Our location
- New Zealand is nestled in the South Pacific Ocean 2,162 kms (1,343 miles) from Australia.
- There are two main islands in New Zealand, named the North and South Islands.
- The total land area of New Zealand is 270,000 square kilometres (104,000 square miles).
- Well over three-quarters of New Zealand’s population live in the North Island and a significant percentage of those live near our largest city, Auckland.
Our people
There are just over four million New Zealanders, and every single one is either an immigrant or descended from one. In fact, people from over 145 countries now call New Zealand home.
The Māori first arrived here over 600 years ago, followed in the 19th century by large numbers of migrants from the United Kingdom. More recently, we’ve welcomed new residents from countries as diverse as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Somalia.
Our history
By world standards, New Zealand is a very young country, with European settlement on a large scale only occurring over the last 150 years.
The Treaty of Waitangi
On 6 February 1840, in Waitangi, Governor Hobson, representing the British Crown, put his signature to a document signed by 40 Maori chiefs. This document, now known as the Treaty of Waitangi, ceded sovereignty of New Zealand from Maori to the Queen of England. In return, the rights of Maori to their land, forests and fisheries would remain undisturbed and Maori would enjoy the on-going protection of the Crown.
The Treaty exists today as a living document and has, in recent years, acquired increasing importance in the development of the nation’s social and economic policies.
Our language
English is the main written and spoken language in New Zealand. Maori is also an officially recognised language and is spoken fluently by over 4% of the population.
Our weather
Because we are surrounded by sea, our climate doesn’t get uncomfortably hot or unbearably cold. Overall, our temperate climate ranges from 20–30°C (68–86°F) in summer, and from 5–15°C (41-59°F) in winter.
Winter lasts from June until August and our summer is between December and February.
Our government
New Zealand is a modern parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster parliamentary system. New Zealand’s Parliament is currently made up of 120 Members representing eight parties. Helen Clark is the current Prime Minister and heads the ruling Labour Party Government.
New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth and numerous international organisations such as the OECD, UNESCO and WHO, as well as being party to a number of international agreements like the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol and Ozone Layer Protection.
Our landscape
New Zealand has 14 national parks, majestic mountain ranges, sweeping plains, fjords, imposing native forests, crystal clear inland lakes, miles of golden sand beaches and numerous bays dotted around one of the longest coastlines in the world.