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.
February 15th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Blenheim What else is there really to comment on about the famed Marlborough Wine region, except the glorious wine they have here!
We were so bowled over by it's magnificence, that we ended up staying for at ... [full story]
March 21st 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough Hope everyone had a fantastic Easter, and no-one made themselves sick on chocolate eggs;)
I managed to escape Christchurch on roadtrip. I drove up to Kaikoura on Friday morning and went whale watc ... 28 photos[full story]
February 7th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Queen Charlotte Sounds The ferry across the Cook Straight was wonderful. I was amazed at how long we hugged the coastline of the North Island before seeing the South Island. It wasn't clear at first where we would enter the ... 6 photos[full story]
March 5th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Queen Charlotte Sounds Ich habe meine erste fast Dreitageswanderung hinter mich gebracht. Am ersten Tag sind wir ca. 10 km mit schweren Rucksaecken beladen gewandert. Dann haben wir bei Noeline uebernachtet. Eine alte Dame ... [full story]
February 5th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Picton Beloved
You walked across mountains for my love
moved boulders in your deepest sleep
opened the hearts of others, through miracles,
for me, unfolded the wide universe in yo ... [full story]
February 3rd 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Picton Hi from the Maitreya Meditation Center....
So, its been a couple weeks since I last wrote and its been kind of a wild ride since then. I will only mark the highlights really to keep the length down ... [full story]
January 21st 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Picton DATE VISITED: 19-21ST JAN
The ferry crossing across the Cook Strait wasn't too stomach-churning thank God. We were warned by locals that the Strait can be prone to a funnelling affect of the wind ... 6 photos[full story]
January 12th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough Day 73: Arrival in Picton
It had stopped raining by the time I got to Picton. Despite it being only a short walk from the ferry terminal into town, I was quite grateful that there was a courtesy bu ... [full story]
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