New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan. With a population of only four million inhabitants, it is also a wonderfully uninhabited country.  Located in the southwest Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands: the North Island and the South Island. Stewart Island and many smaller islands are on the coast. 

The Maoris were the first to arrive in New Zealand; They arrived from Hawaiki in canoes about 1000 years ago. A Dutchman, Abel Tasman, was the first European to spot the country, but it was the British who included New Zealand in his empire.

In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, an agreement between the British crown and the Maori. This document established the British law in New Zealand and is considered the founding document of the country. The building where the treaty was signed has been preserved, and, at present, Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a very popular attraction.

You will find amazing historical sites and Maori taonga (treasures), as well as beautiful colonial era buildings scattered throughout the country. A walk through any city in New Zealand today is enough to observe the cultural diversity and how fascinating this country is.