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Biography

New Zealand ( Maori language|Maori : Aotearoa ) is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean . The country geographically comprises two main landmasses ? that of the North Island|North and South Island|South Islands ? as well as numerous Islands of New Zealand|smaller islands . New Zealand is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly south of the Pacific Islands|Pacific island nations 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 isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive Biodiversity of New Zealand|biodiversity of both animal and plant life. Most notable are the large number of unique Birds of New Zealand|bird species , many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and Invasive species in New Zealand|introduced mammals . With a mild maritime climate, the land was mostly covered in forest. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions caused by the Pacific plate|Pacific and Indo-Australian Plate|Indo-Australian Plates clashing beneath the earth's surface.

Polynesians settled New Zealand in 1250–1300 AD and developed a distinctive Maori culture , and Ethnic groups in Europe|Europeans first made contact in 1642 AD. The introduction of potatoes and muskets triggered upheaval among Maori people|Maori early during the 19th century, which led to the inter-tribal Musket Wars . In 1840 the British and Maori signed Treaty of Waitangi|a treaty making New Zealand a colony of the British Empire . Immigrant numbers increased sharply and conflicts escalated into the New Zealand Wars , which resulted in much New Zealand land confiscations|Maori land being confiscated in the mid North Island. Economic depressions were followed by periods of political reform, with Women's suffrage in New Zealand|women gaining the vote during the 1890s, and a welfare state being established from the 1930s. After World War II, New Zealand joined Australia and the United States in the ANZUS security treaty, although the United States later suspended the treaty after New Zealand New Zealand's nuclear-free zone|banned nuclear weapons . New Zealanders enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the world in the 1950s, but the 1970s saw a deep recession, worsened by oil shocks and the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community . The country underwent Rogernomics|major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. Markets for New Zealand's agricultural exports have diversified greatly since the 1970s, with once-dominant exports of wool being overtaken by dairy products, meat, and recently wine.

The majority of New Zealanders|New Zealand's population is of New Zealand European|European descent ; the indigenous Maori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and non-Maori Polynesians. Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages, with English predominant. Much of Culture of New Zealand|New Zealand's culture is derived from Maori and early British settlers. Early European art was dominated by landscapes and to a lesser extent portraits of Maori. A recent resurgence of Maori culture has seen their traditional arts of Whakairo|carving , weaving and Ta moko|tattoo ing become more mainstream. Many artists now combine Maori and Western techniques to create unique art forms. The country's culture has also been broadened by globalisation and increased Immigration to New Zealand|immigration from the Pacific Islands and Asia. New Zealand's diverse landscape provides many opportunities for outdoor pursuits and has provided the backdrop for a number of big budget movies.

New Zealand is organised into 11 Regions of New Zealand|regional councils and 67 Territorial authorities of New Zealand|territorial authorities for local government purposes; these have less autonomy than the country's long defunct Provinces of New Zealand|provinces did. Nationally, executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet , led by the Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister . Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General . The Queen's Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory ); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in Associated state|free association ); and the Ross Dependency , New Zealand's Territorial claims of Antarctica|territorial claim in Antarctica . New Zealand is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , Commonwealth of Nations , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , Pacific Islands Forum , and the United Nations .

Etymology

Aotearoa (often translated as "land of the long white cloud") is the current Maori name for New Zealand, and is also used in New Zealand English . It is unknown whether Maori had a name for the whole country before the arrival of Europeans, with Aotearoa originally referring to just the North Island . Abel Tasman sighted New Zealand in 1642 and called it Staten Landt , supposing it was connected to a landmass of the same name at the southern tip of South America. In 1645 Dutch cartographers renamed the land Nova Zeelandia after the Seventeen Provinces|Dutch province of Zeeland . British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand.
Maori had several traditional names for the two main islands, including Te Ika-a-Maui (the fish of Maui (Maori mythology)|Maui ) for the North Island and Te Wai Pounamu (the waters of Pounamu|greenstone ) or Te Waka o Aoraki (the canoe of Aoraki) for the South Island . Early European maps labelled the islands North (North Island), Middle (South Island) and South ( Stewart Island / Rakiura ). In 1830 maps began to use North and South to distinguish the two largest islands and by 1907 this was the accepted norm. The New Zealand Geographic Board discovered in 2009 that the names of the North Island and South Island had never been formalised, but there are now plans to do so. The board is also considering suitable Maori names, with Te Ika-a-Maui and Te Wai Pounamu the most likely choices according to the chairman of the Maori Language Commission .

History

New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses settled by humans. Radiocarbon dating , evidence of deforestation and mitochondrial DNA variability within Maori people|Maori populations suggest New Zealand was first settled by Eastern Polynesians between 1250 and 1300, concluding a long series of voyages through the southern Pacific islands. Over the centuries that followed these settlers developed a distinct culture now known as Maori. The population was divided into iwi (tribes) and hapu|hapu (subtribes) which would cooperate, compete and sometimes fight with each other. At some point a group of Maori migrated to the Chatham Islands (which they named Rekohu ) where they developed their distinct Moriori culture. The Moriori population was decimated between 1835 and 1862, largely because of Maori invasion and enslavement, although European diseases also contributed. In 1862 only 101 survived and the last known full-blooded Moriori died in 1933.

