Part 1: Historical – 1810-1890 Early New Zealand Today New
Zealand is no stranger to multiculturalism, nor were our fore
bearers of the 17th and 18th centuries. A Dutch sea captain,
Abel Tasman passed these fair shores in 1642. Captain James Cook
arrived in 1769. Trade was essential for Cook and his crew, who
needed fresh water and supplies, such as timber for repair work
on his vessels. Māori saw this as an opportunity to trade for
nails, axes and other iron material. European and American
whalers arrived in the 1790s. The European and American arrivals
established 20 or so bases around the country. They continued to
forge trips to the Bay of Islands for recreation and barter. In
Bible and the Treaty, Keith Newman said the Bay of Islands
became a popular destination for traders wanting timber, pigs
and potatoes, a legacy established by Cook’s previous travels.
From 1769 to 1799 immigration increased. Multiculturalism was
taking shape in the newly established New Zealand. People from
England, Wales, Ireland,