Answer of the Day
Why is today called Waitangi Day if it celebrates the founding of New Zealand? On this date in 1840, some 40 Maori chiefs and British Governor William Hobson gathered in the village of Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, to sign a treaty which gave Britain sovereignty over the land of New Zealand, while protecting the Maoris' ownership of their lands and treasures. This was called the Treaty of Waitangi. Over the coming years, the Maori were disappointed with persistent encroachment upon their territory, and battles ensued. A New Zealand government eventually apologized for violations of the treaty, promising compensation. Today, Waitangi Day (celebrated on February 6), is considered New Zealand's founding day and is a national holiday. The term Maori means "original people" or "local people." It was used to signify the local inhabitants of New Zealand, as opposed to the "Pakeha," the "new arrivals." When the European settlers came to the area, the word came to mean the Maori people.

Quote
"New Zealand is not a small country but a large village." — Peter Jackson

Word of the day
keelhaul
(KEEL-hawl)

verb tr.
1. To haul under the keel of a ship.
2. To rebuke sharply.

Etymology
From Dutch kielhalen, from kiel (keel) + halen (to haul). In the olden times this form of punishment was inflicted in the Dutch and British navies. The punished sailor was tied to a rope looped under the ship and thrown in the water. Then he was dragged along the bottom of the ship to the other side. The result was either severe injuries from brushing against the barnacles on the ship's bottom or death from drowning. Thankfully, in modern times keelhauling is performed only metaphorically

Usage
"A determined farmer named Taggart is out to keelhaul the varmint that carried off his youngest son." — Gene Seymour; Unnecessary Sequel Creeps in Once Again; Los Angeles Times; Aug 29, 2003. (© Wordsmith.org)

Today's History

Alan Shepard on the Moon During the 'Apollo 14' Mission

• Elizabeth II: became the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom upon the death of her father, George VI; she was formally crowned a year later (1952)
• Apollo 14: astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to golf on the moon, while crewmate Edgar Mitchell threw a lunar scoop handle as a javelin (1971)

Today's Birthdays

Tom Brokaw

• Aaron Burr (1756-1836): Thomas Jefferson's vice president; he killed opponent Alexander Hamilton in a duel
• Babe Ruth (1895-1948): New York Yankee slugger
• Ronald Reagan (1911-2004): 40th POTUS
• François Truffaut (1932-1984): New Wave film director and critic
• Mike Farrell (71): BJ Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H; other TV personalities born today include Patrick Macnee (88), Rip Torn and Mamie Van Doren (both 79), Gayle Hunnicutt (67), Michael Tucker (66), Kathy Najimy (53) and Barry Miller (52)
• Tom Brokaw (70): broadcast journalist, longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News
• Axl Rose (48): rock singer with Guns 'N Roses; also, musicians Fabian (67) and Natalie Cole (60)