Catalogue description Colonial Office and Predecessor: New Zealand Original Correspondence

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Details of CO 209
Reference: CO 209
Title: Colonial Office and Predecessor: New Zealand Original Correspondence
Description:

This series contains original correspondence relating to New Zealand

Date: 1830-1922
Arrangement:

Bound volumes arranged chronologically within the following subject headings: Despatches (letters of the governors), Offices (letters of government departments and other organisations) and Individuals (arranged alphabetically). Each volume with a contents list, or précis of each letter giving name of correspondent, date of letter and subject matter.

Related material:

For correspondence with the New Zealand Company CO 208

For correspondence after 1922 see CO 532

Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Copies held at:

Microfilm copies were created as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project (1948-1997). The microfilm images have been digitised and made available online by the National Library of Australia.

Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical description: 313 volume(s)
Unpublished finding aids:

For registers to this correspondence before 1849 see CO 326, after 1849 see CO 361. For registers to 1901 to 1908 correspondence see CO 644. For indexed précis of correspondence see CO 714

Administrative / biographical background:

New Zealand was settled by British from 1814 but was under the jurisdiction of New South Wales until 1841. In 1840 the local leaders ceded sovereignty over North Island to the British Crown, which in the same year proclaimed its sovereignty over South Island by right of settlement. In 1841 the islands became a separate colony under a governor appointed by the War and Colonial Department. The New Zealand Company, formed in 1839 to purchase and sell land to colonists, continued to operate until 1850, when it surrendered its charter. In 1907 New Zealand obtained dominion status under a governor-general.

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