1820 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1820 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Any reference to New Zealand in a legal rather than geographic sense prior to 1840 is complex and unclear. When the British colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 it nominally included New Zealand as far as 43°39'S (approximately halfway down the South Island). Head of State – King George III dies on 29 January. He is succeeded by King George IV who has been the prince regent since 1811. Governor of New South Wales – Lachlan Macquarie's offer to resign is finally accepted at the end of the year but he does not leave New South Wales until 12 February 1822. His successor, Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane, is advised of his appointment on 3 November, but does not arrive in Sydney until 7 November 1821. Events 27 February – Samuel Marsden arrives on his third visit to New Zealand aboard HMS Dromedary. He unsuccessfully attempts to dissuade Thomas Kendall from his impending visit to England. The Dromedary spends 5-month getting timber in Whangaroa Harbour. 2 March – Kendall, Hongi Hika, and Hongi's nephew Waikato from Rangihoua, sail for England in the whaler