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1 May 1893
'King Dick' Seddon becomes premier
1 May 1955
RNZAF's first combat strike since Second World War
2 May 1868
First shipment of salmon and trout ova arrives
2 May 1964
New Zealand's last electric tram trip
3 May 1820
First European plough used in New Zealand
3 May 1897
New Zealand's first woman doctor registered
3 May 1929
Controversial ex-mayor killed in Berlin riots
4 May 1772
Marion du Fresne arrives in the Bay of Islands
4 May 1937
Avalanche kills two workers at the Homer tunnel
5 May 1833
James Busby arrives in the Bay of Islands
5 May 1898
Dog Tax War narrowly averted
6 May 1869
Colonial troops invade the Urewera
7 May 1846
Devastating landslide at Lake Taupō
7 May 1856
Henry Sewell becomes the country’s first premier
7 May 1888
Anti-Chinese hysteria in Dunedin
8 May 1926
New Zealand Railways Magazine
launched
8 May 1970
'Cheryl Moana Marie' hits no. 1
9 May 1907
First
School Journal
published
9 May 1915
Kiwi Wimbledon winner killed in battle
9 May 1945
New Zealand celebrates Victory in Europe
10 May 1897
NZ's first woman barrister and solicitor appointed
10 May 1925
Death of William Massey
10 May 1960
All-white All Blacks leave for South Africa
11 May 1945
Charles Upham presented with first Victoria Cross
12 May 1971
Anti-Vietnam War protests in Auckland
13 May 1936
National Party founded
13 May 1947
Death of Frances Hodgkins
13 May 1995
New Zealand wins the America’s Cup
14 May 1866
Wreck of the
General Grant
14 May 1870
First game of rugby played in NZ?
14 May 1907
Plunket Society formed
14 May 1941
New Zealand minesweeper sunk near Hauraki Gulf
15 May 1901
Early motoring offence
15 May 1920
Whanganui mayor shoots poet
16 May 1846
Eight killed in attack on Boulcott Farm
16 May 1981
All Whites beat Australia on road to Spain
17 May 1833
First British Resident comes ashore
17 May 1922
Catholic Bishop found not guilty of sedition
17 May 1962
George Wilder escapes from prison
18 May 1893
Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia addresses Kotahitanga Māori parliament
18 May 1937
New Zealand nurses detained on way to Spanish Civil War
18 May 1966
Death of Māori King Korokī
19 May 1846
Brunner, Kehu and Heaphy reach Māwhera pā
19 May 1987
Attempted hijacking in Fiji foiled
20 May 1773
New Zealand's first sheep released
20 May 1865
Loss of
City of Dunedin
with all hands
20 May 1870
Pasifika labourers arrive in Auckland
20 May 1941
German paratroops land on Crete
21 May 1840
Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand
22 May 1884
First New Zealand rugby team in action
22 May 1995
Waikato-Tainui sign Deed of Settlement with the Crown
23 May 1861
First major gold rush in Otago
23 May 1966
Coronation of first Māori Queen
24 May 1854
Parliament's first sitting in Auckland
24 May 1943
Turning point in Battle of the Atlantic
24 May 1968
Three die in Īnangahua earthquake
25 May 1861
The
Press
goes to press
25 May 1978
Bastion Point protesters evicted
25 May 1992
First episode of
Shortland Street
goes to air
25 May 2008
Scott Dixon wins Indianapolis 500
26 May 1879
Parihaka ploughing campaign begins
26 May 1926
Anna Pavlova dances in New Zealand for the first time
27 May 1909
Amy Bock sentenced in Dunedin Supreme Court
27 May 1987
Death of Colin McCahon
28 May 1920
Fingerprints help convict murderer
29 May 1905
World’s first state-run maternity hospital opens
29 May 1947
Mabel Howard becomes first female Cabinet minister
29 May 1953
Hillary and Tenzing reach summit of Everest
30 May 1901
New Zealand turns down federation with Australia
30 May 1959
Auckland harbour bridge opens
30 May 1996
New honours system established
31 May 1916
HMS
New Zealand
fights at Jutland
31 May 1975
Mona Blades vanishes
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