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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 Jos
March 18th 2003

New Zealand North Island Oceania » New Zealand » North Island

sunset

@ [View Full Entry]

By Jos
March 1st 2003

New Zealand, South Island Oceania » New Zealand » South Island

Lots of sheep

@ [View Full Entry]

By tannismc
January 29th 2003

New Zealand revisited Oceania » New Zealand » North Island

Last views of New Zealand

Once I finished university and got settled in to a job, I decided that the first holiday I would reward myself with would be a return 'home' to New Zealand. I spent an amazing five weeks there, becoming reaquainted with my favourite people there, and seeing how much the isolated country has been changed by "The Lord of the Rings" films. [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 13th 2003

Journey to Christchurch. Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Central Christchurch

13/01/2003 OK I'm sorry - 6 months on and I finally write about Christchurch... insert impressive excuse here ... People have written to me saying - "well since you've stopped writing you must be having a really good time" - I was having a good time but that wasn't really the reason. Mostly work - I worked on websites and got a contract in Australia - I write this on a train in the UK. Heading down to London from Norfolk for - yep - work. Well not work - lets be completely honest about it all - for money. Money [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 11th 2003

New Zealands Scottish City Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin

The Train Station

Dunedin is New Zealand's Scottish city, Christchurch was founded by English Christians and Scottish Christians founded Dunedin. Today Dunedin is one of the most important university towns in New Zealand, home of some really nice architecture, and the site of New Zealand's largest chocolate factory. We stayed in the city centre Nomad backpackers, not as nice as the little hostels out in the small towns but a good location for going out and seeing the city. Laura and I drank a bottle of wine each and went out for a really great evening at the Raa Bar. The next day we [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 9th 2003

Invercargil » New Zealand » South Island » Southland » Invercargill

Invercargil Watertower

It has been about 6 weeks since I last wrote on TravelBlog, I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to try and catch up. I finished travelling around New Zealand, and my made my way across to Australia. For the sake of completeness I'll try and write about the places I saw in New Zealand and my few weeks in Australia so far. But after even such a short time some of the details have faded. Laura and I drove down the southern scenic route from Te Anua to Invercargil. It wasn't as scenic as the drive down [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 8th 2003

Kayaking in Milford Sound Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Milford Sound

Milford Sound

A five thirty start and a two hour bus journey to Milford sound to kayak for the day. Milford sound is a glacial fjord with the famous Mitre Peak, the most photographed mountain in fiordland. Under the perfect weather conditions and very early in the morning the waters of Milford Sound reflect the vista totally, leading to amazing postcards and posters. The beauty and scale of the fjord is not exaggerated in the photos. The small waterfalls in the distance are around 200m high and almost 10km away. Trees cling to the side of sheer rock faces, after many years growth [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 7th 2003

Catlins -Southern most point. Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Southland » Catlins

Slope Point

The Catlins is an area on the south coast of the south island of New Zealand. The southern most point of the south island, some beautiful forests and waterfalls and farms and things. I should be writing about the Catlins there are lots of things that we should be talking about. Laura was going the same way (again) so I hitched a ride... well I didn't really have to ask - got used to the idea of having a chauffeur at this point. Hitching was going pretty well. So in the two days we spent in the Catlins I: Saw seals [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 5th 2003

Te Anau Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau

View from the Barnyard

Went with Clare, Phil and Laura to Te Anua, Clare’s car is properly broken, not fixable. She now has to hitch. Laura was nice enough to give all three of us a lift. It’s a familiar story shared by backpackers around the world. Stayed in the Barnyard backpackers, we have a small cottage with a marvellous view. It’s very open plan, kitchen, sitting, dining rooms and six beds all in the same room. The view looks out across farmland, and over to mountains. Deer in the field in front of the cottage bray at sunset and dawn. Went on an ecology [View Full Entry]

By Ali
January 3rd 2003

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

Queenstown

Clare offered me a lift to Te Anua, she had been lent a car from a friend in Christchurch. We got just past Queenstown and it broke down. All power from the engine went and it wouldn’t start. Due to not being able to buy vouchers in New Zealand for her phone Clare was only able to text message to ask her friend how the AA works over here. Her friend had assured her that the AA covered the car. We spent a couple of relaxed hours sunbathing and chatting whilst text messages went back and forth. The final message arrived, [View Full Entry]

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