About Us... |
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Clan Productions is based in Napier on the North Island of New Zealand. We chose this interesting part of the world to start a web based
JavaTM and internet tools company with the realization that, if the internet gives you virtual freedom to live
where you want, you should embrace that idea and live somewhere you really want!
You can find us here.
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| The Capital City - Wellington |
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Image courtesy of Nasa VisibleEarth
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Wellington is New Zealand's second largest city. Located in a natural sheltered
harbor, Wellington is best known for earthquakes
and wind. But accompanying these aspects are beautiful scenery, a great
harbor, beaches, remote coasts and varied wildlife.
And Wellington is not a sleepy backwater either, a lively Arts community flourishes here, there's
theatre, ballet,
opera, thriving
community groups, a busy sports calendar and some of the best
coffee houses this side of the Orangarangas!
A directory and information about all things Wellington can be
found at the totally
Wellington site.
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| Some history |
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New Zealand is credited with being originally populated by people
descended from the Polynesian explorer Kupe in around the 10th
century. Kupe arrived with his followers and was followed soon after
by others Polynesians who became known as Maori. Now, New Zealand
is peopled by Maori from many tribes, such as Ngai Tara and Ngati
Ira, who have migrated and
amalgamated since Kupe's arrival.
Evidence of early Maori habitation can be found all around.
In 1642, European exploration of New Zealand began with the Dutch explorer Abel
Tasman. On December 13th, Abel Tasman sighted the Southern Alps of
New Zealand after departing from Tasmania (Van Diemens Land), and
on 19th December encountered the Maori natives of Golden Bay on
the South Island. An unfortunate incident followed as the two
cultures met for the first time, and Abel Tasman hastily sailed up
the western side of the North Island and out to Tonga. New
Zealand's European exploration lapsed, and did not resume until over
a century later. Captain Cook's first expedition occurred in 1769 in
the ship 'Endeavour'. Initially embarking on a voyage to observe the
passage of the planet Venus across the sun (a rare occurrence, this
transition was used to provide an estimate of the distance from the
Earth to the sun), Cook also had the aim of exploring the southern
oceans and islands. New Zealand was sighted on the 6th October 1769
and land fall made at Poverty Bay in the North Island. Coincidentally,
New Zealand was 'discovered' at almost the same time by the French
explorer de Surville in December 1769. De Surville had made his way
from the Pacific, near the as yet undiscovered New Caledonia, to
Doubtless Bay on the North Island looking for fruit and frsh water
supplies for his crew. De Surville passed close by the Endeavour one
night, but neither crew sighted the other.
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| Seismic activity |
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New Zealand is well known for its natural formations and
geological activity. Numerous fault lines, volcanoes, geysers and
hot springs are scattered amongst both main islands, with long
chains of rugged and often high mountains.
The capital city, Wellington, like San Francisco, Los Angeles or Tokyo, lies
near major fault lines. The Wellington fault is believed to have
last ruptured in around 1500 - 1650 AD. The Wairarapa fault caused
the magnitude 8.2 earthquake of 1855 which destroyed half the then
small town. Numerous minor faults pervade the area, any of which
have the capacity to cause a major event. Some interesting
information is available at this earthquake
site.
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Contact information
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