James Cedric Subida
Mr. Schuller
Geography — 5th Period
November 16, 2010
New Zealand’s Riches New Zealand is a country with a rich history of culture, geography, and wildlife. The very first inhabits of New Zealand were the Maori. A people of Polynesian descent, the Maori have been living in New Zealand for over 1000 years. In 1642, a Dutch navigator named Abel Tasman sailed up the West Coast of New Zealand. However, Europeans did not “officially” discover New Zealand until 1769 when the British naval captain, James Cook, and his crew claimed New Zealand land as their own. A formal agreement was signed between the Maori and the European settlers in 1840. This agreement became the Treaty of Waitangi and is known as New Zealand’s founding document. Every February sixth on Waitangi Day, the people of New Zealand celebrate the historical agreement made between Maori Chiefs and the representative of the British Crown. In, 1856, New Zealand became a self-governing British colony and, in 1907, it was made a Dominion. The country did not become fully independent until 1947. New Zealand is located in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The country is made up of two main islands, North and South, and several smaller islands. In its entirely, the country is approximately the size of Colorado, and its population is approximately 4 million people. Most of the country’s population is of European descents, but about 15% identify themselves as Maori. Pacific Islanders constitute another important group, and immigrants from Asia are increasing in number. About half of the population lives in the top part of the North Island, where Auckland is the only New Zealand city with a population above 1 million. No matter where you are, however, “The Abundance of space in New Zealand gives it relaxed feel, a mood that is echoed by the warm smiles and laid-back attitudes of its