Maori (native people - arrived around 11-13th century AD. A highly adaptive people. They never really formed one people as 'Maori', but rather each tribe had its own identity'. While they certainly defied the Victorian notions of 'Fatal Impact' - the destruction of native peoples due to the 'sheer superiority' of European civilization; introuduced muskets destablilised the tribal boundries leading to slaughter. In the aftermath the missionaries took advantage of this and converted the majority of the Maori, though they adapted rather than adopted Christianity leading to some rather peculiar varients. To the missionaries dismay, they identified far more with the Jews and the ideas of getting their promised land back than some of the strictly Christian messeges. They formed a compact with the English called the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, but soon after new settlers who had little regard for it (along with discrepancies in the translation) began causing problems. While the Maori kept dominance at first due to numbers, they were soon swamped in land greedy settlers, leading to what are now known as the 'Land Wars' or 'New Zealand Wars'. The Maori tried establishing a King with limited sucess, and later tried non-violent resistance and working within the White mans own legal framework among other things, but by the 1900s Maori land ownership had dwindled to almost nothing from almost everything, and the population had likewise lowered. Since the 80s Maori have regrasped their heritage and the NZ government have tried to redress outstanding grievences with some sucess.
English (Captain Cook explored and mapped the land in the late 18th century. The English claimed it in 1840 after about 40 years of exploitation (felling, sealing, whaling), despite not really wanting to. The English essentially governed NZ from afar and increasingly loosely, until the advent of refrigeration around 1890 leading to a strong bond being established, highly profitable for both countries. NZ essentially became Britains farm, and NZ blindly followed England into the Boer War, WWI, and WWII. With the establishment of the EEU Britain essentially tried to cut off NZ. NZ had enjoyed top five status on the HDI and similar positions economically, but this cut along with other issues led to economic turmoil in the mid 20th century, dropping NZs standard of living far behind Europe and England)
French (Expressed interest in colonising more Pacific nations having already landed in places such as New Caledonia. They formed a settlement at Akaroa in the south island - this along with their Catholocism perhaps drove the English to claim NZ)
Dutch (Under Abel Tasman, first to 'discover' NZ (not counting the inhabitants) - tried to land but was aggressively driven off. Could have been the first, the Dutch could have taken NZ...)
Australia (The large neighbouring country to the West, NZ was administerred for a time as a dependancy of the state of New South Wales. Australia thought NZ would join in its federation as the final state, but NZ had other plans. While similar countries there are strong rivalries, especially in sport, and the two countries have since the 80s become increasingly different ideologically)
Polynesia, New Zealand, America, China, and Japan could also be added. And yes, I know that England + Maori = New Zealand (sort of).
America (along with French and English, they too exploited the resources of NZ. De to trouble in the north threatening their citizens, they considered establishing permanent bases to the alarm of the English. In WWII a colonisation of sorts occured as American ships docked in NZ harbours and partook of it's ladyfolk while the men where away in Europe. Women were seduced by American men with their good manners and gifts of pantyhose. Oh how things have changed

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Japan (In WWII Japan advanced further and further South through Asia, taking China, the Philipenes, and most of South East Asia. One pre-emptive attack on Australia was made with mini-submarines, and those same submarines were spotted several times off the coasts of NZ as well. Tensions are still exist over environmental issues such as whaling.).
China (China is growing and growing and it's industrial and military powers dominate the region. Though NZ has housed Chinese since the Goldrushes in the 1860s, a rapidly growing Chinese population in modern times disturbs most conservatives. While relations between the two countries are friendly, increased activity in funding Pacific states by China is a concern when it comes to voting on international issues).
Polynesia (more Samoans, Tongans, etc live here than in the Pacific countries)
New Zealand (The modern country of New Zealand. Known for sheep, greenpeace, epic movies, and tourism. NZ enjoys clear skies and minor pollution, no corruption (haha), and a decent economy that had to reconfigure itself after the turmoil of the 70s and 80s. NZ has always played an active role on the world stage since the 1900s. Though mostly obsessed with sport and alcohol, NZ has contributed many notable persons such as Ernest Rutherford, the man who split the atom (and the worlds first confirmed alchemist), or Sir Edmond Hillary, the first to reach the top of Mt Everest. - a weak and superficial statement, but y'know)