The first European ethnic groups|European s known to have reached New Zealand were Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and his crew in 1642. In a hostile encounter, four crew members were killed and at least one Maori was hit by canister shot . Europeans did not revisit New Zealand until 1769 when British explorer James Cook mapped almost the entire coastline. Following Cook, New Zealand was visited by numerous European and North American History of whaling|whaling , Seal hunting|sealing and trading ships. They traded food, metal tools, weapons and other goods for timber, food, artefacts, water, and on occasion sex. The introduction of the potato and the musket transformed Maori agriculture and warfare. Potatoes provided a reliable food surplus, which enabled longer and more sustained military campaigns. The resulting inter-tribal Musket Wars encompassed over 600 battles between 1801 and 1840, killing 30,000–40,000 Maori. From the early 19th century, Christian missionaries began to settle New Zealand, eventually Religious conversion|converting most of the Maori population. The Maori population declined to around 40& nbsp;percent of its pre-contact level during the 19th century; introduced diseases were the major factor.

The British government appointed James Busby as British Resident to New Zealand in 1832 and in 1835, following an announcement of impending French sovereignty, the nebulous United Tribes of New Zealand sent a Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand|Declaration of the Independence to King William IV of the United Kingdom asking for protection. Ongoing unrest and the dubious legal standing of the Declaration of Independence prompted the Colonial Office to send Captain William Hobson to claim sovereignty for the British Crown and negotiate a treaty with the Maori. The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840. In response to the commercially run New Zealand Company 's attempts to establish an independent settlement in Wellington and French settlers "purchasing" land in Akaroa , Hobson declared British sovereignty over all of New Zealand on 21 May 1840, even though copies of the Treaty were still circulating. With the signing of the Treaty and declaration of sovereignty the number of immigrants, particularly from the United Kingdom, began to increase.

New Zealand, originally part of the colony of New South Wales , became a separate Crown colony in 1841. The colony gained a New Zealand Constitution Act 1852|representative government in 1852 and the 1st New Zealand Parliament met in 1854. In 1856 the colony effectively became self-governing, gaining responsibility over all domestic matters other than native policy. (Control over native policy was granted in the mid-1860s.) Following concerns that the South Island might form a separate colony, premier Alfred Domett moved a resolution to transfer the capital from Auckland to a locality near the Cook Strait . Wellington was chosen for its harbour and central location, with parliament officially sitting there for the first time in 1865. As immigrant numbers increased, conflicts over land led to the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s and 1870s, resulting in the loss and confiscation of much Maori land. In 1893 the country became the first nation in the world to grant all Women's suffrage in New Zealand|women the right to vote and in 1894 pioneered the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894|adoption of compulsory arbitration between employers and unions .

In 1907 New Zealand declared itself a British Dominions|Dominion within the British Empire and in 1947 the country adopted the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947|Statute of Westminster , making New Zealand a Commonwealth realm . New Zealand was involved in world affairs, fighting alongside the British Empire in the New Zealand in World War I|first and Military history of New Zealand during World War II|second World Wars and suffering through the Great Depression . The depression led to the election of the First Labour Government of New Zealand|first Labour government and the establishment of a comprehensive welfare state and a protectionist economy. New Zealand experienced increasing prosperity following World War II and Maori began to leave their traditional rural life and move to the cities in search of work. A Maori protest movement developed, which criticised Eurocentrism and worked for greater recognition of Maori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1975, a Waitangi Tribunal was set up to investigate alleged breaches of the Treaty, and it was enabled to investigate historic grievances in 1985. The government has negotiated Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements|settlements of these grievances with many iwi, although New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy|Maori claims to the foreshore and seabed have proved controversial in the 2000s.

Politics

Government

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy , although New Zealand constitution|its constitution is Uncodified constitution|not codified . Queen Elizabeth II is the Monarchy in New Zealand|Queen of New Zealand and the head of state . The Queen is represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General , whom she appoints on the advice of the Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister . The Governor-General can exercise the Crown's prerogative powers (such as reviewing cases of injustice and making appointments of Cabinet ministers, ambassadors and other key public officials) and in rare situations, the reserve powers (the power to dismiss a Prime Minister, dissolve Parliament or refuse the Royal Assent of a Bill (proposed law)|bill into law). The powers of the Queen and the Governor-General are limited by constitutional constraints and they cannot normally be exercised without the advice of New Zealand Cabinet|Cabinet .

The Parliament of New Zealand holds legislative power and consists of the Sovereign (represented by the Governor-General) and the New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives . It also included an upper house, the New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council , until this was abolished in 1950. The supremacy of the House over the Sovereign was established in England by the Bill of Rights 1689 and has been ratified as law in New Zealand. The House of Representatives is democratically elected and a Government is formed from the party or Coalition government|coalition with the majority of seats. If no majority is formed a minority government can be formed if support from other parties during confidence and supply votes is assured. The Governor-General appoints ministers under advice from the Prime Minister, who is by convention the Parliamentary leader of the governing party or coalition. Cabinet, formed by ministers and led by the Prime Minister, is the highest policy-making body in government and responsible for deciding significant government actions. By Convention (norm)|convention , members of cabinet are bound by Cabinet collective responsibility|collective responsibility to decisions made by cabinet.

