The New Zealand Company was the first large company to operate in New Zealand. It was set up in London in 1839 with a paid-up capital of £100,000. Shareholders received land. From 1840 the company introduced long-term settlers directly from Britain. The company wound up in 1850 having played a large hand in establishing settlements in New Zealand. With English shareholders the company was not really a New Zealand one (its name aside). But it was important in developing the settler economy that allowed the first New Zealand-based companies – importers – to grow.