Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand is an online encyclopedia created by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage of the New Zealand Government. The project was established in 2002 and the website launched in 2005. Te Ara is a long-term project, although much content is already visible.

History

The encyclopedia is edited by historian Jock Phillips and has a staff of writers, editors, image and resource researchers and designers. It is organised by themes, and its first theme focused on telling the stories of New Zealanders. It covers the migration of peoples to New Zealand, and the history of their settlement – both New Zealand's indigenous Māori people, and other immigrant groups.

An overview section, New Zealand in Brief, presents concise information and facts about the country.

In 2006 a second thematic group of entries was published entitled Earth, Sea and Sky and covering ocean fish, sea and shorebirds and other marine life, the interactions of people and the sea, the country's natural resources, and shaping forces such as geology, volcanology, weather and climate. Distinctively New Zealand features are the main focus of the content, and scientific and technical data is presented within its social and human context.

Te Ara's third theme, The Bush, was launched in late 2007. It covers New Zealand's indigenous landscapes, forests, plants and animals, and the ways that people have used them or attempted to understand them. The Bush comprises more than 100 entries,...
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