New Zealand was the last large landmass to be settled by people about 750 years ago! Since that time people have radically changed the natural world of these islands.
I feel so lucky to be living in New Zealand. This country is absolutely beautiful with its beaches, mountains, and rivers. However, the country today is very different than it was when the first people arrived. In less than 1,000 years people have changed these islands from a land of forest to a land of grassland (mostly farmland). The landscape has changed and so too has the wildlife. Fortunately, people are now doing a lot to protect and bring back native wildlife and plants (more on that in a future post).
When Did First People Arrive?
Scientists estimate that the first settlers began arriving around 1250/1300. Those first settlers were Polynesians, the same people that got in their boats, travelled and settled islands all over the south – pacific ocean. In fact, Polynesians made it all the way to Madagascar off the south-east coast of Africa.
Those early settlers brought with them the essentials for survival. In other words, from the very first time that people settled in New Zealand, new, non-native species came with them. They brought Kumara, Yams, Kiore (Pacific rats), and Kuri (Polynesian dogs). Other than bats, those were the first mammals to be in New Zealand in over 60 million years!
A long history of people introducing non-native species to the islands of New Zealand began at that time that would radically reshape the natural world.
1642 – Abel Tasman Reports Discovery Of New Zealand
Those early settlers were the ancestors of the Maori. The people who became known as Maori lived on the islands of New Zealand without contact from Europe for 400 years. In 1642 Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, encountered and put New Zealand on the map.
He did not stay long after he had some of his men killed in what he named Murderers Bay, but is now named Golden Bay on the top of the South Island, near Abel Tasman National Park. The locals came out to see the strange apparition and a conflict ensued in which some of Tasman’s men were killed.
1769 – Captain Cook Literally Puts New Zealand On The Map
No other Europeans came to New Zealand for over 100 years until Captain James Cook visited in 1769. Captain Cook had a huge impact on the history of these islands.
He spent several months mapping and naming the entire coast of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. He had numerous encounters with Maori, which were mostly peaceful, and his maps would lead future European settlers to come to New Zealand.
Early 1800’s – European Traders and Whalers
Many adventurous and commercial traders and whalers began venturing to New Zealand after Cook’s voyages and maps were created. Most were hoping to profit from the untapped potential of the resources.
1840 – Treaty Of Waitangi
Over time as more and more Europeans came to New Zealand relations between Maori and the Europeans began to be contentious. In 1840 a treaty was signed between the Maori and Brittish that is often stated as the time that the country of New Zealand was started.
The true meaning and significance of the treaty has been disputed since.
1850’s – 1900 – Large Scale European Immigration
After the Treaty of Waiting was signed a large scale immigration of Europeans to New Zealand began. There were already a lot of Europeans in New Zealand before the Treaty, but now the scale of immigration increased.