{"id":1344,"date":"2025-07-14T13:57:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T13:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app"},"modified":"2025-07-14T13:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T13:57:48","slug":"new-zealand-kiwi-maori-and-pavlova-a-hands-on-lesson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/?p=1344","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Kiwi, Maori, and Pavlova A Hands-on Lesson"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><time datetime=\"2025-07-14T09:57:48-04:00\" title=\"Jul 14, 2025\">Jul 14, 2025<\/time><br \/><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hands-on Lesson on New Zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/5af7884e93e1db53e24e3d5bbe4dbd35.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hands-on Lesson on New Zealand<\/p>\n<p>Do you want to know more about New Zealand? Are you a lover of travel, geography teacher, homeschooling or involved parent, student, or life-long learner? In an effort to make world geography more meaningful and memorable, I&#8217;ve compiled all you will need to locate New Zealand on a map, cook a Kiwi meal, watch YouTube clips on New Zealand, color the flag, create a Kiwi craft, read a great book about New Zealand, and more!<\/p>\n<h2>Where is New Zealand?<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Map showing New Zealand's location\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/17540f6a61fb9a491873e80361aa6293.png\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Map showing New Zealand&#8217;s location<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Locate New Zealand on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.enchantedlearning.com\/geography\/australia\/oceaniaoutlinemap\/\">this map of Australia\/Oceania.<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Use this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.enchantedlearning.com\/oceania\/newzealand\/outlinemap\/\">map of New Zealand<\/a> to label the capitol, Wellington.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Mark other relevant features (rivers, mountains, famous locations, etc.) if desired.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>If you&#8217;d like to spend a bit more time researching the country, you can add the language, currency, type of government, religion, and\/or famous landmarks. Write them on the back of the map. You can easily find all this information at <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Zealand\">http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Top 5 Fun Facts About New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pohutukawa tree, known as New Zealand's Christmas tree\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/15b54d6a275064ef948b37bfde8a034a.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pohutukawa tree, known as New Zealand&#8217;s Christmas tree<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Christmas in New Zealand follows soon after midsummer&#8217;s day. Many northern hemisphere traditions carry over to New Zealand, including decorated pine trees and Christmas cards showing snow and reindeer. The pohutukawa tree comes into peak-bloom in late December and is known as New Zealand&#8217;s Christmas tree.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>New Zealand is part of &#8216;The Pacific Rim of Fire&#8217;. Mount Ruapehu, situated in central North Island, is the most active volcano of the country. It last erupted in 2007 and tends to erupt about every 50 years.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>To become a New Zealand citizen, you must swear an oath of loyalty, which includes a commitment to the reigning monarch, currently King Charles III.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>New Zealand is home to the largest flightless parrot (kakapo), biggest earthworms, smallest bats, heaviest insect (a weta), some of the oldest trees and many of the rarest species of birds, insects, and plants in the world.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>New Zealand&#8217;s Flag<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Flag of New Zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/2f1a84dc7808f1b009e12919dccac683.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Flag of New Zealand<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Print and color <a href=\"http:\/\/www.morecoloringpages.com\/new-zealand-flag_2516.html\">the flag of New Zealand<\/a> and learn the history and meaning of it from <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flag_of_New_Zealand\">http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/<\/a> .<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>The New Zealand Ensign includes the British Union Jack in the upper left corner as a symbol of British authority, which began ruling the nation in 1844. To the right are four red stars centered within four white stars, which represent the Southern Cross (or Crux) constellation, which is a prominent feature of the southern hemisphere&#8217;s night sky.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Maori &amp; the History of New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"New Zealand Maori \" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/cc9932b50a412901810a644b00196426.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Zealand Maori <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Maori, or Tangata Whenua, are the native peoples of New Zealand, arriving from other Pacific islands between 800-1500 years ago. According to one legend, they arrived from the island of Hawaiki in seven canoes.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>They initially hunted moas, which were large birds similar to an emu or ostrich.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>In 1642 Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sailed around and mapped part of the North Island but sailed away after a dispute with the M\u0101ori.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>In 1769 English explorer James Cook sailed around and mapped part of New Zealand. Shortly after this, many European settlers began visiting the island to hunt seals and to trade. The diseases they brought killed about half the Maori population between 1820-1920, with the M\u0101ori population dropping from 200,000 to about 42,000.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>In 1840, the British government signed the Treaty of Waitangi with 45 M\u0101ori chiefs. The British did not honor their treaty, so for the next 30 years, the British battled the M\u0101ori. Eventually the British defeated the Maori.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>In the last few decades there has a been a resurgence of interest in reviving the M\u0101ori language and customs.