Judges and judicial officers are appointed non-politically and under strict rules regarding tenure to help maintain constitutional independence from the government. This theoretically allows the judiciary to interpret the law based solely on the legislation enacted by Parliament without other influences on their decisions. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council in London was the country's final court of appeal until 2004, when it was replaced with the newly established Supreme Court of New Zealand . The judiciary, headed by the Chief Justice of New Zealand|Chief Justice , includes the New Zealand Court of Appeal|Court of Appeal , the High Court of New Zealand|High Court , and subordinate courts.

Almost all Elections in New Zealand|parliamentary general elections between 1853 and 1996 were held under the first past the post voting system. The elections since 1930 have been dominated by two political parties, New Zealand National Party|National and New Zealand Labour Party|Labour . Since 1996, a form of proportional representation called Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) has been used. Under the MMP system each person has two votes; one is for the seventy electoral seats (including seven reserved for Maori), and the other is for a party. The remaining fifty seats are assigned so that representation in parliament reflects the party vote, although a party has to win one electoral seat or 5& nbsp;percent of the total party vote before it is eligible for these seats. Between March 2005 and August 2006 New Zealand became the only country in the world in which all the highest offices in the land (Head of State, Governor-General, Prime Minister, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|Speaker and Chief Justice) were occupied simultaneously by women.

Foreign relations and the military

Early colonial New Zealand allowed the British Government to determine external trade and be responsible for foreign policy. The 1923 and 1926 Imperial Conference s decided that New Zealand should be allowed to negotiate their own political Treaty|treaties , with the first successful commercial treaty being with Japan in 1928. Despite this independence New Zealand readily followed Britain in Declaration of war|declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939 with then Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage|Michael Savage proclaiming, "Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand."

In 1951 the United Kingdom became increasingly focused on its European interests, while New Zealand joined Australia – New Zealand relations|Australia and the New Zealand – United States relations|United States in the ANZUS security treaty. The influence of the United States on New Zealand weakened following protests over the Vietnam War , the failure of the United States to admonish France after the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior , disagreements over environmental and agricultural trade issues and New Zealand's nuclear-free zone|New Zealand's nuclear-free policy . Despite the USA's suspension of ANZUS obligations the treaty remained in effect between New Zealand and Australia, whose foreign policy has followed a similar historical trend. Close political contact is maintained between the two countries, with Closer Economic Relations|free trade agreements and Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement|travel arrangements that allow citizens to visit, live and work in both countries without restrictions. Currently over 500,000 New Zealanders live in Australia and 65,000 Australians live in New Zealand.

New Zealand has a strong presence among the Pacific Island countries. A large proportion of New Zealand's aid goes to these countries and many Pacific people migrate to New Zealand for employment. Permanent migration is regulated under the 1970 Samoan Quota Scheme and the 2002 Pacific Access Category, which allow up to 1,100 Samoan nationals and up to 750 other Pacific Islanders respectively to become permanent New Zealand residents each year. A seasonal workers scheme for temporary migration was introduced in 2007 and in 2009 about 8,000 Pacific Islanders were employed under it. New Zealand is involved in the Pacific Islands Forum , Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (including the East Asia Summit ). New Zealand is also a member of the New Zealand and the United Nations|United Nations , the Commonwealth of Nations , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Five Powers Defence Arrangements .
The New Zealand Defence Force has three branches: the Royal New Zealand Navy , the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force . New Zealand's National security|national defence needs are modest because of the unlikelihood of direct attack, although it does have a global presence. The country fought in both world wars, with notable campaigns in Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli , Battle of Crete|Crete , Second Battle of El Alamein|El Alamein and Battle of Monte Cassino|Cassino . The Gallipoli campaign played an important part in fostering New Zealand's Nation|national identity and strengthened the ANZAC tradition it shares with Australia. According to Mary Edmond-Paul, "World War I had left scars on New Zealand society, with nearly 18,500 in total dying as a result of the war, more than 41,000 wounded, and others affected emotionally, out of an overseas fighting force of about 103,000 and a population of just over a million."Mary Edmond-Paul (2008). Lighted windows: critical essays on Robin Hyde . Otago University Press. p.77. ISBN 1877372587 New Zealand also played key parts in the naval Battle of the River Plate and the Battle of Britain air campaign. During World War II, the United States had more than 400,000 American military personnel stationed in New Zealand.

In addition to Vietnam and the two world wars, New Zealand fought in the Korean War , the Second Boer War , the Malayan Emergency , the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War . It has contributed forces to several regional and global peacekeeping missions, such as those in Cyprus dispute|Cyprus , Somalia, Bosnian War|Bosnia and Herzegovina , the Suez Crisis|Sinai , Angolan Civil War|Angola , Cambodian–Vietnamese War|Cambodia , the Iran–Iraq War|Iran–Iraq border, Bougainville Campaign|Bougainville , Operation Astute|East Timor , and the Solomon Islands#Civil War|Solomon Islands . New Zealand also sent a unit of army engineers to help rebuild Iraq i infrastructure for one year during the Iraq War .

