23/5/1966 - Coronation of first Maori Queen
Princess Piki, the daughter of King Koroki, was selected as the sixth Maori monarch − and first Queen − during her father's funeral, in accordance with Kingitanga protocol. She assumed her mothers name, Te Atairangikaahu.
23/5/1861 - First major gold rush in Otago starts
Tasmanian Gabriel Read claimed a £1,000 reward when he found gold ‘shining like the stars in Orion on a dark, frosty night’ near the Tuapeka River.
