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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 withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E Map references: Oceania Area:
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 15,134 km Maritime claims:
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Land use:
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 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 agreements:
Geography - note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
Population: 3,819,762 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
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 Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: 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
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK) National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty) Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted 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:
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)
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) [leader NA]; Christian Coalition (a coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party) [Rev. Graham CAPILL]; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party) [Trevor ROGERS]; Democratic Party [John WRIGHT]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; Mana Motuhake [Sandra LEE]; Mauri Pacific Party (composed of members who broke away from the NZFP) [Tau HENARE]; National Party or NP [Jenny SHIPLEY]; New Labor Party [Jim ANDERTON]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; New Zealand Liberal Party [Frank GROVER]; United New Zealand or UNZ [Peter DUNNE] International organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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 - overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. Moderate growth probably will characterize 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $63.8 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1999 est.) Labor force: 1.86 million (1998) Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995) Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.) Budget:
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 35.789 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 33.284 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures Exports - partners: Australia 21%, Japan 13%, US 13%, UK 6% (1998) Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics Imports - partners: Australia 22%, US 20%, Japan 11%, UK 5% (1998) Debt - external: $53 billion (1998) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $123 million (1995) Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.719 million (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 588,000 (1998) Telephone system:
excellent international and domestic systems
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 56 (1999)
Railways:
Highways:
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation 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:
Airports: 111 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $883 million (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY97/98)
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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