| 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 |
| Area: |
total:
268,680 sq km
land: 268,670 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland
Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands,
and Kermadec Islands |
| Area
- comparative: |
about the size of
Colorado |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental
shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
9%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 50%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.) |
| 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: |
party to:
Antarctic-Environmental 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 |
| Population: |
3,864,129 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
22.36% (male 442,738; female 421,462)
15-64 years: 66.11% (male 1,281,781; female
1,272,674)
65 years and over: 11.53% (male 193,895; female
251,579) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.14% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
14.28
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.56 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
4.71 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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 (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
6.28 deaths/1,000
live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 77.99 years
male: 75.01 years
female: 81.1 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.8 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.06% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1,200 (1999 est.) |
| 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 |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ |
| Government
type: |
parliamentary
democracy |
| 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 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 became 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) [Jim ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS
and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Jenny SHIPLEY]; 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 leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ANZUS (US
suspended security 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, 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: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon,
Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington;
PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068
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
- 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. With the FY00/01 budget pushing up
pension and other public outlays, the government's ability
to meet fiscal targets will depend on sustained economic
growth. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $67.6 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
3.6% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $17,700 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (1999) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
0.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
2.4% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
1.88 million
(2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 65%,
industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
6.3% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$19.2 billion
expenditures: $19.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) |
| Industries: |
food processing,
wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation
equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6.2% (2000) |
| Electricity
- production: |
37.952 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
30.49%
hydro: 61.42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 8.09% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
35.295 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, barley,
potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy
products; fish |
| Exports: |
$14.6 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
dairy products,
meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures |
| Exports
- partners: |
Australia 22%, US
14%, Japan 13%, UK 7% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$14.3 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods,
plastics |
| Imports
- partners: |
Australia 24%, US
17%, Japan 12%, UK 4% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$30.8 billion
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - donor: |
ODA, $123 million
(1995) |
| Currency: |
New Zealand
dollar (NZD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
New Zealand
dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863
(2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
1.84 million
(1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
588,000 (1998) |
| 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: |
1.34 million
(2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
3,913 km
narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km
electrified) (1999) |
| 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:
9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 72,389 GRT/109,018 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 1,
petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 1
(2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
111 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 42 (2000 est.) |
| 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: |
males age
15-49: 1,000,102 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 841,915 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
26,480 (2001 est.) |
| 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) |
|
