Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1861
Gold discovered in Otago by Gabriel Read, an Australian prospector. As a result, the population
of Otago climbs from less than 13,000 to over 30,000 in six months.
1863-64
Waikato Land War. Up to 5000 Maori resist an invasion mounted by 20,000 imperial, colonial
and 'friendly' Maori troops. Despite surprising successes, Maori are defeated and much land is
confiscated.
1868-72
East Coast war. Te Kooti, having led an escape from his prison on the Chatham Islands, leads a
holy guerrilla war in the Urewera region. He finally retreats to establish the Ringatu Church.
1886-87
Tuwharetoa tribe gifts the mountains of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro to the government
to establish only the world's fourth national park.
1893
NZ becomes the first country in the world to grant the vote to women, following a campaign led
by Kate Sheppard, who petitioned the government for years.
1901
New Zealand politely declines the invitation to join the new Commonwealth of Australia, but
thanks for asking.
1908
NZ physicist Ernest Rutherford is awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for 'splitting the atom,
investigating the disintegration of elements and the chemistry of radioactive substances.
1914-18
NZ's contribution to WWI is staggering for a country of just over one million people: about
100,000 NZ men serve overseas. Some 60,000 become casualties, mostly on the Western
Front in France.
1931
Napier earthquake kills 131 people.
