side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation.
The National Anthem of New Zealand is "God Defend New Zealand".
Form of Government
Constitutional monarchy, with a single-chamber parliament.
The monarch is said to "reign but not rule": except for a residual power to
actually govern in the event of some complete breakdown of the
parliamentary system, the monarch has merely ceremonial duties and advisory
powers. When the monarch is absent from the country, which is most of the
time, those duties and powers are delegated to the Governor-General who is
appointed by the monarch for a limited term after approval by the
government.
Parliament is the consitutional "sovereign" - there is no theoretical limit
on what it can validly do, and the validity of the laws which it enacts
cannot be challenged in the courts (although the courts do have and use
wide-ranging powers to control administrative acts of the government). A
new parliament is elected every three years (universal suffrage at age 18).
The leader of the party which commands majority support in parliament is
appointed prime minister and he or she nominates the other Ministers of the
Crown. The ministers (and sometimes the whole majority party in parliament)
are collectively called "the government". Our system almost entirely lacks
formal checks and balances - the majority party can virtually legislate as
it likes subject only to its desire to be re-elected every three years.
Until now, members of parliament have been elected on a single-member
constituency, winner takes all, system similar to those of Britain and the
U.S.A. As a result of referenda conducted in 1993, future parliaments will
be elected on a mixed-member proportional system modelled on that of
Germany.
The administration is highly centralised. The country is divided into
"districts" (the urban ones called "cities") each with a District (or City)
Council and Mayor, but their powers are limited to providing public
facilities (not housing) and enforcement of by-laws (local regulations)
such as parking regulations. The Police are a single force controlled by
the central government.
The Justice System
There is a four-level hearings and appeals system:
Top level Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (London)
|
Court of Appeal (Wellington)
|
High Court (in all cities)
|
Bottom level District Courts (most towns)
There is also the Small Claims Court which handles smaller personal
disputes.
Civil and criminal cases start in the District or High Court, depending on
their seriousness and appeals go up the chain. Certain rare cases can start
in the Court of Appeal. District and High Court judges sit alone or with
juries. The Court of Appeal (and on certain rare occasions the High Court)
consists of three or five judges sitting "en banc". The Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council consists mainly of British Law Lords with New Zealand
judges also sitting in New Zealand cases; in theory its decisions merely
"opinions" for the benefit of the monarch as the fount of all justice, but
in practice its rulings have the force of ultimate appeal.
All judges are appointed by the government - High Court judges are
nominated by the Law Society, but District Court judges apply for the job
like any other. Various special-purpose courts (Industrial Court, Maori
Land Court, Family Court, etc.) exist and have the same status as either a
District Court or the High Court.
History
The Polynesian navigator Kupe has been credited with the discovery of New
Zealand in 950 AD. He named it Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud).
Centuries later, around 1350 AD, a great migration of people from Kupe's
homeland of Hawaiki followed his navigational instructions and sailed to
New Zealand, eventually supplanting or mixing with previous residents.
Their culture, developed over centuries without any discernible outside
influence, was hierarchical and often sanguinary.
In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman briefly sailed along the west coast
of New Zealand; any thoughts of a longer stay were thwarted when his
attempt to land resulted in several of his crew being killed and eaten. In
1769, Captain James Cook circumnavigated the two main islands aboard the
Endeavour. Initial contact with the Maoris also proved violent but Cook,
impressed with the Maoris' bravery and spirit and recognising the potential
of this newfound land, grabbed it for the British crown before setting sail
for Australia.
When the British began their antipodean colonising, New Zealand was
originally seen as an offshoot of Australian enterprise in whaling and
sealing: in fact, from 1839 to 1841 the country was under the jurisdiction
of New South Wales. However, increased European settlement soon proved
problematic: a policy was urgently required regarding land deals between
the settlers (Pakeha) and the Maori. In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was
signed, with the Maori ceding sovereignty of their country to Britain in
exchange for protection and guaranteed possession of their lands. But
relations between the Maori and Pakeha soon soured (the Maoris became
increasingly alarmed at the effect the Pakeha had on their society while
the Pakeha rode roughshod over Maori rights outlined in the treaty). In
1860, war broke out between them, continuing for much of the decade before
the Maori were defeated.
By the late 19th century, things had temporarily calmed down. The discovery
of gold had engendered much prosperity, and wide-scale sheep farming meant
New Zealand became an efficient and mostly self-reliant country. Sweeping
social changes - women's suffrage, social security, the encouragement of
trade unions and the introduction of child care services - cemented New
Zealand's reputation as a country committed to egalitarian reform.
New Zealand was given dominion status in the British Empire in 1907 and
granted autonomy by Britain in 1931; independence, however, was not
formally proclaimed until 1947. The economy continued to prosper until the
worldwide recession in the 1980s, when unemployment rose dramatically.
Today the economy has stabilised, thanks largely to an export-driven
recovery. Internationally, New Zealand was hailed during the mid-1980s for
its anti-nuclear stance - even though it meant a falling-out with the USA -
and its opposition to French nuclear testing in the Pacific (which France
countered, to much opprobrium but little penalty, by blowing up the
Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior as it sat in Auckland Harbour).
The Maori population is now increasing faster than the Pakeha and a
resurgence in Maoritanga (Maori culture) has had a major and lasting impact
on New Zealand society. Culturally, the most heartening aspect had been the
mending of relations between the Maori and Pakeha (in 1985, the Treaty of
Waitangi was overhauled, leading to financial reparations to a number of
Maori tribes whose land had been unjustly confiscated). However, a recent
clumsy take-it-or-leave-it attempt by the New Zealand government to offer
financial reparations has resulted in an upsurge of militant Maori
protests. Maoris have disrupted events, occupied land claim areas, set up
roadblocks and threatened to blow-up the New Zealand parliament. The
disharmony has shocked New Zealanders and placed national conciliation at
the top of the political agenda.
26,000,000 B.C.
Southern alps rise above the ocean.
700 A.D.
Possible early settlement on the South Island by an archaic Maori
population originating in Polynesia.
10C
Date of discovery of New Zealand by Polynesian navigator Kupe according to
Maori legend. Islands named Aotearoa, "Land of the Long White Cloud".
12C
Settlement of the North Island.
13 and 14C
"Great Migration" from the Society Islands. Dwindling moa population.
Warrior society established.
1642
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman discovers west coast of the South Island. Dutch
name the country "Nieuw Zeeland" after the Dutch island province of
Zeeland.
1769-70
Captain James Cook circumnavigates and charts both islands, taking
possession of "New Zealand" for Britain.
1820s
First European settlement (in the Bay of Islands).
1830s
Intertribal wars abate due to introduction of musket and wholesale
slaughter.
1840
Treaty of Waitangi signed. Maoris cede sovereignty to Britain, obtain
guarantees of land ownership and "rights and privileges of British
subjects."
1850-1880
"Wool period" with importation of sheep from Australia. Also a period of
war and conflict over land ownership.
1882
Refrigerated ships introduced. Farmers turn to meat and dairy production.
1893
New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to give women the vote.
1907
Independence from UK.
1914-1918
One of every three men between 20 and 40 killed or wounded fighting for
Britain in World War I.
1939
New Zealand sends troops to fight for the Allies in Europe.
1941-45
Threatened by Japan, defended by United States Navy (eventually led to
ANZUS pact in 1951, a defensive alliance with the U.S. and Australia).
1947
New Zealand becomes independent by adopting Statue of Westminster.
