The original inhabitants of New Zealand were the Maori. It is estimated that these Polynesians arrived in several migration 'waves' in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. On a voyage of discovery, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sailed up the West Coast of New Zealand in 1642, but did not stay long after his only attempt at landing on New Zealand's shores was repelled by the Maori. New Zealand was not rediscovered by Europeans until 1769 when the British naval captain, James Cook, and his crew, became the first Europeans to lay claim to New Zealand.

It was not until 1840 that any formal agreement was signed between the Maori people of New Zealand and the European settlers. This agreement, known as the Treaty of Waitangi, is New Zealand's founding document. The signing of the Treaty between over 500 Maori Chiefs and representatives of the British Crown, is commemorated annually on February 6 as New Zealand's national day - Waitangi Day.

New Zealand became a self-governing British colony in 1856 and then a Dominion in 1907. It took until 1947 however before New Zealand became fully independent.