The first group of European settlers arrive at Petone New Zealand on January 22, 1840 aboard the ship the Aurora, to found the settlement that would become Wellington, named for the first Duke of Wellington.
By July of 1840 there were over 1000 settlers in New Zeeland .On May 21 1840, Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over all of New Zealand even though copies of the treaty with the Māori were still circulating throughout the country for the Māori to sign.