1.
2.
[syn: New Zealand, New Zealand Islands]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
New Zealand \New` Zea"land\
A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
[1913 Webster]
New Zealand flax.
(a) (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb (Phormium tenax), having
very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish
a fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the
like.
(b) The fiber itself.
New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub (Leptospermum
scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of
which are used as a substitute for tea.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
New Zealand
n 1: an independent country within the British Commonwealth;
achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1907;
known for sheep and spectacular scenery
2: North Island and South Island and adjacent small islands in
the South Pacific [syn: New Zealand, New Zealand Islands]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
New Zealand
Introduction New Zealand
------------------------
Background: 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 number of
defense alliances lapsed by the
1980s. In recent years the
government has sought to address
longstanding native 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: 268,680 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands,
Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands,
and Kermadec Islands
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: temperate with sharp regional
contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some
large coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal,
timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: arable land: 5.8%
permanent crops: 6.44%
other: 87.76% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though
usually not severe; volcanic
activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native
flora and fauna hard-hit by species
introduced from outside
Environment - international party to: Antarctic-Environmental
agreements: Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic
Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: about 80% of the population lives in
cities; Wellington is the
southernmost national capital in the
world
People New Zealand
------------------
Population: 3,908,037 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.2% (male 443,921;
female 422,804)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,299,973;
female 1,290,097)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male
196,640; female 254,602) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.12% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 14.23 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.15 years
female: 81.27 years (2002 est.)
male: 75.17 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.06% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 1,200 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori
9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific
Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%,
Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,
Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%,
unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government New Zealand
----------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3
town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri,
Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot,
Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere,
Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island,
Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**,
Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood,
Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake,
Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**,
Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata,
Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*,
Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*,
Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks,
Southland, Stewart Island,
Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki,
Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-
Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent,
Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato,
Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino,
Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,
Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*,
Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,
Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara,
Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei,
Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new
administrative structure of 16
regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty,
Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland,
Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu,
Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16
cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks
Peninsula, Buller, Carterton,
Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago,
Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far
North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore,
Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki,
Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,
Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara,
Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,
Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough,
Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,
Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston
North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei,
Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
Southland, South Taranaki, South
Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford,
Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper
Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri,
Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*,
Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui,
Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty,
Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi
established British sovereignty over
New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution: consists of a series of legal
documents, including certain acts of
the UK and New Zealand Parliaments
and The Constitution Act 1986 which
is the principal formal charter
Legal system: based on English law, with special
land legislation and land courts for
Maoris; 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 Dame Silvia
CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister
Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999)
and Deputy Prime Minister James
(Jim) ANDERTON (since 10 December
1999)
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 for a three-year
term; deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
- commonly called Parliament (120
seats; members elected by popular
vote in single-member constituencies
to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November
1999 (next must be called by
November 2002)
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NZLP
49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New
Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5,
UNZ 1
note: NZLP and Alliance formed the
government coalition; the National
Party is the opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: ACT, New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE];
Alliance (a coalition of the New
Labor Party, Democratic Party, New
Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana
Motuhake) [James (Jim) ANDERTON];
Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and
Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP
[William (Bill) English]; New
Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston
PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or
NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United New
Zealand or UNZ [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security
participation: obligations to NZ on 11 August
1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner),
AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD,
ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM
(guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOP,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador L. John
WOOD
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW,
Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles,
New York
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Charles
US: J. SWINDELLS
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace,
Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190,
Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
96531-1001
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 478-1701
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
Economy New Zealand
-------------------
Economy - overview: Since 1984 the government has
accomplished major economic
restructuring, transforming 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), broadened and
deepened the technological
capabilities of the industrial
sector, and contained inflationary
pressures. While per capita incomes
have been rising, however, they
remain below the level of the four
largest EU economies, and there is
some government concern that New
Zealand is not closing the gap. New
Zealand is heavily dependent on
trade - particularly in agricultural
products - to drive growth, and it
has been affected by the global
economic slowdown and the slump in
commodity prices. Thus far the New
Zealand economy has been relatively
resilient, achieving about 3% growth
in 2001, but the New Zealand
business cycle tends to lag the US
cycle by about six months, so the
worst of the downturn may not hit
until mid-2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $75.4
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,500
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 0.3%
percentage share: highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 1.92 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%,
agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $16.7 billion
expenditures: $16.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY00/01)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper
products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking
and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 35.823 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26.55%
hydro: 66.45%
other: 7% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 33.315 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses,
fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,
dairy products; fish
Exports: $14.2 billion (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, wood and wood
products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners: Australia 20.4%, US 14.5%, Japan
13.5%, UK 5.4%, South Korea, China
(2000)
Imports: $12.5 billion (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles
and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners: Australia 22.5%, US 17.5%, Japan
11%, UK 4%, China, Germany (2000)
Debt - external: $31.1 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $99.7 million (FY00/01)
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code: NZD
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar -
2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776
(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886
(1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
--------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.92 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.2 million (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent
domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to
Australia and Fiji; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters
and over 650 low-power repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code: .nz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 36 (2000)
Internet users: 1.78 million (2001)
Transportation New Zealand
--------------------------
Railways: total: 3,908 km
narrow gauge: 3,908 km 1.067-m gauge
(506 km electrified) (2001)
Highways: total: 92,200 km
paved: 53,568 km (including at least
144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,632 km (1996)
Waterways: 1,609 km
note: of little importance in
satisfying total transportation
requirements
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural
gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum
gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin,
Tauranga, Wellington
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 68,427 GRT/106,627 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship
registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1,
container 1, petroleum tanker 2,
roll on/roll off 1
Airports: 106 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 3 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 62
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 37 (2001)
Heliports: 1 (2001)
Military New Zealand
--------------------
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand
Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,010,316 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 850,185 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 26,480 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $515.6 million (2002 est.)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.2% (FY2001/02)
GDP:
Transnational Issues New Zealand
--------------------------------
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Ross Dependency)