History of New Zealand
Formation
At the beginning, all the land in the world formed one huge continent, called Pangaea.
Two smaller continents were formed from this large continent: the northern part called Laurasia (North America and Eurasia) and the south, which is known as Gondwana (South America, Africa, India, Antarctica and Australia). Until then, the land mass of New Zealand was still hanging in Australia. (Over 135 million years).
The different parts of Gondwana drifted apart and so Australia and New Zealand drifted towards the east. NZ then was separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea. This was the time of the dinosaurs, but it also explains why mammals, which came much later, in New Zealand were not originally found. Today, the island nation moves at a rate of 3cm per year towards the equator.
Plate Tectonics
In the middle of New Zealand is a meeting point between two tectonic plates. The plates are the western Indo-Australian Plate (also called Tasmanseeplatte) and the eastern Pacific continental shelf. Through their collision, the "Southern Alps" originated on the South Island, as well as the many volcanoes on the North Island.
History
- 1300: First settlers from the territories of Polynesia reach the North Island after their long, sometimes almost hopeless, travel across the Pacific Ocean.
- 1400: Fires on the east side of the South Island destroyed large areas of forest.
- 15th century: The once world's largest bird, the Moa is eradicated because unstructured hunting from the Maori.
- 1500: The building of fortified Maori settlements (grand forts made of wood).
- 1642: The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman from the sea power "Sealand", which is why New Zealand is called like this, anchors in NZ.
- 1769: James Cook sets foot on New Zealand during his third trip.
- 1791: First whalers reach the Doubtless Bay in Northland.
- 1814: Samuel Marsden established the first Anglican (British) mission in the Bay of Islands.
- 1815: First child of a "white" settler was born.
- 1821: Wars between Maori tribes.
- 1831: Whaling stations are established on the Cook Strait.
- 1835: The Declaration of Independence is signed by 34 tribal leaders.
- 1840: Treaty of Waitangi is signed by 50 leaders (6th of February - New Zealand's National Day).
- 1844: Hone Heke (Maori) destroyed British flag, starting the "War of the North".
- 1848: Dunedin was founded by Scottish pioneers.
- 1850: The "Settlement of Canterbury" (Christchurch) is founded by English immigrants.
- 1854: First meeting of the new Parliament is in session.
- 1860: There are "New Zealand Wars" between Maori and Europeans.
- 1861: A first gold rush strikes in Central Otago.
- 1865: Wellington is now New Zealand's capital (formerly Auckland).
- 1867: In Parliament, the Maori now have 4 seats.
- 1869: The New Zealand Wars are ended because of disagreement among Maori.
- 1879: Now election law applies to every man over 21 years.
- 1882: The first cooling ships leave Otago, they go to the UK.
- 1887: The first National Park in New Zealand, the Tongario National Park , is founded.
- 1893: Women now have the right to vote (The first country in the world with women's suffrage).
- 1907: New Zealand becomes a member of the British "Commonwealth of Nations".
- 1914: New Zealand joins the Allied side in the "First World War".
- 1915: The New Zealand troops suffer heavy losses at Gallipoli (Turkey).
- 1918: End of World War II.
- 1920: "ANZAC Day" (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) is first celebrated.
- 1933: The name of the first deputy: Elizabeth McCombs.
- 1935: The "Labour Party" (a New Zealand party) wins the election for the first time.
- 1936: The 40-hour week is introduced. | The New Zealand pilot Jean Batten wins the world record for flying from England to Australia as the fastest.
- 1939: New Zealand fought alongside the Allies in the "Second World War".
- 1947: The Westminster statutes are adopted by the Parliament.
- 1948: There are protests, because the Maori are excluded from the "All Black Rugby Tour" of South Africa.
- 1953: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing became the first humans to climb Mt. Everest (highest mountain in the world).
- 1961: The death penalty is abolished.
- 1965: The troops go to Vietnam.
- 1973: In protest against the nuclear tests, a frigate goes to French Polynesia.
- 1975: The Waitangi Tribunal is convened to investigate the Maori land claims under confiscation.
- 1981: The first Kindergarten in the Maori language is built. | There are protests because of the "South African Rugby Tour".
- 1984: The Labour Party under David Lange won the election.
- 1985: The "Rainbow Warrior" was sunk.
- 1987: New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup. | Maori becomes an official language (Now the second official language).
- 1990: Catherine Tizard becomes first female governor-general. | The National Party forms the government.
- 1995: The New Zealand team won the "America's Cup" (World Sailing Competition).
- 1997: Jenny Shipley becomes first Prime female Minister. | The government granted the Maori tribe Ngai Tahu substitute for confiscated land.
- 2000: New Zealand successfully defended the America's Cup.
- 2004: The film "Lord of the Rings" is honoured with eleven Oscars.
- 2008: The National Party wins the election and John Key is elected as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
- 2011: A devastating 6.3 earthquake destroyed the city of Christchurch and killed dozens of people.
