The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1842 is 76,900 Māori and 10,992 non-Māori (a 120% increase in 1 year).
Regal and viceregal
Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — Captain William Hobson dies on 10 September. His replacement Captain Robert Fitzroy does not arrive until 26 December 1843.
Government and law
Chief Justice — William Martin
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Wellington — George Hunter is elected Mayor on 3 October, the first Mayor in New Zealand. (see also 1843)
1 January: The Government begins publication of a monthly magazine in Māori, Te Karere o Nui Tireni (The Messenger of New Zealand). It publishes until 1846, and is revived as The Maori Messenger and Te Manuhiri Tuarangi between 1849 and 1863.
1 February: The first settlers arrive in Nelson aboard the Fifeshire.
24 February: The Bay of Islands Observer begins publishing. The newspaper publishes its last issue on 27 October 1842.
12 March: The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle is first published. It continues until 1874.
6 April: The New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, which was founded in 1841, ceases publication.
April: The Auckland Standard begins publication. It folds on 28 August, after four months.
May : Wellington becomes a Borough.
2 August: The New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser begins publishing. It lasts for one year.
29 August: The Auckland Times begins publication. It runs until 1846.
Copper is discovered on Kawau Island and a mine established.
The first recorded game in Wellington is played in December.
20 October — Races are held on the beach at Petone.
25 November: William Downie Stewart, politician
7 March: Wiremu Kingi Maketu, first person executed in New Zealand under British rule
10 September: William Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand
22 November: Te Kakapi-o-te-rangi Te Wharepouri, tribal leader
Te Purewa, tribal leader