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Maori: 3 Fun Facts<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reconstruction of a moa hunt\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/845935f0525264e14cb3cef893e9cc0d.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Reconstruction of a moa hunt<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Moa:<\/strong> M\u0101ori used to hunt moa, which were flightless birds (like an emu) that grew to be 10 feet high and up to 500 pounds. Moa were hunted to extinction. A Dallas-based company, Colossal Bioscience, is working on bringing the species back. You can read more at: https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/colossal-biosciences-next-big-feat-163007579.html<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Otago Gold Rush: <\/strong>New Zealand had a gold rush following the gold rushes in California and Australia. M\u0101ori had long known about the gold in Central Otago, but they had no use for the ore. They relied on greenstone for weapons and tools, and they used greenstone, obsidian, and bone carvings for jewelry. In 1861, Gabriel Read, an Australian prospector who had hunted gold in both California and Australia, found gold in a creek bed at Gabriel&#8217;s Gully, which ignited a 4-year gold rush with 14,000 prospectors swarming into the area in just the first year. You can read more at: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Otago_gold_rush<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>&#8220;Head Hunters&#8221;:<\/strong> Instead of mummifying an entire body like the Ancient Egyptians did, M\u0101ori preserved the heads and stored them in ornate boxes. Someone described it as a way of preserving a family member&#8217;s memory like what we now do with old family photos. Tribal chief heads were also used as bargaining chips after battles. While preserving the head, the eyes and brain were removed and holes were sealed with flax fiber and gum. The head was boiled then smoked, before being dried in the sun and treated with shark oil. In the 1800s when there was a surge for curious objects (&#8220;curios&#8221;) from around the world, the British traded guns for preserved M\u0101ori heads, known as Mokomokai, as the heads usually had the traditional tattoos known as moko. You can read more at: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toi_moko<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>History of New Zealand<\/h2>\n<h2>Traditional Maori Meal<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c32fc17f62185d1517e0bf2015c3232a.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To prepare a traditional Maori meal, prepare fish (or chicken you can pretend is moa) and sweet potatoes. Serve with tea.<\/p>\n<h2>Prepare a Modern New Zealand Meal: Fish and Chips (&#8220;fush and chups&#8221;) <\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"New Zealand Modern Meal: Fish and Chips, Peas, Lolly Cake, and English Tea\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/a0e675f79739a5c663848937193fe852.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Zealand Modern Meal: Fish and Chips, Peas, Lolly Cake, and English Tea<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prepare and serve:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Breaded Fish<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>&#8220;Chips&#8221; (French fries)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>&#8220;Tomato sauce&#8221; (ketchup)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Peas<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Pavlova <strong>OR<\/strong> Lolly Cake<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>English tea (optional: add milk and sugar)<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Fish and Chips<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fish and chips\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/6ac3ba37d62e89ab3101c96929794d6c.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fish and chips<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> To shorten the cooking and prep time use frozen, breaded fish fillets.<\/p>\n<p>Prep timeCook timeReady inYields<\/p>\n<p>35 min<\/p>\n<p>25 min<\/p>\n<p>1 hour <\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<h2>Ingredients<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>2\/3 cup all-purpose flour<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 teaspoon baking soda<\/li>\n<li>1 tablespoon vinegar<\/li>\n<li>2\/3 cup water<\/li>\n<li>1 package French fries<\/li>\n<li>Oil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Instructions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Cut fish filets into 2 x 1\/-1\/2-inch pieces. Pat dry with paper towels.  Mix flour and salt.  Mix baking soda and vinegar. Stir vinegar mixture and water into flour mixture; beat until smooth.  Dip fish into batter, allowing excess batter to drip into bowl. Fry 4 or 5 fish pieces at a time (do not use basket) about 3 minutes, turning fish once, until brown. Drain on paper towels.  (This recipe came from food.com.)<\/li>\n<li>Fry French fries in the remaining oil OR bake them in the oven before you begin making the fish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Option 1: Pavlova (Meringue topped with whipped cream and fruit)<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pavlova (Meringue topped with whipped cream and fruit)\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/8b29c2050b54aa2d146520cbeaaaf198.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pavlova (Meringue topped with whipped cream and fruit)<\/p>\n<p>Prep timeCook timeReady inYields<\/p>\n<p>15 min<\/p>\n<p>1 hour <\/p>\n<p>1 hour 15 min<\/p>\n<p>6-8<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4 egg whites<\/li>\n<li>1\/8 teaspoon cream of tartar<\/li>\n<li>1 cup superfine sugar, (Option: Use regular sugar pulsed in a food processor until grains are half their size)<\/li>\n<li>1 tablespoon cornstarch<\/li>\n<li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract<\/li>\n<li>1 cup sliced fruit<\/li>\n<li>sliced (kiwifruit is most common but berries or peaches also taste good with this)<\/li>\n<li>1 1\/2 cups lightly sweetened whipped cream<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Instructions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F. Line a shallow baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a large dry bowl, sprinkle cream of tartar over egg whites and beat until stiff. Whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add the mixture to the egg whites a tablespoon at a time, while beating on medium speed, until all ingredients are combined. The meringue should be shiny, white, and stiff. Fold in vanilla extract. Reduce oven heat to 200\u00b0F Mound the meringue on the baking sheet in a round shape about 6 inches in diameter. Bake for 1 hour. Turn off oven, leaving meringue in the oven until it is cold or overnight.  