British Crown colony comprising the islands of New Zealand, formally established 3 May 1841 (having briefly been administered as an extension of New South Wales from January-May 1840, following the Treaty of Waitangi of 6 February 1840 and Governor Hobson's declarations of sovereignty over the North and South Islands on 21 May 1840). Initially divided into the provinces of New Ulster (North Island), New Munster (South Island), and New Leinster (Stewart Island). Gained an elected parliament under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (first sitting 1853) and responsible self-government in 1856. Ended 26 September 1907 when it was proclaimed the Dominion of New Zealand by King Edward VII, marking the end of 'colony' status while remaining within the British Empire/Commonwealth.
Proclaimed the Dominion of New Zealand on 26 September 1907 (Dominion Day) by King Edward VII, ending its formal designation as a Crown colony while continuing self-government within the British Empire; the resulting Dominion of New Zealand is the direct predecessor of the modern New Zealand state already in the dataset (record 'new-zealand', starting 1907).
The atlas holds 2 border frames for Colony of New Zealand — the shape you scrub through changes in 1841 · 1858.
Standard narrative history covering the Crown colony period from 1841 through responsible government to Dominion status in 1907.
Major scholarly history covering the colonial period in depth, including the New Zealand Wars and land confiscations of the Colony era.