The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. That same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both world wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. New Zealand assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.
New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy and a part of the Commonwealth realm.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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Displaying 31 - 35 of 52Maori Vested Lands Administration Act 1954 (No. 60).
This Act, consisting of 3 Parts and 2 Schedules, establishes that all land which immediately prior to the commencement of this Act was vested in the Maori Trustee subject to the provisions of Part 14 or Part 15 of the Maori Land Act 1931 shall, at the commencement of this Act, become vested land subject to the provisions of this Act. On the commencement of this Act, all vested land shall cease to be subject to any trusts theretofore applying to the land, and the land shall be administered and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Crown Pastoral Land Act, 1998.
The purpose of this Act, consisting of 5 Parts and two Schedules, is to administer Crown pastoral land and to establish a system for reviewing the tenure of Crown land.The Act lays down provisions for pastoral leases and occupation licences, and for the management of reviewable land. The text also specifies duties and powers of the Minister of Conservation which may approve proposals and plans for the designation of land to be restored to or retained in full Crown ownership and control as conservation areas, reserves, etc.
Te Urewera Act 2014 (No. 51).
The purpose of this Act, consisting of 138 sections divided into three Parts and completed by five Schedules, is to establish and preserve in perpetuity a legal identity and protected status for Te Urewera for its intrinsic worth, its distinctive natural and cultural values, the integrity of those values, and for its national importance, and in particular to: (a) strengthen and maintain the connection between Tūhoe and Te Urewera; (b) preserve as far as possible the natural features and beauty of Te Urewera, the integrity of its indigenous ecological systems and biodiversity, and its histor
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Ownership of Structures Regulations 2015.
These Regulations, consisting of ten sections, prescribe the steps that a regional council must take in undertaking an inquiry under section 19(2) of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 to ascertain the identity or where abouts of the owner of a structure.
Land Transfer (Land Information and Offshore Persons Information) Exemption Regulations 2015.
This Notice, consisting of 5 sections, establishes that a transfer of a specified estate in land is exempt from the requirements of section 156B of the Act if: (a) the land is Maori land; or (b) the transfer is a transfer of property by the Crown under a Treaty settlement Act that expressly authorises the Crown to: transfer the fee simple estate in the property; and sign a transfer instrument or other document, or do anything else, as necessary to effect the transfer.
Implements: Land Transfer Act (No. 52 of 1952). (2015-10-01)