huttriver

lower hutt, NEW ZEALAND


Joined February 25th 2007

Number of Posts:
143

Number of Comments:
6

Karma:
8



A message and a hello from New Zealand down in the South Pacific

About Me
A 63 year old grandfather and blogger from New Zealand

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Recent Posts


I recently wrote a post telling how my Google Adsense was disabled and Senserely Yours.com has followed suit...

I recently wrote a post explaining how my Google Adsense account was disabled. I have emailed Google on a number of occasions without reply.

I believe that I am entitled to a reply to my enquiry, if not the actual details of the reason for the disablement of my account.Google have a monopoly in website advertising and have acted like a bully in this instance. It is also extremely unjust in the extreme!

Yesterday I received an email from Senserely Yours.com, one of my blogsites, who had also disabled my account there because my Google Adsense account had been disabled and they thought I was not blogging any more.When you take such action you need to do it on more than thought alone!

What ever happened to common justice. Well I will be spreading this post around my remaining blogsites, and Google will be responsible for any reaction or backlash. I believe other companies are seriously considering real competition to the monopolistic Google.



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When did New Zealand gain independence from Britain... I was recently asked when did New Zealand gain full independemce from Britain?

Lets read a bit of background material and history about New Zealand, the small dual island nation in the South Pacific,about 1200 miles or 2,000 km from Australia. I say dual island because the two main islands are still known as the South Island and the North Island. The south is the larger of the two, but the North has about two thirds of the population, with the capital city being Wellington, at the bottom of the North Island.

The population today has a majority of caucasians with Maori and Pacific Islanders making up the two largest population minorities. The Maori are not indigenous to New Zealand despite claims to the contary, perpetuated no doubt because of longstanding land claims.

Until the late 13th century NZ was uninhabited, apart from the odd island-hopping visitors from other Pacific Islands in previus times. There have been recorded visits to Aotearoa by the legendary Kupe and his waka(ocean-going canoes)in the late 9th century. That is another historical story within modern day New Zealand history.

In the 15th century Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited NZ during his voyages here and around Australia, naming New Zealand after the town of Zeeland in Holland.

In the late 18th century British explorer Captain James Cook made about three voyages of discovery and mapped NZ.

Whalers and sealers set up their posts around NZ in the early 18th century. Missionaries arrived in the country to save the natives from their pagan ways, and also to get their hands on land.Settlers arrived to purchase land too, with the organised colonising of NZ.

In 1835 a number of Maori tribes signed a so-called Declaration of Independence with the Crown. But this was ignored and not recognised by those seeking to colonise NZ and get their hands on as much land as possible. Then the French began to make their presence felt too around present day Banks Peninsula, which is now part of modern Christchurch City, the largest city in the South Island.

As a consequence to the above the British Governor arranged a treaty to be signed by a majority of maori tribes throughout NZ - known as the 'Treaty of Waitangi', this was done in 1840 and the British flag was raised on NZ to keep the French out of NZ.

During the next few decades there were wars with some Maori tribes, much land was confiscated by the British Crown, and the country was colonised. The causasian population increased until they were the majority, and the Maori population decreased drastically through disease and other reasons.

In 1901 New Zealand had been invited to become part of the amalgamation of colonies to form the Commonwealth Of Australasia, but NZ declined mainly through transport distance and lack of easy means of communication with Australia; it took days to sail to Australia. The Commonwealth Of Australia was formed instead, and New Zealand went on its own.

In 1907 the Dominion of New Zealand was formed - an independent self-governing overseas territory of Great Britain as it was known then.

Full independence was not given to NZ until 1931, but it did not ratify this until 1947, when the WW2 was over and the mood of "where Britain goes, NZ goes" was long gone.

So 107 years after the signing, the Treaty of Waitangi is still fully recognised as a founding document of this country, and probably one of the few treaties in the world to survive, NZ become its own man, so to speak. Less than 20 years later NZ would in point of fact be discarded by Britain's entry to the European commonmarket, which is now the European political Union.

NZ lost its guaranteed markets to Britain and had to find its own way in the world. NZ would also establish its own foreign policy and became alienated from the US because of its anti-nuclear policies and stance, something still in force today. The US considered NZ a friend, but no longer an ally and denied NZ military training and security information.However there are signs of the two countries becoming locked in embrace again. The US and NZ have actually been friends and allies for many, many years.

The ant and the elephant are good mates and cobbers once again!

I hope you enjoyed this little look at NZ history today.


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First published at Qassia:

Tom is now the new chairman of the board - wins New Zealands third and final Olympic gold medal...

Tom Ashley from Auckland won New Zealand's third and final gold medal in the RS.X Board Sailing. Tom is also the reigning world champion for this event.

The Olympics are over for the NZ team who added the 4000m Cycling Team Pursuit bronze medal to their tally: 25 year old Lower Hutt born and raised Nick Willis, reigning Commonwealth Games Gold medalist for that distance, added the Olympic Gold medal for the distance with a withering late run; and Aucklander Brian Docherty added the Bronze for the Triathlon to the team tally as well.

There was every indication early in the week that New Zealand athletes would win a few more medals for their country, if not gold at least more silver and bronze. But it wasn't to be. There was some creditable performances, but many disappointing results. Results are important in the Olympic Games, not just the participation. New Zealand has finished somewhere about 20th in the list. Still very good for a small nation of 4 million people.








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First published at Qassia:

Super Golden Saturday - New Zealand's most successful day in Olympic history


[ Click here to read more ]
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Piddler on the roof arrested... (LINK)

August 18th 2008 03:38
A teenager who admitted to police he was 'the piddler on the roof' has been arrested in Napier, New Zealand.

A CCTV camera had caught him urinating into a car-parking machine recently. He was described as having a wee problem now


[ Click here to read more ]
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NZ rowers were brought back to earth with the proverbial bang after mediocre semi-final performances at the Beijing games.

There are a host of puns all sitting there to be used: Its not over until the fat lady sings is one that comes to mind


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How to run your car on water - a new technology or scam...


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Two days to the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing,China...

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Is China using the Olympics to crackdown on Falun Gong and other dissidents...

With the Beijing Olympics less than one month away, Chinese authorities have reportedly escalated their campaign against adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline, conducting door-to-door arrests and imprisoning thousands in reeducation-through-labor camps and detention centers


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She thought she was a Mrs - but was a Miss...

When a Wellington, New Zealand, couple decided to divorce, they received the shock of their lives - their marriage had never been recorded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Births, Deaths and Marriages Department in the city


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Recent Comments

Comment by huttriver
on Nz e-cigarette research to help world programs...

August 1st 2008 03:53
You may start a trend where you live.

Cheers

It is the memories that are assoicated with these medals. The medals themselves are pieces of metal, but, in New Zealand anyway we regard the actual theft of what are National treasures, as being despicable.

Just think about that for a moment - it could have been a medal awarded to your grandfather,greatgrandfather etc

Comment by huttriver
on What is the most heart-breaking defeat?

October 8th 2007 05:07
Poor old Aussies! You didn't think you would have got further than the semis did you?

We Kiwis thought we were going to win the bloody thing!

Cheers cuzzies!

There's always next time - four more years!!!

Comment by huttriver
on US police getting away with bashing prisoners...

July 28th 2007 06:56
I amended my post on prisoner bashing, but could not change the headline This is a weakness of this site.

The Crusaders are coming and they are not taking prisoners. Horse meat is fed to their pets!

C'mon Lord Richie and his Crusader Knights

Thanks for yor comments.