New Zealand

A little bit of history…

It is estimated the Maori inhabited New Zealand around 800AD. The Western world then discovered New Zealand around 800 years later! In 1642, a dutch Explorer named Abel Tasman, caught sight of the West Coast of the South Island.

The First European to set foot on New Zealand soil was Captain James Cook of England, in 1769. He also made the first, but inaccurate map of the country.

Settlers from England started to arrive in the 1830′s, and by 1840 a Treaty was signed between the crown and the chiefs of the Maori tribes. The Treaty of Waitangi handed sovereignty of New Zealand to the Crown, and is a matter of dispute even today, as the Maori translation is not quite the same as the English.

One hundred and seven years later, in 1947 New Zealand declared independence, and became its own country, after Britain did not let New Zealand troops return to defend their home against the possibility of Japanese invasion in the Second World War.

Though all New Zealanders became New Zealand citizens, until 1977 they were still British subjects. In 1983, New Zealand was declared “The Realm of New Zealand”, and in 1986 the Constitution Act removed all power from the United Kingdom to legislate for New Zealand when it was requested.

Today, Queen Elizabeth holds the title of Queen of New Zealand, and is represented by the Honourable Anand Satyanand, our Governor General. New Zealand remains part of the Commonwealth, but as an independent country.