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1May1893'King Dick' Seddon becomes premier
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1May1955RNZAF's first combat strike since Second World War
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2May1868First shipment of salmon and trout ova arrives
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2May1964New Zealand's last electric tram trip
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3May1820First European plough used in New Zealand
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3May1897New Zealand's first woman doctor registered
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3May1929Controversial ex-mayor killed in Berlin riots
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4May1772Marion du Fresne arrives in the Bay of Islands
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4May1937Avalanche kills two workers at the Homer tunnel
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5May1833James Busby arrives in the Bay of Islands
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5May1898Dog Tax War narrowly averted
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6May1869Colonial troops invade the Urewera
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7May1846Devastating landslide at Lake Taupō
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7May1856Henry Sewell becomes the country’s first premier
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7May1888Anti-Chinese hysteria in Dunedin
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8May1926New Zealand Railways Magazine launched
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8May1970'Cheryl Moana Marie' hits no. 1
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9May1907First School Journal published
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9May1915Kiwi Wimbledon winner killed in battle
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9May1945New Zealand celebrates Victory in Europe
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10May1897NZ's first woman barrister and solicitor appointed
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10May1925Death of William Massey
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10May1960All-white All Blacks leave for South Africa
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11May1945Charles Upham presented with first Victoria Cross
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12May1971Anti-Vietnam War protests in Auckland
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13May1936National Party founded
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13May1947Death of Frances Hodgkins
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13May1995New Zealand wins the America’s Cup
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14May1866Wreck of the General Grant
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14May1870First game of rugby played in NZ?
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14May1907Plunket Society formed
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14May1941New Zealand minesweeper sunk near Hauraki Gulf
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15May1901Early motoring offence
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15May1920Whanganui mayor shoots poet
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16May1846Eight killed in attack on Boulcott Farm
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16May1981All Whites beat Australia on road to Spain
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17May1833First British Resident comes ashore
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17May1922Catholic Bishop found not guilty of sedition
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17May1962George Wilder escapes from prison
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18May1893Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia addresses Kotahitanga Māori parliament
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18May1937New Zealand nurses detained on way to Spanish Civil War
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18May1966Death of Māori King Korokī
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19May1846Brunner, Kehu and Heaphy reach Māwhera pā
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19May1987Attempted hijacking in Fiji foiled
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20May1773New Zealand's first sheep released
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20May1865Loss of City of Dunedin with all hands
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20May1870Pasifika labourers arrive in Auckland
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20May1941German paratroops land on Crete
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21May1840Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand
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22May1884First New Zealand rugby team in action
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22May1995Waikato-Tainui sign Deed of Settlement with the Crown
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23May1861First major gold rush in Otago
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23May1966Coronation of first Māori Queen
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24May1854Parliament's first sitting in Auckland
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24May1943Turning point in Battle of the Atlantic
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24May1968Three die in Īnangahua earthquake
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25May1861The Press goes to press
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25May1978Bastion Point protesters evicted
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25May1992First episode of Shortland Street goes to air
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25May2008Scott Dixon wins Indianapolis 500
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26May1879Parihaka ploughing campaign begins
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26May1926Anna Pavlova dances in New Zealand for the first time
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27May1909Amy Bock sentenced in Dunedin Supreme Court
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27May1987Death of Colin McCahon
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28May1920Fingerprints help convict murderer
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29May1905World’s first state-run maternity hospital opens
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29May1947Mabel Howard becomes first female Cabinet minister
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29May1953Hillary and Tenzing reach summit of Everest
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30May1901New Zealand turns down federation with Australia
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30May1959Auckland harbour bridge opens
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30May1996New honours system established
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31May1916HMS New Zealand fights at Jutland
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31May1975Mona Blades vanishes