November 2.1868 ; Time zone: New Zealand officially adopts a standard time to be observed nationally.
On November 28.1979 ; Air New Zealand Flight 901, a DC-10 sightseeing flight over Antarctica, crashes into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board. source
On November 28.1979 ; Air New Zealand Flight 901, a DC-10 sightseeing flight over Antarctica, crashes into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board.
On December 16.1850 ; The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand. source
On December 16.1850 ; The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
The New Zealand giant penguin was probably the heaviest, weighing 80 kg or more.
n June 2011, a penguin came ashore on New Zealand's Peka Peka Beach, 3200 km off course on its journey to Antarctica.