New Zealand History and country profile

Birds and other animals were New Zealand’s only citizens until around 850AD when the first Polynesians came to New Zealand by canoe.

This started a series of large migrations from different Pacific Islands over several hundred years. These groups gardened, hunted and fished in the fertile new land. Sometimes they got along at other times they came to blows. They grew into that group which later European immigrants identified as Maori, or indigenous New Zealanders.

In 1642 Abel Tasman, sailed into the Marlborough Sounds. Several of his crew were killed in a skirmish with the Maori. He promptly took off, but first named the new country after the province of Zeeland in his native Holland.

Over a hundred years later in 1769 Captain James Cook came back and over three visits made a complete map of New Zealand. The first wave of European immigrants followed from about 1790 - the tough guys - sealers, whalers, traders and missionaries. Because of tussles caused by increasing population the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. It was supposed to guarantee the land and property of Maori and give them the rights of British citizens. In return, Maori agreed to British rule. Maori chiefs thought this meant the British would keep law and order. But to the British it meant to govern. Due to translation flaws, the two versions of the Treaty were different, and the problems that resulted are ongoing today.

A new wave of immigrants came to New Zealand hoping to settle, farm, and enjoy a better life than in Britain. They often had to break in forests and sometimes found that ownership of land hadn’t been resolved with Maori. Consequently land wars broke out during the 1860s. Although Maori fought bravely they were overpowered by the British.

In 1861 gold was discovered and another wave of immigration began - the rough and tough gold-diggers. A lot of money was spent on road and rail in this period to transport diggers to distant corners of the land. New Zealand settled into a farming nation, largely exporting meat to Britain. Government was formalised and in 1893, New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote.

But the Maori people were suffering from European diseases and their loss of land. There have been many great Maori leaders like Sir Peter Buck and Sir Apiranan Ngata who have helped their people since then. Today a special government tribunal is kept very busy.

This century, New Zealanders have developed a feeling of national identity and pride. The contribution of New Zealand soldiers to the Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902) and World War I has particularly fostered a sense of nationhood. The growth of the All Blacks as a significant world sports team has been important too.

In the 1920 agricultural exports increased as technological advances improved farming. But the economy wasn’t really strong and New Zealand was badly hit by the depression in the 1930s. In 1935 the First Labour government was elected. They created a welfare
state which helped pull New Zealand out of the slump and improved people’s lives.

New Zealand was involved in WW2 and later Vietnam and Korea. In the 1960s and 1970s antiwar sentiment grew. There were protests against Vietnam. A strong anti nuclear movement was born. This lead to New Zealand becoming the first nuclear-free country and banning visits from nuclear-powered warships. New Zealand has continued to lead the world against nuclear arms.

In the 1950s and 1960s New Zealand was booming. Since then there have been many problems, such as over-borrowing, inflation, rising oil prices and changing overseas markets.

The economy has been recovered recently by governments who have supported tough economic policies. State owned businesses have been sold off, controls on trade and on business practice have been freed up and government spending has been cut back. There have been many changes in recent years. People have moved off the land to cities, particularly Auckland. Maori are asserting their right to preserve their culture and live as partners in New Zealand. A wider variety of new immigrants have come to New Zealand. There are varying attitudes to this immigration, but it is widely hoped New Zealand will go on to become a harmonious multi-cultural society.

Facts

Major Papers

• New Zealand Herald - Auckland-based daily
• Dominion-Post - Wellington-based daily
• The Press - Christchurch-based daily
• The Sunday Star Times - Auckland-based weekly

Television Stations

• Television New Zealand (TVNZ) - state-owned, operates TV One and entertainment-based TV 2
• TV 3 - private network
• Prime TV - private network
• Sky TV - pay-TV operator
• Maori Television - public

Maori Version of New Zealand National Anthem:"Aotearoa"