New Zealand is a country in the
south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two large islands
(the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller
islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham
Islands. In Maori, New Zealand has come to be known as
Aotearoa, which is usually translated into English as The
Land of the Long White Cloud. The Realm of New Zealand also
includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing
but in free association; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency
(New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).
New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being
separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea,
approximately 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) across. Its
closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and
Tonga.
The population is mostly of European descent, with the
indigenous Maori being the largest minority. Non-Maori
Polynesian and Asian people are also significant minorities,
especially in the cities. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New
Zealand, is the Head of State and, in her absence, is
represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. The Queen
'reigns but does not rule.' She has no real political
influence, and her position is largely symbolic.[3]
Political power is held by the democratically-elected
Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime
Minister, who is the Head of Government.
Geography
New Zealand comprises two main islands (called the North and
South Islands in English, Te-Ika-a-Maui and Te Wai Pounamu
in Maori) and a number of smaller islands located near the
centre of the water hemisphere. The total land area, 268,680
square kilometres (103,738 sq mi), is a little less than
that of Italy and Japan, and a little more than the United
Kingdom. The country extends more than 1,600 kilometres
(1,000 miles) along its main, north-north-east axis, with
approximately 15,134 km (9,404 mi) of coastline. The most
significant of the smaller inhabited islands include Stewart
Island/Rakiura; Waiheke Island, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf;
Great Barrier Island, east of the Hauraki Gulf; and the
Chatham Islands, named Rekohu by Moriori. The country has
extensive marine resources, with the seventh-largest
Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering over four
million square kilometres (1.5 million sq mi), more than 15
times its land area.
Biodiversity
Because of its long isolation from the rest of the world and
its island biogeography, New Zealand has extraordinary flora
and fauna. About 80% of the flora in New Zealand occurs only
in New Zealand, including more than 40 endemic genera. The
two main types of forest are those dominated by podocarps
and/or the giant kauri, and in cooler climates the southern
beech. The remaining vegetation types in New Zealand are
grasslands of tussock and other grasses, usually in
sub-alpine areas, and the low shrublands between grasslands
and forests.
Economy
New Zealand has a modern, prosperous, developed economy with
an estimated GDP of US$106 billion (as of 2006). The country
has a high standard of living with a GDP per capita of
US$24,943 in 2006 (United States US$44,190; Spain
US$27,767).
Since 2000 New Zealand has made substantial gains in median
household income. New Zealand, along with Australia, largely
escaped the early 2000s recession that impacted upon most
other advanced countries. The combination of high growth in
New Zealand, along with negative growth in United
States[18], has allowed New Zealand to close the income gap.
As of 2006, New Zealand's median household income (PPP) was
only 17% less than in the United states.
Agriculture
Agriculture has been and continues to be the main export
industry in New Zealand.
In the year to June 2007, dairy products accounted for 21%
($7.5 billion) of total merchandise exports. Other
agricultural items were meat 13.2%, wood 6.3%, fruit 3.5%
and fishing 3.3%.
Livestock are rarely housed, but feeding of small quantities
of supplements such as hay and silage can occur,
particularly in winter. Grass growth is seasonal, largely
dependent on location and climatic fluctuations but normally
occurs for between 8-12 months of the year. Stock are grazed
in paddocks, often with moveable electric fencing around the
farm. Lambing and calving are carefully managed to take full
advantage of spring grass growth.
Demographics
New Zealand has a population of about 4.2 million, of which
approximately 78% identify with European ethnic groups; New
Zealand is also a predominantly urban country with 72.2% of
the population living in urban areas. New Zealanders of
European descent are collectively known as Pakeha; this term
generally refers to New Zealanders of European descent but
some Maori use it to refer to all non-Maori New Zealanders.
Most European New Zealanders are of British and Irish
ancestry, although there has been significant Dutch,
Romanian, Italian, and German immigration together with
indirect European immigration through Australia, South
Africa and North America. According to the 2001 census
projections, by 2021 European children will make up 63% of
all New Zealand children, compared with 74% in 2001.
Indigenous Maori people are the largest non-European ethnic
group, accounting for 14.6% of the population in the 2006
census. While people could select more than one ethnic
group, slightly more than half (53%) of all Maori residents
identified solely as Maori. People identifying with Asian
ethnic groups account for 9.2% of the population, increasing
from 6.6% in the 2001 census, while 6.9% of people are of
Pacific Island origin.
Culture
Contemporary New Zealand has a diverse culture with
influences from Anglo-Celtic, American, Australian and Maori
cultures, along with those of other European cultures and –
more recently – non-Maori Polynesian and Asian cultures.
Large festivals in celebration of Diwali and Chinese New
Year are held in Auckland and Wellington, as is the world's
largest Polynesian festival, Pasifika. Cultural links
between New Zealand and the United Kingdom are maintained by
a common language, sustained migration from the United
Kingdom and the fact that many young New Zealanders spend
time in the United Kingdom on their "overseas experience" (OE).
The music of New Zealand and cuisine of New Zealand are
similar to that of Britain and the United States, although
both have some distinct New Zealand and Pacific qualities.
Sports
Sport has a major role in New Zealand's culture; this is
particularly the case with rugby union. Other popular sports
include cricket, netball, basketball, lawn bowling, soccer
and rugby league. Also popular are golf, tennis, cycling,
field hockey, skiing, snowboarding, softball (Men's
International Softball Federation World Champions, 1996,
2000, 2004) and a variety of water sports, particularly
surfing, sailing, whitewater kayaking, surf lifesaving
skills and rowing. In the latter, New Zealand enjoyed an
extraordinary magic 45 minutes when winning four successive
gold medals at the 2005 world championships.