Top with whipped cream and arrange fruit over top. (This recipe came from food.com.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Option 2: Lolly Cake<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lolly Cake - In the log form\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/9840236e60369e6e6473bc0448524500.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lolly Cake &#8211; In the log form<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A slice of the lolly cake we made\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/87ab419a8cd748c8f8646db3ff18c08c.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A slice of the lolly cake we made<\/p>\n<p>(Directions written for Americans)<\/p>\n<h2>Ingredients<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>1\/3 cup butter, melted<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>1\/2 can sweetened condensed milk<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>1\/4 cup shredded coconut (for mixing in)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>1 package graham crackers, smashed into crumbs (2 cups smashed)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>1 heaping cup mini-marshmallows (preferably colored ones)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>1\/2 cup shredded coconut (for rolling in)<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Instructions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Combine the butter and sweetened condensed milk.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Mix in 1\/4 cup shredded coconut and 2 cups graham cracker crumbs.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Gently add the mini-marshmallows.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>On parchment or wax paper, roll into a log and roll in 1\/2 cup shredded coconut.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Refrigerate until hard enough to cut into slices. <\/li>\n<p><\/ol>\n<p>(This recipe is inspired by<em> https:\/\/www.food.com\/recipe\/new-zealand-lolly-log-cake-10385<\/em> and <em>https:\/\/www.chelsea.co.nz\/recipes\/browse-recipes\/lolly-cake<\/em> .)  <\/p>\n<h2>Craft Project: Kiwi Bird Finger Puppet<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/1db416376ecb006dc34c18a28062e658.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a Kiwi finger puppet by using the free template and following the directions at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.activityvillage.co.uk\/kiwi_finger_puppet.htm\">www.activityvillage.co.uk<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Art Project: Maori-inspired bookmark<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fence from Rotorua, New Zealand decorated in Maori style\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/8d3e451e5b9b1f38abe3df767532b6d8.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fence from Rotorua, New Zealand decorated in Maori style<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Maori-inspired bookmarks created by elementary students in Grades K-5\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/e7e8c32e7c6c893e7fc6a2a37f5c3523.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maori-inspired bookmarks created by elementary students in Grades K-5<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create Maori art bookmarks by following the directions at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.activityvillage.co.uk\/maori_art_bookmark.htm\">www.activityvillage.co.uk<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>I allowed older students to use black and red Sharpie Markers and my PreK and K kids used washable markers. Children had the choice of using precut cardstock or craft sticks. The could also &#8220;laminate&#8221; them in clear packaging tape. <\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Haka<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt='A haka performed by the national rugby union team (\"All Blacks\") before a game. ' src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/1c62d73a27cc2568f9c2033c251ab1bf.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A haka performed by the national rugby union team (&#8220;All Blacks&#8221;) before a game. <\/p>\n<h2>Wearing homemade Maori costumes while performing the Haka<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/8f2ef4ad6aa245ca9c1e025a640f9dd3.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c2440856acfa58463df03a33ddbef6e6.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hakas are Maori action songs. Both men and women perform them and there are a variety of purposes from intimidating an enemy to celebrating love.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>The most well-known haka is performed by the All Blacks, the New Zealand national rugby team, before its games. They have been performing the Ka Mate haka since 1905.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>A couple haka videos we enjoyed watching include:<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G_OMxvhc358\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G_OMxvhc358<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to Perform the Haka<\/h2>\n<h2>Read a Book About New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"New Zealand Abcs by Holly Schroeder \" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/79562e85ab3c9d9c4e4f93464ff45142.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Maui and the Sun by Gavin Bishop - Images are from amazon.com.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c88baf8e94c037b5631a913a46534bca.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kiwi &amp;amp; Little Blue: And what makes a bird a bird? by Emily Brunner \" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjE2MTg1NDYzMDA0NzM0OTk1\/n-is-for-new-zealand.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"To the Top! Climbing the World's Highest Mountain (Step-Into-Reading, Step 5) by Sydelle Kramer \" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjEzOTA5ODM3Mzk2OTExOTY1\/n-is-for-new-zealand.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New Zealand Abcs by Holly Schroeder <\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 4<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B09WG3KHZ4\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">New Zealand Abcs by Holly Schroeder <\/a>gives a nice overview of the country with a sentence for each letter of the alphabet.