Local government and external territories

The early European settlers divided New Zealand into Provinces of New Zealand|provinces , which had a degree of autonomy. Because of financial pressures and the desire to consolidate railways, education, land sales and other policies, government was centralised and the provinces were abolished in 1876. As a result, New Zealand now has no separately represented subnational entity|subnational entities . The provinces are remembered in Provincial Anniversary Day|regional public holidays and sporting rivalries.

Since 1876, various councils have administered local areas under legislation determined by the central government. In 1989, the government reorganised local government into the current two-tier structure of Regions of New Zealand|regional councils and Territorial Authorities of New Zealand|territorial authorities . The List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand|249 municipalities that existed in 1975 have now been consolidated into 67 territorial authorities and 11 regional councils. The regional councils' role is to regulate "the natural environment with particular emphasis on Resource Management Act 1991|resource management ", while territorial authorities are responsible for sewage, water, local roads, building consents and other local matters. Five of the territorial councils are Unitary authority|unitary authorities and also act as regional councils. The territorial authorities consist of 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council . While officially the Chatham Islands Council is not a unitary authority, it undertakes many functions of a regional council.

The Realm of New Zealand is one of 16 Commonwealth realm|realms within the commonwealth and comprises New Zealand, Tokelau , the Ross Dependency , the Cook Islands and Niue . The Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing states in Freely associated state|free association with New Zealand. The New Zealand Parliament cannot pass legislation for these countries, but with their consent can act on behalf of them in foreign affairs and defence. Tokelau is a United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories|non-self-governing territory that uses the New Zealand flag and anthem, but is administered by a council of three elders (one from each Tokelauan atoll ). The Ross Dependency is New Zealand's Territorial claims in Antarctica|territorial claim in Antarctica , where it operates the Scott Base research facility. New Zealand citizenship law treats all parts of the realm equally, so most people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency before 2006 are New Zealand citizens. Further conditions apply for those born from 2006 onwards.

Environment

Geography

New Zealand is made up of two main islands and a number of Islands of New Zealand|smaller islands , located near the centre of the water hemisphere . The main North and South Islands are separated by the Cook Strait , wide at its narrowest point. Besides the North and South Islands, the five largest inhabited islands are Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island (in the Hauraki Gulf ), D'Urville Island, New Zealand|d'Urville Island (in the Marlborough Sounds ) and Waiheke Island (about from central Auckland). The country's islands lie between latitudes 29th parallel south|29° and 53rd parallel south|53°S , and longitudes 165th meridian east|165° and 176th meridian east|176°E .

New Zealand is long (over along its north-north-east axis) and narrow (a maximum width of ), with approximately of coastline and a total land area of Because of its far-flung outlying islands and long coastline, the country has extensive marine resources. Its Exclusive Economic Zone , one of the largest in the world, covers more than 15 times its land area.

The South Island is the largest Landmass|land mass of New Zealand, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps . There are 18 peaks over , the highest of which is Aoraki/Mount Cook at . Fiordland 's steep mountains and deep fiord s record the extensive ice age glaciation of this south-western corner of the South Island. The North Island is less mountainous but is Volcanism of New Zealand|marked by volcanism . The highly active Taupo volcanic zone has formed a large North Island Volcanic Plateau|volcanic plateau , punctuated by the North Island's highest mountain, Mount Ruapehu (). The plateau also hosts the country's largest lake, Lake Taupo , nestled in the caldera of one of the world's most active supervolcano es.

The country owes its varied topography, and perhaps even its emergence above the waves, to the dynamic boundary it straddles between the Pacific Plate|Pacific and Indo-Australian Plate s. New Zealand is part of Zealandia (continent)|Zealandia , a microcontinent nearly half the size of Australia that gradually submerged after breaking away from the Gondwana n supercontinent. About 25& nbsp;million years ago, a shift in plate tectonic movements began to Kaikoura Orogeny|contort and crumple the region. This is now most evident in the Southern Alps, formed by Continental collision|compression of the crust beside the Alpine Fault . Elsewhere the plate boundary involves the subduction of one plate under the other, producing the Puysegur Trench to the south, the Hikurangi Trench east of the North Island, and the Kermadec Trench|Kermadec and Tonga Trench es further north.

Climate

New Zealand has a mild and temperate oceanic climate|maritime climate with mean annual temperatures ranging from in the south to in the north. Historical maxima and minima are 42.4& nbsp;°C (108.3& nbsp;°F) in Rangiora , Canterbury Region|Canterbury and -25.6& nbsp;°C (-14.08& nbsp;°F) in Ranfurly, New Zealand|Ranfurly , Otago . Conditions vary sharply across regions from extremely wet on the West Coast Region|West Coast of the South Island to almost Semi-arid climate|semi-arid in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin of inland Canterbury and subtropical in North Auckland Peninsula|Northland . Of the seven largest cities, Christchurch is the driest, receiving on average only of rain per year and Auckland the wettest, receiving almost twice that amount. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch all receive a yearly average in excess of 2,000 hours of sunshine. The southern and south-western parts of the South Island have a cooler and cloudier climate, with around 1,400–1,600 hours; the northern and north-eastern parts of the South Island are the sunniest areas of the country and receive approximately 2,400–2,500 hours.

