More about New Zealand
| Whakahuihui Vercoe 01/04/2009  The Most Reverend Whakahuihui (Hui) Vercoe PCNZM MBE (4 June 1928 – 13 September 2007) was an Anglican clergyman from New Zealand. He was the Archbishop of New Zealand from 2004 to 2006, the firs [ ... ] |
Zoe Bell 01/04/2009  Bell was born in New Zealand to Tish and Andrew Bell. She has a younger brother named Jake. She grew up on Waiheke Island in Auckland. At a young age she participated in competitive gymnastics, and [ ... ] | More about New Zealand | ||
The vast majority of New Zealand settlers in the 19th century were of British descent. Land Agents such as The New Zealand Company were responsible for organised resettlement schemes which attracted thousands of immigrants to the new colony. Most British immigrants came from the lower middle-classes and arrived in New Zealand seeking freedom from the repressive class structures of Britain. Other significant migrant groups at this time included Chinese gold prospectors and Dalmatian Kauri-gum diggers.
New Zealand settlement was characterised by a period of Maori land alienation, and a number of conflicts (notably the New Zealand Wars of the 1850s and 60s). Generally colonialism in New Zealand was not as overtly repressive or violent as other parts of the world, but negative nonetheless.
Interestingly, in 1893 New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote – a quarter century before Britain or the USA. Richard “King Dick” Seddon, Prime Minster and leader of the Liberal Party, also implemented such pioneering systems as old-age pensions, minimum wage requirements and children’s health services – making New Zealand a world-leader in social welfare.
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