History of New Zealand

New Zealand's history has two distinct phases — the Maori part and the European stage. The original inhabitants of New Zealand were known until fairly recently as Morioris. Since the Maoris had no written language, their history and culture is recalled through story-telling and songs, which means it's probable that the saga of Kupe, Hawaioki and the 'great migration' has been embellished over the centuries. The tale of the daring Maori sailor, Kupe’s discovery of New Zealand, and how his wife, Hine-te-aparangi, named the North Island of Aotearoa, ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, is woven into the tukutuku panels found inside some of the meeting houses on different maraes. Maori discovered two islands that were quite different in New Zealand.

In 1642 the Dutch explorer Abel van Tasman, who'd just sailed round Australia from Batavia (modern day Jakarta, Indonesia), dropped by. He decided not to stay long after several of his crew were killed and cooked, but now Europeans knew about New Zealand and in those colonial days that would eventually mean they wanted it. The Dutch after their first uncomfortable look, were none too keen on the place and it was left alone until Captain Cook sailed by in 1769, discovered and mapped New Zealand. In 1838, a French whaler, Jean Langlois negotiated the sale of Banks Peninsula with Maori and later returned with 63 settlers. The British reacted promptly and raised their flag at Akaroa claiming sovereignty under The Treaty of Waitangi. Christianity was introduced by Samuel Marsden in 1814 and the Bible was translated into Maori, the first time that Maori had a written language. During the early nineteenth century, The New Zealand Immigration Company was formed to provide assisted immigration for residents of the British Isles. Today New Zealand is one of the developed nation and attracts visitors all around the world.

 

 

 

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