New Zealand

Geography

History

The Flag

Maori

Wildlife

General Facts

C. Rollo

Find New Zealand and click on it!

Geography

New Zealand, maori Aotearoa, is located in the Southern hemisphere.

It is divided into two main islands formed from volcanoes, the North and the

South.

According to Easy Science for Kids, 4,748,439 people live in New Zealand.

The capital city is Wellington.

The largest urban area is Auckland.

There are three official languages: English, Maori and NZ sign language.

The Kiwi is a bird living in NZ and it is also one of the national symbols.

New Zealand faces many natural catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions

and earthquakes. 50 volcanoes are still active in New Zealand.

People living in New Zealand are New Zealanders or Kiwis.

History

The Maori people arrived by canoe from islands in Polynesia near Tahiti around 1,000 A.D.

In the 1600s, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited the islands but his

party left after

In 1769, Captain James Cook came to the islands. The British established settlements and

were seized, and in 1860s, they began a 12-year war against the British for control of

North Island. Peace was restored to the islands in the 1870s. The country became a

being attacked.

signed a treaty with the Maori in 1840. The Maory protested the treaty after their lands

dominion of Britain in 1907 and gained its independence from Britain in 1947.

NationalGeographic.com

Maori

The Maori were the first people to live on the islands, they arrived about 1.200 years ago.

Their names mean 'the ordinary people'. The earliest Maori were called the Moa Hunters,

their main food was the moa, a bird. After the moas were gone, they ate smaller birds.

They also caught fish and grew crops.

According to Maori history, the Maori sailed to New Zealand from a tropical island called

Hawaiki.

Today, the Maori make up about 10% of New Zealand's population. Many Maory have kept

alive their language and traditional culture. They have also worked to regain their traditional

land.

Britannica Student Encyclopedia

Maori Culture

The Haka - an action chant, often described as a "War Dance", but more a chant with hand gestures and foot stamping originally performed by Warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength.

The word "tattoo" - Ta Moko in Maori - comes from the Tahitian word "tatau". The head was considered the most sacred part of the body. Tattooing commenced at puberty, accompanied by many rites and rituals. In addition to making a warrior attractive to women, the tattoo practice marked both rites of passage and important events in a person's life.

Events Design and Experience by Graham Berridge

http://history-nz.org

The Flag

Royal Blue The blue colour stands for the sea and the sky.

The Union Jack The Union Jack is the flag of the United Kingdom. New Zealand is a former British colony and dominion.

The Southern Cross The four stars' pattern represents the Southern Cross, it symbolizes New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Southern Cross The four stars' pattern represents the Southern Cross, it symoblizes New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Southern Cross The four stars' pattern represents the Southern Cross, it symoblizes New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Southern Cross The four stars' pattern represents the Southern Cross, it symoblizes New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean.

Wildlife

The kiwi bird is the nation’s sweetheart. These nocturnal birds mostly live in forested areas.

Hector’s dolphins are the world’s smallest dolphin species. They are named after Sir James Hector, who first examined a dolphin specimen.

Yellow-eyed penguins are found around the south east of New Zealand, Banks Peninsula and Stewart Island. They are one of six different species of penguins found in New Zealand and it’s surrounding islands.

New Zealand fur seals are now a protected species in New Zealand.Although fur seals tend to stick (=stay) to the coast, they have been known to wander into people’s backyards (=garden).

https://www.backpackerguide.nz

10 General Facts

1. There are no nuclear power plants in NZ! Most of the country is pollution free!

6. 30% of NZ is composed of forests!

3. The first person to climb mount everest was a New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary (photograph)

4. There are over 30 millions sheep in NZ!

5. King Charles III is officially King of New Zealand.

2. When in New Zealand, you must drive on the left side of the road.

10 General Facts

7. The most popular films in the country include ‘Once were Warriors’, ‘The Whale Rider’, ‘The Piano’ and the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.

8. There are no snakes in the country!

9. The Maori name of New Zealand is Aotearoa which means 'The land of the long white cloud.'

10. Dairy farmers produce 100 kg of butter and 65kg of cheese each year for each person living in New Zealand.

newzealand.com