The following lists events that happened during 1853 in New Zealand. The old provinces of New Munster and

New Ulster New Ulster was a province of the Colony of New Zealand that existed between 1841 and 1853. It was named after the Irish province of Ulster. Creation Between 1841 and 1846, the province included all the North Island. With the passing of the New ...

are abolished and replaced by the Provinces of New Zealand. The first general election is held marking a major step on the way to self-government.

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1853 is 61,850 Māori and 29,600 non-Māori.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

–

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

–

Sir George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Go ...

Government and law

New Zealand's first general election, held on the first of October. The House of Representatives has 37 elected members, and 14 members are appointed to the first Legislative Council. The 1st Parliament opens on 24 May

1854 Events January–March * January 4 – The McDonald Islands are discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the ''Samarang''. * January 6 – The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is perhaps born. * January 9 – The ...

The first Speaker of the House is not elected until Parliament opens on 24 May

. There is neither an official Prime Minister/Premier/Colonial Secretary or Finance Minister/Colonial Secretary until after the 2nd New Zealand Parliament is formed after the 1855 election. (see also

1st New Zealand Parliament The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election (held the previous year). It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's ...

). * Chief Justice – William Martin * Lieutenant Governor –

Edward John Eyre Edward John Eyre (5 August 181530 November 1901) was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and Governor of Jamaica. Early life Eyre was born in Whipsnade, Bedfordshire, shortly before his family moved t ...

(until 7 March when the Provinces of

and New Munster are abolished and replaced by the Provinces of New Zealand). * Lieutenant Governor –

Robert Henry Wynyard Robert Henry Wynyard (24 December 1802 – 6 January 1864) was a New Zealand colonial administrator, serving at various times as Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster Province, Administrator of the Government, and was the first Superintendent ...

(until 7 March when the Provinces of New Ulster and New Munster are abolished and replaced by the Provinces of New Zealand).

Events

* 17 January — With the passing of

New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (15 & 16 Vict. c. 72) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the Colony of New Zealand. It was the second such Act, the previous 1846 Act not having been fully ...

the previous year the Provinces of New Zealand are created. The former

New Ulster Province New Ulster was a province of the Colony of New Zealand that existed between 1841 and 1853. It was named after the Irish province of Ulster. Creation Between 1841 and 1846, the province included all the North Island. With the passing of the New ...

and

New Munster Province New Munster was an early original European name for the South Island of New Zealand, given by the Governor of New Zealand, Captain William Hobson, in honour of Munster, the Irish province in which he was born. Province When New Zealand was sepa ...

, which had been in place since

1846 Events January–March * January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom. * January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon between ...

, are abolished. New Ulster is split into

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, New Plymouth and

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

; New Munster is split into

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

and Otago. Each of the new provinces has its own legislature, known as a Provincial Council, that elects its own Speaker and Superintendent. *14 September – The ''Ann'' is the first steamship to visit Lyttelton.Christchurch: a chronology - 1853
/ref> * 16 November – ''The Wanganui Record'' starts publishing, but folds six weeks later, on 28 December.

Sport

Rugby

* Christ's College pupils play a form of rugby football, the first to do so in New Zealand.

Births

* 4 September: (in England) William Collins, politician. * 3 October: Arthur Fulton, engineer * 3 October: (in England) Albert Moss, cricketer.

Population

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Government and law

Events

Sport

Rugby

Births

Deaths

See also

References

External links