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New Zealand Travel Blogs

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 Sunriseoversea
October 1st 2009

Surfing NZ... Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Raglan

My first surf was awesome!! The lesson (29th Sept) began in a large hangar and we were told some safety stuff and basic techniques for how to stand up on the board. The one-pop and four step techniques, the four step technique involved leaning heavily on my right knee which was not possible for me so I pretty much only had the option of doing the one-pop technique (which is generally the recommended one anyway). The one pop technique basically involves pushing yourself off the board in a sort of press-up motion (but with your hands further back) and then landing [View Full Entry]

By Nuke
October 1st 2009

Roundup Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown

DSCF0772

Info and picture details to come ... [View Full Entry]

By ICELilly
October 1st 2009

Stuck in New Zealand...DARN! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

The long, difficult flight is over. And it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I completley missed 9/30 due to flying through time zones, and it is now 10/2 in New Zealand. 10/2 :( The second anniversary of the worst day of my life. It's kind of strange being in New Zealand alone, but it's also a little confusing. It's 10/2 here, but it's only 10/1 in the States. So what day is it? Not that it matters, really, that day already happened. And it happened on 10/2 two years ago. And I miss her no matter what day it [View Full Entry]

By Eluned
October 1st 2009

Dunedin Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Dunedin

Dunedin train station
Apparently the most photographed building in NZ

Back on the road again! Got my backpack packed, and back to living in dorms. Went to Dunedin, nice place. First hostel had creepy guys in the dorms, so switched to another one that had a cat! I love hostels that have nice cats (not like the hostel in Wanaka that had a nasty demon cat). We spent the day walking round the Botanic Gardens then hauling ourselves up Baldwin Street. The morning before I went to Queenstown on the bus I went on a tour of Speights Brewery, I now feel I know everything about beer. Nice beer though! But [View Full Entry]

By Ferdi and Talita
September 30th 2009

Day 242-244: Auckland to Haruru Falls, New Zealand Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia

Present for you

Friday, September 25th Our day started out with us wondering what vehicle to buy. We're leaning towards a van, but also looked at a few 4x4's and caravans. Mel reminded us that we were getting ahead of ourselves; we'd need visas if we wanted to stay another three months. We didn't think we'd need to rush, but when Talita phoned immigration they said they'd need 30 days to process our application. Our current visas expire in 27 days! So, with no time too lose we downloaded the forms, scanned through it to see what we needed to submit, then drove to [View Full Entry]

By greengirl sydney
September 30th 2009

Otago Peninsula Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago

If you are seeking a wildlife experience in New Zealand, or just want to talk the language of wildlife in New Zealand then it should be the Otago Peninsula. Aside from Royal Albatrosses and yellow eyed penguins, you can also find sea lions and the occasional sea elephant but the only mainland colony of albatrosses is at the Taiaroa Head which also have seals, penguins and commorants around. Otago Peninsula is located in Dunedin, South Island this haven features deep river gorges and a series of river basins. It stretches along the southern edge of the Otago harbour. You can reach [View Full Entry]

By Ferdi and Talita
September 30th 2009

Day 245-247: Haruru Falls to Auckland, New Zealand Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Friendly calves
Mahoe Cheese Factory

Monday, September 28th We woke to a gray morning poring with rain. For breakfast we made banana pancakes, then piled into the 7-seater Smit mobile and drove into town to visit the iSite. We needed to get info on what to do in the area when the weather's bad. We started of with a Cheese Factory. The directions were bad so we ended up driving up and down trying to find it. Finally Mel found a map that showed the location of the factory, but when we arrived we found the shop unattended. We took a peak through the windows but [View Full Entry]

By jujubee
September 30th 2009

More days.... Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Dunedin

LakeTekapo07b

Day 11 15th September- Colvile Farm to Whitianga Unfortunately today we had to leave the farm and move on in our trip as there is so much to see and not enough time! We started of by stopping at the little store in Colvile (very little store) to stock up on milk, butter and bread. We then started driving off to the far north of the Coromandel Peninsula; the drive was amazing all pretty much unsealed road untouched coastline of turquoise color! We then drove back through Colville back down to Coromandel town and on towards Whitianga arriving in Whitianga we [View Full Entry]

By broondog
September 30th 2009

Day 11 - Wellington, Wed 30th September 2009 Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Beehive

Today is a day of travel so not much going on, set alarm for 7, and got up at 8 - Uncle Donald would be unimpressed with that efficiency! The weather upon inspection from our hotel window proved to be what I’d describe as; miserable squally rain with wind. Am I back at home? Nope, the yellow buses with the pantograph confirmed we’re still in Wellington. The flight is at 3pm so we’ve just a few hours this morning to see what the place has to offer - noting the weather, bang goes the cable car trip and resolution of the [View Full Entry]

By Norm and Nath
September 30th 2009

The Land of the Long White Cloud.... part 1..... Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Nath and our Roxy van !
We stumbled across our lovely van by chance whilst walking by the beach near Mark and Zoes place only a couple days after we arrived !! It was meant to be......!

After a week spent mingling in the sunshine with the beautiful people of Sydney (and sticking out like sore thumbs in our rags!), we arrived into Christchurch, New Zealand. Where it felt more like we'd just arrived in the Arctic. It was bloomin freezing compared to what we'd just spent the past 6 months in !!! We were met by friends from home, Zoe and Mark who both moved out here a few years ago, and whisked off to their pad in the hills on the outskirts of the city where we spent the next month or so coming back down [View Full Entry]

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New Zealand Travel Blogs, page 19

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