New Zealand

New Zealand is a Commonwealth country in Oceania, in the South Pacific.

New Zealand is situated between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean and comprises the two large islands of the North Island and the South Island, together with smaller islands that are both inhabited, such as Stewart and Chatham Islands, and a large number of uninhabited islets.

Environment

Location

New Zealand is located on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, separated from the south-eastern coast of the island-continent of Australia by nearly three thousand kilometres of the Tasman Sea. It lies at a latitude of around 40 degrees south of the equator, and a longitude of around 179 degrees east of Greenwich. Consequently, its time zone is twelve hours ahead of UTC from April to October, and thirteen hours ahead from October to April, when daylight saving is in effect.

Flora and Fauna

New Zealand has no native land mammals, though there are three species of native bat, Chalinolobus tuberculata, the long-tailed bat, and Mystacina robusta and M. tuberculata, two closely related species collectively known as the short-tailed bat.

New Zealand's isolated location means that its native wildlife is largely endemic to the country. New Zealand has a great many native bird species, including the kiwi, the flightless bird whose name became a nickname first for New Zealand military personel in the World Wars and then for New Zealanders in general. Other native New Zealand birds include the tui and the kaka. Extinct birds include several species of moa and Haast's eagle that preyed upon them. New Zealand also possesses a plethora of native reptiles, such as the tuatara, and insects, including the weta, a large beetle.

Native trees include the pohutukawa and kowhai.

Politics

New Zealand's current prime minister is John Key. He was elected in November 2008 when the National Party defeated the Labour Party, led by Helen Clark, ending 9 years of Labour government. Under Prime Minister David Lange, a strict anti-nuclear policy, covering both nuclear power and nuclear weapons, was implemented, and still enjoys widespread popular support.

Culture

Language

English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages.

Ethnic Groups

The majority of New Zealanders are Pakeha (white New Zealanders), with a sizable Maori minority. Other significant ethnic minorities include Pacific islanders and people of Japanese, Chinese and South East Asian descent.

Notes and Links

External Links

• New Zealand Government Online The official gateway to New Zealand's government services
• Statistics New Zealand New Zealand's official statistics agency
• [1] Te Ara - the encyclopedia of New Zealand