New Zealand

Settlement Timeline

Arrival of Polynesians-1300
C.E.
Most scientific evidence proves that Polynesian
people arrived to New Zealand around 1300 C.E.

People came over from East Polynesia in doublehulled canoes, later known as Maori people

Some scientists argue that settlement may have

occurred earlier due to a set of radiocarbon
dated rat bones found, but most evidence
proves the date to be around 1300 C.E.

European Discovery-1642
Dutch Explorer, Abel Janszoon Tasman, discovers
the coast of Westland

Several of his men were killed in a clash with a

South Island tribe when they attempted to land
on the coast

His voyage helped New Zealand appear on

European charts

Arrival of the Europeans1770

James Cook, a British naval officer and explorer,
helped finish Tasmans work

Cook circumnavigated the two major islands and

accurately charted them

Cooks initial contact with the Maori turned

violent, but luckily harmonious relations were
able to be established later on

Claimed parts of country in the name of King

George III

European Settlement
1772-1810
First Europeans in New Zealand were attempting
to make a profit off sealskins, New Zealand flax,
sealskins, and whaling.

Maori initially welcomed newcomers, but later

suffer severe epidemics

Europeans began to found colonies in unsettled

regions

European Settlement
1800-1840
In 1806 the first European women arrived
Between 1814-1838, missionaries began to set
up mission stations for Anglicans, Roman
Catholics, and Wesleyan Methodists.

Intertribal warfare and warfare with the

Europeans occurred frequently

In 1835, the Declaration of Independence by the

United Tribes of New Zealand was signed by 34
northern Chiefs

Works Cited
Irwin, G., & Walrond, C. (2012, September 12).
Te Ara
Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Retrieved
September 20, 2015.

Moran, W. (2015, February 21). Cultural life.

Retrieved

September 20, 2015.

Whitmore, R. (2015, September 21). Timeline of

events New Zealand in History. Retrieved
September 20, 2015.