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ABOUT 1,000 yEARS AGO, a group of people landed on a string of islands
in the South Pacific. These people were the Maori, and they had traveled
in canoes across the Pacific Ocean from the distant islands of Polynesia to
a land they called Aotearoa. For about 700 years, the Maori lived on the
islands undisturbed. In 1642, the Dutch Explorer Abel Tasman visited
the islands, and named them New Zealand, after a province in the
Netherlands. Soon, American, Australian, and European sealers and
whalers were exploiting the rich coastal waters, and in 1840,
the British founded the first
European settlement. The
Maori fought the settlers until
1870, when they lost control
of their lands. As a British
colony, New Zealand grew
wealthy by exporting its
agricultural produce. In
1907, New Zealand became
independent. More recently,
New Zealand has formed
several alliances with its
neighbors in the South
Pacific to keep the region
free from nuclear weapons.INDEPENDENcE
In 1852, Britain granted New
Zealand self-government. The
country gave pensions to workers
and was the first in the world to
give women the right to vote. In
1907, New Zealand gained full
independence, but ties with
Britain remained strong. The British
monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, seen
here with Prince Philip in a traditional
Maori cloak, is the nation’s head of state.TREATy OF wAITANGI
In 1840, the Maori granted sovereignty,
or ownership, of their country to Britain.
In return, Britain promised protection
of their rights and property. New
Zealand then became a colony
of the British Empire.new zealand
c. 950 ce First Maori arrive.
1642 Dutch navigator Abel
Tasman visits islands.
1769-77 British explorer
captain James cook visits
islands four times.
1814 British missionaries
arrive.
1840 British settlement
established in wellington.
Treaty of waitangi.
1843-70 Land wars between
Maori and British settlers.
1852 Britain grants New
Zealand self-government.
1863 Gold Rush draws many
immigrants from Europe.
1893 women get the vote.
1898 State pensions given.
1907 New Zealand becomes
an independent dominion
in the British Empire.
1914-18, 1939-45 Troops fight
with Britain in two world wars.
1960s Troops fight with
Americans in the Vietnam wa r.
1985 New Zealand joins its
Pacific neighbors in declaring
the region a nuclear-free zone.NUcLEAR-FREE ZONE
In 1983, antinuclear protesters blockaded the USS Phoenix nuclear
submarine in Auckland Harbour. In 1985, New Zealand signed the
treaty of Rarotonga, which declared
the South Pacific region to be a
nuclear-free zone. when France
continued to carry out nuclear tests
in Mururoa Atoll, in the South
Pacific Ocean, these were fiercely
opposed by other Pacific countries.MAORI
Long before the Europeans arrived in
New Zealand, the Maori had established
a thriving agricultural community. They
grew sweet potatoes and caught fish and
fowl. They wore colorful clothes woven from
flax. They lived in houses made of rushes and
wood. Today, more than 700,000 Maori still
exist, most of whom live on the North Island.
Protestors try to interrupt
the path of a nuclear
submarine.Find out more
cook, james
Explorers
New zealandHistory of
Traditional Maori cloak
made out of feathersnew zealandUS_377_New_Zealand_hist_of.indd 377 09/02/16 3:57 pm