Biodiversity

New Zealand's geographic isolation for 80& nbsp;million years and island biogeography is responsible for the country's unique species of flora and fauna . They have either evolution|evolved from Gondwana n wildlife or the few organisms that have Biological dispersal|managed to reach the shores flying, swimming or Rafting event|being carried across the sea . About 82& nbsp;percent of New Zealand's indigenous vascular plants are endemism|endemic , covering 1,944 species across 65 genus|genera and includes a single Family (biology)|family . The two main types of forest are those dominated by broadleaf trees with emergent podocarp s, or by Nothofagus|southern beech in cooler climates. The remaining vegetation types consist of grasslands, the majority of which are Tussock grasslands of New Zealand|tussock .

Before the arrival of humans an estimated 80& nbsp;percent of the land was covered in forest, with only tree line|high alpine , wet, infertile and volcanic areas without trees. Massive Deforestation in New Zealand|deforestation occurred after humans arrived, with around half the forest cover lost to fire after Polynesian settlement. Much of the remaining forest fell after European settlement, being logged or cleared to make room for pastoral farming, leaving forest occupying only 23& nbsp;percent of the land.Taylor, R. and Smith, I. (1997). . Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.

The forests were dominated by birds, and the lack of mammalian predators led to some like the kiwi , kakapo and takahe evolving flightless bird|flightlessness . The arrival of humans, associated changes to habitat, and the introduction of Polynesian Rat|rats , ferrets and other mammals led to the extinction of many bird species, including Megafauna|large birds like the moa and Haast's eagle .

Other indigenous animals are represented by reptiles ( tuatara s, skink s and gecko s), Leiopelmatidae|frogs , spiders ( katipo ), insects ( weta ) and snails. Some, such as the New Zealand wren|wrens and tuatara, are so unique that they have been called living fossil s. Three species of bats ( New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat|one since extinct) were the only sign of native land mammals in New Zealand until the 2006 discovery of bones from a unique, mouse-sized land mammal at least 16 million years old. Marine mammals however are abundant, with almost half the world's cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises ) and large numbers of fur seals reported in New Zealand waters. Many seabirds breed in New Zealand, a third of them unique to the country. More penguin species are found in New Zealand than in any other country.

Since human arrival almost half of the country's vertebrate species have become extinct, including at least fifty one birds, three frogs, three lizards, one freshwater fish, four plant species, and one bat. Others are endangered or have had their range severely reduced. However New Zealand conservationists have pioneered several methods to help threatened wildlife recover, including island sanctuaries, pest control, wildlife translocation, fostering, and ecological island restoration|restoration of islands and ecological island|other selected areas .

Economy

New Zealand has a modern, prosperous and developed economy|developed market economy with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita of roughly US$28,250. The currency is the New Zealand dollar , informally known as the "Kiwi dollar"; it also circulates in the Cook Islands (see Cook Islands dollar ), Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands . New Zealand was ranked 5th in the 2011 Human Development Index , 4th in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom published by The Heritage Foundation .

Historically, extractive industries have contributed strongly to New Zealand's economy, focussing at different times on sealing, whaling, Phormium|flax , gold, kauri gum , and native timber. With Dunedin (ship)|the development of refrigerated shipping in the 1880s meat and dairy products were exported to Britain, a trade which provided the basis for strong economic growth in New Zealand. High demand for agricultural products from the United Kingdom and the United States helped New Zealanders achieve higher living standards than both Australia and Western Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. Table pdf downloadable from In 1973 New Zealand's export market was reduced when the United Kingdom joined the European Community and other compounding factors, such as the 1973 oil crisis|1973 oil and 1979 energy crisis , led to a severe Depression (economics)|economic depression . Living standards in New Zealand fell behind those of Australia and Western Europe, and by 1982 New Zealand had the lowest per-capita income of all the developed nations surveyed by World Bank Group|the World Bank . Since 1984, successive governments engaged in major macroeconomic restructuring (known first as Rogernomics and then Ruthanasia ), rapidly transforming New Zealand from a highly Protectionism|protectionist economy to a liberalised free-trade economy.

Unemployment peaked above 10& nbsp;percent in 1991 and 1992, following the Black Monday (1987)|1987 share market crash , but eventually fell a record low of 3.4& nbsp;percent in 2007 (ranking fifth from twenty-seven comparable OECD nations). The Financial crisis (2007–present)|global financial crisis that followed however had a major impact on New Zealand with the GDP shrinking for five consecutive quarters, the longest recession in over thirty years, and unemployment rising back to 7% in late 2009. The unemployment rate for youth was 17.4% in the June 2011 quarter."". NZ Department of Labour. New Zealand has experienced a series of " brain drain s" since the 1970s that still continue today. Nearly one quarter of highly skilled workers live overseas, most in Australia and Britain, the most from any developed nation. In recent years, however, a " brain gain " has brought in educated professionals from Europe and lesser developed countries. Journal subscription required

Trade

New Zealand is heavily dependent on international trade, particularly in Agriculture in New Zealand|agricultural products. Exports account for a high 24& nbsp;percent of its output, making New Zealand vulnerable to international commodity prices and global Recession|economic slowdowns . Its principal export industries are agriculture, horticulture, Fishing industry in New Zealand|fishing , forestry and mining, which make up about half of the country's exports. Its major export partners are Australia, United States, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. On 7 April 2008, New Zealand and China signed the New Zealand China Free Trade Agreement , the first such agreement China has signed with a developed country. The service sector is the largest sector in the economy, followed by manufacturing and construction and then farming and raw material extraction. Tourism in New Zealand|Tourism plays a significant role in New Zealand's economy, contributing $15.0& nbsp;billion to New Zealand’s total GDP and supporting 9.6& nbsp;percent of the total workforce in 2010. International visitors to New Zealand increased by 3.1& nbsp;percent in the year to October 2010 and are expected to increase at a rate of 2.5& nbsp;percent annually up to 2015.

