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Story: Capital city

Auckland, New Zealand's second capital, 1842

The 'city of Auckland' in 1842 was little more than a town. By this stage it was, however, New Zealand’s capital – something to which it was better suited than the more remote site at Russell, the previous capital.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-116561-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, 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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34159/auckland-new-zealands-second-capital-1842 (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Stephen Levine, published 5 June 2012, updated 1 August 2016.