History of New Zealand
The Maori people were the first people to settle on the island of New Zealand. The Maori migrated from Hawaiki about 1,000 years ago. The first European to discover the island was a Dutchman by the name of Abel Tasman. Although the Dutch were the first Europeans to discover the island, Great Britain was the one that colonized the island. In 1840 Britain gave up its rule with the Treaty of Waitangi. Since the signing the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (Building the treaty was signed in. See in the image to the left) has been preserved and is now a popular tourist destination.