New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui), and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and around 600 smaller islands. It has a total land area of 268,000 square kilometres (103,500 sq mi). New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland. Sometime between 1250 and 1300, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947 and the British monarch remained the head of state. A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant source of revenue. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand’s territorial claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum. Capital: Wellington Population: 5 million |
Useful Information | |
$1 USD=1.58 $NZ | |
Climate | |
Travel Tips | |
Health & Safety | |
Visa Requirements | |
Electrical |
Regions | |||||
Auckland | Hawkes Bay | Bay of Plenty | Gisbourne | Manawatu Whanganui | Northland |
Waikato | Taranaki | Wellington | Tasman | Nelson | Marlborough |
West Coast | Canterbury | Otago | Southland | ||
Cities | |||||
Auckland | Wellington | Christchurch | Hamilton | Dunedin | Queenstown |
Blog Posts:
New Zealand: South Island – Queenstown, Te Anau & Milford Sound
New Zealand: North Island – Lake Taupo
New Zealand: North Island – Rotorua
Rotorua Whakarewarewa State Forest’s Redwoods and Rainbow Springs Nature Park and it’s kiwis
New Zealand: Giant metal dog and sheep ice-cream store.
New Zealand: North Island – Hobbiton Film Set