New Zealand major Events

1642

Dutch sailor Abel Janszoon Tasman becomes the first European to reach New Zealand.

GETTY IMAGES

1769

English explorer Captain James Cook makes the first of his three voyages to the islands. His journals inspire other Europeans to explore New Zealand.

1840

The Maori sign the Treaty of Waitangi giving control to the British in exchange for protection and guaranteed Maori possession of their lands.

1860

A decade of land wars begins between the Maoris and European settlers.

ALAMY

1861

Gold is discovered in Tuapeka. This leads to a gold rush.

1893

New Zealand becomes the first country to give women the right to vote.

1907

The country becomes a dominion, or self-governing community, within the British Empire.

1947

New Zealand gains independence from Great Britain.

TIME & LIFE PICTURES

1953

New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary becomes the first person to climb to the top of Mount Everest.

1985

New Zealand no longer allows U.S. nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships to enter its ports. French secret service agents blow up a Greenpeace ship called Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbor.

1987

New Zealand hosts and wins the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

1997

Jennifer Shipley becomes the country's first female prime minister.

2005

Prime Minister Helen Clark wins her third election.

2010

New Zealand sends military forces to Afghanistan for the third time at the request of the U.S.