The ''New Zealand Gazette'' was New Zealand's first newspaper. First published in London in 1839, it was published in Wellington, New Zealand, from 1840 to 1844. It had name changes in 1840 and was known as the ''New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectactor'' (from 22 August 1840) and the ''New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectactor'' (from 28 November 1840). The ''Gazette'' was first published in London under the auspices of the

New Zealand Company The New Zealand Company, chartered in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom, was a company that existed in the first half of the 19th century on a business model that was focused on the systematic colonisation of New Ze ...

on 21 August 1839. A revised edition was issued a fortnight later. The second issue was published on 18 April 1840 in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

, making it the first newspaper printed in New Zealand. The ''Gazette'' changed title several times in 1840. In August it added the words "and Britannia spectator"; Britannia was the proposed name for Wellington. In November it changed Britannia to Wellington. The paper was initially owned and edited by

Samuel Revans Samuel Revans (ca. 1807 – 14 July 1888) was a New Zealand newspaper owner, entrepreneur and politician. He was the ''Father of Journalism in New Zealand.'' Early life Samuel Revans is known to have been a native of London but, as was comm ...

but it was always perceived as the mouthpiece of the New Zealand Company. It supported the Company in its incessant conflict with the colonial administration in Auckland. The vigour with which the ''Gazette'' did battle with the enemies of the Company alienated many of the public and in 1842 led settlers in Wellington to start a rival newspaper, the '' New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser''. The ''Gazette'' expired quietly in September 1844. Volume V number 363 published on 25 September 1844 was the last edition published. The printers of the ''Gazette'' were employed by the '' New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian'' which began a few weeks later.

References

* {{New Zealand newspapers Newspapers published in New Zealand Newspapers published in London Newspapers established in 1839 1840 establishments in New Zealand 1844 disestablishments in New Zealand