In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman briefly sailed along the west coast of New Zealand, but did not stay long when his attempt to land resulted in several of his crew being killed--and eaten! In 1769, Captain James Cook navigated the two main islands aboard the Endeavour. There was a violent confrontation between the Maoris and the British. However, Cook was impressed with the Maoris' bravery and spirit. He also realized that the land had a lot of potential, so he claimed it for England before heading to Australia.
In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and the Maori gave their country to Britain in exchange for protection and guaranteed possession of their lands. But relations between the Maori and Pakeha(British) did not stay peaceful. The Maoris became very concerned with the impact that the British peoples had on their society. The Pakeha also ignored the Maori rights outlined in the treaty. In 1860, war broke out between them, continuing for almost ten years. The fighting eventually stopped and the British claimed victory.
By the late 19th century, things had temporarily calmed down. The discovery of gold created a lot of prosperity, and wide-scale sheep farming meant New Zealand became an efficient and mostly self-reliant country. Social changes such as social security, trade unions and the introduction of child care services have strengthened New Zealand's reputation as a country committed to improvement.
For more historical information visit the website! www.lonelyplanet.com