Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in 1840, is now
a tourist attraction for Kiwis and non-Kiwis alike. Each year on 6 February, Waitangi hosts
treaty commemorations and protests
From 1945, Maori experienced both a population explosion and massive urbanisation. In
1936, Maori were 17% urban and 83% rural. Fifty years later, these proportions had re-
versed. The immigration gates, which until 1960 were pretty much labelled 'whites only',
widened, first to allow in Pacific Islanders for their labour, and then to allow in (East) Asi-
ans for their money. These transitions would have generated major socioeconomic change
whatever happened in politics. But most New Zealanders associate the country's recent 'Big
Shift' with the politics of 1984.
NZ's staunch antinuclear stance earned it the nickname 'The Mouse that Roared'.
In 1984, NZ's third great reforming government was elected - the Fourth Labour govern-
ment, led nominally by David Lange and in fact by Roger Douglas, the Minister of Finance.
This government adopted an antinuclear foreign policy, delighting the left, and a more-mar-
ket economic policy, delighting the right. NZ's numerous economic controls were dis-
mantled with breakneck speed. Middle NZ was uneasy about the antinuclear policy, which
threatened NZ's ANZUS alliance with Australia and the US. But in 1985, French spies sank
the antinuclear protest ship
Rainbow Warrior
in Auckland Harbour, killing one crewman.
The lukewarm American condemnation of the French act brought middle NZ in behind the
antinuclear policy, which became associated with national independence. Other New Zeal-
anders were uneasy about the more-market economic policy, but failed to come up with a
convincing alternative. Revelling in their new freedom, NZ investors engaged in a frenzy of
speculation, and suffered even more than the rest of the world from the economic crash of
1987.
The early 21st century is an interesting time for NZ. Food, wine, film and literature are
flowering as never before, and the new ethnic mix is creating something very special in pop-
ular music. There are continuities, however - the pub, the sportsground, the quarter-acre
section, the bush, the beach and the bach - and they too are part of the reason people like to
come here. Realising that NZ has a great culture, and an intriguing history, as well as a great
natural environment, will double the bang for your buck.
