FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Big Moments in NZ History Trivia Quiz

Can you identify these events that shaped New Zealand?

A multiple-choice quiz by youngmade. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
youngmade

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
377,576

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
207

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On 4 June 1943 a train travelling from Cromwell to Dunedin derailed killing 29 people and injuring 47 more. What small town, which the disaster was named after, was the closest to the disaster? Hint

Hyde

Lawrence

Roxburgh

Clyde

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The treaty of Waitangi was signed on what day? Hint

25 April 1925

February 6 1840

18 March 1847

23 October 1910

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of the cyclone that did millions of dollars of damage to the eastern part of the North island in 1988? Hint

Catrina

Tracy

Bola

Andrew

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The first Rugby World Cup final was played in 1987 between France and the New Zealand All Blacks. What was the score at the final whistle? Hint

NZ win 26-6

NZ win 29 - 9

NZ win 8-7

France win 20-18

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Lake Taupo is the crater of an super volcano.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which of these events is false? Hint

Actor Sam Neill was born in the UK.

New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote

Edmund Hillary was the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest

A New Zealander invented the jet boat.

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the Prime Minister when New Zealand became nuclear free? Hint

David Lange

Helen Clarke

Robert Muldoon

Geoffery Palmer

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who was New Zealand's first female Prime Minister? Hint

Dame Jenny Shipley

Jacinta Adern

Helen Clarke

Dame Cath Tizard

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which New Zealand town was the first to be granted city status? Hint

Auckland

Christchurch

Wellington

Dunedin

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What bird thought to be extinct was found in a remote mountain range in the 1940s? Hint

Takahe

Haast Eagle

Moa

Huia

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Hyde

The Hyde derailment was the rail disaster that had claimed the most lives up to that point in time. The Tangiwai rail disaster in 1953 was New Zealand's worst rail disaster at the time.

2. The treaty of Waitangi was signed on what day?

Answer: February 6 1840

The Treaty of Waitangi is a document signed by Maori chief and British representatives of the Crown agreeing that the country would be under British sovereignty.

3. What was the name of the cyclone that did millions of dollars of damage to the eastern part of the North island in 1988?

Answer: Bola

After leaving Fiji and Vanuatu in its destructive wake, Cyclone Bola hit the Gisborne area the hardest destroying crops and causing extensive erosion. Parts of the North Island reported rainfall close to twice its annual average.

4. The first Rugby World Cup final was played in 1987 between France and the New Zealand All Blacks. What was the score at the final whistle?

Answer: NZ win 29 - 9

The All Blacks were the first team to win the Rugby World Cup and were also the first to win it 3 times and defend it successfully. The name the All Blacks came from and misprint in an English newspaper. The reporter had said the NZ team played like all backs. The misprint said All Blacks and the name stuck.

5. Lake Taupo is the crater of an super volcano.

Answer: True

The Taupo volcano caused a massive eruption with more force than Mt St Helens or Vesuvius. When it erupted about 27,000 years ago it was the largest eruption from the last 70,000 years. It is currently a dormant volcano. If it begins to wake up, New Zealand is going to be in a whole lot of trouble!

6. Which of these events is false?

Answer: Edmund Hillary was the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest

Although Edmund Hillary was in the first party to reach the Summit of Everest, he wasn't actually the first there. Tenzing Norgay a sherpa in the team was the first to stand on the top.

7. Who was the Prime Minister when New Zealand became nuclear free?

Answer: David Lange

In 1984 Prime Minister David Lange barred nuclear armed or nuclear powered ships from entering New Zealand waters. When the act was passed, the USA suspended all ANZUS obligations to New Zealand.

8. Who was New Zealand's first female Prime Minister?

Answer: Dame Jenny Shipley

Jenny Shipley wasn't Prime minister for a full term. When the National party members lost confidence in Jim Bolger he resigned as Prime Minister. Jenny Shipley took his place. Helen Clarke was the first elected female Prime Minister.

9. Which New Zealand town was the first to be granted city status?

Answer: Dunedin

Due to the Otago gold rush in the 1860s the influx of people made Dunedin the first city in New Zealand by population. Dunedin was the largest city in land area until 2010 with the the founding of the Auckland Super City.

10. What bird thought to be extinct was found in a remote mountain range in the 1940s?

Answer: Takahe

Thought to have gone extinct, the Takahe were found in the remote Murchison Mountains in Fiordland. The Moa became extinct around 1440 CE and subsequently the Haast Eagle also became extinct due to Moa being its primary food source. Huia have not been seen since the 1960s. Although people claim to have seen them since, it is presumed they are extinct.

Source: Author youngmade

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.