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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 Colm Timpeall an Domhain
September 28th 2005

Rotorua Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua

Started my Kiwi experience on Monday with Michael and Enda. Went to Whitianga to a nice beach called Cathedral Bay and played a few games with everyone from the bus. About 25 backpackers on the bus. There's beach here called Hot Water Beach where you can dig a hole in the sand and hot water rises up from below and you have your own hot tub. Lots of undersea volcanoes. Bus is great craic. Next day we headed south to Rotorua. This is where the extreme sports activities start. Kiwis are always inventing ways of throwing themselves off something, into something [View Full Entry]

By Backpacking Laura and Alison
September 28th 2005

christchurch ohakune and taupo Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo

Right so this is what we have done so far............ froze our nuts off in christchurch, mad love with Franz the german, met babs, bus to picton, wobbly boat to wellington, train to ohakune, did the dog with pat the rat, attempted to ski in ohakune (near death experience for laura), table dancing, caravan of death and distruction, hiace to taupo, tent of desire in motor camp, red bra-purple loofa incident, jet boat, prawn farm, and hopefully sky dive tomorrow. ahhhhh [View Full Entry]

By Leftwich
September 28th 2005

Auckland Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Spent most of the day planning what we would do the next few weeks. Now we have extra food to deal with as well! We are working on getting ourselves together to live out of one bag and backpack each for the next four months. It is a definite learning experience. We decide to go to Rangitoto Island, just a ferry ride away in the bay. There is a day hike up to the crater and a hike to the neighboring island of Motutapu with a camp ground at Home Bay. It will be a one night hike and we can [View Full Entry]

By Frenger on Tour
September 28th 2005

The 3 states on the East coast & New Zealand's North Island Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Random bumping

Yaaa -how's it?, I be in New Zealand now and travelling around the two main islands (North and South) for another 20 days or so..... So just finishing my second month in Australia (well just the East coast of Australia) and I have been travelling via an organised "backpacker" tour bus called the Oz Experience. They organise little mini trips and activities between driving you from one place to another. On my first three days, there were four of us on the Oz Exp. mini bus and a surf school for this period. Fresh from surfing in South Africa, it was [View Full Entry]

By brianandgeri
September 27th 2005

Wet Wellington Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Te Papa Museum

Today started off with a bang when Geri broke the hotel's french press coffee pot, showering glass shards, coffee and grounds all over the floor. Thankfully, hotel management didn't seem to care. You would have thought we'd told Linda, the manager, that she'd won the Lotto when we told her about the broken pot. Geri is drinking tea for the duration of the trip, at least when she's in charge of making her own beverages. After that trauma, we braved the rain and wind and headed off to Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand. (Te Papa translates to [View Full Entry]

By toni lister
September 27th 2005

Home Again! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region

The Lister Clan!

Wow. Back in New Zealand. It certainly happened much sooner than I had imagined, but for anyone that knows me, you will also know how close I am to my family, & that I would have no hesitation in coming home for someone who was ill. Although Dad's operation was major, & he continues to receive a high level of treatment for his cancer, we still managed to do a few things when I was home, including a short jaunt out on Dad's yacht, which meant a lot to him I think, as well as celebrating both Mum & Dad's birthdays [View Full Entry]

By Angus Jo Ailsa
September 27th 2005

Hitting the slopes...at last Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Tongariro National Park

Mountain man

Just a quick blog as we're busy packing for our trip home but I must report on our cracking weekend skiing at Turoa on Mount Ruapehu, one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes. It forms part of Tongariro National Park and is pretty much in the middle of the North island. The car behaved well on the return journey and the weather behaved even better. So well that our neglect to bring any sunscreen had quiet an impact on my face. I'm peeling already and with my new huge goggles, I have a resemblance to a brown and pink panda. It [View Full Entry]

By Leftwich
September 27th 2005

Auckland Oceania » New Zealand

We woke up and noticed that people were assembling on the street below the hotel. Turns out, the University of Auckland was across the street and the graduates march down the street lead by bagpipers. We went down and followed the parade for a short time until we ended up at Starbucks (it makes Michael so happy). We had a muffin and some coffee and walked to several outdoor supply stores to see what kind of gear they had. Since we already have too much stuff, we didn’t buy anything. We went to have lunch at the pier, then back to [View Full Entry]

By kathleen
September 26th 2005

Need to move on from Auckland Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Well, I think I’ve had about all the time I need in Auckland now (tonight will be my fifth night) and so I’ve booked a coach to travel north to a place called Paihia, which is near the Bay of Islands for three nights in a chalet by the beach. The Youth Hostel that I have been staying in in Auckland is great with excellent cooking facilities and lots of friendly travellers . I wasn’t expecting to be eating beans on toast,( I bought the beans as someone else had a loaf) and playing Boggle within my first day of being [View Full Entry]

By Leftwich
September 26th 2005

Auckland Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Woke up during the night but went back to sleep on my own. I guess it’s the nice Hyatt bed! We walked down to the pier and went to the Department of Conservation (DOC) office. The lady there was very helpful and suggested that we try to base ourselves at a camp ground and take day walks instead of always having to break down and set up camp every day. We walked around downtown, which is very hilly and realized what bad shape we are in to be heading out on hikes. I figure we should be in pretty good shape [View Full Entry]

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