New Zealand lies in the southern Pacific Ocean, 1600 km east of
Australia. It is made up of the North and South Islands and a number of smaller
islands, with a total area of 268 000 sq km.
Mountain ranges and hill country dominate NZ's landscape; one of the most
striking physical features is the Southern Alps. These, along with fiords glaciers and lakes and the coastal
plains of Canterbury and Southland add to the variety of the South Island
scenery. In the North Island the
volcanic interior contains NZ's largest lake, Lake Taupo, and most of the
country's active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro - Ruapehu erupted
as recently as 1995 and 1996. Hot
springs, geysers, mud pools also form part of the volcanic system centred
around Rotorua.
Polynesians
settlers arrived in Aotearoa/New Zealand around the tenth century, and by the
twelfth century settlements were scattered over most of the country. What the Polynesians found was a land much
different to the South Pacific tropical isles of Polynesia. Instead they found a land of mountains with
a more seasonal climate. There were no
large mammals to hunt for food, but there was a large flightless bird called
the Moa. It that stood up to 15 feet
tall and the Maoris found it easy prey.
By the time Europeans had reached New Zealand the Moa was hunted to
extinction.
Abel van Tasman was the first European explorer to
see New Zealand in 1642, but it was Captain James Cook who first set foot on
New Zealand soil in 1769. The first
permanent settlers didn't arrive until the 1830's. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, giving sovereignty of
New Zealand to Britain. The Maori were
persuaded to cede vast tracts of land for mere token payments, but soon the
Maori realised the true worth of what they had given away. The Maori rose up
and attacked the British settlements repeatedly.
Today
New Zealand is a relatively peaceful country and the people are extraordinarily
friendly and outgoing. One quarter of New Zealand is protected wilderness and
much of the country is pollution free.
Time Zone
New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich mean time making it one of
the first places in the world to see the new day. Summer time (or Daylight
Saving Time we call it here) is an advance of one hour at 2am in the morning on
the first Sunday in October and back to NZST at 3am in the morning on the third
Sunday morning of March. NZST (GMT+12) or NZDT (GMT+13) October - March.
Economy—overview:
Since
1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an
agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a
more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes,
broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector,
and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the
industrial world. Per capita GDP has
been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade
leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe,
and the US. The slump in demand in Asian
markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$61.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real
growth rate: -0.2% (1998)
GDP—per
capita: purchasing power parity—$17,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition
by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 25%
services 66% (1997)
Population
below poverty line: NA%
Household
income or consumption by percentage share:
Lowest
10%: NA%
Highest10%: NA%
Inflation
rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)
Labor
force: 1.86 million (1998)
Labor
force—by occupation: services 65.1%, industry 25.1%, agriculture
9.8% (1995)
Unemployment
rate: 7.6% (1998)
Budget:
Revenues: $24.9 billion
Expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: food
processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation
equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial
production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 35.534
billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production
by source:
fossil
fuel: 18.72%
hydro: 75.67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.61% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy
products; fish
Exports: $12.9 billion (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products,
fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood
Exports—partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 6% (1997)
Imports: $13 billion (1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer
goods, plastics
Imports—partners: Australia 27%, US 19%, Japan 12%, UK 6% (1997)
Debt—external: $53.2 billion (March 1998)
Economic
aid—donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange
rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.85
(February 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995),
1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal
year: 1 July—30 June
GEOGRAPHY
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic
coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map
references: Oceania
Area:
total: 268,680
sq km
land: 268,670
sq km
water: 10
sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell
Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area—comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land
boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
aritime
claims:
continental
shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
territorial
sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation
extremes:
lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest
point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural
resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone
Land
use:
arable
land: 9%
permanent
crops: 5%
permanent
pastures: 50%
forests
and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated
land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural
hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not
severe; volcanic activity
Environment—current
issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora
and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment
—international
agreements: party
to: Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not
ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
National Anthem…
God of nations at thy feet
in the bonds of love we meet
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race
Gather here before thy face,
Asking thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase,
May thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nation's van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out thy glorious plan.
God defend New Zealand.
PEOPLE
Population: 3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)
Age
structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006)
65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999
est.)
Population
growth rate: 0.99% (1999 est.)
Birth
rate: 14.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death
rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net
migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex
ratio:
at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under
15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65
years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total
population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant
mortality rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life
expectancy at birth:
total
population: 77.82 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)
Total
fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic
groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%,
other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,
Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total
population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Disputes—international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
Her
Majesty Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
regarding with Her Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and
anxious to protect their just Rights and Property and to secure to them the
enjoyment of Peace and Good Order has deemed it necessary in consequence of the
great number of Her Majesty's Subjects who have already settled in New Zealand
and the rapid extension of Emigration both from Europe and Australia which is
still in progress to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorized
to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her
Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those islands.
Her
Majesty therefore being desirous to establish a settled form of Civil
Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from
the absense of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to the native
population and to Her subjects has been graciously pleased to empower and to
authorize "me William Hobson a Captain" in Her Majesty's Royal Navy
Consul and Lieutenant Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may be or
hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty to invite the confederated and
independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following Articles and
Conditions.
Article the
First
The
Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the
separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the
Confederation cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and without
reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said
Confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may be
supposed to exercise or to possess, over their respective Territories as the sole
Sovereigns thereof.
Article the
Second
Her
Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes
of New Zealand and to the respective families and individuals thereof the full
exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests
Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually
possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their
possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield
to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Preemption over such lands as the
proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed
upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to
treat with them in that behalf.
Article the
Third
In
consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives
of New Zealand Her royal protection and imparts to them all the Rights and
Privileges of British Subjects.
[Signed]
W Hobson Lieutenant Govenor
Now
therefore We the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New
Zealand being assembled in Congress at Victoria in Waitangi and We the Separate
and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand claiming authority over the Tribes and
Territories which are specified after our respective names, having been made
fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter
into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof in witness of which we
have attatched our signatures or marks at the places and the dates respectively
specified
Done
at Waitangi this Sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty.