1850 in New Zealand
# 1850 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1850 in New Zealand.

## Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1850 is 65,650 Māori and 22,108 non-Māori.

## Incumbents

### Regal and viceregal

* Head of State – Queen Victoria
* Governor – Sir George Grey

### Government and law

* Chief Justice – William Martin
* Lieutenant Governor, New Munster – Edward John Eyre
* Lieutenant Governor, New Ulster – George Dean Pitt

## Events

* 16 December – The Charlotte-Jane, one of the First Four Ships bringing settlers to Canterbury arrives in Lyttelton Harbour followed by the Randolph later the same afternoon.
* 17 December – The George Seymour arrives in Lyttelton.
* 21 December – Otago News finishes publication. The newspaper started in 1848.
* 27 December – The Cressy is the last of the First Four Ships to arrive at Lyttelton.

## Foundations

* St Mary's Seminary

## Births

* 7 January: Joseph James Fletcher, Australian biologist (d. 1926)
* 8 April: Thomas Hislop, Mayor of Wellington (in Scotland)

## Deaths

* 7 August: Hone Heke, tribal leader
* 15 October: William Darby Brind, master mariner and whaler (probable date of death)

### Unknown date

* Te Rohu, tribal leader
* Rawiri Tareahi, tribal leader
