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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 Rachelbeth
August 18th 2005

Chilling in Queenstown Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Queenstown

Backdrop

Day #3:Sunset by Gondola So after my busy day yesterday I decided to chill out a little while waiting for Jen and Shelly to meet up with us in Queenstown. Lauren and I spent the morning chatting about our plans for the rest of the week and couldn’t wait for the other two to get here. Shelly was the first to arrive and we met up with her outside our hostel…it was hugs all around since we hadn’t seen her for a week cause she was having her own adventures a little north of us with her bf. The three of [View Full Entry]

By jtq_99
August 18th 2005

Don't worry, I'm still here Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Craigieburn

Sorry, it's been a while....a long while. Haven't been taking too many pictures and the routine has been the same. Wake up at 7:30, go to work(but I get my "tea" breaks), come home at 5:30, eat dinner then read for about an hour, and go to bed. Work has taken over my life down here. How does that happen on vacation? It's actually not like that. There are some good people I've met in the past month or so, some Germans, a couple Londonites, a South African, and a guy from Wales. We usually hang out a couple times a [View Full Entry]

By Vest
August 18th 2005

Arrived in Scotland Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin

Beach where the yellow eyed penguins live

- FOOD: Apple crumble muffin - so good. More pot noodles for dinner. - PEOPLE: Strange hostel man who made us feel we'd arrived at The Shining hotel (but he let me have a room for 15 bucks) - AREA: Speedy drive on long, straight road across the country to the lovely Dunedin. Scenic Otago Peninsula to watch the shy (and very rare) yellow-eyed penguins. Disgusting fish smell in the van (clutch going). Oamaru to see the little blue penguins. Thur Aug 18th: Got the windscreen fixed at last after a huge stone had been flung our way by a huge [View Full Entry]

Retiring to bed after a hard day at work

By PHYSIO DAVE
August 17th 2005

Sounds , seals and snow fights Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Milford Sound

Milford lagoon

Milford Sounds today and the weather was fantastic- the best its been for a long time apparently! We got picked up for our tour - Ecotours which included a trip to the Teanua Bird sanctuary where our guide (? Dutch eco enthusiast?) showed us round. This was a great tour as he tried to stay away from the other tours who were all on a set itinary. Milford Sounds was beyond belief- boasting the worlds largest cliff edge and worlds highest waterfalls. Due to the excessive amount of rain previous and the clear sunny day the views were awesome. We cruised [View Full Entry]

By Vest
August 17th 2005

Can it get more beautiful? Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Milford Sound

Possibly the most beautiful road in the world?

- FOOD: Lunch with the sandflies (don't eat outside here!) - AREA: Wonderful drive to Milford Sound on the most scenic (and not at all dodgy) road. 2 hour boat trip to view the beautiful scenery of the Sounds. - PEOPLE: All pointing their cameras in the same direction at the same time. The usual friendliness of NZers in a different pub. - WEATHER: After rain and avalanches recently, we had sun all day! Wed 17th: After everyone telling us the road to Milford Sound was difficult and dodgy to drive on and after discovering it had been shut the last [View Full Entry]

By Rachelbeth
August 17th 2005

**South Island Holiday** Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Queenstown

Sunrise

Day #1: Q-Town Here We Come Here is what you have all been waiting for...the adventures have begun!!! Lauren and I left Wellington for the South Island this morning bright and early at 6:50...we even beat the sun!! During the whole flight from Welly to Christchurch the plane was right in front of the daylight and we got to watch an amazing NZ sunrise for over an hour...the colors were so vivid! After our next connecting flight over the snow covered southern alps we finally arrived in Queenstown...the ADVENTURE capital of New Zealand...the Birth Place of countless extreme sports...i [View Full Entry]

By Bex and Rich
August 17th 2005

North Island - Sweet as Bro! Oceania » New Zealand » North Island

Thermal Wonderland Park

After eight weeks of work in Auckland it was time to say goodbye to our city appartment, home comforts and new friends. The packs were dusted off and re-cramed with our junk and we hit the road again in a new rental car to see what the rest of our temporary home had to offer. Before heading south we took a brief detour to explore some more of the Northland and take full advantage of the fantastic winter weather they were experiencing north of Auckland. First stop Waitagi on the east coast where Rich and I were determined to get our [View Full Entry]

By PHYSIO DAVE
August 16th 2005

Queenstown to te anau Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau

Ice Bar

Gem here, Yes okay it's beena few days since our last blog, but have been fitting so much into days and finding internet outlets that allow you to put on photos is a bit tricky. Queenstown was fab, went up the Gondola, hint don't do this if you are petrified of heights, or at least take some valium before hand, or like me close your eyes all the way up there and ask other passenger when you get to the top. Amazing views from the top, when I eventually opened my eyes long enough. Went on the luge, buggy thing down [View Full Entry]

By Napoleon
August 16th 2005

To Picton Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Picton

Yep, I still have long hair

Today Jared, David, and I went on the early morning ferry and arrived in Picton. The trip went pretty well, I got kinda sick on the boat ride, but oh well. We then got on the train to Christchurch. It took about six or seven hours, but we bumped into Chelsea and her younger sister onboard. The train ran along the coast part of the way, so I got to take some nice pictures of Kairkora and other beach cities. After we got into Christchurch we walked for nearly an hour to our hostel, Stonehurst. It was a nice hostel, but [View Full Entry]

By Anat
August 16th 2005

Leaving New Zealand: the second time Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Last sunset in New Zealand...

After this great weekend in Dunedin I drove up north to Christchurch on Monday afternoon. The highway is not as beautiful as the inland scenic road I used when I went from Christchurch to Mt. Cook when I just arrived, but one can still enjoy the mountain scenery from a bit further away, and when the sun went down I thought it was probably my last ever sunset in NZ. It’s true what people say - never say never, but the world is big and there are so many places to visit and I have a feeling that this was my [View Full Entry]

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