About New Zealand
New Zealand is a young country
History
New Zealand's history dates back over 700 years, making it the youngest nation in the world. It was first discovered and colonised by the Polynesians who developed the Maori culture which still remains today. European explorers came to New Zealand in 1642 for the first time. Towards the end of the 18th century European visitors became increasingly frequent until in 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed bringing New Zealand into the British Empire. From that point Maori people were given the same rights as British citizens. European economic and legal systems were enforced in New Zealand and war led to much of the land changing ownership from Maori people to former Europeans. From the late 19th century the New Zealand government initiated many progressive laws such as the women's suffrage and pension schemes. Since the 1950's Maori people began to move into major cities leading to the onset of the Maori protest movement. This helped to reinforce the equality stated in the Treaty of Waitangi. Today New Zealand is an independent nation which remains part of the British Commonwealth.
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand's founding document and is an agreement between the Maori and British Crown. It was signed on 6th February 1840. The intention of the treaty was to ensure that British law was established in New Zealand whilst Maori people still maintained authority over their land and culture. The Treaty of Waitangi came about when increasing numbers of European (Pakeha) visitors settled in New Zealand, after Captain Cook's exploration of the area in the late 18th century. The treaty is open to interpretation since the Maori translation differs in meaning from the original English document. Three articles are contained within the Treaty of Waitangi covering sovereignty, chieftainship and Maori rights.
Culture
The culture of New Zealand is a combination of traditional Polynesian and external cultures. The original Polynesian inhabitants developed into Maori and Moriori cultures. When British and other European settlers populated New Zealand they brough their own culture which had a huge impact on the established culture of the country, affecting the religion and languages of New Zealand. In more recent years New Zealand has become a more culturally diverse country with immigrants from Asia and the Pacific.
Colonisation
New Zealand first sighted by a Dutchman but colonised by the British.
The first European to discover New Zealand was Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer in 1642 however he never set foot on land. Captain James Cook in 1769 was the first explorer to reach New Zealand shores. Cook and his crew collated much information about the geography and botanic and animal climate that New Zealand had to offer. News of this information may have encouraged the large influx of European settlers which arrived in later years. After 1840 and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi more settlers began to populate New Zealand especially in coastal areas.
Weather Climate
New Zealand's weather is divided into the Northern subtropical with southern temperate climate. The hottest months are December, January and February. The coldest months are June, July and August.Temperatures in New Zealand rarely fall below freezing or raise above 30 degrees Celcius. The West Coast of the South Island is generally very wet whilst areas inland of Canterbury are very arid. Christchurch is the driest city with an average of only 640mm rain per year. Auckland is the wettest city with almost twice the average rainfall compared to Christchurch. The sunniest parts of New Zealand are the north east regions of the South Island, enjoying around 2500 hours of sunshine each year.
You can check the live weather conditions with the National NZ Meteorological Service
Recommended Clothing
Dress informally and relaxed for most occasions, this includes most restaurants and bars. There are a few very formal top restaurants in major cities which have a strict dress code.
You should have a jacket and sweater for the occasional bad day during the summer and lots of layer clothing with waterproofs for the winter months of May to September.
Places of Beauty
NZ has immense natural beauty. New Zealand is host to a diverse range of stunning natural beauty. The Southern Alps span across the South Island of New Zealand and feature 18 peaks which reach over 3000 metres. The highest mountain peak in New Zealand is at Mount Cook which is a dramatic 3754 metres high.
The North Island is less mountainous but features a spectacular array of volcanoes. Mount Ruapehu is the highest mountain in the North Island at 2797 metres and is an active volcano. Much of New Zealand's breathtaking landscape has been utilised in recent films such as The Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai. As well as mountain ranges New Zealand also has many beautiful National Parks. There are 14 national parks in total in New Zealand and each one offers something unique to visitors and natives alike. An inspiringly diverse array of landscape, wildlife and plant life are on display in New Zealand.
i-Site
International visitors to New Zealand can find out more about local attractions by visiting the local tourist information centers called -Sites. They are located in every major city. A map of them can be seen here. Helping put you the tourist in the picture.
Map of NZ showing all i-SITE locations
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Come to New Zealand
New Zealand has so much to offer both native residents and overseas tourists. It occupies a unique position in the world in terms of culture, history and topography and provides the ideal location for either a peaceful scenic tour or an adrenaline filled adventure.
