– The New Zealand Land Company is formed from the New Zealand Colonisation Company, the New Zealand Land Company and the 1825 New Zealand Company. (see 1838)
13 August – Confirmation of Hobson's appointment as British consul to New Zealand.
14 August – Lord Normanby issues Hobson with instructions for official dealings with New Zealand.
September
– After 5 weeks in Ship Cove, the Tory sails for Port Nicholson arriving later that month.[3]
– After 5 days of negotiations William Wakefield arranges the purchase of land at Petone at the mouth of the Hutt Valley for a settlement to be known as Brittania.
December
– William Wakefield, along with naturalistErnst Dieffenbach, explores northwards along the west coast of the North Island looking for other possible sites for settlements for the New Zealand Company. Wakefield decides that the Taranaki is the most favourable location.
23 December – While visiting the Taranaki Ernst Dieffenbach, along with whaler James Heberley, becomes the first European to climb Mount Taranaki/Egmont.[4]