Mary Colson - New Zealand

What do you think of when you picture New Zealand? Do you picture birds that cannotfly, or kiwi fruit? Do you think of people playing dangerous sports? Or maybe youimagine amazing scenery?

Located in the remote South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is a land of mighty mountains,rushing rivers, spectacular volcanoes, and bubbling geysers . Its nearest neighboris Australia, over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away. The two main population groupsare the European settlers and the Mori . But people from Polynesia , Asia, and otherparts of the world live there as well.

Mori myths and language dominate the countrys culture, along with European sports,such as cricket and rugby . When a New Zealander greets you, you will either shakehands or perform a hongi . This is a meeting of foreheads and noses. Hongi means onebreath.

New Zealand is a young, forward-thinking country of over four million people. Ithas had a parliamentary democracy for about 200 years. In 1893 it became one of thefirst countries to allow women to vote. The country was one of the first in the worldto create laws for old-age pensions , minimum wages, and child health services.

How to say...

These words are in the Mori language.

Mori people call New Zealand Aotearoa , "Land of the Long White Cloud."

The human history of New Zealand began around 1000 CE, when Mori arrived in canoesfrom other Pacific islands. They discovered a country with good land for growingcrops, as well as lots of hunting and fishing. Different Mori iwi (tribes) settledacross the two main islands of the country. The iwi in the South Island hunted agiant flightless bird, called the moa, for food.

Daily life

Each iwi had a chief who had special moko tattoos. When the chief died, his headwas preserved. These heads are called mokomokai . Each moko is different and containsinformation about the persons rank, tribe, occupation, and adventures.

Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, Mori defended their land against European explorers.During this time, Mori communities developed a strong culture. Each iwi built itsown meeting house, called a marae . Only members of the iwi or invited guests couldenter this space.

This image of a Mori chief who lived in the 1800s was painted by Charles Goldie.Goldie was a celebrated New Zealand portrait artist.

In 1642 a Dutch explorer named Abel Tasman was the first European to spot New Zealand.He named the country Nieuw Zeeland, which means New Sealand. He returned to Europeand spread the news of the new country and the people who lived there.

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK (1728-1779)

Captain James Cook was a British explorer who sailed around New Zealand and madethe first maps of its coastline. Lots of places in New Zealand are named after him,including Mount Cook and the Cook Strait.

This is Captain Cooks map of New Zealand, drawn around 1770. It is very similarto modern maps today.

The Mori called themselves Taangata Whenua ("the People of the Land"). They consideredall Pkeh , or non-Mori white people, intruders. The mainly British settlers establishedfarms and towns. Missionaries built chapels and tried to convert Mori to Christianity.

By the 1830s, the British government wanted to make New Zealand a colony . On February6, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the British and hundreds of Mori chiefs.The treaty gave Mori protection as British citizens, in exchange for rights overMori land and fishing resources . Afterward, Mori tribes fought bitterly againstthe loss of their lands, but they were eventually defeated.

British officials and Mori chiefs sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Daily life

In the 1860s, there was a major gold rush in the central South Island. Thousandstraveled to New Zealand hoping to get rich. Each person bought an area of land wherehe or she could dig for gold. The camps were dirty and disease-ridden, and many peopledied there.

In 1841 New Zealand became a self-governing British colony. The town of Russell becamethe nations first capital, and the new countrys flag had a small Union Jack inthe corner, to show its link with Great Britain. In 1893 women were given the voteover20 years before they could vote in Great Britain, and almost 30 years before theycould vote in the United States.

This street in historic Arrowtown gives visitors an opportunity to see what lifemight have been like during New Zealand's gold rush.

During the world wars, New Zealand soldiers fought alongside the British and Americans.During World War I (191418), over 100,000 young men sailed far from home to defendBritain from Germany. Over 3,000 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ("Anzac")soldiers fought and died at Gallipoli, in Turkey. During World War II (193945),over 28,000 New Zealand soldiers were killed and more than 55,000 were injured. Today,the soldiers are remembered on Anzac Day, on April 25.

In 1947 New Zealand became a fully independent country, but it remains part of the Commonwealth , and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is head of state . The country hasclose ties with Australia, working together on defense, business, and shared workers.New Zealand also has a defense treaty with the United States, to ensure nationalsecurity. Many people emigrate to New Zealand from all over the world for the qualityof life it offers.

This pie chart shows the percentages of people from different ethnic groups in NewZealand today.

Today, New Zealanders face natural and political challenges. Volcanic eruptions andfrequent earthquakes shake buildings and crack roads. In 2011 an earthquake nearChristchurch, South Island, measured 6.3 on the Richter scale . Over 100 people died.

The Treaty of Waitangi remains New Zealands most debated document. The Waitangi Tribunal hears Mori complaints and pays compensation for lost land and property.The tribunal works with the government to ensure that Mori land rights are protectedin all future building developments.