14 May

Wreck of the <em>General Grant</em>

1866 Wreck of the General Grant

Sailing from Melbourne to London, the General Grant hit cliffs on the west coast of the main island in the subantarctic Auckland Islands. Fifteen of the 83 people on board survived the sinking, but only 10 of them were ultimately rescued 18 months later. Read more...
First game of rugby played in NZ?

1870 First game of rugby played in NZ?

Around 200 people were on hand at Nelson’s Botanic Reserve to watch a game of football played under Rugby rules. Read more...
Plunket Society formed

1907 Plunket Society formed

Dr Frederic Truby King helped form the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children at a meeting in Dunedin Town Hall. Read more...
New Zealand minesweeper sunk near Hauraki Gulf

1941 New Zealand minesweeper sunk near Hauraki Gulf

The minesweeper HMS Puriri was the second victim of mines laid off the Northland coast by the German raider Orion. Five of its crew were killed. Read more...