Ready to learn some interesting facts about New Zealand? The Maori people were the first inhabitants of the islands in the tenth century, but they were flooded by the British culture later on. New Zealand’s eels live to 80 years old and breed only once, at the end of their life—and they swim all the way to Tonga to do it. New Zealand was one of the last lands to be inhabited by humans. There are strict rules against providing alcohol for people under that age. A Concise New Zealand History 4 Chapter 2: Maori Culture and Lifestyle up to 1840 Once Polynesians had arrived in New Zealand, around the year 1300AD, they had to dramatically change their lifestyle to suit the new environment. If you want to learn about the food, culture, people, history, or other facts about New Zealand, this article is for you! New Zealand Museum (Te Papa Tongarewa)• world of unique and authentic treasures and stories are found inside• museum take you on a tour of New Zealands nature, art, history and heritage including the culture and wildlife. All text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence. Pre-European society. When Pleistocene megafauna had gone extinct elsewhere in the world, New Zealand was still inhabited by the moas, giant flightless birds that were hunted by early Maori settlers. Infoplease has everything you need to know about New Zealand. Commercial re-use may be allowed on request. On this page, you will find information about the history of the Maori from the earliest arrivals to New Zealand up through their recent struggles to maintain their cultural identity. Culture. FOOD AND CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND It is almost as though it were the last place created. History however, credits Polynesian navigator Kupe with the discovery of New Zealand around AD 800. European settlement. This makes it the last landmass on earth to have been discovered and the youngest country on … Meet the NZHistory.net.nz team The Maori culture is rich in tradition and legend, and forms an integral part of New Zealand society. Air New Zealand to Help Showcase New Zealand’s History And Culture to the World. Showcase New Zealand’s History And Culture to the World News: 3 October 2017 The Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands will be digitally mapped by a renowned high tech United States organisation specialising in the preservation of sites of significance globally thanks to the support of Air New Zealand. We now sell our farm goods and many other exports to a wide range of countries. Commercial re-use may be allowed on request. The first settlers were the … Archaeological findings trace the first human settlement to have occurred around 1280-1300AD; the first Maori are believed to have arrived in the late 13th century; the first European contact was made in 1642 (with the arrival of Abel Tasman) and 1769 (James Cooks’ voyage) respectively. The legal age for buying alcohol in New Zealand is 18. New Zealand is known for its stunning national parks, dynamic Māori culture, incredible hiking … All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. Māori history in brief. New Zealand's culture is rich and diverse due to the blending of European and Polynesian peoples. To give you a better idea, here are seven traditions that only Kiwis will be able to understand and relate to. New Zealand was one of the last landmasses to be colonized by humans. The views of Winston Peters, the ex-New Zealand foreign minister, illustrate the manner that New Zealand's history and culture is used in a way to exclude the descendants of "late comers". This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Up to this day, the Maori culture is a core part of the New Zealand national identity. Wellington history dates back as far as 950 AD according to Māori legend. Luckily, New Zealand had already begun diversifying its export trade. He was also the first person to attempt mapping the islands with his sketches of the North and South islands. Early Māori explorers. Smoking One of the biggest changes the Polynesians had to adapt to was that New Zealand was much larger and had a more temperate Meet the NZHistory.net.nz team Perhaps the least malignant of these legacies are place names. Fasion in New Zealand -Families have 2-3 children -Some families cousins would also be called brothers in Maroni families -In New Zealand, they use kia ora for hello and goodbye Religion -Western style clothing is usually worn -There is special types of clothing for spacial This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. Using his magical jawbone as a hook and his blood as bait, Maui caught a great fish, which became the North Island of New Zealand. Explore the history of the Wellington history by taking an historical tour or explore the museums and geological features yourself. The culture and the customers of New Zealand are incredibly unique, and you should take the time to learn more about them before you go to the country to study. If you are curious to know the culture of New Zealand than this article is for you. Whether you’re planning a trip to New Zealand or just interested in learning more about the “Land of the Long White Cloud,” these New Zealand facts and trivia are sure to be just what you’re looking for. New Zealand is a young country with a colourful history. New Zealand History & Culture - Know about New Zealand's history, culture, people, tradition, food, climate, language and more. The capital city is Wellington and the largest urban area Auckland. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to discover New Zealand. Moreover, Maori Culture beliefs and history is originated from Eastern Polynesian culture. In fact, the Dutch are responsible for naming many areas of the world! New Zealand, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. Wellington New Zealand history information and historical places. This lesson goes over a few cool tidbits about New Zealand. Polynesian explorers and exploration of New Zealand. Over eight hundred years ago the Maori people voyaged thousands of miles across the great unknown Pacific Ocean in small canoes and became the first inhabitants of New Zealand. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about New Zealand's geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Culture and History. The arrival of Europeans. Open/Close Menu The Maori People have an interesting history which, due to New Zealand's distance from other land masses, began with centuries of isolation from other world cultures. Here are some of the most important things that you should notice when you arrive in New Zealand. Christianity is the largest religion in New Zealand, with 15.4% of the population identifying with Protestant denominations, 10.1% identifying as Catholic and 11.9% identifying with some other form of Christianity. 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