In March and May of 1942 Japanese Navy floatplanes overflew both Wellington and Auckland during WWII.
The eruption of Mount Tarawera the largest volcano in New Zealand
In 1350 Polynesians arrived in New Zealand and started to settle. Kupe a Polynesian explorer was the first person to find New Zealand.
The Battle of New Orleans happened in 1815. It was actually two weeks after the peace treaty was signed.
Waitingi Day happened- a treaty was signed between Britain and New Zealand.
New Zealand Wars happened in 1845.
The largest "music event" to occur in New Zealand was Nambassa in 1979.
New Zealand Chess Championship happened in 1879.
The New Zealand's oil spill happened on the 5th of October 2011.
New Zealand has many minor earthquakes a year, but only one major earthquake has happened in New Zealand in 2011.
Probably the major historical event that occurred between 1996 and 2007 was the destruction the World Trade Center in New York City. It occurred on September 11, 2001.
It has happened and is still happening.
It joined the British Empire.