About New Zealand

A brief history

Between 1000 and 1300, people from the Polynesian islands began to settle in New Zealand - these people later became the Maori race. Migrants who settled on the Chatham Islands east of New Zealand became the Moriori people. At this time, there were no native land mammals, so the only food available for the Maoris was the kumara (a type of sweet potato), and the cabbage tree. For this reason, Cannibalism was a contributor to their diet.

The first European to have reached New Zealand was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Tasman called the two islands 'Nova Zeelanda'. Lieutenant James Cook fully explored New Zealand on his ship the 'Endeavour' between 1769 and 1770.

From the 1790's onwards, the waters around New Zealand were sailed by British, French and American whaling ships - the crews of which struggled to make friendly acquaintance with the native Maoris. In 1839 the British government started to take control of New Zealand, and by 1840 it was an official British colony, and in 1907 became an independent dominion.

Geographical information

New Zealand is situated southeast of Australia and located in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. Aswell as the main North and South Islands, it also includes the Anitpodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Isalnds, and the Kermadec Islands. It is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom or the state of California, and much of its landscape is made up of mountains alongside large coastal plains. Its capital city, Wellington, is the most southerly capital city in the world. Approximately 80 per cent of New Zealand's cities as opposed to the countryside.

Facts and figures

• New Zealand's population is estimated to increase by one person every 1 minute and 38 seconds.
• The highest mountain is Mount Cook (Aoraki in Maori) at 3,754 metres.
• The deepest lake is Lake Hauroko at 462 metres.
• The longest river is Waikoto River at 425 km.
• The largest glacier is the Tasman Glacier at 29km in length
• The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa which translates as 'The Land of the Long White Cloud".
• There are no dangerous creatures in New Zealand, unlike its neighbour Australia with its snakes, spiders and crocodiles.