Story: Capital city

Okiato, site of the first capital

A map of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand's far north, around 1840, shows the property of James Clendon, the first US consul in New Zealand. Clendon’s house at Okiato was purchased by Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson and became the site of the colony’s first capital, which was named Russell.

Using this item

Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: NZ Map 5449

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Stephen Levine, 'Capital city - The first two capitals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34158/okiato-site-of-the-first-capital (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Stephen Levine, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Aug 2016