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
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 267,710 sq km
land:
267,710 sq km
water:
NA
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
Maritime claims:
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:
Current Weather
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
65 years and over:
13% (male 251,987/female 299,759) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.8 years
male:
36 years
female:
37.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.901% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
13.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Net migration rate:
2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.84 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 190
male:
5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.48 years
country comparison to the world: 18
male:
78.52 years
female:
82.53 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective:
New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
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:
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:
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 19 years
male:
19 years
female:
20 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 38
Government ::New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
New Zealand
abbreviation:
NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
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 last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
note:New
Zealand is divided into two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12
hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in
advance of New Zealand standard time)
Administrative divisions:
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:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday:
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:
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:
based on English law,
with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet:
Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:
the
monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of
Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 70
members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies
including 7 Maori constituencies, 50 proportional seats chosen from
party lists; serve three-year terms)
elections:
last held on 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later than 27 November 2011)
election results:
percent
of vote by party - NP 44.9%, NZLP 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%,
ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%;
seats by party - NP 58, NZLP 43, Green Party 9, ACT New Zealand 5,
Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1
note:results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Rodney
HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and
Pita SHARPLES]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First
Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP
[Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or
UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other:
apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN
(dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery:
37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
telephone:
[64] (4) 462-5800
FAX:
[64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general:
Auckland
Flag description:
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:
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand
Economy ::New Zealand
Economy - overview:
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 some at the
bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological
capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income rose for ten
consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell
in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the
first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments
deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary
pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from
January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08;
international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further
strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the
current account deficit. The economy fell into recession before the
start of the global financial crisis and contracted for five consecutive
quarters in 2008-09. In line with global peers, the central bank cut
interest rates aggressively and the government developed fiscal stimulus
measures. The economy posted a 1.4% decline in 2009, but pulled out of
recession late in the year. Nevertheless, key trade sectors remain
vulnerable to weak external demand. The government plans to raise
productivity growth and develop infrastructure, while reining in
government spending.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$114.9 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$116.5 billion (2008 est.)
$116.6 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$110.9 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
-0.1% (2008 est.)
2.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,300 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$27,900 (2008 est.)
$28,200 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.6%
industry:
23.7%
services:
71.7% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry:
19%
services:
74% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
4.2% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%:
%NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Budget:
revenues: $48.05 billion
expenditures:
$53.75 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
22.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
17.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2009 est.)
4% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
8.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.06% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
12.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$20.17 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 43
$26.83 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$81.01 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
$96.15 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$164.4 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
$200.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
$24.17 billion (31 December 2008)
$47.45 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-10.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - production:
42.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - consumption:
39.24 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
65,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - consumption:
154,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - exports:
34,260 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - imports:
147,580 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - proved reserves:
60 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production:
4.275 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption:
4.276 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - proved reserves:
33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Current account balance:
-$3.351 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-$11.24 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$24.99 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$31.19 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 23.2%, US 10.1%, Japan 8.4%, China 5.9% (2008)
Imports:
$23.45 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$32.8 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 18.1%, China 13.2%, US 9.5%, Japan 8.3%, Singapore 4.7%, Malaysia 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$11.05 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$58.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$52.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$51.98 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.6204 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005)
Communications ::New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.75 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.62 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 91
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic:
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international:
country
code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to
Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat -
Pacific Ocean, 7 other)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.nz
Internet hosts:
2.007 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
Internet users:
3.047 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
Transportation ::New Zealand
Airports:
120 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
12
914 to 1,523 m:
25
under 914 m:
1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 79
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
31
under 914 m:
45 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 331 km; gas 1,838 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,128 km
country comparison to the world: 39
narrow gauge:
4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 93,805 km
country comparison to the world: 50
paved:
61,504 km (includes 172 km of expressways)
unpaved:
32,301 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 108
by type:
bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:
3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1)
registered in other countries:
5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Military ::New Zealand
Military branches:
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,017,575
females age 16-49:
1,003,087 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 840,977
females age 16-49:
828,081 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,956
female:
29,236 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Transnational Issues ::New Zealand
Disputes - international:
asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
