New Zealand Travel

New Zealand

New Zealand or Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, is a country of two large islands and many smaller islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is notable for its isolation, being separated from Australia on the northwest by the Tasman Sea, some 2,000 km wide. The closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. The population of New Zealand is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Maori as the largest minority. Non-Maori Polynesian and Asian peoples are also significant minorities, especially in the cities.more...

National Name:New Zealand
Area: 103,737 sq mi (268,680 sq km) (excluding dependencies)
Population: 4,035,461 (growth rate: 1.0%); birth rate: 13.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.8/1000; life expectancy: 78.7; density per sq mi: 39
Capital City: Wellington, 342,500 (metro. area), 165,100 (city proper)
Language: English, Maori (both official)
Religion: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Ethnicity/race: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Literacy rate: 99% (1980 est.)
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Prime Minister: Dame Silvia Cartwright (2001)
Head of State: Helen Clark (1999)

History of New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most recently settled major land masses. Polynesian settlers arrived in their waka some time between 800 and 600 years ago to establish the indigenous Maori culture. Settlement of the Chatham Islands to the south-east of New Zealand produced the Moriori people but it is disputed whether they moved there from New Zealand or elsewhere in Polynesia. Most of New Zealand was divided into tribal territories called rohe, resources within which were controlled by an iwi ('tribe'). Usually no two iwi had overlapping rohe. Maori adapted to eating the local marine resources, flora and fauna for food, hunting the giant flightless moa (which soon became extinct), and ate the Polynesian Rat and kumara (sweet potato), which they introduced to the country.more...

The Economy of New Zealand

GDP: $92.51 billion
GDP per capita: $23,200
Annual Growth: 4.8%
Inflation: 2.4%
Major Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining.
Major Trading Partners: Australia, U.S., Japan, China, UK, Germany (2003)
Natural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone.
Unemployment:4.2%
Exports: $19.85 billion (2004 est.): dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery.
Imports: $19.77 billion (2004 est.): machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics.

Also Read: A Brief insight in The Economy of New Zealand | Culture of New Zealand | People of New Zealand

Political System of New Zealand

Politics in New Zealand
Foreign relations of New Zealand

Geography of New Zealand

New Zealand comprises two main islands (simply called the North and South Islands in English, or usually Te-Ika-a-Maui and Te Wai Pounamu in Maori) and a number of smaller islands. The total land area of New Zealand, 268,680 km², is somewhat less than that of Japan or of the British Isles, and slightly larger than Colorado in the USA. The country extends more than 1600 km along its main, north-north-east axis. The most significant of the smaller inhabited islands of New Zealand include Stewart Island/Rakiura, Waiheke Island, an island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier Island, east of the Hauraki Gulf and the Chatham Islands, named Rekohu by Moriori. The country has extensive marine resources, with the fifth largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world covering over 4 million km², more than 15 times its land area.more...

Major Attractions of New Zealnd

New Zealand is the world's best kept secret; it contains six of the seven climatic regions on the planet, boasts a series of unparalleled golden-sand beaches, protected marine parks to explore from on or beneath the surface, safe-but-active volcanic areas, pristine snow-capped Alps to ski and climb, prehistoric forests and unique flora and fauna. It does all this in one easily accessible package without thousands of miles to travel between each destination and it has an enviable reputation as one of the safest destinations in the world, lacking poisonous animals and boasting a low crime rate. It is a country where the only stress is that taken on willfully by the adventure-minded tourist (in the form of bungy jumping, parachuting, white-water rafting etc). You can walk for miles in New Zealand without seeing another soul, accompanied by rustling trees, running water and unusual bird song but perhaps the country's greatest asset is its warm, friendly and hospitable population. For informed and accurate tourist information, on all of the country's highlights, travelers should contact one of the local VICs (Visitor Information Centers) situated all over New Zealand.

North Island
Auckland
Auckland is the country's largest urban and suburban area with a population of over 1.5 million. Even so, it is surrounded by varied and exquisite scenery with attractive harbors and beaches to the east and the rugged Waitakere Ranges, the thundering, undeveloped surf beaches and burgeoning vineyards to the west. Known as the 'City of Sails', with more boats per capita than any other city in the world, these days Auckland's reputation as a sailor's Mecca is cemented by repeated successful defenses of the America's Cup. more...

Northland
The narrow, predominantly Maori stronghold of Northland, the 'Winterless North' pushes out 350km (217 miles) from Auckland and separates the Pacific Ocean from the Tasman Sea. It provides the sub-tropical element in the New Zealand equation and is famed for its palms, citrus fruit, avocados, bananas and myriad gorgeous, sandy unspoiled beaches. It also gives tourists the opportunity to begin to understand Maori culture, art and history. more...

