New Zealand
Information about New Zealand
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.
Above picture: The city of Auckland, the largest in New Zealand, is home to almost a third of the country's population. This is a view of the North Island city at night as seen from its tallest tower.
Above picture: Lake Matheson, on the South Island, is a mirror in the early morning light.
Above picture: The 328 m (1,076 ft) observation and telecommunications Sky Tower in Auckland is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
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