New Zealand became an autonomous colony of Britain in 1856, an autonomous region in 1907, and completely independent in 1947. New Zealand has been uninhabited for 50 million years. It was not until the tenth century AD that Polynesian navigators from Cook Islands and Tahiti came to New Zealand by canoe. By the twelfth century, many settlements had been distributed in favorable areas of the country; 1642, the Dutch navigator abel jansson Tasman discovered the west coast of New Zealand in 1642, but he was attacked by Maori when he tried to land, but he named this land Nieuw Zeeland after a region in the Netherlands. He drew some maps of the west coast, but he didn't land here. 1769, British navy captain james cook and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot on New Zealand land. Later, people who fished seals and whales also came here, and missionaries quickly followed, and settlements began to be gradually established. By 1840, the Maori population of New Zealand was estimated to be 654.38+million, and about 2,000 European settlers (known as Pakeha by Maori) were distributed in coastal areas. At that time, there was no national government or national leader in New Zealand, and Maori and white groups asked Britain to provide some protection and law and order. 1840 On February 6th, the Maori and the British royal family signed the Treaty of Waitangi in Waitangi town on the island bay, making New Zealand a royal colony. This treaty is regarded as the founding document of New Zealand, which gives the early pioneers the right to settle in New Zealand and promises that Maori will continue to own their own land, forests and fisheries according to their own wishes. The treaty stipulates that Maori will make their own decisions on land and lifestyle. It also promised to establish a government so that all people can live a peaceful and legal life. The treaty also stipulates that New Zealanders enjoy the rights of British citizens. It is still an "existing document" and a controversial topic in race relations in New Zealand. After the signing of this treaty, more people began to settle here, mostly in the southern islands, where the land was suitable for farming, and gold mines were also found in Otago and the west coast. Since the beginning of this century, there have been more people living in North Island than in South Island. By the 1980s of 19, the national population had increased to 200,000, 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. At that time, Britain was still an important part of New Zealand culture and was often called "hometown". Thousands of New Zealanders represented Britain in the First World War. By 19 18, half of the participants were killed or injured in the war. 1935, the new Zealand labor government was elected and carried out a series of social reforms, including the 40-hour working week and the state-funded health and welfare system. After World War II, New Zealand sent troops again, and about 10% of the population went abroad to fight. After the war, New Zealand's demand for agricultural products increased. In the 1968+0950' s, full employment increased rapidly and industry flourished unprecedentedly. Due to long-term dependence on imports (especially oil) and exports of meat, dairy products and wool, New Zealand's economy began to deteriorate in the 1960s and 1960s. In the early 1960s, after Britain joined Europe, New Zealand lost its traditional export market, followed by unemployment and social problems. In the middle and late 1980s, the Labour government began to carry out extensive 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. Since the late 1990s, New Zealand has experienced sustained economic growth, with the unemployment rate reaching a record 3.5%.