Wool was New Zealand’s major agricultural export during the late 19th century. Even as late as the 1960s it made up over a third of all export revenues, but since then its price has steadily dropped relative to other commodities and wool is no longer profitable for many farmers. In contrast dairy farming increased, with the number of dairy cows doubling between 1990 and 2007, to become New Zealand's largest export earner. In the year to June 2009, dairy products accounted for 21& nbsp;percent ($9.1& nbsp;billion) of total merchandise exports, and the country's largest company, Fonterra , controls almost one-third of the international dairy trade. Other agricultural exports in 2009 were meat 13.2& nbsp;percent, wool 6.3& nbsp;percent, fruit 3.5& nbsp;percent and fishing 3.3& nbsp;percent. New Zealand wine|New Zealand's wine industry has followed a similar trend to dairy, the number of vineyards doubling over the same period, overtaking wool exports for the first time in 2007.

Infrastructure

In 2008, oil, gas and coal generated approximately 69& nbsp;percent of Energy in New Zealand|New Zealand's gross energy supply and 31% was generated from Renewable energy in New Zealand|renewable energy , primarily Hydroelectric power in New Zealand|hydroelectric power and geothermal power in New Zealand|geothermal power . Transport in New Zealand|New Zealand's transport network includes of roads, worth 23& nbsp;billion dollars, and of railway lines. Most major cities and towns are linked by bus services, although the private car is the predominant mode of transport. The Rail transport in New Zealand|railways were privatised in 1993, then re-purchased by the government in 2004 and vested into a state owned enterprise . Railways run the length of the country, although most lines now carry freight rather than passengers. Most international visitors arrive via air and New Zealand has List of airports in New Zealand|seven international airports , although only the Auckland International Airport|Auckland and Christchurch International Airport|Christchurch airports connect directly with countries other than Australia or Fiji. The New Zealand Post Office had a monopoly over telecommunications until 1989 when Telecom New Zealand was formed, initially as a state-owned enterprise and then privatised in 1990. Telecom still owns the majority of the telecommunications infrastructure, but competition from other providers has increased.

Demography

The population of New Zealand is approximately 4.4& nbsp;million. The population clock updates every 10 minutes. New Zealand is a predominantly urban country, with 72& nbsp;percent of the population living in 16 main urban areas and 53& nbsp;percent living in the four largest cities of Auckland , Christchurch , Wellington , and Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton . New Zealand cities generally rank highly on international livability measures. For instance, in 2010 Auckland was ranked the world's 4th most World's Most Livable Cities|liveable city and Wellington the 12th by the Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer Quality of Life Survey

The life expectancy of a New Zealand child born in 2008 was 82.4 years for females, and 78.4 years for males. Life expectancy at birth is forecast to increase from 80 years to 85 years in 2050 and infant mortality is expected to decline. In 2050 the population is forecast to reach 5.3& nbsp;million, the median age to rise from 36& nbsp;years to 43& nbsp;years and the percentage of people 60& nbsp;years of age and older to rise from 18& nbsp;percent to 29& nbsp;percent.

Ethnicity and immigration

In the 2006 census, 67.6& nbsp;percent identified ethnically as European and 14.6& nbsp;percent as Maori. Other major ethnic groups include New Zealand Asian|Asian (9.2& nbsp;percent) and Pacific peoples (6.9& nbsp;percent), while 11.1& nbsp;percent identified themselves simply as a "New Zealander" (or similar) and 1& nbsp;percent identified with other ethnicities. This contrasts with 1961, when the census reported that the population of New Zealand was 92& nbsp;percent European and 7& nbsp;percent Maori, with Asian and Pacific minorities sharing the remaining 1& nbsp;percent. While the demonym for a New Zealand citizen is New Zealander, the informal " Kiwi (people)|Kiwi " is commonly used both internationally and by locals. The Maori loanword Pakeha usually refers to European New Zealanders|New Zealanders of European descent , although some reject this appellation, and some Maori use it to refer to all non-Polynesian New Zealanders.

The Maori were the first people to reach New Zealand, followed by the early European settlers. Following colonisation, immigrants were predominantly from Britain, Ireland and Australia because of restrictive policies similar to the white Australia policy|white Australian policies . There was also significant Dutch, Dalmatia n, Italian, and German immigration together with indirect European immigration through Australia, North America, South America and South Africa. Following the Great Depression policies were relaxed and migrant diversity increased. In 2009–10, an annual target of 45,000–50,000 permanent residence approvals was set by the New Zealand Immigration Service—more than one new migrant for every 100 New Zealand residents. Twenty-three& nbsp;percent of New Zealand's population were born overseas, most of whom live in the Auckland region. While most have still come from the United Kingdom and Ireland (29& nbsp;percent), immigration from East Asia (mostly mainland China, but with substantial numbers also from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong) is rapidly increasing the number of people from those countries.For the percentages:
For further detail within East Asia: The number of fee-paying international student s increased sharply in the late 1990s, with more than 20,000 studying in public Tertiary education|tertiary institutions in 2002.

