Statistical information New Zealand 1993

New Zealand in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 268,680 km²
Land: 268,670 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
ElevationNatural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 53%
Forest and woodland: 38%
Other: 7%
Irrigated land: 2,800 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 3,368,774 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 0.61% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: New Zealander(s)
Adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
Languages: English (official), Maori
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rateDeath rate: 8.11 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.69 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 76.11 years
Male: 72.46 years
Female: 79.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Total population: 99%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: New Zealand
Abbreviation: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Wellington
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
Administrative divisionsDependent areas:
(3) Cook Islands,
Niue,
TokelauIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM (cooperating country),
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN
In the us chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 328-4,800
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles and New York
From the us chief of mission: (vacant)
From the us embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96,531-1001
From the us telephone: 64 (4) 722-068
From the us fax: 64 (4) 723-537
From the us consulate 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91, and unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May 1991. In 1992, growth picked up to 3%, a sign that the new economic approach is beginning to pay off.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1992)
Real gdp per capita: $14,900 (1992)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for about 9% of GDP and about 10% of the work force; livestock predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of
GDP
Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991)
By occupation services: 67.4%
By occupation manufacturing: 19.8%
By occupation primaryproduction: 9.3% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (September 1992)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $14.0 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $3.65 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
Commodoties: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals, forestry products
Partners:EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%,
South Korea 3.1%
Imports: $3.99 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
Commodoties: petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
Partners: Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 8,000,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 9,250 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY90/91)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 120
Usable: 120
With permanentsurface runways: 33
With runways over 3659 m: 1
With runways 2440-3659 m: 2
With runways 1220-2439 m: 42
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 1,000 km; petroleum products 160 km; condensate (liquified petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 182,206 GRT/246,446
DWT; includes 2 cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs