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N ew Zealand's colourful history commences from the time when the Rangitata Land mass separates from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana 80 million years ago, evolving to become modern New Zealand.

As Polynesians discover and settle New Zealand, thought to be sometime between 950 and 1130 AD, the Moriori people are settling, possibly around the same time, the Chatham Islands, or Rekohu, a small group of islands off the coast of New Zealand. In 1642 the first of the European explorers, Abel Janszoon Tasman from Holland, sails into New Zealand waters.

The first encounter between Maori and European is violent, leading to bloodshed. After partly charting the coastline, Tasman leaves New Zealand without having had the occasion to set foot ashore.

One hundred years pass by before the next Europeans arrive. In 1769 James Cook, British explorer, and Jean François Marie de Surville, commander of a French trading ship, arrive coincidentally in New Zealand at the same time. Neither ship ever sights the other.

From the late 1790's on, whalers, traders and missionaries arrive, establishing settlements along the coast. The inter-tribal Musket Wars commence. Rumours of French plans for the colonisation of the South Island help contribute to the hastening of British action for annexation, and then colonisation of New Zealand.

The Maori, indigenous people of New Zealand, sign a Treaty with the British on 6th February 1840, known as the Treaty of Waitangi. The subsequent influx of European settlers leads to the turbulent period of the New Zealand Wars, also known as the Land Wars, and lasting over twenty years. The Maori, although inferior in number, proves a formidable foe. Hongi Hika, warrior chief of the Nga Puhi tribe; Te Rauparaha, warrior chief of the Ngati Toa tribe - also known as "The Napoleon of the Pacific"; Te Kooti, resistant, prophet, and founder of the Ringatu church; Michael Joseph Savage, early innovative Prime Minister are but a few, Maori and European, who have left their mark on the history of New Zealand.

New Zealand today is an independant nation within the British Commonwealth. The British Monarch, although constitutional head of state, plays no active role in the running of New Zealand's government.