What is it?
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, and translates in English as 'Land of the long white cloud.' New Zealand is located to the South East of Australia.

Where is it?
New Zealand is 8,000km from Asia, 7,000km's from South America, 9000km's from Europe and 1600km's from Australia which is the nearest landmass besides Antartica.
How old is it?
Tracings of Polynesian settlement date back to 900A.D. but theories have it that they arrived at around 750A.D. Dutch Explorer, Able Tasman discovered New Zealand in 1642. If estimated human time on this planet were condensed into 24 hours, then Polynesians arrived barely a minute ago, and Europeans merely a few seconds.

Folklore.
According to Maori folklore, creation began when the primary gods Rangi (the Sky Father) and Papa (the Earth Mother) were parted by their devine offspring. Among them Tane - god of the forest, and Tangaroa - god of the sea.
Mortal beings grew in the gap, one of these 'Maui', a folklore hero through much of Polynesia who brought fire to the Earth and snared the sun, is also credited with the making of New Zealand. An impressive fisherman, his prize catch was the North Island , 'Te-Ika-a-Maui', or 'the fish of Maui'.
His canoe was the South Island 'Te-Waka-a-Maui' and his anchor stone was Stewart Island 'Te Puka-o-te-waka-a-Maui.' Versions vary; there are also alternative names for the South Island , 'Te Wahi Pounamu' - 'The place of Greenstone' or 'Te Wai Pounamu' - 'Greenstone Water' and for Stewart Island 'Rakiura' - 'Glowing Sun' because of the long beautiful sunsets seen from this part of the country.

The native Tui (BellBird), one of many unique native animals.

Discovery.
In 1642 Dutchman Abel Tasman found himself on the West Coast of New Zealand. He clashed bloodily with Maori's during his only attempt to land and then sailed away from a country which with it's giant warriors, seemed to breathe death. His voyage left the name Nieuw Zeeland.
In 1769 Captain James Cook rediscovered New Zealand, and was the first to circumnavigate the land and outline the country on a map. The original maps featured Stewart Island as being joined to the South Island, but the next discoverers included Foveaux Strait and seperated Stewart Island as its own little island.

Signing of a treaty
Waitangi sits in a magnificent setting in the Bay of Islands. In 1840 Waitangi hosted the signing of a treaty with the aim of uniting European and Maori alike.
Today we are still working through the negotiations of what is fair. But all in all New Zealanders share a commonly rich life considering the beautiful environment.
Today Waitangi stands as a commemoration of our culture and our history. If you are in New Zealand it is well worth a visit, be sure to checkout the meeting house and listen to the stories of the carvings inside.



Cool NZ Sites:
1. New Zealand.com
2. Shopping
3. G.E.Free NZ
4. Aotearoa
5. NZ Community
6. Takoa
7. Museums
8. Maori Art
9. Tourism
10. New Zealand.com
11 - Min.Culture/Heritage
12 - ABC Pacific
NZ Search Engines:
1. SearchNZ
2. NZ Explorer
3. Utopia
4. Yahoo
5. Net Guide

Note:
These will open a new window