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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of New Zealand
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    New Zealand Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. 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. In 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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,021 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
2,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
397 cu km (1995)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)
Per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world
   People    New Zealand Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,115,771 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 437,547/female 417,698)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,393,057/female 1,378,358)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 214,189/female 274,922) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 34.2 years
male: 33.5 years
female: 35 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.95% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.61 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.048 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.011 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.779 male(s)/female
total population: 0.987 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.96 years
male: 75.97 years
female: 82.08 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.79 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
   Government    New Zealand Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in March
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham Island
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Dependent areas:
Definition Field Listing
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since July 2002)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not later than 15 November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%, NZFP 5.7%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.1%, UF 2.7%, ACT New Zealand 1.5%, Progressive 1.2%, other 1.3%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7, Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1
note: results of 2005 election saw the total number of seats increase to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seat than its entitlement under the party vote
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the Governor-General
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
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
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
Government - note:
Definition Field Listing
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand
   Economy    New Zealand Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Over the past 20 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 many at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive years and reached $27,800 in 2007 in purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years. Exports were equal to about 22% of GDP in 2007, down from 33% of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output. Inflationary pressures have built in recent years and the central bank raised its key rate 13 times since January 2004 to finish 2007 at 8.25%. A large balance of payments deficit poses another challenge in managing the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$112.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$104 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$27,300 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 4.3%
industry: 26.2%
services: 69.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.23 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA (1991 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
36.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.5% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $54.36 billion
expenditures: $48.51 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.8% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
42.06 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.39 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,880 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
156,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,720 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140,900 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
55.5 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.9 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.7 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.67 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$9.973 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$28.12 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Australia 20.5%, US 13.1%, Japan 10.3%, China 5.4%, UK 4.9% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$29.83 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Australia 20.5%, China 12.3%, US 11.8%, Japan 9.2%, Germany 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $276 million (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$18.99 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$50.02 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$63.12 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$40.62 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes
   Communications    New Zealand Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.729 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.53 million (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7 other
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.nz
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.433 million (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.2 million (2006)
   Transportation    New Zealand Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
121 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 46 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
condensate 224 km; gas 1,693 km; liquid petroleum gas 45 km; oil 280 km; refined products 288 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4,128 km
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 92,931 km
paved: 59,783 km (includes 171 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,148 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11 ships (1000 GRT or over) 108,667 GRT/89,458 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, Dominica 3, France 1, UK 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
   Military    New Zealand Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 984,700
females age 17-49: 965,170 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 809,519
females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 29,738
females age 17-49: 28,523 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    New Zealand Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
significant consumer of amphetamines

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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