Unit 6New Zealand

Ms. HuntRandolph IB Middle School

2011-2012

New Zealand• 2 main islands- North and South Islands– Located on the Ring of Fire

• Southern Alps- mountain range runs through the middle of the country

• Geysers- hot springs, sprays steam and boiling water out of the earth

• Animals- no native mammals/ only 2 types of bats– Kiwi bird- only bird to have nostrils at the tip of its bill

• New Zealanders nicknamed themselves Kiwi after the rare bird

Tradition People

• Maori- migrated to the island between 950-1150• Call the land Aotearoa meaning “land of the long

white cloud”• Hunter gather people – By 1500’s killed the majority of the animal population

• Leading to farm and separated into tribes of 500• Culture- created wood sculptures out of stone

tools

Colony• 1642- Captain Abel Tasman, Dutch sailor, stopped in

the island area• Captain Cook claimed territory for Britianover 100

years later• 1814- first British colony• 1840- treaty of Waitangi- Maori chief signed with

Britain, accepting the Queen as their ruler • 1845-1872- wars between the Maori and settlers– People unclear of who owned the territory

• Today, only 15% of the population in Maori• 1907- independence

Independent New Zealand• Very similar to Australia• Governor General- chosen by

the monarch, controls the government

• 1 house legislation– 7 seats reserved for Maori

people• Concern for equal rights– 1893- equal rights to women– 1990’s finally received land and

money belonging to the Maori people

Culture• Maori-– Websites, cultural schools, and newspapers– Going to court to retrieve their traditional lands– Body tattooing- sign of power and prestige in culture

• Sports- water activities (Many families own small beach houses)– Snowboarding and skiing popular in Southern

territory• Wellywood- base for many international movies– Wellington, capital of N.Z. and headquarters to many

of the movies created in N.Z.– Lord of the Rings

Economy• Hydroelectric power-

power/ energy created by moving water

• Geothermal Energy- internal heat of the Earth used as a power source

• Agriculture• Forestry• Fishing• Ranching– Ranch animals make about

25 more times the amount than the population