One hundred years pass by before the next Europeans arrive. In
1769 James Cook, British explorer, and Jean François Marie de
Surville, commander of a French trading ship, both arrive by
coincidence in New Zealand waters at the same time. Neither ship
ever sights the other. From the late 1790's on, whalers, traders
and missionaries arrive, establishing settlements mainly along
the far northern coast of New Zealand. Wars and conflicts
between Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) tribes were
always constant, and weapons used until now were spears or
clubs. The arrival of traders leads to a flourishing musket
trade with local Māori, who rapidly foresee the advantages of
overcoming enemy tribes with this deadly new weapon. The
devastating period known as the inter tribal Musket Wars
commences. Rumours of French plans for the colonisation of the
South Island help hasten British action to annexe, and then
colonise New Zealand. A number of Māori chiefs sign a Treaty
with the British on 6th February 1840, to be kn