In 1769 Capt. James Cook began extensive surveys of the islands and claims parts of the country in the name of King George III
1790 - Deep sea whaling, sealing, and timber trades commence
1820 - Ngapuhi chief Hongi Hika visits England and meets with King George IV
1833 - James Busby arrives at the Bay of Islands as Official British Resident
1834 - 25 northern Māori chiefs adopt the United Tribes flag, on Busby's initiative
October 28, 1835 New Zealand Declaration of Independence
The Declaration was sent to His Majesty the King of England to thank him for his acknowledgement of their flag and their request that he would continue to be the parent of their infant State and to protect it from all attempts upon its independence
British sovereignty was established over New Zealand on February 6, 1840 by the Treaty of Waitangi between the British government and the Maori
1840 - William Hobson became the first Governor
1843 - 1872 There are instances of violent confrontations between Europeans and the Māori
September 26, 1907 - New Zealand became an independent dominion
In 1901 the colonies federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia and became a self-governing dominion of the British Empire
1914 - 1918 WW1
1939 - 1945 WW11
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki