 New
Zealand Country Information
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
(official) |
| 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 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 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) [James (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 Charles 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
- 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: 3,908 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: 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) |
| |
|
