when did the first settlers come to new zealand
History of New Zealand New Zealand was originally settled by Polynesians from Eastern Polynesia. Genetic and archaeological evidence suggests that humans emigrated from Taiwan to Melanesia and then travelled east through to the Society Islands; after a pause of 70 to 265 years, a new wave of exploration led to the discovery and settlement of New Zealand.[4] The most current reliable evidence strongly indicates that initial settlement of New Zealand occurred around 1280 CE.[4] Previous dating of some Kiore (Polynesian rat) bones at 50 â€“ 150 CE has now been shown to have been unreliable; new samples of bone (and now also of unequivocally rat-gnawed woody seed cases) match the 1280 CE date of the earliest archaeological sites and the beginning of sustained, anthropogenic deforestation.[5]
Colony of New Zealand The Colony of New Zealand was a British colony that existed in New Zealand from 1841 to 1907. Originally created as a Crown colony, the power of the British government was vested in a governor. The colony was granted self-government in 1852; after the first parliament was elected in 1853, the 1852 Constitution was inaugurated. The first responsible government of New Zealand was formed in 1856. The Colony of New Zealand had three capitals: Old Russell (1841), Auckland (1841â€“1865) and Wellington (after 1865).