Language

English is the predominant language in New Zealand, spoken by 98& nbsp;percent of the population. New Zealand English is similar to Australian English and many speakers from the Northern Hemisphere are unable to tell the Accent (linguistics)|accents apart. After the Second World War, Maori were discouraged from speaking their own language ( te reo Maori ) in schools and workplaces and it existed as a community language only in a few remote areas. It has recently undergone a process of revitalisation, being declared one of New Zealand's official languages in 1987, and is spoken by 4.1& nbsp;percent of the population. There are now Maori language immersion schools and two Maori Television channels, the only nationwide television channels to have the majority of their prime-time content delivered in Maori. List of dual place names in New Zealand|Many places have officially been given dual Maori and English names in recent years. Samoan is one of the most widely spoken languages in New Zealand (2.3& nbsp;percent), followed by French, Hindi, Yue and Northern Chinese. New Zealand Sign Language is used by approximately 28,000 people and was made New Zealand's second official language in 2006.. Legislation.govt.nz (2008-06-30). Retrieved on 2011-11-29.

Education and religion

Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority attending from the age of 5. There are 13 school years and attending State school|public schools is free. New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99& nbsp;percent, and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 hold a tertiary qualification. There are five types of government-owned tertiary institutions: universities, colleges of education, Institute of technology#New Zealand|polytechnic s, specialist colleges, and wananga , and also private training establishments. In the adult population 14.2& nbsp;percent have a bachelor's degree or higher, 30.4& nbsp;percent have some form of secondary qualification as their highest qualification and 22.4& nbsp;percent have no formal qualification.

Christianity is the predominant religion in New Zealand. In the 2006 Census, 55.6& nbsp;percent of the population identified themselves as Christians, while another 34.7& nbsp;percent indicated that they had no religion (up from 29.6& nbsp;percent in 2001) and around 4& nbsp;percent affiliated with other religions. The main Christian denominations are Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|Anglicanism , Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand|Roman Catholicism , Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand|Presbyterianism and Methodist Church of New Zealand|Methodism . There are also significant numbers of Christians who identify themselves with Pentecostal , Baptist Union of New Zealand|Baptist , and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saint churches and the New Zealand-based Ratana church has adherents among Maori. According to census figures, other significant minority religions include Hinduism , Buddhism , and Islam in New Zealand|Islam . In tables 28 (Religious Affiliation) and 19 (Languages Spoken by Ethnic Group)

Culture

Early Maori adapted the tropically based east Polynesian culture in line with the challenges associated with a larger and more diverse environment, eventually developing their own distinctive culture. Social organisation was largely communal with families (whanau), sub-tribes (hapu) and tribes (iwi) ruled by a chief (rangatira) whose position was subject to the community's approval. The British and Irish immigrants brought aspects of their own culture to New Zealand and also influenced Maori culture, particularly with the introduction of Christianity. However, Maori still regard their allegiance to tribal groups as a vital part of Identity (social science)|their identity , and Maori kinship roles resemble Hawaiian kinship|those of other Polynesian peoples . More recently Culture of the United States|American , Culture of Australia|Australian , Culture of Asia|Asian and other Culture of Europe|European cultures have exerted influence on New Zealand. Non-Maori Polynesian cultures are also apparent, with Pasifika Festival|Pasifika , the world's largest Polynesian festival, now an annual event in Auckland.

The largely rural life in early New Zealand led to the image of New Zealanders being rugged, industrious problem solvers. Modesty was expected and enforced through the " tall poppy syndrome ", where high achievers received harsh criticism. At the time New Zealand was not known as an intellectual country. From the early 20th century until the late 1960s Maori culture was suppressed by the attempted assimilation of Maori into British New Zealanders. In the 1960s, as higher education became more available and Urbanization|cities expanded urban culture began to dominate. Even though the majority of the population now lives in cities, much of New Zealand's art, literature, film and humour has rural themes.

Art

As part of the resurgence of Maori culture, the traditional crafts of carving and weaving are now more widely practised and Maori artists are increasing in number and influence. Most Maori carvings feature human figures, generally with three fingers and either a natural-looking, detailed head or a grotesque head. Surface patterns consisting of spirals, ridges, notches and fish scales decorate most carvings. The pre-eminent Maori architecture consisted of carved meeting houses ( wharenui ) decorated with symbolic carvings and illustrations. These buildings were originally designed to be constantly rebuilt, changing and adapting to different whims or needs.

Maori decorated the white wood of buildings, canoes and cenotaphs using red (a mixture of red ochre and shark fat) and black (made from soot) paint and painted pictures of birds, reptiles and other designs on cave walls. Maori tattoos ( Ta moko|moko ) consisting of coloured soot mixed with gum were cut into the flesh with a bone chisel. Since European arrival paintings and photographs have been dominated by landscapes, originally not as works of art but as factual portrayals of New Zealand. Portraits of Maori were also common, with early painters often portraying them as " noble savage s", exotic beauties or friendly natives. The country's isolation delayed the influence of European artistic trends allowing local artists to developed their own distinctive style of Regionalism (art)|regionalism . During the 1960s and 70s many artists combined traditional Maori and Western techniques, creating unique art forms. New Zealand art and craft has gradually achieved an international audience, with exhibitions in the Venice Biennale in 2001 and the "Paradise Now" exhibition in New York in 2004.

