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William Hobson
After a lengthy Royal Navy career in which he saw action in the Napoleonic Wars and was twice captured by pirates in the Caribbean, William Hobson (1792-1842) became New Zealand's first Governor.
Making the Treaty of Waitangi
New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was prepared over just a few days in February 1840. Several versions of the Treaty were  taken around the country for signing. Find out how the Treaty came to be drafted and locate the signing places of the different copies.
NZ officially becomes British colony
New Zealand became a separate colony of the United Kingdom. North, South and Stewart islands were to be known respectively as the provinces of New Ulster, New Munster and New Leinster.
Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over NZ
Lieutenant-Governor Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over all of New Zealand: over the North Island on the basis of cession through the Treaty of Waitangi, and over the southern islands by right of discovery.
Auckland's first Anniversary Day Regatta
Anniversary Day commemorates the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson in the Bay of Islands in 1840. Today Anniversary Day is best known for the huge annual regatta on Waitematā Harbour
Signing the Treaty
By the end of 1840 about 540 Maori, including 13 women, had signed the Treaty of Waitangi; all but 39 signed the Maori text. Some had clear expectations about what their agreement would bring; others chose not to sign the Treaty at all.
A separate Crown colony - taming the frontier
Protecting Māori, regulating land purchases, controlling the activities of settlers and dealing with the potential influx of migrants underpinned British policy in 1839. New Zealand was to be annexed.
William Hobson
William Hobson was lieutenant-governor from 1840 to 1841 and governor from 1841 to 1842
Crown colony era - the Governor-General
New Zealand became a British colony in 1840, legitimised by the Treaty of Waitangi and Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson's declaration of 21 May declaring sovereignty over the islands.
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