island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean
the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māuiand the South Island, or Te Waipounamu
one of the last lands to be settled by humans
The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue and the Ross Dependency
First inhabitants - Polynesians in 1250–1300 CE and developed a distinctive Māori culture
First europeans - Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, in 1642 CE
during the 19th century, inter-tribal Musket Wars
In 1840 the British Crown and Māori signed the Treaty of Waitangi, making New Zealand a British colony
legislative authority is vested in a Parliament
executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister
queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General.
Geography two main islands The South Island is the largest
landmass of New Zealand Devided with Southern alps The north island is marked by
volcanism Lake Taupo, nestled in the caldera of
one of the world's most active supervolcanoes
Biodiversity Isolated for 80 million years unique species
of animals, fungi and plants evolved fromGondwanan wildlife Kiwi, tuataras, half the
world's cetaceans population
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