Maori cloaks are made of fine flax fibre and patterned with black, red and white triangles, diamonds and other geometric shapes. Pounamu|Greenstone was fashioned into earrings and necklaces, with the most well-known design being the hei-tiki , a distorted human figure sitting cross-legged with its head tilted to the side. Europeans brought English fashion etiquette to New Zealand, and until the 1950s most people dressed up for social occasions. Standards have since relaxed and New Zealand fashion has received a reputation for being casual, practical and lacklustre. However, the local fashion industry has grown significantly since 2000, doubling exports and increasing from a handful to about 50 established labels, with some labels gaining international recognition.

Literature

Maori quickly adopted writing as a means of sharing ideas, and many of their oral stories and poems were converted to the written form. Most early English literature was obtained from Britain and it was not until the 1950s when local publishing outlets increased that New Zealand literature started to become widely known. Although still largely influenced by global trends ( modernism ) and events (the Great Depression), writers in the 1930s began to develop stories increasingly focused on their experiences in New Zealand. During this period literature changed from a Journalism|journalistic activity to a more academic pursuit. Participation in the world wars gave some New Zealand writers a new perspective on New Zealand culture and with the post-war expansion of universities local literature flourished.

Entertainment

Music of New Zealand|New Zealand music has been influenced by blues , jazz , country music|country , rock and roll and hip hop music|hip hop , with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation. Maori developed traditional chants and songs from their ancient South-East Asian origins, and after centuries of isolation created a unique "monotonous" and "doleful" sound. Flutes and trumpets were used as musical instruments or as signalling devices during war or special occasions. Early settlers brought over their ethnic music, with brass band s and choral music being popular, and musicians began touring New Zealand in the 1860s. Pipe band s became widespread during the early 20th century. The New Zealand recording industry began to develop from 1940 onwards and many New Zealand musicians have obtained success in Britain and the USA. Some artists release Maori language songs and the Maori tradition-based art of kapa haka (song and dance) has made a resurgence. The New Zealand Music Awards are held annually by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ); the awards were first held in 1965 by Reckitt & Colman as the Loxene Golden Disc Awards. The RIANZ also publishes the country's official weekly record chart s.

Radio first arrived in New Zealand in 1922 and television in 1960Trisha Dunleavy and Hester Joyce, eds. New Zealand Film and Television: Institution, Industry, and Cultural Change (Intellect Books, distributed by University of Chicago Press; 2012). The number of Cinema of New Zealand|New Zealand films significantly increased during the 1970s. In 1978 the New Zealand Film Commission started assisting local film-makers and many films attained a world audience, some receiving international acknowledgement. Deregulation in the 1980s saw a sudden increase in the numbers of radio and television stations. New Zealand television primarily broadcasts American and British programming, along with a large number of Australian and local shows. The country's diverse scenery and compact size, plus government incentives, have encouraged some Film producer|producers to film big budget movies in New Zealand. The Media of New Zealand|New Zealand media industry is dominated by a small number of companies, most of which are foreign-owned, although the state retains ownership of some television and radio stations. Between 2003 and 2008, Reporters Without Borders consistently ranked New Zealand's press freedom in the top twenty.

Sports

Most of the major sporting codes played in New Zealand have English origins. Golf, netball, tennis and cricket are the four top participatory sports, soccer is the most popular among young people and rugby union attracts the most spectators. Victorious rugby football|rugby tours to Australia and the United Kingdom in the 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team|late 1880s and the The Original All Blacks|early 1900s played an early role in instilling a national identity, although the sport's influence has since declined. Horse racing in New Zealand|Horse racing was also a popular spectator sport and became part of the "Rugby, Racing and Beer" culture during the 1960s. Maori participation in European sports was particularly evident in rugby and the country's team performs a Haka (sports)|haka (traditional Maori challenge) before international matches.

New Zealand has competitive international teams in New Zealand national rugby union team|rugby union , New Zealand national netball team|netball , New Zealand national cricket team|cricket , New Zealand national rugby league team|rugby league , and Black Socks|softball and has traditionally done well in triathlons, rowing, yachting and cycling. The country has performed well on a medals-to-population ratio at New Zealand at the Olympics|Olympic Games and New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games . New Zealand's national rugby union team is often regarded as the best in the world, and are the reigning Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup holders. New Zealand are also the reigning rugby league Rugby League World Cup|world champions . New Zealand is known for its extreme sport s, Adventure travel|adventure tourism and strong mountaineering tradition. Other outdoor pursuits such as cycling, fishing, swimming, running, Tramping in New Zealand|tramping , canoeing, hunting, snowsports and surfing are also popular. The Polynesian sport of Outrigger canoeing|waka ama Canoe racing|racing has increased in popularity and is now an international sport involving teams from all over the Pacific.

Notes

Copyright Citations

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