New Zealand

Hello people! Looking to revise or grow your awareness about New Zealand? Then you have found the right place to do so.  This article covers a brief and concise history of New Zealand and details about the present state of the country. So, let’s not waste time and get started.

New Zealand is a country located in the continent of Australia. It is a sovereign state situated in Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is mainly formed by two big islands: North and the South islands respectively along with many smaller islands. The capital city of New Zealand is Wellington since 1865. Wellington is the second largest city of New Zealand.  Before it, Auckland was New Zealand’s capital. Auckland is ranked as the largest city of New Zealand.  Both of these cities are located on the North Island of the country. Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island. The official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language. The national symbol of New Zealand is Kiwi. Kiwi is a native bird which lost the ability to fly through evolution; simply put they are flightless birds. These days the people of New Zealand are also nicknamed as “Kiwis”. In 2010, New Zealand was placed at number 8 in the list of happiest nations in the world. New Zealand is a constitutional dominion and a parliamentary democracy. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state. Current Prime Minister of New Zealand is Jacinda Ardern.

Now let’s have a look at the short history of New Zealand.

The name “New Zealand” comes from “Zealand” in Dutch. Zealand is one of the provinces of Netherlands. In the Maori language, New Zealand is also called “Aotearoa” which means the “Land of Long White Cloud”. If we further break the term Aotearoa; Ao means cloud, tea means white and roa means long. In 1642, a Dutch voyager Abel Tasman sighted New Zealand and he named it as Staten Land. However, in 1645 the Dutch renamed the land as Nova Zeelandia. Later, British voyager James Cook named it New Zealand. James Cook, a British Captain discovered the coastlines of New Zealand in 1769-1777. He went around both islands and charted the shores.

Eastern Polynesians were first settled in New Zealand from 1250 to 1300. With the passage of time, the early settlers developed a distinctive culture which is now famous as Maori. In 1642, when the European voyager Abel Tasman and his crew reached New Zealand and  he and his crew faced a tough encounter with the locals. In this hostile meet up with the locals four crew members were slaughtered and one of the Maoris was hit by the canister shot. After this incident Europeans did not visit New Zealand until 1969 when British explorer James Cook mapped the coastline. After James Cook many Europeans visited New Zealand in different years. Trade for different items started between the visitors and the locals. Trading items included food, metal tools and weapons. During the 19^th century, Christian disciples started to settle in New Zealand and converted many of the Maori people to Christianity.

In 1788, Capt Arthur Phillip took the position as the Governor of New South Wales, a colony of British and according to his charge, it also included New Zealand. However in 1832, the British government selected James Busby as British Resident to New Zealand in the aftermath of a petition from the North Maori. In 1835, the united tribes of New Zealand sent a declaration of Independence to King William IV of UK and asked for help following a proclamation of approaching French settlement by Charles de Thierry. The New Zealand Company and legal standing Declaration of Independence signaled the Colonial Office to pitch Capt William Hobson to declare sovereignty for UK and discuss treaty with the Maori. Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6^th February 1840. On 21^st May 1840, Hobson declared the British independence throughout New Zealand. After signing of the treaty, many migrants especially the British commenced to increase in the country.

On July 1^st 1841 New Zealand became separate Colony of New Zealand. This colony added a representative government in 1852. The first time parliament congregated in 1854. There were concerns that the South Island might create a separate colony and to address this issue Alfred Domett the premier moved a declaration to transfer the capital from Auckland to a place near Cook Strait. Wellington was chosen as the new capital because of its central location and Parliament officially was moved there in 1865. In the early 20^th century New Zealand was involved in the international affairs

.

In 1914 when the World War I started, New Zealand gave thousands of troops to British war campaign. In 1915, the New Zealand troops suffered heavy losses in the battle of Gallipoli in Turkey. In the years of Great Depression, New Zealand faced very tough time economically. Not only during the First World War, New Zealand sided with the British in World War II. In 1939, when the World War II started, troops from New Zealand took part in the battles in Europe, Africa and Pacific. At the end of Second World War, New Zealand was paving the way to independence from the British. 

In 1947, New Zealand achieved full independence from the Britain by removing the last limitations on the right of its parliament to alter its constitution. In 1950, New Zealand sent troops to UN in the Korean Wars of 1950-53.  Moreover, New Zealand’s role in international arena grew with the passage of time. In 1951, New Zealand signed the security treaty of Anzus Pacific with Australia and USA. In the 1960s during US war in Vietnam, New Zealand supported the US by sending a small force of its troops. This move by New Zealand ignited a public debate. During the year of 1985, New Zealand repudiated the US to allow US nuclear powered ships to enter its ports. Following this, US suspended the Anzus treaty for New Zealand. However, New Zealand continued to grow and keep itself in a better position.

Today, when we see New Zealand, it is a beautiful country. New Zealand is also very good in sports but however its cricket team has never won the ODI Cricket World Cup despite having a very good cricket team. New Zealand has managed to make itself a nuclear free zone. Kiwis do not use nuclear technology for power generation neither they use nuclear technology for military purposes. New Zealand is a beautiful place to visit and enjoy the life over there. We hope you liked the article. Don’t forget to comment and let us know.