Down the Narrow Path

Below is a list of subjects concerning Aotearoa (New Zealand). Click on the link to be further diercted.

• New Zealand Location                
• New Zealanders
• Maori Past and Present
• Maori Origins
• Maori Traditions
• The Haka
• New Zealand History
• New Zealand Language
• New Zealand Weather
• New Zealand Government
• New Zealand's Landscape

New Zealand is nestled in the South Pacific Ocean 2,162 kms (1,343 miles) from Australia, their closest neighbour and friend. There are two main islands in New Zealand, creatively named the North and South Islands.

The total land area of New Zealand is 270,000 square kilometres (104,000 square miles), which means it could fit into Australia 28 times and fit into the United States or Canada around 34 times. However, they are slightly bigger than the United Kingdom.

New Zealand is a three and a half hour flight from Eastern Australia and around a 10 hour flight from most places on the Pacific Rim, such as Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo. Flying time between Los Angeles and Auckland takes just under 13 hours and double that between London and Auckland. (So far we've made they flight 5 times!)

Well over three-quarters of New Zealand’s population live in the North Island and a significant percentage of those live near our largest city, Auckland.

Distance is not a significant factor here. The coastline is two hours drive at the most from any part of New Zealand. It would take 10-12 hours to drive the length of each island, but if you wanted to really experience the country it would take much longer as there are so many interesting and exiting places to visit within New Zealand.

There are just over four million New Zealanders, and every single one is either an immigrant or descended from one. In fact, people from over 145 countries now call New Zealand home.

It was the Mâori who first arrived here over 600 years ago, followed in the 19th century by large numbers of migrants from the United Kingdom. The end of World War II saw an influx of European migrants from war-weary countries looking to rebuild shattered lives.

From the 1960s, people from our neighbouring Pacific Islands, predominantly Samoa and Tonga, began settling here followed by Chinese, Korean and other nationalities in the 1980s.

More recently, they’ve welcomed new residents from countries as diverse as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Somalia. New Zealand is a multicultural society and that’s a commonly used word to describe the infusion of cultures and ethnicities in New Zealand. But it’s more than this. They embrace and celebrate the richness and diversity of people who choose to make New Zealand their new home.

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The Maori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand. They are Polynesian and comprise about 10% of the country's population. Maoritanga is the native language which is related to Tahitian and Hawaiian. It is believed that the Maori migrated from Polynesia in canoes about the 9th century to 13th century AD.

Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to encounter the Maori. Four members of his crew were killed in a bloody encounter in 1642. In 1769 British explorer James Cook established friendly relations with some Maori. By 1800, visits by European ships were relatively frequent.

At this time, the Maori population was severely reduced with the arrival of European settlers. War & disease took their toll till eventually the population dropped to about 100,000.

In 1840 representatives of Britain and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty established British rule, granted the Maori British citizenship, and recognized Maori land rights.

Today many of the treaty's provisions are disputed and there has been an effort from the New Zealand Government to recompense Maori Tribes for some land that was illegally confiscated.

The present Maori population has increased to about 250,000 and the Maori live in all parts of New Zealand, but predominately in the North Island where the climate is warmer.

The Maori have adapted well to living in 21st century New Zealand, yet they have retained their unique culture, and this rich culture contributes much to New Zealand as a whole.

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Maori legend says that the Maori came from "Hawaiki", the legendary homeland about 1000 years ago. When the Maori arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand) they found a land of volcanic activity and snow capped mountains. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand and means Land of the long white cloud.

There are many theories about the origins of the Maori. The Maori say that the island of Hawaiki could have been near Hawaii. The commonly accepted theory today, says that the Maori originated in China, and travelled via Taiwan, the Philippines to Indonesia, onto Melanesia and reached Fiji. From there to Samoa and on to the Marquesas and turned South West to Tahiti, thence to the Cook Islands and to Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Some believe that the Maori found Aotearoa probably by chance as they were probably blown off course. But there is also evidence that the Maori had sophisticated ancient knowledge of the stars and ocean currents and this knowledge is carved in their "whare" (houses).

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Before the coming of the Pakeha (White Man) to New Zealand all literature in Maori was orally passed onto succeeding generations. This included many legends and waiata (song). The most recognised tradition is the "Haka" which is a war dance. The Haka was performed before the onset of war by the Maori last century, but has been immortalized by New Zealand's Rugby Team the All Blacks, who perform this dance before every game.

