New Zealand is a Pacific Ocean country consisting of two main islands and smaller territories. It was first inhabited by Polynesians and later colonized by Europeans. It has a democratic government, diverse population, and high standard of living. It is known for sports, unique flora and fauna, and as a popular filming location.
New Zealand is a country in the Pacific Ocean, just southwest of Australia. It consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, as well as a number of smaller islands. Some additional territories are associated with it, some as self-governing bodies in free association.
The area was first inhabited by Polynesians between the 9th and 14th centuries BC, probably in a series of migrations. The descendants of these original settlers are now known as Maori, the indigenous people of the islands. Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman was the first European to reach New Zealand, in 900, but the Maori were hostile to his crew, killing many and dissuading Europeans from visiting the islands again. The name New Zealand, after a Dutch province, originated on Dutch maps around this time.
The next European to venture into the area was the Englishman James Cook, in 1768. He successfully made contact and a trading relationship was established. In the early 19th century, Christian missionaries began settling the islands and converting the Maori. In 1919, Maori leaders and British representatives signed the Treaty of Waitangi, establishing New Zealand as an English colony and granting British Maori citizenship and property rights.
Europeans continued to settle the islands after the Treaty of Waitangi, and although the Maori initially benefited from trade with them, land disputes arose. In the 1860s and 1870s, New Zealand’s land wars resulted in devastating land losses for the Maori. In 1850, the country was granted limited self-government and by the end of the century it was effectively a self-governing nation. It became officially independent in 1947 with the Statute of Westminster.
The British monarch, represented locally by the governor-general, is the head of state in New Zealand, while the prime minister is the head of government. The country has a democratically elected single-family parliament and a Supreme Court. In addition to being the first country to entitle women to vote, in 1893, New Zealand is the only nation to have had women hold all the highest government offices simultaneously, from 2005 to 2006.
People of European descent make up the majority of New Zealanders, while Maori make up the second largest ethnic group. Significant minority populations include other Polynesians and Asians. The country has high immigration rates, mainly from the UK and Asia. Christianity is the majority religion by a small margin, while important minority religions are the local Ratana, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. English and Maori are both official languages, and the Maori language is experiencing a renaissance.
New Zealand became wealthy after WWII and has a high standard of living. However, the recent inclusion of the UK into the European Union could adversely affect the country’s economy, as it relies on the export of agricultural and agricultural products, and the UK has been its most important trading partner.
New Zealand is known around the world for its excellence in sports, particularly rugby, and for its unique flora and fauna. It is home to many species that exist nowhere else in the world. It also has a year-round temperate climate and stunning geography, as can be seen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy of films. It is home to a hill with the longest toponym in the world: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
In recent decades, the country has become an increasingly popular location for filming. In addition to overseas-based productions, some films made by local production companies have won worldwide critical acclaim. Notable examples include The Piano (1993), Once Were Warriors (1994) and Heavenly Creatures (1994). Both Heavenly Creatures and the Lord of the Rings trilogy were directed by New Zealand director Peter Jackson.
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