Humanities Aotearoa By sienna1236765442 1300 Māori people settle in Aotearoa 1769 British captain James Cook explores coastline 1815 First British missionaries arrive in Aotearoa 1845 The New Zealand Wars, also referred to as the Land Wars. Māori put up resistance to British colonial rule. 1893 New Zealand becomes world's first country to give women the vote. 1914 Outbreak of World War I. New Zealand commits thousands of troops to the British war effort. 1947 New Zealand gains full independence from Britain.