George W. Rusden (1819–1903) spent most of his life in Australia, where he served in local government. On retirement in 1881 he wrote histories of Australia and New Zealand. Both books were highly critical of the Crown's policies toward indigenous peoples.
George Gipps (1791-1847, Governor of New South Wales 1837-1846) had his commission altered by Letters Patent in 1839 and was reappointed as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the territory of New South Wales, the new boundaries of which included any land that might be acquired in sovereignty in New Zealand. This was intended as a temporary measure to safeguard the administration of such lands until permanent arrangements were made.
Two weeks after winning one of North America's richest races, the Agua Caliente Handicap, the Australasian champion died of a mystery illness in California.
A European population explosion first impacted on New Zealand in the closing decade of the 18th century when sealers and whalers began to arrive in their hundreds seeking to exploit local resources.
