Today (the 6th of Feb) is effectively New Zealand's national holiday, known as 'Waitangi Day'. Here is a map showing New Zealand in relation to the rest of the world

Waitangi Day is less a day of celebratory nationalism and more the day where New Zealand reflects on itself. To help we Kiwis do that, and perhaps to help others learn something new about the smallest member of "Five Eyes", in honour of a country which is definitely not Australia, today here on AskHistorians we will be holding a discussion on New Zealand history.

We realise not so many people out there are going to be either experts, or passionately interested in the history of a small island nation in the Pacific. To help you along, here is the pledge; without breaking the rules, there is no question too small.

• Want to know why the day is called Waitangi Day?
• Why there are historically so many sheep?
• How Edmond Hillary came the climb Everest?
• Wondering about Lord of the Rings? Sorry, twenty-year-rule. But ask about our early film industry.

EDIT: 2000 NZT. (0800 GMT). This wasn't intended as an AMA, I swear, and I am desperately keen for another New Zealand historian to chime in and help out.