Section A Exploring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to New Zealand Note History New Zealand is a recently-settled major landmass.The first settlers were Eastern Polynesians sometime between 600 and 2,000 years ago.Over the following centuries these settlers developed into a distinct culture now known as Maori.The first Europeans known to have reached New Zealand were Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman and his crew in 1642.British explorer James Cook reached New Zealand in 1769 and mapped almost the entire coastline.Following Cook,New Zealand was visited by numerous European and North American whaling,sealing and trading ships.In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangil21 was signed between the British Crown and various Maori chiefs,bringing New Zealand into the British Empire.In 1907,New Zealand became an independent Dominion and when the Statute of Westminster(1931)was ratified,it became a fully independentnation in 1947 as a member of the British Empire. Languages The official languages in New Zealand are English,Maori and Sign Language.English is commonly used for business,instruction and daily life. 大连理工大学出版社大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to New Zealand History New Zealand is a recently-settled major landmass. The first settlers were Eastern Polynesians sometime between 600 and 2,000 years ago. Over the following centuries these settlers developed into a distinct culture now known as Maori. The first Europeans known to have reached New Zealand were Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman and his crew in 1642. British explorer James Cook reached New Zealand in 1769 and mapped almost the entire coastline. Following Cook, New Zealand was visited by numerous European and North American whaling, sealing and trading ships. In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi[2] was signed between the British Crown and various Maori chiefs, bringing New Zealand into the British Empire. In 1907, New Zealand became an independent Dominion and when the Statute of Westminster (1931) was ratified, it became a fully independent nation in 1947 as a member of the British Empire. Languages The official languages in New Zealand are English, Maori and Sign Language. English is commonly used for business, instruction and daily life. Note