New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
new-zealand

Some of the key events about New Zealand

  • 1840
    The Treaty of Waitangi was signed, establishing a British Governor of New Zealand and recognizing Māori ownership of their lands
  • 1840
    The Treaty of Waitangi was signed, leading to ongoing disputes over land rights and sovereignty
  • 1863
    The New Zealand Wars began, resulting in significant loss of Māori land and life
  • 1886
    Mount Tarawera erupted, destroying several villages and killing approximately 120 people
  • 1893
    New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote
  • 1907
    New Zealand gained Dominion status within the British Empire, granting it greater autonomy
  • 1918
    The influenza pandemic reached New Zealand, causing about 9,000 deaths
  • 1931
    The Hawke's Bay earthquake struck, killing 256 people and devastating the cities of Napier and Hastings
  • 1947
    The country gained full statutory independence from Britain with the adoption of the Statute of Westminster
  • 1953
    New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest
  • 1953
    The Tangiwai disaster occurred when a railway bridge collapsed, killing 151 people
  • 1979
    An Air New Zealand sightseeing flight crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica, killing all 257 people on board
  • 1984
    The French government bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbor, killing one crew member
  • 1987
    New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation was passed, banning nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from entering its ports
  • 1994
    The first MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) election was held, changing New Zealand's electoral system
  • 2004
    The Civil Union Act was passed, allowing same-sex and opposite-sex couples to enter into civil unions
  • 2010
    The Pike River Mine disaster occurred, resulting in the deaths of 29 miners
  • 2011
    A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, killing 185 people and causing widespread destruction
  • 2013
    New Zealand became the 13th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
  • 2020
    New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was widely praised for its effectiveness in controlling the spread of the virus

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

New Zealand Latest news

Historic London meat market faces shutdown after 1000-year run

Historic London meat market faces shutdown after 1000-year run

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Business, Culture • December 1 2024 , 12:04 PM  •  1995 views
Public voices: From market closures to energy policies spark heated debate

Public voices: From market closures to energy policies spark heated debate

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Society, Business, Politics • November 29 2024 , 06:51 AM  •  771 views
Global assisted dying numbers hit new peak as more countries change laws

Global assisted dying numbers hit new peak as more countries change laws

Medical assistance in dying reached over 30‚000 cases last year with some nations reporting up to 5% of total deaths. Numbers have doubled since 2019 as more countries adopt-or expand their laws

Society, Politics • November 26 2024 , 09:02 PM  •  603 views
New Zealand's biggest-ever march: How 42,000 people changed Wellington's streets

New Zealand's biggest-ever march: How 42,000 people changed Wellington's streets

A huge crowd marched through Wellington to defend an almost 200-year-old treaty. The protest which started as small walk from north region turned into one of New Zealandʼs largest-ever public gatherings

Politics, Culture • November 19 2024 , 06:12 PM  •  788 views
UK tops wealthy nations in shocking migration growth numbers last year

UK tops wealthy nations in shocking migration growth numbers last year

New data shows UK experienced fastest migration growth among rich nations with over 740‚000 newcomers last year. Numbers doubled since pre-pandemic times while foreign-born workforce hits new peak

Society, Economics, Politics • November 14 2024 , 11:27 AM  •  314 views
Hidden tax that keeps British workers' salaries low - new report shows way out

Hidden tax that keeps British workers' salaries low - new report shows way out

Fresh research shows how capital-gains tax impacts everyday workers wages and productivity. Report suggests removing this tax could boost UK economy by £25bn yearly‚ with workers being main winners

Economics, Politics • October 28 2024 , 08:04 AM  •  1799 views