The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an epic journey from legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud. The first documented European to discover New Zealand was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman who came here in 1642 in search of the fabled great southern continent. Over a century and a quarter later Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769 and produced a map. New Zealand is an independent nation and is a member of the British Commonwealth. We have a multi-cultural society with approx 3.9 million people with the largest minority being New Zealand's indigenous people Maori accounting for 14% of the population. While English is the language most commonly spoken you will also hear Maori spoken, which is also our official language. New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific Ocean neighboring our arch rivals Australia and between our two main islands covers a total area of 266,200 sq km (103,735 sq miles), which is similar in size comparison to California or Japan.