1837 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – King William IV dies on 20 June and is succeeded by Queen Victoria.
• Governor of New South Wales – The term of office of Major-General Sir Richard Bourke ends. His replacement, Sir George Gipps, is appointed Governor on 5 October but does not arrive in Sydney until 23 February 1838.

Government and law

• British Resident in New Zealand – James Busby

Events

• 7 February – Samuel Marsden arrives in New Zealand on his last visit.
• 19 March – The first permanent European settlement in Canterbury. Prussian whaling captain George Hempleman establishes a whaling station at Peraki Bay, Banks Peninsula. Hempleman and his wife are the first German settlers in New Zealand.
• 22 March – ?Captain Clayton arranges the purchase of land for 3 miles inland of Peraki Bay.
• 4 July – Samuel Marsden leaves New Zealand for the final time.
• 21 October – Captain Clayton extends his 'purchase' to include all of Banks Peninsula.
• 24 October – George Hempleman occupies Peraki Bay under licence from Clayton. Later, after Clayton leaves for Sydney, Hempleman is forces to make further payments for the right to occupy the land.
• December
• * – The New Zealand Association is offered a Royal charter to take responsibility for the administration of New Zealand.
• 30 December – William Colenso completes the New Testament in Māori. He produces 5000 copies of this edition.

• The New Zealand Association is formed.
• The Anglican mission at Tauranga closes because of intertribal Maori wars.
• Joseph Price, a representative of the Weller brothers, sets up a whaling station at Patiti Point, Timaru.

Births

Unknown date

• William Walker, politician.