page_title: Early naval vessels of New Zealand
section_title: Timeline
hierarchical_section_title: Early naval vessels of New Zealand / Timeline
caption_attribution_description: English: HMS Acheron, a Royal Navy paddle sloop and later survey vessel. Surveyed New Zealand in the 1840s and 1850s
context_page_description: A range of naval vessels were used in New Zealand from its early settlement years to the formation of the New Zealand Naval Forces in 1913. In the mid-19th century, these vessels included frigates, sloops, schooners, and steam-driven paddlewheel boats. In 1846, five years after New Zealand was first proclaimed a colony, it bought its first gunboat. In the 1840s and 1850s, steam boats were used to survey the ports and the coastline. In the 1860s, New Zealand established the Waikato flotilla, its first de facto navy.
  By the late 19th century, New Zealand was using cruisers and torpedo boats. In the 1880s, in response to the Russian scares, coastal defences were established, a mine-laying steamer was ordered, and spar torpedo boats began patrolling the main ports. In 1911, New Zealand funded the construction of a battlecruiser, and in 1913, the New Zealand Naval Forces were created as a separate division within the Royal Navy.
context_section_description: c. 1300: War canoes or waka taua of the Māori
  1642: Abel Tasman visits in his ships Heemskerck and Zeehaen
  1769: James Cook visits in his barque HM Bark Endeavour
  1788: The colony of New South Wales is founded with a technical responsibility for New Zealand. In practice they had little interest and the responsibility was withdrawn in 1841
  1790s: British, French and American whaling, sealing and trading ships start arriving in numbers.
  1840: The Treaty of Waitangi is signed bringing New Zealand into the British Empire and giving Māori equal rights with British citizens.
  1840: Auckland becomes the capital
  1840: Captain Owen Stanley on HMS Britomart draws up an Admiralty Chart of the Waitematā Harbour
  1840s: The rate of European settlement, primarily from the United Kingdom, becomes considerable.
  1841: New Zealand is proclaimed a colony, independent of New South Wales, and divided into provinces.
  1846: First steam warship to visit New Zealand, HMS Driver, 20 Jan 1846
  1846: First gunboat purchased by a governing authority in New Zealand
  1848: HMS Acheron, a steam paddle sloop, begins the "Great Survey" of the New Zealand coast
  1852: The New Zealand Constitution Act is passed establishing a colonial government.
  1856: First detailed hydrographic survey of New Zealand ports and the coastline completed.
  1859: The number of white settlers (Pākehā) exceeds the number of Māori.
  1860: Naval help is sought from Australia as land wars escalate.
  1862–1870: To assist in the land wars a temporary navy is established. This is the Waikato flotilla, New Zealand's first de facto navy, comprising eight river boats, four armoured barges, five coastal boats and a naval dockyard.
  1863: The 300 ton stern wheel gunboat Pioneer, built in Sydney, is the first warship purpose-built for the New Zealand Government. She is followed by two sister ships, Koheroa and Rangiriri.
  1880s: In response to Russian scares coastal defences are established in the main ports.
  1882: The first submarine mining steamer is ordered.
  1884: A spar torpedo boat is attached to each of the main ports.
  1885–88: Calliope Dock, 500 feet (150 m) long, is constructed. It is the largest in the southern hemisphere.
  1887: The Imperial Conference in London establishes the Australasian Auxiliary Squadron. New Zealand agrees to pay an annual subsidy of £20,000.
  1904: The Imperial Conference in London increases the annual subsidy to £40,000.
  1907: New Zealand changes from being a colony to a separate dominion within the commonwealth.
  1907: The Marine Department acquires an 800-ton gun boat and converts her to the New Zealand's first training ship, NZS Amokura.
  1908: The dreadnought battleship race with Germany starts and the Imperial Conference in London increases the annual subsidy to £100,000.
  1908: Construction of a naval wharf and workshops at Calliope Point begins, funded by the Admiralty.
  1911: New Zealand gives the battlecruiser, HMS New Zealand, to Britain.
  1911: The number of white settlers (Pākehā) reaches one million
  1913: New Zealand Naval Forces are created as a separate division within the Royal Navy and the history of the naval forces of New Zealand is continued in that article.
caption: HMS Acheron, a steam paddle sloop, began the "Great Survey" of the New Zealand coast in 1848
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