New++Zealand-Makszin+Loredana

New Zealand Situated in the South Pacific with only one neighboring country to the north west and wide open ocean on the East, New Zealand offers visitors unique experiences of culture, stunning scenery, and landscapes with diverse flora and fauna. It is because of its relative isolation and location on the globe that New Zealand has so many endemic and native wildlife species and plants. New Zealand is made up of 3 main inhabited islands namely North Island,South ISland, and Stewart Island. There are also several remote off-shore islands such as the Chatham Islands (inhabited), Campbell Island, Auckland Islands (an archipelago of Sub-Antarctic islands), Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, just to name a few. The South Island is the largest land mass of New Zealand and is most often referred to (by those living there) as the "Mainland". A small country with a big heart! New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, is a vacation paradise. Whether you're looking for long sandy beaches to laze on in a sub-tropical climate, or a lighthouse perched on the edge of a remote cliff, standing up to unforgiving sub-antarctic winds and ocean, New Zealand has it all. One hundred years pass by before the next Europeans arrive. In 1769 James Cook, British explorer, and Jean François Marie de Surville, commander of a French trading ship, both arrive by coincidence in New Zealand waters at the same time. Neither ship ever sights the other. From the late 1790's on, whalers, traders and missionaries arrive, establishing settlements mainly along the far northern coast of New Zealand. Wars and conflicts between Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) tribes were always constant, and weapons used until now were spears or clubs. The arrival of traders leads to a flourishing musket trade with local Māori, who rapidly foresee the advantages of overcoming enemy tribes with this deadly new weapon. The devastating period known as the inter tribal Musket Wars commences. R umours of French plans for the colonisation of the South Island help hasten British action to annexe, and then colonise New Zealand. A number of Māori chiefs sign a Treaty with the British on 6th February 1840, to be known as the Treaty of Waitangi The subsequent influx of European settlers leads to the turbulent period of the New Zealand Wars, also known as the Land Wars, which last for over twenty years. The Māori, although inferior in number, proves a formidable foe. The battle of Gate Pa is possible the battle which made the greatest impact in the history of The New Zealand Wars Hongi Hika warrior chief of the Nga Puhi tribe; Te Rauparaha also known as "The Napoleon of the South - warrior chief of the Ngati Toa tribe;Te Kooti resistant, prophet, and founder of the Ringatu church;Michael Joseph Savage early innovative Prime Minister are but a few, Māori and European, who have left their mark on the history of New Zealand. New Zealand today is an independent nation within the British Commonwealth. The British Monarch, although constitutional head of state, plays no active role in the administration of New Zealand's government.  The capital city is Wellington, although the largest city is Auckland, both situated in the North Island.
 * **Joined Commonwealth:**1931 (Statute of Westminster)
 * **Capital:**Wellington
 * **Population:**3,989,000 (2004)
 * **GDP p c growth:**2.1% p.a. 1990–2004
 * **Official language:**English, Maori
 * **Time:**GMT plus 12–13hr
 * **Currency:**New Zealand dollar (NZ$)[[image:http://gallery.hd.org/_tn/std/money/_more2003/_more08/New-Zealand-Dollar-NZD-5-bank-note-2003-issue-Alan-Bollard-signature-Hillary-Everest-Massey-Fergusson-tractor-front-KAR.jpg width="256" height="121" caption="Thumbnail" link="http://mirror-us-ga1.gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/money/_more2003/_more08/New-Zealand-Dollar-NZD-5-bank-note-2003-issue-Alan-Bollard-signature-Hillary-Everest-Massey-Fergusson-tractor-front-KAR.jpg"]]
 * The history of New Zealand : a brief overview of the pre-historic, colonial and modern periods ** N  ew Zealand's colourful history commences from the time when the Rangitata Land mass separates from the ancient super continent of Gondwana80 million years ago, evolving over time to become modern New Zealand.  As Polynesians discover and settle New Zealand, thought to be sometime between 950 and 1130 AD, the Moriori people are settling, possibly around the same time, the Chatham Islands, or Rekohu, a small group of islands off the coast of New Zealan.  I n 1642 the first of the European explorers, Abel Janszoon Tasman from Holland, sails into New Zealand waters. The first encounter between Māori and European is violent, leading to bloodshed. After partly charting the coastline, Tasman leaves New Zealand without ever having had the occasion to set foot ashore.
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