1838 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State — Queen Victoria
• Governor of New South Wales — Sir George Gipps, having been appointed on 5 October 1837, arrives in Sydney on 23 February.

Government and law

• British Resident in New Zealand — James Busby

Events

• 10 January
  • — Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier arrives in New Zealand at Totara Point on the Hokianga Harbour.
  • — Flax trader James Farrow purchases an acre of land at Otumoetai, Tauranga.
• 13 January — Bishop Pompallier celebrates the first Catholic mass on land in New Zealand at the home of Thomas and Mary Poynton at Totara Point.
• February
  • — The offer of a Royal charter to the New Zealand Asoociation to take responsibility for the administration of New Zealand is withdrawn. (see 1837, December).
• April
  • — The French whaler Cachalot, commanded by Jean Langlois, arrives in New Zealand waters and commences whaling near the Chatham Islands.
• May
  • — The Cachalot arrives at Banks Peninsula accompanied by the French corvette Héroine.
• 2 August — Jean Langlois completes the purchase of Banks Peninsula from local Māori and makes a downpayment of goods to the value of 150 francs. Captain Cecille of the Héroine raises the French flag and proclaims French sovereignty over Banks Peninsula.
• August
  • — The New Zealand Asoociation is wound up. In its place the New Zealand Colonisation Company and the New Zealand Land Company are established. (see also 1839)

Undated

• The Reverend Alfred Nesbitt Brown re-opens the Anglican mission at Tauranga. (see also 1836 & 1837)
• Three Gisborne Māori, having had Christian instruction in the Bay of Islands, return as catechists.

Births

Unknown date

• (in Scotland): John McKenzie, politician.

See also

• List of years in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• History of New Zealand