{| class="infobox" width=330 |- | align="center" | '1869 in New Zealand: |- style="background-color:#f3f3f3" | align="center" | Other years in New Zealand |- | align="center" | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 |} The following lists events that happened during 1869 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State — Queen Victoria Governor — Sir George Ferguson Bowen Government and law The 4th Parliament continues. Speaker of the House — Sir David Monro Premier — Edward Stafford is replaced by William Fox on 28 June after Stafford's government is defeated. Minister of Finance — William Fitzherbert is replaced by Julius Vogel after the defeat of the Stafford government. Chief Justice — Hon Sir George Arney Main centre leaders Mayor of Christchurch — William Wilson followed by John Anderson Mayor of Dunedin — Thomas Birch Events 4–5 January: Te Kooti and his followers manage to escape the siege of Ngā Tapa pā.Dictionary Of New Zealand Biography: Te Kooti 13 February: A war party of Ngāti Maniapoto led by Wetere Te Rerenga kills all three men, a woman and three children, and also the Wesleyan missionary John Whiteley who arrives shortly afterwards, at the isolated Pukearuhe Redoubt. This is the final act of the Taranaki wars. 11 April: Prince Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh visits New Zealand on HMS Galatea. 5 June: 1869 Christchurch earthquake August: The first bicycle built in Auckland is ridden for the first time. Bicycles are also built and ridden in Christchurch and Dunedin in this year. The University of Otago is established, being New Zealand's first University. Undated The New Zealand Ensign is introduced for use on government ships. It does not become the official national flag until 1902. The flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand is also in common use. Resignation and departure from New Zealand of Jean Baptiste Pompallier, First Catholic Bishop in New Zealand. Closure of St Mary's Seminary, Auckland. Sport Horse racing Major race winners New Zealand Cup winner: Mainsail New Zealand Derby winner: Manuka Shooting Ballinger Belt: No competition Births 6 February: Patrick O'Regan, lawyer, politician and judge. 28 April: Frances Hodgkins, painter. 30 April: 'Charles Robert Norris Mackie, pacifist and social reformer 18 May: James Parr, politician. Deaths 16 March: Johnny Jones, whaler, early settler. 30 March: William Field Porter, politician. Āpihai Te Kawau''', Māori leader. See also History of New