CHapter 23 By Andysss 1500 BCE Invented canoes. Dec 24, 1000 Maori left polynesia Dec 24, 1560 Eurpeans arrive in the pacific region Dec 24, 1650 Europeans explored the south pacific reigon Dec 24, 1768 Britin's captain james cook explorespacific riegon. Dec 24, 1788 Australia becomes a convict colony Dec 24, 1825 British settlers arrive in new zealand Dec 24, 1840 British and maori sign treaty of waitangi Dec 24, 1840 The maroi population had been cut in half to 100,000. Dec 24, 1850 the british government stopped sendng convicts to australia Dec 24, 1851 rush of settlers Dec 24, 1861 european population passed 1 million Dec 24, 1893 New Zealand gives women the right to vote Dec 24, 1943 Allies fight japan in the pacific region during world war II Dec 24, 1959 Countries agree to share antarctica for scientific reasearch