January 30, 1840.

Hobson arrives and proclaims that no existing land titles in New Zealand would be recognized as valid unless confirmed by the British Government.

February 1, 1840.

Lieutenant Governor William Hobson begins to draft the Treaty of Waitangi based on instructions from Lord Normanby and texts he had seen in Sydney.

February 2, 1840.

Hobson suffers a stroke and is paralysed. James Busby takes over treaty drafting.

February 3, 1840.

Busby creates a treaty draft dated February 3. This draft has the phrases “lands and estates forests fisheries” and “right of pre-emption”.

February 4 1840.

Busby creates a treaty draft dated February 4 that has no reference to “lands and estates forests fisheries” and “right of pre-emption”. Reverend Henry Williams and his son Edward translate the final draft into the Maori language. The Tiriti o Waitangi was the only Treaty authorised by Hobson to be signed by the chiefs.

February 5, 1840.

Hobson reads the treaty in English and Williams reads the Treaty in Maori to the gathering of 2000 people. The chiefs discuss it with Hobson for five hours then well into the night with the missionaries and decide it is to their advantage to sign the Tiriti the next morning.

February 6, 1840.

Forty-three chiefs sign the Tiriti o Waitangi at Waitangi. In total 512 chief sign the Tiriti o Waitangi between February 6 and June 3.

February 8, 1840.

Hobson’s secretary James Stuart Freeman sends an ornate-style treaty text that resembles the February 3 draft, including the phrases “lands and estates forests fisheries” and “right of pre-emption” to New South Wales governor Sir George Gipps.

February 20, 1840.

U.S. Consul James Clendon sends to the United States a transcription of the Busby February 4 document plus a copy of Te Tiriti with a covering letter that mentioned the word “translation”.

April

39 chiefs signed the 'Freeman' official English text at Port Waikato and Manukau as an overflow because the Tiriti o Waitangi at Waitangi was full and no other copies available.

May 21, 1840.

Hobson proclaimed sovereignty over the North Island on May 21, 1840, on the grounds of cession by treaty.

June 5, 1840.

Major Thomas Bunbury and Captain Joseph Nias R.N. proclaimed sovereignty over Stewart Island on the basis of Cook’s discovery

June 17, 1840.

Major Thomas Bunbury and Captain Joseph Nias R.N. proclaimed sovereignty over the South Island on June 17, at Port Underwood, on the basis of cession

July 20, 1840.

France accepts British Sovereignty, “That sovereignty had been procured in a manner such as could be approved by other nations”.

August 7, 1840

The New South Wales Continuance Act, which pronounced the Islands of New Zealand to be a British Colony, was passed in Britain.

November 16, 1840.

Queen Victoria’s Royal Charter enacted the Colony of New Zealand, established a Legislative Council, an Executive Council and the Courts, and granted certain powers and authority to the Governor. New Zealand became independent of New South Wales under the watchful eye of the British Parliament.

May 24, 1841.

Hobson presides over the first sitting of the Legislative Council. He cites the Charter dated November 16 as the authority for him to assume the position of governor and commander in chief and to appoint an executive council.