What is the origin of the name New Zealand?

New Zealand is located in Oceania, across the sea from Australia. The origin of New Zealand's name is closely related to the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.

Before the 17th century, New Zealand’s indigenous inhabitants were Maori. The Maori people call this land "Otiro", which means "the land of rolling white clouds".

In 1642, the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman came to this beautiful island country. He thought this place was very similar to the Dutch province of Zeeland, so he called it "New Jersey", which means "new land in the sea."

Later, a large number of British immigrants came here. From 1769 to 1777, the British Captain James Cook came to New Zealand five times and measured and mapped the area.

After that, the British immigrated to the area in large numbers and declared their occupation of New Zealand, changing the island's Dutch name "New Jersey" to the English "New Zealand".

In 1840, the British forced the Maori chiefs to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, adding this land to the British Empire.

In 1907, the United Kingdom was forced to agree to New Zealand's independence and become an autonomous territory of the Commonwealth, but its politics, economy, and diplomacy were still under British control.

It was not until 1931 that the British Parliament passed the "Act of Westminster". According to this act, New Zealand gained complete autonomy in 1947, but New Zealand remained a member of the Commonwealth.