History And Culture:

New Zealand is said to be one of the major landmasses settled by humans. Eastern Polynesians were the first ones who settled here between 1250 and 1300. They then set a culture trend known as the Maori. Abel Tasman and his crew were the first explorers to have reached this place. After Cook, there were many European traders and invaders who started to frequently visit New Zealand. European tools and metals were the major list of things that were part of the trade. The face of the New Zealand agriculture was changed because of the invention of potatoand the musket. From the 19th century major Maori people began to convert themselves as Christianity seemed to be taking over. In 1891 the Liberal Party led by John Ballance came to power as the first organised political party. Later on the liberal government passed on many important social and political measures and in 1907, at the request of the New Zealand Parliament, King Edward VII proclaimed New Zealand a dominion within the British Empire, reflecting its selfgoverning status. The major change and reformation came in 1947 when the country adopted the statue of westminster wherein the British parliament could no longer legislate for New Zealand without the consent of New Zealand. After the World War 2 New Zealand seemed to prosper in its own ways.