NZ History – New Zealand history website from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, including an ever-growing number of multimedia features on a wide range of topics.

Comprising two main islands and a number of small islands, New Zealand is a remote country in the South Pacific Ocean, lying more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia. It was annexed …

Elizabeth Yates was elected mayor of Onehunga on 29 November 1893, becoming the first woman in the British Empire to hold the office. The First World War had a seismic impact on New Zealand, …

Large-scale European settlement began in the 1840s, and the subsequent social, political and economic changes changed New Zealand from British colonial outpost to multicultural Pacific nation.

Learn about the history of New Zealand, from the early settlement by the Maori to the arrival of Europeans.

Explore the rich and complex history of New Zealand, from the ancient Māori settlers and their vibrant culture to European contact and colonization. Discover the challenges of the New Zealand Wars, the …

Over generations, they developed a culture unique to New Zealand: Māori. Life was organized around kinship, land, and oral history, with a focus on sustainability and tribal identity. In December 1642, …

Learn where you can research New Zealand history. Find information about local, national, military and Māori history.

Explore New Zealand's rich history from Maori settlement to colonial era and modern bicultural nation: museums, architectural treasures, historical sites, and cultural heritage for 2026.

Explore New Zealand's vibrant history from Maori settlements to modern achievements in this detailed timeline.