Pacific Coast Highway
A spectacular coastal road runs parallel with the intricate filigree of small inlets and beaches around the Coromandel Peninsula and the long sweeping bays of the east coast. The journey begins with the ferry from Auckland to Coromandel, where the road weaves along the side of the peninsula's tiny, sun-trap inlets before opening out on the long run down from Hot Water Beach towards Tauranga. The warm water bubbles from beneath the sands overlooking the surf providing a perfect spot from which to watch the tide come in at sunset from your own personally dug hot pool. more...

Central North Island
The center of the North Island is dominated by the geothermal city of Rotorua, the extraordinarily picturesque Lake Taupo and the UNESCO-listed Tongariro National Park. The park is a spectacular mountain area dominated by three peaks, Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and, the tallest, Mount Ruapehu 2797m (9177ft), still an active volcano, and a major ski resort. When Ruapehu erupted in 1996, many people took the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ski the slopes of a live volcano. more...

The Western North Island
Another area dominated by Maori culture and history which along with Northland provides the best opportunity to pick up authentic souvenirs. This is an atmospheric area with black-sand beaches, rich farm land, natural kaarst limestone architecture, national parks and a spectacular extinct volcano, Taranaki. Perhaps one of the most magical areas is the famous water-sculptured limestone caves of Waitamo with their glow-worm grottoes. more...

Wellington
In the south of the North Island, Wellington, New Zealand's capital, occupies the flat area surrounding the harbor basin and climbs the surrounding steep hillsides overlooking the water. This makes it a compact metropolis with a thriving and lively heart. The city is a center of culture, arts, restaurants, theater, fashion and nightlife. more...

Excursions
Popular destinations for excursions from Wellington include the Wairarapa wine region, Cape Palliser (whose wild coastline provides a habitat for a large colony of seals) and Kapiti Island, home to a bird sanctuary free of introduced predators where weka, bellbird and tui, to name but a few, show little or no fear and provide photo opportunities of fantastic quality.

South Island
Marlborough Sounds
To the north of the South Island, the sheltered waterways of the lush and green region known as Marlborough Sounds attract numerous boating, kayaking, sailing and fishing enthusiasts. The Marlborough province is well known for its wine and food, with world-class, new-world wineries such as Cloudy Bay, Le Brun, Fromm, Highfield, Hunters and Montana to name but a few. The best wines from this area tend to be white, sharp Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc. more...

Christchurch
To the south, on the edge of the flat patchwork quilt of the Canterbury Plains, lies the 'Garden City' of Christchurch, the South Island's largest community. The tree-lined River Avon meanders through the center of the city, which with its public school, old university buildings (now a fantastic arts center) and examples of Neo-Gothic architecture is reminiscent of an old English university town. more...

Southern Alps
From Christchurch, a single rail line and road lead to the Southern Alps, up over Arthur's Pass and down the other side to the wild west coast. This is the route of a breathtaking rail journey which can be completed, there and back, in one day on the Tranz Alpine Express. The tiny village of Arthur's Pass is a good starting point for climbing, canyoning and trekking trips to the UNESCO-listed Arthur's Pass National Park nearby. more...

West Coast
At the foot of the Southern Alps' western slopes, the thin strip that is the West Coast is one of New Zealand's wildest untouched natural areas. The coast gets about 4m (13ft) of rain a year, and is a sparsely populated region with a dramatic mountain and native forest landscape, with pristine bush-fringed lakes, which provides a home to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. more...

Fiordland
To the southwest of the South Island is Fiordland, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area, which offers a huge range of walking tracks in the wilderness consisting of numerous lakes, mountains, native forest and a pristine coast. Many scenes from the blockbuster film trilogy The Lord of the Rings were filmed in different areas of Fiordland. Nestling beside Lake Wakatipu at the foot of the Remarkables Range, Queenstown is known as New Zealand's 'adventure capital' where tourists can bungy, paraglide, parachute and jet boat (in narrow gorges) until weak at the knees. more...

Southland
The green and fertile province of Southland at the bottom of the South Island is home to the cities of Invercargill and Dunedin (which is Gaelic for Edinburgh), both of which have strong Scottish roots and retain a distinctive Celtic flavor. In Dunedin, this is perhaps best reflected by the city's streets bearing the same names as those of Edinburgh, and the presence of Wilson's Whisky Distillery (reputedly the world's southernmost distillery) and the Emmerson's and Speights breweries. more...

Stewart Island
Across the Foveaux Strait, New Zealand's third-largest island, Stewart Island, has few inhabitants and can be reached by plane (travel time - 20 minutes), helicopter, or boat ride aboard a motor catamaran from Bluff. The island has various attractions, including a rare chance to see the endangered kiwi (New Zealand's national symbol) in the wild. The birds feed in the evenings around Mason's Beach, accessible by plane, or by water taxi to Patterson's Inlet, followed by a delightful four-hour walk. Another draw card is Ulva Island, a predator-free, offshore expanse of bush and beautiful beaches where curious native birds come down to the foreshore to watch tourists clambering off the water taxi.

• New Zealand
• New Zealand Tourist Attractions
• North Island
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