On 17 June 1843, 22 European settlers and four Maori were killed when
an armed party of New Zealand Company settlers clashed with Ngati Toa over the purchase of land in the Wairau valley, near modern-day Blenheim.
After charting the coastline, European surveying and exploration of the interior were a fundamental part of the settlement process, defining the boundaries of ownership, and identifying resources, useable land and access routes.
This graph charts the immigrants from all countries who came to New Zealand from 1840 to 1914. This includes those who migrated from places such as Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and most significantly Australia.
By the later 1830s the British government grew concerned about how land was obtained from Maori. Action was needed, it decided, to protect the interests of Maori from the worst ravages of European impact.
The news from Wairau was greeted with shock by settlers throughout the
colony. The killing of men who had surrendered was viewed as
cold-blooded murder. There were fears that these events signalled the
beginning of a widespread Maori insurrection.
William Spain was an attorney from Hampshire appointed to head the
commission established to investigate all land purchases prior to
British annexation.
William Spain was a land commissioner who investigated the New Zealand Company's claims that it had purchased 20 million acres in 1839. The claims were not settled until several years after Spain's death
Politician Francis Bell staunchly supported the Waitara purchase in 1860, which led to the Taranaki
war. In 1862 he became Minister of Native Affairs. His administration
has been described as 'not particularly efficient or vigorous',
although he did support the 1862 forerunner of the Native Land Court
Robert FitzRoy, who first visited New Zealand as commander of the Beagle in 1835, was Governor from 1843, succeeding the late William Hobson. He served until 1845, when he was recalled to Britain and replaced by George Grey.
