The following lists events that happened during 1864 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State — Queen Victoria Governor — Sir George Grey Government and law The 3rd Parliament continues. Speaker of the House — David Monro Premier — Frederick Weld takes over from Frederick Whitaker on 24 November. Minister of Finance — William Fitzherbert replaces Reader Wood who resigned on 24 November. Chief Justice — Hon Sir George Arney Events 11 February: Major Charles Heaphy is recommended for the Victoria Cross. It was not awarded until 1867. 31 March – 2 April: Battle of Ōrākau 11 June: The Timaru Herald publishes its first issue. The paper was initially weekly, but increased its frequency of publication to bi-weekly and then tri-weekly, and became a daily on 1 January 1878. It continues . Australian magpie introduced to New Zealand Up to 6000 miners come to the Wakamarina Valley in Marlborough after gold is discovered. Canvastown is founded at the river mouth. About of gold is recovered in 1864, but the surface gold is quickly exhausted. The Wairau Record starts publishing in Blenheim. The newspaper changed its name to The Marlborough News and General Advertiser in 1865 and then to just The Marlborough News. It folded in 1874. The Marlborough Times starts publishing in Blenheim. It folds after about six months. West Coast Gold Rush (1864) Arts and literature Music The Dunedin Choral Society is formed. The Lyster Opera Company makes its first tour to New Zealand (possibly the first by a full opera company). Sport Cricket Gearge Parr's All-England Eleven plays at a cricket carnival in Dunedin against teams from Otago and Canterbury. They later play at Christchurch's Hagley Park. None of the matches qualified as first-class and the home sides were allowed to field up to 22 batsmen. Itinerary Horse racing Major race winner New Zealand Derby winner: Opera Shooting Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Morse (Nelson) Births 27 April: David Kennedy, Marist brother, astronomer. Deaths January–June 6 January (at Bath, England): Robert Wynyard, colonial administrator (born 1802) 17 February (at London, England): William Cautley, early settler and politician (born 1822) 2 April: Hine-i-turama Ngatiki, woman of mana (born 1818) 28 April: Tohi Te Ururangi, tribal leader and assessor 27 May: Marmaduke Nixon, politician and soldier (born 1814) 18 June: Octavius Mathias, pioneering Anglican priest (born 1805) George Rhodes, pastoralist (born 1816) 21 June (Battle of Te Ranga): Rawiri