Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal become first humans to summit Mt. Everest
Mount Everest had long been considered unclimbable by some and the ultimate climbing challenge by others.
New Zealand / Aotearoa
British Parliament passes the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 to grant settlers self-governance
The Act made New Zealand independent in domestic matters for all intents and purposes from its earliest days as a British colony.
Abel Tasman becomes first European to explore New Zealand
Abel Tasman was the first known European explorer to reach the islands of Tasmania and New Zealand, and to sight the Fiji islands.
The Maori people emerge in modern day New Zealand
Over several centuries in isolation, the Polynesian settlers developed a unique culture, with their own language, a rich mythology, and distinctive crafts and performing arts.
Humans discover the islands currently known as New Zealand
An international team of researchers spent 4 years on a study which shows conclusively that the earliest evidence for human colonization is about 1280-1300 C.E.