- published: 06 May 2012
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New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa) is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses ‒ that of the North and South Islands ‒ as well as numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans.
During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of both animal and plant life. Most notable are the large number of unique bird species, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and introduced mammals. With a mild maritime climate, the land was mostly covered in forest. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions caused by the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates clashing beneath the earth's surface.
The New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. The wars were fought over a number of issues, the most prominent concerning Māori land being sold to the settler population.
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, guaranteed that individual Māori iwi (tribes) should have undisturbed possession of their lands, forests, fisheries and other taonga (treasures) in return for becoming British subjects, selling land to the government only and surrendering sovereignty to the British Government. Historians have debated whether this last point was fully understood by chiefs due to the possible mistranslation of the word "sovereignty" in the treaty copies. The majority of Māori were keen to sign to consolidate peace and end the long inter-tribal Musket Wars 1807–1842. They were also very keen to acquire the technological culture of the British.
All pre-treaty colonial land-sale deals had been completed directly between the two parties. In the early period of contact, the Māori generally sought trade with Europeans. Mission stations were established, and missionaries received land for houses, schools, churches and farms.
When they say
We were never old enough to care
It's like first of November
And when they say
We were never good enough to love
They've been washed in the holy waters
So I wanna die
With my eyes full life
All the years I survived I knew nothing about
Nothing about
So I wanna die
With my head full life
All the years I survived I knew nothing about
Nothing about so much
Hope we got far
'Cause here it's the same as for a bear
To be stuck inside a bird cage
And if we swim
To see New Zealand with our friends
Oh would you please bury me there
And sing
Together for the new start
I'm sailing
Through the mighty coast lines
As a ghost on a holiday
So I wanna die
With my eyes full life
All the years I survived I knew nothing about
Nothing about
So I wanna die
With my head full life
All the years I survived I knew nothing about