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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.

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By CharMcF
November 20th 2009

Bay of Islands - Paihia and Russell Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia

On the beach in Paihia

Hey! So we took our first Kiwi Experience bus yesterday (Thursday). Had to be up really early to get the bus at 7 so pretty much slept on the bus all the way up because Amie and myself had been to see the preview of New Moon at midnight, so missed a lot of the beautiful countryside but it's cool cause this was just a straight up bus, not really stopping off to see anything anyway because they want you to get up to the bay of islands cause it's so beautiful. Which it is really, it's this big bay with [View Full Entry]

By Sunriseoversea
November 19th 2009

A Very Swiss Evening in Gisborne and Adventures in the Coromandel Region Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Hahei

SURFING IN GISBORNE I went to check out the beach (16th Nov) and it was indeed pretty flat. Probably just about surf-able though so I decided I'd play some guitar by the beach, then stock up on supplies in the supermarket and then head back down in the evening with a board and wetsuit. My first impressions of Gisborne hadn't been spectatular, it was a bit too full of kids driving in squares in souped up cars for my liking. However having moved to the YHA and walked to the beach I fell in love with the place. The YHA was [View Full Entry]

By Nick Pharazyn
November 19th 2009

T-minus cinco dias Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Hi all Wow this feels really good! Last time I was writing a blog was 3 years ago for my last trip. Here I am making the first entry of my second travel blog for my return to Ecuador and to explore greater south america - what an awesome feeling of anticipation and excitement this is! I worked for just under 2000 hours sorting mail (working full time for 13 months) to be able to go away so I feel like I've really earned it too.. But really, this feeling.. there's nothing like it! What exotic places and crazy adventures await [View Full Entry]

By Margaretthedog
November 19th 2009

Auckland, Again Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Mount Eden

It's been so long since I wrote something, I am just going to give a short description of what we have been doing these past few days...car still working (it's a miracle). We have been all the way to the very top of NZ, Cape Reinga. It is supposed to be beautiful, and I am sure that it is, although when we got there, we were in the clouds and could not see a thing!! It was so disappointing. We camped out there and moved on the next day to the Bay of Islands. The islands are beautiful and MK and [View Full Entry]

By TomandRachel
November 19th 2009

New Zealand - Arriving in Auckland Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Sky Tower

Hi all, Sorry it has taken so long for me to upload the first updates we seem to have been so busy seeing everything, but i will try and get our first 10 days up here in a mammoth session in the internet cafe! So we eventually arrived in Auckland at 8am in the morning after a 26 hour flight from the UK where Tom and I were squished against the window of the plane by a girl who proceeded to sleep the entire journey so we had to keep climbing over her to go the bathroom - she didn't even [View Full Entry]

By on_the_road
November 17th 2009

Middle Earth Road Trip Oceania » New Zealand » South Island

Cook canal between both islands

De retour devant un clavier apres cette aventure haute en couleur a travers la terre du milieu. Nous sommes arrive a Christchurch et cette apres-midi, avons retourne la voiture au depot de location...Nous voici a nouveau pieton sac au dos :D Bilan de notre histoire en Nouvelle-Zelande: plus de 4500 kilometres parcouru dont une peu plus de 500 en stop dans l'ile du nord. Quand on sait que pour aller de Auckland a Christchurch en ligne direct il y a un peu plus de 1000 kilometres, on se rends bien compte qu'on a un peu traine en cours de route, prennant [View Full Entry]

By OJ Scott
November 17th 2009

Franz Josef Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef

Skydiving at 12,000ft
Smile for the camera - trying not to look too scared!

Well I'm a good week or so behind writing this blog - I'm currently in Te Anau with no way to upload any photos so I'll add those later. I've skipped writing about a few places - after crossing the Cook Strait on a ferry between the two islands, we headed down the west coast of the South Island through what has been my favourite part of New Zealand so far: Franz Josef-Wanaka-Queenstown, just off the Fiordland National Park, which has some incredible scenery. We pulled into Franz Josef, a tiny resort for ice climbing and hiking on the Franz Josef [View Full Entry]

By laschicasenNZ
November 17th 2009

La llegada a NZ Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central

ACB HOSTEL

Estuvimos en Auckland por una semana aproximadamente. La ciudad nos encanto, era súper limpia, todo ordenado, todo nuevo. Las primeras 2 noches nos quedamos en el ACB Hostel que es el mas conocido (y el mas caro también). Había varios argentinos, chilenos, uruguayos, etc. En fin hablamos más en español que en ingles. Después decidimos mudarnos a uno más económico que quedaba a una cuadra. Estando en el Choice Plaza Hostel conocimos la vida nocturna de Auckland que si bien era divertida era bastante rara. Salimos desde el martes al sábado todas las noches a distintos bares. Nos llamaba la [View Full Entry]

By Stelson
November 17th 2009

Last Day in New Zealand... Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown

Thumbs up!

Today was our last day in New Zealand. Just before leaving, I completed my 15,000 foot sky dive in Queenstown! I had to wait 2 days because of the cloudy weather. Some of the people waited up to 9 days!! Crazy!! But today, I made it up to the highest peak and survived!!! I would have to say it was one of my best days in my life!! The jump didn't start until 9am. I was the first jumper out today which set the tone for the rest of the day! I can not even describe the amazing feeling I had [View Full Entry]

By Laurene
November 17th 2009

Hanging in Christchurch Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Ok so since I haven't really done that much since I got here to Christchurch except look for a job I will put the last week and a half into one blog. Sorry it's a long one. The pictures will be from the past week and a bit as well. Enjoy! Nov 6 I had a terrible night’s sleep. An english guy in my room has a terrible cough and when he wasn’t coughing he was snoring so loud! I asked to move rooms which was no problem. I headed into town and looked around Cathedral square. It’s a bit of [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Oceania » New Zealand