1851 in New Zealand

Updated on Dec 07, 2024

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Decades: 1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s See also: Other events of 1851Timeline of New Zealand history

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1851 is 64,350 Māori and 26,707 non-Māori.

Head of State – Queen Victoria

Governor – Sir George Grey

Lieutenant Governor, New Munster — Edward John Eyre

Lieutenant Governor, New Ulster — George Dean Pitt until 8 January. Robert Henry Wynyard from 26 April.

Governor Grey issues a charter creating the Borough of Auckland. Archibald Clark becomes Mayor. (see also 1852)

11 January: The Otago Witness begins publication. It publishes fortnightly until August, and then weekly until its demise in 1932.

11 January: The Lyttelton Times begins publication. It will change its name to the Christchurch Times in 1929, and continue until 1935.

1 November: First national census held in New Zealand, counting European dwellings and population only.

25 December (or 19 January, 1852) — The Governor Wynyard, the first steamer built in New Zealand, is launched at Freemans Bay, Auckland.

Wynyard Pier is the first wharf built on the Auckland waterfront.

8 January: George Dean Pitt, Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster

29 January: Wiremu Piti Pomare, tribal leader

28 October: Wiremu Hikairo, tribal leader

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