New Zealand
Wellington
New Zealand´s 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. 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.
Geography
total: 267,710 sq km
land: 267,710 sq km
Includes:Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
New Zealand´s Geography
Culture
The culture of New Zealand is largely inherited from British, Oceanian and European customs, interwoven with Maori and Polynesian tradition. An isolated Pacific Island nation, New Zealand was comparatively recently settled by humans.
Holidays
January 1- New Year
January 2- Day after New Year´s day
February 6- Waitangi Day
The Friday before Eastern Sunday- Good Friday
The day after Eastern Sunday- Eastern Monday
April 25- Anzac Day
First Monday in June- Queen´s Birthday
Fourth Monday in October- Labour day
December 25- Christmas Day
December 26- Boxing Day
Language
There are several languages of New Zealand. English (New Zealand English) is the dominant language spoken by most New Zealanders. The country's de jure official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Other languages are also used by ethnic communities.
Food
For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style, there's lamb, pork and cervena (venison), salmon, crayfish (lobster), Bluff oysters, whitebait, paua (abalone), mussels, scallops, pipis and tuatua (both are types of New Zealand shellfish), kumara (sweet potato), kiwifruit, tamarillo and pavlova, the national dessert.
Important Cities
Auckland
Auckland, based around 2 large harbours, is a major city in the north of New Zealand’s North Island.
Wellington
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills.
Christchurch
Christchurch is a garden city on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, set on the Canterbury Plains. Flat-bottomed punts glide on the Avon River, which runs through the city centre.
Native Group
The Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Māori originated with settlers from eastern Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages at some time between 1250 and 1300 CE.
Things to do
Bay Island
Big-game fishing, Russell and Maori sites.
Sky Tower
Panoramic city views and bungee jumping.
Huka Falls
Footbridge over a powerful waterfall.