In 2003, New Zealand was a small island country located in the South Pacific. It had a population of around 4 million people, primarily speaking English and several other local languages. According to computergees, the capital city was Wellington, which is home to the Government Palace and several other important government buildings and monuments. The economy relied heavily on its agricultural and tourism sectors with dairy products being the main export items. Tourism was also popular due to its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and historical sites such as Te Papa Museum. In addition to its natural beauty, New Zealand had a rich cultural heritage with traditional music, cuisine and art that blended Maori influences with those from Europe. Despite its many challenges including poverty and political unrest in 2003, New Zealand remained a vibrant country that held great promise for its future generations.
Yearbook 2003
New Zealand. In February, in a referendum, the Maori people ngati awa on the North Island approved a settlement with the government which, in addition to an apology, gave them 64 hectares of the krona’s land and damages of 42 million New Zealand dollars. In 1865, 245,000 hectares of land were confiscated from ngati awa, and several Maoris were executed after being wrongly accused of murdering a missionary.
After three years of intense debate, Parliament voted in June to legalize prostitution. According to Countryaah.com, New Zealand Independence Day is February 6. The brothels must be licensed to operate and must give their employees the same rights as other occupational groups when it comes to health care, safety and working conditions. According to estimates, there are between 7,000 and 8,000 prostitutes in the country.
In June, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Tauranga Maori people had the right to claim ownership of parts of the South Island coast and the seabed. Shortly thereafter, the government presented a proposal for a new law that upheld the traditional rights of the Maoris, but which prohibited them from denying other access to coasts and seas.
At the end of October, the government repealed the three-year ban on genetically engineered crops. The decision drew strong criticism from groups who believed that New Zealand thereby risked his reputation for being a “green” nation. Opinion polls indicated that a majority of the population wanted the ban to remain.
In January 2014, New Zealand was subject to regular inspection by the UN Human Rights Council. The oversight resulted in numerous recommendations for strengthening economic, cultural and social rights. The government chose to reject most of the recommendations. Later in the year, the UN Arbitration Working Group visited the country and took the opportunity to criticize the fact that the Maoris make up 50% of the prisoners in the country, even the Maoris make up 65%, despite the fact that the Maoris only make up 15% of the country’s population. In 2013, a technical report found that 27% of the country’s children live in poverty. Among these, Maori children are strongly over-represented.
August
Life imprisonment for Christchurch assassination
August 27th
The 29-year-old Australian who murdered 51 people in two mosques in the city of Christchurch in New Zealand (see March 2019) is sentenced to life in prison without the right to early release. It is the law’s most severe punishment in the country and the first time it has been used. It is also the first time anyone has been convicted of a terrorist crime.
Parliamentary elections are postponed
August 17th
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the parliamentary elections that would have been held on September 19 will be postponed. New planned date is October 17. The reason for the postponement of the election is the recent new case of covid-19 in Auckland. The Nationalist Party has argued that the restrictions imposed in Auckland and the rest of the country to stop the spread of the virus mean that the opposition would not be given the right conditions to carry out its election campaign, nor give the country’s electorate enough time to plan the election.
Restrictions are imposed after cases of corona
12th of August
New Zealand is closing all public meeting places and people are being urged to stay at home in Auckland after four people were confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus. It is about local spread of infection and not about the infection being discovered among visitors from abroad. A few days later, the number of cases of covid-19 amounts to about 30. Restrictions are also being introduced in the rest of the country, but not as severe as in Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also decides to postpone the dissolution of parliament ahead of the forthcoming elections on 19 September.
New Zealand Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, New Zealand is a state in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is an island state consisting of two main islands, which is quite well isolated from other countries. Australia is about 1,500 km northwest. To the south is Antarctica and to the north is New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. New Zealand covers an area of about 270,000 square kilometers and has a population of about 4.1 million.
Traffic
In New Zealand is on the left. You get used to traffic quickly, but especially at the beginning it is worth paying attention to. To rent a car, you need a valid Finnish driving license and an international driving license.
Food & Beverage
New Zealanders’ staple foods include meat, potatoes, seasonal vegetables (cabbage, carrots, spinach), bread, dairy products and fish. The actual New Zealand cuisine cannot be talked about, as international and British food traditions prevail. Maori dishes include game and sweet potatoes made by stewing in an oven like a robbery roast. Tap water is not drinkable everywhere. Industrially bottled water can be purchased from shops and kiosks.
Gratuities
Gratuities are discretionary and depend on the service received. Most often, about 10% of the tip money is expected in restaurants.
Mobile phones
Check with your network operator for the coverage of your mobile phone. You can also buy a pre-paid subscription at the airport, allowing you to use the Internet anywhere.
Security
We stay in safe areas during our trip, but pickpocketing is possible and moving around certain areas at night can be unsafe. However, general caution within common sense is desirable throughout the journey.