According to Maori oral history, Aotearoa, or Land of the Long White Cloud, was discovered in the year 950 AD by the famous navigator Kupe. He wasn't the first to arrive in Aotearoa, however, as an earlier Polynesian migration brought the Moriori, or moa hunters, to New Zealand around 800 AD. Present day history started with the discovery of 'Nieuw Zeeland' by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642. Because his confrontation with the Maori wasn't very successful, New Zealand was left to be claimed for the British Crown in 1769 by Captain James Cook.
View into Marlborough Sound.
Marlborough Sound.
During the early 19th century the number of European settlers, or Pakeha, arriving in New Zealand was increasing causing a deterioration of Maori-Pakeha relations due to their unscrupulous 'purchases' of Maori land. In an effort to solve this problem the different Maori chiefs ceded their sovereignty to the Queen of England under the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 in exchange for the Queen's protection. Soon, however, a new series of conflicts over land started under the pressure of ever-increasing numbers of European settlers, eventually escalating into the Maori Wars between 1860 and 1865. After the Maori Wars the government confiscated huge parcels of Maori land. While, with a growing number of European settlers, New Zealand became a productive agricultural country, the Maori people suffered.
Since the 1970s and 80s, things are improving for the Maori. Financial reparations are being paid now to many Maori tribes for their confiscated homelands. Also Maori language, literature and arts are on the rise due to a growing interest in Maoritanga, or Maori culture. Overall relations between both communities are generally good now.
As a consequence of the enormous amounts of European settlers, NZ Europeans now make up 72 % of New Zealand's population. The rest is mainly Maori (15 %), Polynesian (6%) and Asian (5%). Polynesian and Asian immigration are on the rise.
Maori woman chanting
Maori woman chanting.
 Maori warrior in full dress.
Maori warrior in full dress.
New Zealand consists of two large islands and a number of smaller islands, some hundreds of kilometres away. The North Island (115,000 sq km) and the South Island (151,000) are the two major landmasses making up 99,3% of the total area of 268,000 sq km. With a total area of 268,000 sq km is greater than the UK but smaller than Japan. New Zealand has a population of only 3,540,000 people, almost 60% of whom live in the six major cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings and Dunedin). With a population density of 13.7 people per sq km there's still a lot of room, notably on the South Island, on which only a quarter of the total population lives.
 
Pohutu erupting in Te Whakarewarewa.
Pohutu erupting in Te Whakarewarewa.
 The Southern Alps mirroring in Lake Matheson at dawn.
The Southern Alps mirroring in Lake Matheson at dawn.
Both the North Island and the South Island have some high mountains that originate from the movement of the Pacific tectonic plate. The North Island is on the southern reaches of the subduction zone where the oceanic Pacific plate is sliding underneath the continental plate. This results in volcanic activity that has created a number of large volcanoes,some of which are still active like Whakaari Island or Ruapehu, and highly thermal areas like Rotorua and Lake Taupo.In the centre there's a high plateau. 
In the South Island, the geological process is different. Here the two tectonic plates are smashing into each other causing the Southern Alps to rise, almost extending along the entire length of the South Island. The Southern Alps are still continuing to rise at a pace of 10 mm a year. The eastern side of the Southern Island is a large plain known as the Canterbury Plains.
The geological differences also attribute to a difference in climate. Lying in the Roaring Forties, the prevailing winds blow from west to east carrying a lot of moisture. In the South Island the Southern Alps act as a barrier for the moisture-laden winds, creating a wet climate on the western slopes of the Alps while the east side of the South Island gets substantially less rain (7500 mm vs. 330 mm). On the Northern Island the rainfall is more evenly distributed and averages around 1300 mm a year. With a maritime climate the weather can change with amazing rapidity.
With around 48 million sheep, 9 million cattle and 50% of all the land devoted to pasture, agriculture is the most visible part of New Zealand economy. While more important in history, export of meet, dairy products and wool still attributes to about 10% of New Zealand's GDP. Other important export products are forest products like pine logs and timber and fruit and vegetables (especially kiwi, apples and pears). Though still primarily reliant on agriculture for export income, New Zealand has made progress in diversifying its economy, resulting in an increase in manufacturing, finance and services industry. Tourism is on the rise as well with tourists arrivals numbering between 2 and 3 million per year.
Sheep, sheep, sheep.
Sheep, sheep, sheep.
Bungee jumper at Kawarau Suspension Bridge.
Bungee jumper at Kawarau Suspension Bridge.
New Zealand is a tourist's heaven. Whether your looking for adventurous hikes in remote parts of the country, thrilling activities like bungee jumping or zorbing, abundant marine life like dolphins and whales, active thermal areas with active volcanoes and geysers or glaciers coming down to (almost) sealevel, New Zealand has it all. Apart from that, New Zealand is a well-organised country with a relaxed atmosphere, a growing cultural life and good wines. Therefore watch out for the only complaint you could end up with, that you haven't allowed yourself enough time in the country.
The main tourist season is December, February and March (January can be very busy due to New Zealand's summer school holidays). November and April are slightly cooler and accommodation will be easier to find. October and May are even quieter, some services stop operating and at higher altitudes snow can fall. From June to September it's ski-time. Some trails and even some pass roads are closed due to snow and ice and only the prime ski areas are busy. Still there is much to see and in the North Island the days can be pleasant and sunny.
 
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