The following lists events that happened during 1856 in New Zealand.
After several previous attempts, New Zealand finally achieves "Responsible Government", with a majority of the members of the House of Representatives supporting the Government.[1]
The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1856 is 58,300 Māori and 45,540 non-Māori.[2] The total population reaches the 100,000 mark during the year.
18 September – The Wanganui Chronicle publishes its first issue. The paper starts as a fortnightly publication, moves to tri-weekly in 1867, and then to daily in 1871. It continues today[update].[4]
11 December – The Auckland Examiner begins publishing. It continues until 1861.[5]
26 December – The Otago Colonist publishes its first issue. The newspaper changes its name to The Colonist in 1862 and is absorbed into the Daily Telegraph at the beginning of 1863.[6]
^Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at "Long-term data series". Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008., in particular "A1.1 Total population.xls". Archived from the original(Excel) on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
Media related to 1856 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
