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Te Puia, Rotorua

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New Zealand's unit of currency

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''God defend New Zealand''

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new zealand guide
Giorgos Rallis

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Fiordland

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The Capital of New Zealand

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New Zealand is home to the giant weta, the heaviest insect in the world. It is heavier than a sparrow and looks like a giant cockroach.

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The official travel website for New Zealand

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The official travel website for New Zealand

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Welcome to New Zealand | Official site for Tourism New Zealand

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Welcome to New Zealand. Get official travel information, maps, itineraries, best time to travel & things to do to help you plan your next holiday to New Zealand.

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New Zealand

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Australia-Oceania :: NEW ZEALAND

Introduction :: NEW ZEALAND

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand sometime between A.D. 1250 and 1300. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. That same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both world wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Geography :: NEW ZEALAND

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

Area comparison map:

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,724 m

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

arable land 1.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 41.1%

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism; almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

People and Society :: NEW ZEALAND

4,510,327 (July 2017 est.)

European 71.2%, Maori 14.1%, Asian 11.3%, Pacific peoples 7.6%, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African 1.1%, other 1.6%, not stated or unidentified 5.4%

note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group (2013 est.)

English (de facto official) 89.8%, Maori (de jure official) 3.5%, Samoan 2%, Hindi 1.6%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1%, other or not stated 20.5%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official)

note: shares sum to 120.8% due to multiple responses on census (2013 est.)

Christian 44.3% (Catholic 11.6%, Anglican 10.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 7.8%, Methodist, 2.4%, Pentecostal 1.8%, other 9.9%), Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, objected to answering 4.1%

note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion (2013 est.)

0-14 years: 19.69% (male 454,982/female 432,877)

15-24 years: 13.35% (male 309,707/female 292,586)

25-54 years: 39.82% (male 900,374/female 895,615)

55-64 years: 11.89% (male 261,097/female 275,151)

65 years and over: 15.25% (male 318,089/female 369,849) (2017 est.)

population pyramid:

total dependency ratio: 52.9

youth dependency ratio: 30.5

elderly dependency ratio: 22.4

potential support ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)

female: 38.8 years (2017 est.)

13.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

urban population: 86.4% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Auckland 1.344 million; WELLINGTON (capital) 383,000 (2015)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

note: median age at first birth (2009 est.)

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

total population: 81.3 years

female: 83.5 years (2017 est.)

2.02 children born/woman (2017 est.)

3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

female: 13.4% (2016 est.)

Government :: NEW ZEALAND

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: New Zealand

etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769

parliamentary democracy (New Zealand Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

note: New Zealand has two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions

amendments: proposed as "bills" by Parliament or by referenda called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an "act" normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent to by the governor-general; passage of amendments to "reserved" constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75 percent of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2014 (2018)

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016)

head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 26 October 2017)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with support from the Green Party

description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies, including 7 Maori constituencies, by simple majority vote and 50 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

elections: last held on 23 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2020)

election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 46%, Labor Party 35.9%, NZ First 7.5%, Green Party 5.9%, ACT Party .5%; seats by party - National Party 56, Labor Party 46, NZ First 9, Green Party 8, ACT Party 1

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the attorney-general; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, Maori lands, and military

ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]

Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party)

New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]

New Zealand Labor Party [Jacinda ARDERN]

New Zealand National Party [Simon BRIDGES]

United Future New Zealand [Damian LIGHT]

Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL

other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy John GROSER (since 28 January 2016)

chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227[1] (202) 667-5227

consulate(s) general: Honolulu (HI), Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott P. BROWN (since 27 June 2017) note - also accredited to Samoa

embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034

telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000

consulate(s) general: Auckland

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)

name: "God Defend New Zealand"

lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS

note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the Queen" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played

Economy :: NEW ZEALAND

Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.

Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.

Expanding New Zealand's network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States' withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand's most important trading partners.

$185.7 billion (2017 est.)

$179.5 billion (2016 est.)

$173.3 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

$200.8 billion (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

household consumption: 57.1%

government consumption: 18.4%

investment in fixed capital: 23.2%

investment in inventories: 0.3%

exports of goods and services: 27.4%

imports of goods and services: -26.4% (2017 est.)

services: 69.9% (2017 est.)

dairy products, sheep, beef, poultry, fruit, vegetables, wine, seafood, wheat and barley

agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

2.655 million (2017 est.)

services: 74% (2006 est.)

expenditures: $71.9 billion (2017 est.)

note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

2.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

5% (31 December 2008 est.)

4.9% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.02% (31 December 2016 est.)

$44.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$42.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$199.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$190 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$300.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$284.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$74.35 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$74.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$65.96 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$-7.17 billion (2017 est.)

$-5.013 billion (2016 est.)

$37.35 billion (2017 est.)

$33.61 billion (2016 est.)

dairy products, meat and edible offal, logs and wood articles, fruit, crude oil, wine

China 19.4%, Australia 17.1%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.2% (2016)

$38.74 billion (2017 est.)

$35.53 billion (2016 est.)

petroleum and products, mechanical machinery, vehicles and parts, electrical machinery, textiles

China 19.9%, Australia 12.6%, US 11.3%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 4.8%, Thailand 4.5%, South Korea 4.2% (2016)

$18.32 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$88.08 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$84.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$78.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$77.31 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$59.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Energy :: NEW ZEALAND

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

42.77 billion kWh (2015 est.)

39.93 billion kWh (2015 est.)

9.454 million kW (2015 est.)

24% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

56.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

19.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

34,730 bbl/day (2016 est.)

30,560 bbl/day (2016 est.)

109,200 bbl/day (2016 est.)

56.9 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

117,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

167,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

3,863 bbl/day (2016 est.)

54,750 bbl/day (2016 est.)

4.954 billion cu m (2015 est.)

9.08 billion cu m (2015 est.)

35.88 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

37 million Mt (2013 est.)

Communications :: NEW ZEALAND

total subscriptions: 1.82 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (July 2016 est.)

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 170 per 100 persons

international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2016)

state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services, as are a range of streaming services (2018)

percent of population: 88.5% (July 2016 est.)

Transportation :: NEW ZEALAND

number of registered air carriers: 6

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 123

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 15,304,409

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 999,384,961 mt-km (2015)

condensate 331 km; gas 2,500 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2018)

paved: 61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways)

unpaved: 32,400 km (2017)

by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 4, other 83 (2017)

major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington

Military and Security :: NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force) (2018)

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription; 3 years of secondary education required; must be a citizen of NZ, the UK, Australia, Canada, or the US, and resident of NZ for the previous 5 years (2018)

Transnational Issues :: NEW ZEALAND

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

significant consumer of amphetamines

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The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is the single point of contact for all inquiries about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). We read every letter, fax, or e-mail we receive, and we will convey your comments to CIA officials outside OPA as appropriate.

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Nelson

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Under the green hills of Waitomo lies a labyrinth of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers

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New Zealand: The Ultimate Travel Guide by TourRadar 5/5

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Karekare Waterfalls

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Whakariki Beach- Nelson

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The longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a hill in New Zealand. 

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The longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a hill in New Zealand. 

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10 things you didn't know about new zealand

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10 Things You Didn't Know About New Zealand

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From Maori warriors to massive eagles these are 10 Things You Didn't Know About New Zealand.

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 15% of New Zealand's population are Māori.

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 15% of New Zealand's population are Māori.

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https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/new-zealand/#new-zealand-sheep.jpg

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7 things you should know before you visit New Zealand

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Waitomo Glowworm Caves