1642, the Dutch navigator abel tasman observed New Zealand Island and named the land after a Dutch place name. He drew a partial map of the west coast, but he didn't land.
1769, British navy captain james cook and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot on New Zealand land. Later, people who fished for seals and whales came here. The missionary soon followed. Settlements began to build up gradually.
By 1840, the number of Maori began to reach100000. About 2000 European settlers live in coastal areas (Maori call them "Pakeha", which means white).
At that time, there was no national government or national government in New Zealand. Maori and white groups demanded that Britain provide some protection and law and order.
New Zealand became a colony under the jurisdiction of the British royal family in 1840. 1840 On February 6th, Maori tribal leaders in New Zealand signed the TreatyofWaitangi. The treaty is an agreement between the Maori and the British royal family and is regarded as the founding document of New Zealand.
The treaty gives settlers the right to live in New Zealand. The treaty also promises that Maori will continue to own their own land, forests and fishery resources, which can be maintained for a long time according to their own wishes. The treaty says that Maori will make their own decisions on land and their way of life, and promises to form a government to maintain peace and order for all. The treaty also promises them the same rights as British citizens. After the signing of the treaty, more people began to come to New Zealand and settle here. Most people settled in South Island because the land there was suitable for farming, and gold mines were found in Otago and the west coast. However, since the beginning of this century, more people have settled in North Island than in South Island. By the 1980s, the population of China had grown to 500,000, and railways and highways had been built. Farms built by settlers have become the backbone of New Zealand's economy. 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote.
1935, New Zealand elected a Labour government and carried out a series of social reforms, including a 40-hour working week and a state-funded health and welfare system. After World War II, New Zealand's demand for agricultural products began to increase. 1950 s, the number of employed people in the country increased rapidly, and the industry was unprecedentedly prosperous.
From1970s to1980s, New Zealand's economy began to decline due to its long-term dependence on imports (especially oil) and continuous export of meat, dairy products and wool. Especially after Britain joined the European Community in the 1970s, New Zealand began to lose its traditional export market.
In the1980s, the Labour government began to implement a wide range of reforms, such as the new monetary policy, the deregulation of industry, the abolition of subsidies and the privatization of many government departments. Since then, the economy has gradually improved and the number of unemployed people has begun to decline.
Stepping into the 2 1 century, the global economic growth has slowed down, especially in the United States. However, New Zealand has adopted a good monetary policy, its exports and gross domestic product have continued to rise, and there is a great demand for labor and job market.
At present, New Zealand's economy is developing steadily.