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/155858577X\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Maui and the Sun by Gavin Bishop<\/a> is a re-telling of a popular Maori pourquoi tale\/trickster tale telling how trickster Maui captured the sun with a net so that the day could be longer.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1736127209\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Kiwi &amp; Little Blue by Emily Brunner <\/a>follows a kiwi bird and little blue penguin as they examine what makes a bird a bird.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00YDK2MZE\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">To the Top! Climbing the World&#8217;s Highest Mountain (Step-Into-Reading, Step 5) by Sydelle Kramer <\/a>is a 48 page picture book on Sir Edmund Hillary&#8217;s climb to the top of Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary was from New Zealand.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Simple children&#8217;s books that focus on some of the animals of New Zealand include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1666394092\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Moko to the Rescue: Heroic Dolphin of New Zealand<\/a> (Heroic Animals) by Matthew K Manning, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0593813502\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas<\/a> by Lynee Cox, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1760360325\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Watch out, Snail!<\/a> by Gay Hay.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Pray for the people of New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/080a2040d2d3fd49cd70acfadbcbe483.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Christianity was introduced to New Zealand in 1814 by Samuel Marsden, a missionary sponsored by the Church of England&#8217;s Church Missionary Society. From missionaries, the M\u0101ori not only learned about Christianity but also about European farming practices and trades and how to read and write.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>In 1845, over half the M\u0101ori population were attending church.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Even though Christians are the single largest religious group (32% of the population), the number is rapidly declining. According to a 2023 census, 51.6% of the population stated they had no religion.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>To find out about the religious nature of New Zealand and specific ways you can pray for the country, go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.operationworld.org\/country\/newz\/owtext.html\">operationworld.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Animals of New Zealand<\/h2>\n<h2>Places to Visit<\/h2>\n<h2>More YouTube Videos We Enjoyed on New Zealand<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Culture: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uHEo4lIRQRY\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uHEo4lIRQRY<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Tatoos: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xi5X2Ju2cqk\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xi5X2Ju2cqk<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Tui call: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=b0K1q9JriDE\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=b0K1q9JriDE<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Landscapes (National Geographic): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1Evj5XMTWEo\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1Evj5XMTWEo<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>2 Children Visit New Zealand (starts with Maori gods but gets better after that): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_I_TxIZNOYM\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_I_TxIZNOYM<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>New Zealand slang (humor): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7ETgmUqdH1Y\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7ETgmUqdH1Y<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Comparison of New Zealand and America (humor): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p6cInZvsPPI\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p6cInZvsPPI<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>New Zealand foods: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5Rm8d60z3H4\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5Rm8d60z3H4<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Kiwi (kids visiting New Zealand): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uoJq-jKkoKk\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uoJq-jKkoKk<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Weta: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ssyXATaus8g\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ssyXATaus8g<\/a><\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Where is Wellington, the capital of New Zealand?<\/h2>\n<h2>I haven&#8217;t been to New Zealand. Have you?<\/h2>\n<h2>Other countries starting with the letter N<\/h2>\n<h3>Would you prefer to study a different country? Try one of these.<\/h3>\n<p>Namibia<\/p>\n<p>Nauru<\/p>\n<p>Nepal<\/p>\n<p>Netherlands<\/p>\n<p>New Caledonia<\/p>\n<p>Nicaragua<\/p>\n<p>Niger<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria<\/p>\n<p>Niue<\/p>\n<p>Norfolk Island<\/p>\n<p>Northern Cyprus<\/p>\n<p>Northern Mariana Islands<\/p>\n<p>Norway<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ready to visit other countries?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"n-is-for-new-zealand\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/1d3a3b57e3176930b93c9fe435411380.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/around-the-world-in-26-letters\">around-the-world-in-26-letters<\/a><\/strong> to find links to all the countries we &#8220;visited.&#8221; Each webpage features a menu, craft, books, video clips, worksheets, and more!<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a9 2011 Shannon<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>What do you love about New Zealand? &#8211; Please leave a note to let me know you dropped by! Thank you for visiting!<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Blackspaniel1<\/strong> on April 22, 2012:<\/p>\n<p>Nice lens<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jul 14, 2025 Hands-on Lesson on New Zealand Do you want to know more about New Zealand? Are you a lover of travel, geography teacher, homeschooling or involved parent, student, or life-long learner? In an effort to make world geography more meaningful and memorable, I&#8217;ve compiled all you will need to locate New Zealand on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1344\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}