Oceania Project: Aotearoa

A fascinating trip, an exotic place to live or visit? Getting to know its Maori people, their situation, population, beliefs...

This is how I would like to introduce these islands of Aotearoa (New Zealand)....

An island nation in the middle latitudes of the southern hemisphere, Aotearoa or New Zealand is bordered by the Tasman Sea on the west and the South Pacific Ocean on the east, and lies about 1,600 km (994 miles) southeast of Australia.

It comprises two main islands: North Island and South Island. There are also numerous tiny islands and islets: the Antipodes, Auckland and Steward Island. North Island has been shaped by internal volcanic activity. The highest point on the island is Ruapelu Volcano (2,797m/ 9,176ft). South Island has about 20 peaks exceeding 3,000 m (9,840ft). The highest, Mt. Cook (3,764 m/12,349ft) is part of the impressive Southern Alps range.

The climate is considered mild and comfortable; there isn't much difference in temperature between North and South islands. January and February are the warmest months, and July the coldest. South Island is wetter, while the driest area is Central Otago.

About 74% of New Zealand's population lives on North Island, while South Island is considered "the country". New Zealand is highly urbanized, with one in four New Zealanders living in the cities and suburbs of Auckland, Wellington (the capital), Christchurch and Dunedin.

The original human settlers of Aotearoa were the Maoris, a Polynesian people who reached the islands in about 900 AD. The native Maoris are now far outnumbered by people of European descent -- especially English and Scottish -- who make up 86% of the total population:

The name Maori is thought to date from the mid-1800s, when the natives adopted it to distinguish themselves from the Pakeha (Europeans). Its real meaning is "ordinary" or "normal". The Maoris originally lived in the warmer areas of the north island, but their descendants spread throughout both islands.

New Zealand is an English speaking country. The indigenous language of New Zealand, Maori, has some official recognition. There are also other languages spoken, including Polynesian languages, such as Samoan, Tongan, Rarotongan, Nuiean, and Tokelauan.¹

New Zealand is an advanced industrial state with an economy dependent on trade. It is also attempting to build new markets, particularly in the Pacific region, to increase economic self-reliance and to restructure the economy to make it more responsive to world market forces. Its gross internal product is US $51,200,000,000.

New Zealanders are very proud of their two cultures. Here are some examples of manifestations of this heritage:

New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy. The legislature comprises 95 members who are elected by universal suffrage and 4 who are elected from Maori electoral rolls.

The two major political parties are the Labour Party (founded in 1916) which introduced most of the nation's social welfare and labour legislation, and the National Party (founded in 1931) which traditionally favours personal initiative.

c.600 AD	The first Maori population was established in the islands.
1642	Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman discovered the islands that later received the name of New Zealand.
1769	James Cook, navigator and British soldier, claimed the islands for England after sailing around them.
1791	Coming from Australia, missionaries and British whalers create settlements.
1840-1841	The Waitangi Treaty established a British colony in New Zealand. Auckland became the first capital. 545 Maori chiefs signed the treaty that recognised their nation's rights.
1848-1850	European settlement of the south island began.
1860	Discovery of gold in Otago generated a massive influx of immigrants during the 1860.
1865	Treaty established Wellington as capital.
1860-1872	The new Maori Wars ended with pacification and reconciliation between Maoris and Europeans.
1893	New Zealand was the first country in the world that recognised women's right to vote.
1914-1918	New Zealand forces suffered losses during the First World War.
1939	New Zealand took part in the Second World War against the Axis forces.
1951	N.Z. signed the treaty of mutual defence with Australia and USA, known as ANZUS.
1973	In response to Britain's joining the European Community, New Zealand signed an important agreement with Australia for economic cooperation
1984	Ships with nuclear weapons forbidden from entering New Zealand's harbours.
1986	USA withdrew from its defensive commitments in the matter of ANZUS because of antinuclear measures.
1991	The National Party government carry forward radical measures that extend industrial privatization.
1993	Referendum approves a change in the electoral system that permits participation of minority parties.
1995	New Zealand's government and the main tribal federation signed an agreement on the 22^nd of May calling for payment of money and the return of lands that had been ceded to Europeans during the 1860s.

Ethnic group	Percentage of present population
European	86%
Maori	9%
Pacific islanders	3%

Anglican	22%
Presbyterian	16%
Roman Catholic	15%
Others (including Jews, Hindus, and Christian Maori churches)	27%
no religious creed	20%

Main economic products
Agriculture	wool, barley, wheat, corn , fruit, meat and dairy products
Forestry	Californian pine, douglas (a species of fir tree), rimu and miro
Fishing	hoki, blue whiting, squid, mackerel and barracuda
Mining	coal, oil, natural gas, iron, gold
Industry	foodstuffs, wood , chemicals, metal, metallurgic products, machinery and transport equipment

Employment
services and trades	55%
industry	25%
business	10%
agriculture, fishing and forestry	10%

Alan's Class (1996/7)

OCEANIA PROJECT

Aotearoa

by Lucía

BEAUTY OF VOLCANOS AND GLACIERS...