The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1846 is 71,050 Māori and 13,274 non-Māori.
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Queen Victoria
Governor – Sir George Grey
Government and law
Chief Justice – William Martin
5 January: The Māori language magazine, Te Karere o Nui Tireni publishes its last issue. It started in 1842. It is revived as The Maori Messenger and Te Manuhiri Tuarangi between 1849 and 1863.
11 January: British forces occupy Ruapekapeka pa.
17 January: The Auckland Times ceases publication. The newspaper was first published in 1842.
11 March: The brig H.M.S. Osprey (Captain Patten) is driven ashore and wrecked at Herekino Harbour, having mistaken it for the entrance to the Hokianga Harbour, but no lives are lost.
7 May: Little Waihi landslide kills around 60 Maori, including Mananui Te Heuheu Tukino II (see deaths below)
16 May: Māori led by Te Mamaku attack the fortified outpost at Boulcott's farm near the present-day Belmont in the Hutt Valley. Six troopers and an unknown number of Māori are killed as the attack was repulsed.
23 July: Te Rauparaha is captured by government forces at Porirua.
December: Thomas Brunner sets out on a journey of exploration south of Nelson which will eventually take 18 months to complete.
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1846 is passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Governor Grey suspends the majority of the Act with the exception of the creation of the two new provinces of New Ulster and New Munster. (see also New Zealand Constitution Act 1852)
1 May (in England): Edward Robert Tregear, surveyor, civil servant, linguist
7 April: Edwin Mitchelson, politician
7 May: Mananui Te Heuheu Tukino II, tribal leader
Te Whatanui, tribal leader
