Destination New Zealand

Background

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Area

• Total: 268,680 sq km
• Land: 268,021 sq km
• Water: 0 sq km
• Note: Includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area - comparative

• About the size of Colorado

Coastline

• 15,134 km

Climate

• Temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain

• Predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Population

• 4,076,140 (July 2006 est.)

Capital

• Wellington

Nationality

• noun: New Zealander(s)
• adjective: New Zealand

Languages

• English (official), Maori (official)

Local Weather

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