NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand a country of a group of islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The islands were populated by the Maori from around 800AD.

In 1642 came the first Europeans with a sighting by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.

1769 Captain James Cook chartered the islands for the British.
In 1792 a commercial colonisation began by whaling companies arriving from New South Whales.

In 1837 the new settlers began to arrive through the New Zealand Company founded by E.G. Wakefield.

1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by Maoris and British representatives which guaranteed Maori chiefs their land. The New Zealand Company tried to take the authority from the powerful Maori chief Te Rauparaha which cost 22 settlers their lives.

In 1846 The British Government introduced a limited constitution on New Zealand. It was renewed in 1848 and 1852, the island were divided into six provinces and had representative governments. in 1856 came self-government.

In 1860 the South Island prospered and then came the gold rush in 1860. At the same time confrontations broke out because settlers disregarded the Treaty of Waitangi.

In 1858 some Maori tribes united and a conflict broke out between them and the land grabbing colonists. The fighting became a disastrous Anglo-Maori war and ended only in 1872. The Maori were defeated and lost a lot of their land.

In 1881 a new regulation was signed which reduced the immigration of Asian. They resembled a threat to the purity of New Zealand's population.

In 1920 a new Immigration Restriction Act was worked out and was slowly eased off. The property qualification for voting was abolished and women were enfranchised in 1893.

In 1931 the country became independent but did not chose to ratify the Statute of Westminster till 1947

New Zealand fought at the side of the Allies in both World Wars. It kept its political independence and enjoyed a high standard of living. After the Second World War its defence policy  moved on to the Pacific and Far East.

In 1951 it joined the ANZUS security alliances with Australia and the USA and was also involved in the Vietnam war.

After 1973, when Britain joined the European Community; New Zealand trading links  became stronger with Australia and its Pacific Asian neighbours.

When in 1984 Labour came into power it adopted a non-nuclear policy which then led to a withdrawal from Anzus in 1986.

In 1990 the National Party led by Jim Bolger won the election when New Zealand had a recession. It confirmed Labour a non-nuclear policy but also introduced Welfare cuts. Bolger became re-election by a small majority in 1993 but had to form a coalition in 1996.

Maoris kept their campaign on for compensation of their lost land taken by European settlers.  In 1994 a compensation was granted to the Waikaro people and land returned..

MAORI

Maoris are Eastern Polynesian people. Historians assuming that they have migrated to New Zealand from the Pacific in several waves from about 800 AD

This is a historical painting from the time when Captain James Cook landed.

When the British explorer and navigator Captain James Cook arrived there in 1776 and found around 100,000 Maoris have settled there on the island.

Before the European settlers arrived the Maoris shared language, customs, intermarriage and trade. They had no feuds but the arrival of the new settlers was seen as a threat. It united the people. Maori means normal or ordinary. 

They welcomed the trade but there was a growing resistance to the settlement along the shores.

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the chiefs and British representative in 1840. Britain received the right to govern New Zealand and to settle there, The Maoris kept the authority over their land and all their affair and gained British citizenship.

Taranaki Wars from 1860-61 and 1863-64 were a series of conflicts between Maoris and colonists in New Zealand's North Island.

The first war started when Te Teira, a Maori of the Taranaki region sold land to the British government without the permission of the his tribal chief. The fight began between the supporter of the chief and the surveyors came to inspect the land purchased.

The war ended inconclusive in April 1861 and the colonists were dissatisfied.

In April 1863 new fighting began and ended a year later with the loss of a large piece of Maori land. The hostility continued right through to 1872 but history does not accept it as part of Taranaki Wars.

By 1896 the population of the Maori was reduced to 40,000 from diseases.

After the second World War their numbers improved and many moved into towns to find work and better conditions.

By 1980 due to unemployment and loss of identity the Maoris demanded national recognition of their language, culture and the preservation of their remaining Maori land.

In 1995, during a visit to New Zealand by Queen Elizabeth II; she signed a legislation for compensation worth £70million including 39,000 acres land to the Tainui federation of people. Most of this land was confiscated by colonists

The Queen made a personal apology to the Maori people.

MAORI WARRIOR