The traditional Maori welcome is called a powhiri, this involves a hongi which is a greeting that involves pressing noses as opposed to a kiss.

Another prominent feature of Maori culture are the striking tattoos that were worn. Full faced tattoos or "moko", amongst the Maori tribes was predominantly a male activity. Female forms of moko were restricted to the chin area , the upper lip, and the nostrils. Today there is an increasing number of Maori who are opting to receive their Moko, in an effort to preserve their culture and identity.

One traditional form of Maori way of cooking called a Hangi is a feast cooked in the earth. Stones are heated in a fire in a dug out pit and covered in cabbage leaves or watercress to stop the food from burning. Mutton, pork, chicken, potatoes and Kumera (a sweet potato) are then unusually lowered into the pit in a basket. The food is covered with Mutton cloth or similar and traditionally with flax. Finally earth is placed on top to keep in the steam. The food takes about 3 hours to cook. The Hangi is still popular and is a viable alternative to a weekend barbecue. The unique taste of food cooked in a Hangi can best be described as steamed food with an earthen flavour.

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Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Ka Ora! Ka Ora!
I die! I die! I live! I live!

Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Ka Ora! Ka Ora!
I die! I die! I live! I live!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
This is the hairy man

Nana nei i tiki mai
Who fetched the Sun

Whakawhiti te ra
And caused it to shine again

A upa ... ne! Ka upa ... ne!
One upward step! Another upward step!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!!
An upward step, another... the Sun shines!!

Hi!!!
Yeah!!!

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By world standards, New Zealand is a very young country, with European settlement on a large scale only occurring over the last 150 years. While their history (from British colony to independent country) is relatively recent, they can draw on the culture of the first settlers, the Maori, who have been resident here for over 600 years.

On 6 February 1840, in Waitangi, Governor Hobson, representing the British Crown, put his signature to a document signed by 40 Maori chiefs. In essence, this document (now known as the Treaty of Waitangi) ceded sovereignty of New Zealand (Aotearoa) from Maori to the Queen of England. In return, the rights of Maori to their land, forests and fisheries would remain undisturbed and Maori would enjoy the on-going protection of the Crown. The Treaty exists today as a living document and has, in recent years, acquired increasing importance in the development of the nation’s social and economic policies.

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English is the main written and spoken language in New Zealand. The ability to read, speak, write and understand English to a relatively high level makes living and working in New Zealand easier and more fulfilling. Their language is very informal and relaxed and, like you, they also use unique slang words to describe everyday things.

The Mâori language, also officially recognised, is experiencing a significant renaissance, with over 4 percent of the population able to speak it fluently. Specialised schools, radio stations and a television channel dedicated to the language have all helped arrest a serious decline in its use. More and more they’re seeing Mâori words becoming part of the general language used by all Kiwis, for example kapai ("kar pie") = good, whanau ("far know") = a family group, manakai ("ky") is food.

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Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Their seasons are completely opposite to countries north of the equator. Winter lasts from June until August and their summer is between December and February.

Because they are surrounded by sea, their climate doesn’t get uncomfortably hot or unbearably cold in the areas where the majority of us live, although extremes will be found, particularly in their mountain ranges in winter. Overall, their temperate climate ranges from 20–30°C (68–86°F) in summer, and from 5–15°C (41-59°F) in winter.

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New Zealand is a modern parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster parliamentary system. New Zealand’s Parliament is currently made up of 120 Members representing eight parties. The present make-up of the Members is 82 men and 39 women and of these 21 class themselves as Mâori. New Zealanders go to the polls every three years, with the next election in 2008.

Helen Clark is the current Prime Minister and she heads the ruling Labour Party Government. While voting is not compulsory, as a New Zealand resident or citizen you will be required to enrol as an elector.

New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth (along with Australia, Canada and 51 other countries) whose membership makes up 30 percent of the world’s population. New Zealand is also a member of numerous international organisations such as the OECD, UNESCO and WHO, as well as being party to a number of international agreements like the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol and Ozone Layer Protection.

Queen Elizabeth II is their New Zealand's Head of State and her personal representative in New Zealand is the Governor General. However, neither take an active or initiating role in the 'business' of government. The Governor General is regarded as a symbol of national unity and leadership. 

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New Zealand has 14 national parks. In fact a third of New Zealand is protected in parks and reserves. In such a small country, you'll find incredible variety in their landscape and vegetation.