Wellington was chosen for its central location, with Parliament officially sitting there for the first time in 1865.
(meta data) TITLE: Parliament moves to Wellington | NZHistory, New Zealand history online Skip to main content ## Search form #### TODAY IN HISTORY ##### See more 1853, E.G. Wakefield elected to Parliament 26 July Parliament moves to Wellington # Parliament moves to Wellington ## 26 July 1865 #### Read more on NZHistory #### External links Parliament House (Heritage NZ)Government Buildings (Former) (Heritage NZ)Capital city (Te Ara)Wellington City (1966 encyclopaedia) Previous calendar date: July 25 Next calendar day Next calendar date: July 27 ##### How to cite this page 'Parliament moves to Wellington', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/parliament-sits-for-the-first-time-in-wellington, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 25-Jul-2017 #### Explore other events in history #### Keywords #### Related content We have 4 biographies, 11 articles, related to Parliament moves to Wellington. ### RELATED TO PARLIAMENT MOVES TO WELLINGTON #### Events ##### 29 October 1919 Women can stand for Parliament ##### 29 June 1862 Wreck of the White Swan ##### 31 July 1843 Foundation stone laid for New Zealand's first purpose-built theatre ##### 18 April 1840 Samuel Revans prints first newspaper ##### 22 March 1902 George von Zedlitz arrives in Wellington ##### 14 February 1998 Te Papa museum opens ##### 23 November 1986 Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass in windy Wellington ##### 9 June 1909 Public Trust Office building opens ##### 16 October 1914 Main Body of NZEF sails to war ##### 5 November 1913 Battle of Featherston Street ##### 2 February 1939 Welfare plan gets baptism of fire ##### 27 August 1904 Foundation stone for Victoria University's first building laid ##### 17 July 1939 Death of Paddy the Wanderer ##### 12 January 1954 Queen Elizabeth II opens Parliament ##### 16 June 1923 Baby-farmer Daniel Cooper hanged ##### 24 August 1878 Wellington steam-tram service opened ##### 24 September 1905 Race killing in Wellington's Haining St ##### 14 August 1891 Women's suffrage petitions presented to Parliament ##### 19 August 1853 E.G. Wakefield elected to Parliament ##### 26 September 1907 Joseph Ward proclaims dominion status ##### 22 January 1840 European settlers arrive in Wellington ##### 23 January 1855 Massive earthquake hits southern North Island ##### 26 February 1844 'Pistols at dawn': deadly duel in Wellington ##### 15 February 1978 New Zealand beats England in a cricket test for the first time ##### 8 November 1939 New Zealand Centennial Exhibition opens ##### 3 April 1943 Battle of Manners Street ##### 2 May 1964 New Zealand's last electric tram trip ##### 22 May 1884 First New Zealand rugby team in action ##### 17 January 1853 New Zealand Constitution Act comes into force ##### 24 May 1854 Parliament's first sitting in Auckland ##### 1 January 1951 Legislative Council abolished See 23 more related events... #### Biographies ##### William Wakefield ##### Isaac Featherston ##### Frederick Knox ##### Wi Tako #### Articles ##### Capital 150 ##### War in Wellington ##### Wahine disaster ##### Political and constitutional timeline ##### The Beatles in New Zealand ##### Māori and the vote ##### Parliament's culture and traditions ##### Parliament Buildings ##### Wellington cafe culture ##### Parliament's people ##### The House of Representatives See 3 more related articles...
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New Zealand
History.

 New Zealand, still part of the colony of New South Wales, became a separate Colony of New Zealand on 1 July 1841. Armed conflict began between the Colonial government and 
Māori in 1843 with the Wairau Affray over land and disagreements over sovereignty. These conflicts, mainly in the North Island, saw thousands of Imperial troops and the Royal Navy come to New Zealand and became known as the New Zealand Wars. Following these armed conflicts, large amounts of Māori land was confiscated by the government to meet settler demands. 
 The colony gained a representative government in 1852 and the first Parliament met in 1854. In 1856 the colony effectively became self-governing, gaining responsibility over all domestic matters other than native policy. (Control over native policy was granted in the mid-1860s.) Following concerns that the South Island might form a separate colony, premier Alfred Domett moved a resolution to transfer the capital from Auckland to a locality near Cook Strait.