Enchanting New Zealand

The first thing you will notice when entering the country of New Zealand is its unmatched beauty. With magnificent glacial mountains, crystal, clear lakes, lots of rivers, spewing geysers, and bubbling mud, the seismic activity is just one aspect of the country that makes it so unique and special. New Zealand is also home to long, isolated beaches, massive forest reserves, and some of the most spectacular fauna in the world.

Because of the vast land, you will find any number of outdoor activities to enjoy. For example, some of the most popular include hiking, whitewater rafting, skiing, and interestingly, bungee jumping. However, if you love spending time in beautiful water, you can swim with friendly dolphins, and take a guided boat tour to watch for whales, swim, scuba dive, snorkel, and more. New Zealand is actually a very, compact country, making it an affordable a convenient place to visit.

The overall population is just under four million people and the capital city of Wellington is less than 400,000. While not one of the larger countries, New Zealand has a long, rich history. Kupe, a Polynesian navigator has been credited with discovering this country in 950 AD. At that time, the country was named Aotearoa, which translates to the “Land of the Long White Cloud”. Then sometime around 1350 AD, Kupe’s people began migrating from Hawaiki, mixing in nicely with existing communities. Over the following centuries, the cultures began to develop.

By 1642, Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer came along the west coast of the country but when he tried to make land, many of his crewmembers were killed and cannibalized. However, in 1769, two of the main islands were taken over by Captain James Cook and his ship Endeavour. Although the first meeting with the locals we violent, Cook was determined after seeing the bravery and determination of the people. At that time, Cook realized snatching the land for the British crown prior to leaving for Australia was crucial.

Eventually, the British came to begin organizing colonies and at first, the country was viewed simply as an extension of Australia. Interestingly, from 1839 until 1841, New Zealand fell under New South Wales jurisdiction but as more and more European settlements were established, land deals with the earlier settlers had to be reached. In fact, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, which was when the Maori people ceded the country to Britain, as long as they would be offered land possession and protection.

The problem was that the Maori and Pakeha, both early settlers became tense and in 1860, war between the two erupted. Although the fighting did not last long, the Pakehas claimed to be the victors. Things had settled down by the latter part of the 19th century, although only temporary. Before long, gold was discovered in New Zealand, leading to great prosperity. That coupled with successful sheep farming, the country became self-reliant. Soon, major social changes occurred to include the development of daycare centers, social security, women’s rights, trade unions, and more.

Although there was a period of unemployment and the country was not granted independence until 1947, today we see New Zealand as a stable country. In addition, there are now more Maori people than Pakeha and the original Treaty of Waitangi has been revised to include financial reparations for the Maori tribes whose land was taken illegally. Although there have been a few bumps in the road, for the most part, New Zealand has come out smelling like a sweet rose.

The primary languages include Maori and English, with English more widely spoken. This country boasts incredibly talented artisans who can do magic with shells, wood, greenstone, pebbles, and greywacke. These artisans will take all the natural resources and design amazing jewelry among other things. You will also discover theater to have a strong presence in New Zealand, along with a number of fine art galleries. In fact, the oldest viewing room in the entire country can be found in Wellington, called the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

Located southeast of Australia, New Zealand consists of two large islands among a number of smaller islands. The two primary landmasses include the South Island and the North Island. However, Stewart Island is also quite large and close to the South Island. When visiting the North Island, you will be pleased to find several volcanoes, one called Mount Ruapehu, which is actually active. Then on the South Island, you find a different world consisting of Southern Alps. While these are both impressive areas with much to offer, the lakes, and rivers of the country is a major asset. For instance, Lake Taupo, Lake Wanaka, and Whanganui River are truly magnificent.

Again, because of the massive forest reserves, you will find the country has spectacular flora. There is also rainforest area that is overrun with beech, matai, rata, ferns, alpine, scrub, rimu, and other wonderful plants and trees. However, the pohutukawa, which is New Zealand’s Christmas tree, will bloom around December with beautiful red flowers. Considering there are more than 150 native plants, walking among the countryside is a favorite activity for locals and tourists alike.

As far as fauna, there are a number of bats and bird species but other than that, the wildlife is limited. Keep in mind that animals such as dogs, cats, goats, pigs, deer, sheep, and possums are common. Now, if you visit the offshore areas, then you will often see shark, marlin, tuna, snapper, kahawai, and trevally, along with whale, seals, and dolphin.

With so much natural beauty, it is easy to understand why people who visit New Zealand fall in love with this country. The people are truly amazing, the food delicious, and you will never be bored from a lack of things to do and see. For instance, you can visit Wellington during the months of January and February and enjoy the Summer City Programme, a series of fantastic cultural events or if you prefer, take time to experience the Golden Shears Sheep Shearing Contest held each March in Masterton.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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