1815 in New Zealand

The first Christian mission is established at Rangihoua. The first non-missionary family also settles there. Reverend Marsden explores the Hauraki Gulf and travels to within sight of Tauranga Harbour. The first book in Māori is published in Sydney. The first European is born in New Zealand.

Visits by sealing ships begin to decline; they are now sealing almost exclusively at the Macquarie and Campbell Islands and travel either via the east coast of New Zealand (calling at the Bay of Islands en route for refreshments) or via the southern fjords/Foveaux Strait/Stewart Island (stopping for refreshments in either/both directions).Salmond, Anne. Between Worlds. 1997. Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. ISBN 0 670 87787 5.]

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State – King George III. With Prince George, Prince of Wales as Prince Regent.
*Governor of New South Wales – Lachlan Macquarie

Events

*9 [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d11.html NZETC: Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century, 1815] ] or 13 [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1M16 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Samuel Marsden] ] January – Reverend Samuel Marsden, with a number of Māori including Te Morenga (as interpreter), Ruatara and Tui, leaves the Bay of Islands on the "Active", commanded by Thomas Hansen Snr, to prospect the coast as far as Thames. [At this time “Thames” actually refers to all the east coast south from Cape Rodney to Firth of Thames and the west coast of Coromandel Peninsula. See [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d12a.html Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century, 1815a] ] [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/TeMorenga/TeMorenga/en New Zealand Encuclopaedia 1966: Te Morenga Biography] ] [http://manukau.infospecs.co.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?BU=http%3A%2F%2Fmanukau.infospecs.co.nz%2Fjourney%2Fhome.htm&QF0=Year&QI0=1769:1839&TN=timeline&AC=QBE_QUERY&RL=1&RF=English&MR=20&NP=3 A Manukau Timeline] ]
*16 January – The "Active" anchors off Whakatiwai pā on the Firth of Thames coast. Marsden meets Ngāti Paoa chief Te Haupa.
*17 January – The "Active" anchors off Orere Point.
*19 January – Returning northward the "Active" calls into Whangarei, apparently only the second ever European vessel to do so after the "Venus" in 1806.
*20 January – At Pataua, just north of Whangarei, the passengers and crew of the "Active" meet Mohanga who had gone to England in 1805.
*22 January - The "Active" returns to the Bay of Islands and anchors at Rangihoua.
*28 January - The "Active" anchors at the mouth of the Kawakawa river to collect timber.
*15 February – The "Active" completes loading of flax and timber to take back to Port Jackson
*21 February – Thomas Holloway King is the first European born in New Zealand. [http://www.thefirstfamily.co.nz/images/familycharts.jpgHansen-King Family Tree] ] [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~teecee/1846table.htm Early European Visits to NZ] ] (see also 1816, 1817 & 1818)
*24 February – Having completed the purchase of 200 acres for the mission site at Rangihoua, Reverend Marsden leaves for Port Jackson accompanied by chiefs Te Morenga and Te Pehi(Tupe).
*3 March – Ngā Puhi chief Ruatara dies. His protection of the mission at Rangihoua passes to his uncle Hongi Hika. Ruatara’s plans to trade in wheat (see 1814) die with him. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/R/Ruatara/Ruatara/en New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: Ruatara Biography] ] [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HongiHika/HongiHika/en New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: Hongi Hika Biography] ] [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1R19 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Ruatara] ]
*17 May - Te Morenga and Tupe return from Port Jackson on the "Active". [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d12a.html NZETC: Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century, 1815a] ]
*25 December – Thomas Hansen Jnr marries Elizabeth Tollis in Sydney. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kiwiadams/4476.htm Ancestry.com: Thomas Hansen Biography] ] (see also 1816 & 1817)

Undated

*Thomas Kendall has the first book printed in Māori, "A korao no New Zealand; or, the New Zealander's first book; being an attempt to compose some lessons for the instruction of the natives" published in Sydney. [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1K9 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Thomas Kendall] ] (see also 1820)
*Sealers from the "Governor Bligh", Captain John Grono, are the first Europeans to land in Canterbury at Banks Peninsula. [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~teecee/earlyeuropeans.htm Early Europeans in New Zealand] ] [http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/EarlyChristchurch/EarlyChristchurch.asp Early Christchurch] ]
*William Tucker returns to Otago Harbour, possibly on the "Governor Bligh", and takes up residence at Whareakeake where he lives with a Māori woman. (see also 1817)
*Te Rauparaha returns from his 5-year stay with Ngāti Maru in the Hauraki Gulf. During his stay he has received his first musket. [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1T74 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Te Rauparaha] ]
*Despite the incident of 1813 or 1814 when the "Matilda" under Captain Fowler returns to Otago Harbour in desperate need of fresh food and water, they are welcomed and assisted by local Māori without incident.Salmond, Anne. Between Worlds. 1997. Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. ISBN 0 670 87787 5.]

Births

Deaths

References

ee also

*List of years in New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand history
*History of New Zealand
*Military history of New Zealand
*Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

"For world events and topics in 1815 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1815