Map of New Zealand | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Background: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840 their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain the Treaty of Waitangi in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both world wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.


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Location: Oceania islands in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S 174 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 76
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

Natural resources: natural gas iron ore sand coal timber hydropower gold limestone

Land use

Irrigated land: 6,190 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 397 km³ (1995)

Natural hazards: earthquakes are common though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Geography
Note: almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world


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Population: 4,327,944 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 125
Growth rate: 0.863% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 130
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: European 56.8% Asian 8% Maori 7.4% Pacific islander 4.6% mixed 9.7% other 13.5% (2006 Census)

Languages: English (official) 91.2% Maori (official) 3.9% Samoan 2.1% French 1.3% Hindi 1.1% Yue 1.1% Northern Chinese 1% other 12.9% New Zealand Sign Language (official)

Religions: Protestant 38.6% (Anglican 13.8% Presbyterian Congregational and Reformed 10% Christian (no denomination specified) 4.6% Methodist 3% Pentecostal 2% Baptist 1.4% other Christian 3.8%) Roman Catholic 12.6% Maori Christian 1.6% Hindu 1.6% Buddhist 1.3% other religions 2.2% none 32.2% other or unidentified 9.9% (2006 Census)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.863% (2012 est.)
Rank: 130

Birth rate: 13.57 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 148

Death rate: 7.2 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 123

Net migration rate: 2.26 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 36

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 183

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 25

Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 122

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 2.384 physicians/1000 population (2007)

Hospital bed density: 6.18 beds/1000 population (2002)

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 143
People living with hivaids: 2,500 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 132
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 125

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 26.5% (2007)
Rank: 10

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 27

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

Administrative divisions: 16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland Bay of Plenty Canterbury Chatham Islands* Gisborne Hawke's Bay Manawatu-Wanganui Marlborough Nelson Northland Otago Southland Taranaki Tasman Waikato Wellington West Coast

Dependent areas: (1) Cook Islands Niue Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from the UK)

National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand) 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli Turkey) 25 April (1915)

Constitution: consists of a series of legal documents including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand parliaments as well as The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987 effective 1 January 1987

Legal system: common law system based on English model with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 70 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies 50 proportional seats chosen from party lists; serve three-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the governor general

Political parties and leaders: ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Russel NORMAN and Metiria TUREI]; Mana Party [Hone HARAWIRA]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Dr. Pita SHARPLES]; New Zealand National Party [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party [Phil GOFF]; Jim Anderton's Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future New Zealand [Peter DUNNE]

International organization participation: ADB ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986) APEC ARF ASEAN (dialogue partner) Australia Group BIS C CD CP EAS EBRD FAO FATF IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NSG OECD OPCW Paris Club (associate) PCA PIF Sparteca SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMISS UNMIT UNTSO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation

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 symbols: Southern Cross constellation (four five-pointed stars); kiwi (bird)

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income rose for ten consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market however aggravating the current account deficit. The economy fell into recession before the start of the global financial crisis and contracted for five consecutive quarters in 2008-09. In line with global peers the central bank cut interest rates aggressively and the government developed fiscal stimulus measures. The economy posted a 2% decline in 2009 but pulled out of recession late in the year and achieved roughly 2% per year growth in 2010-12. Nevertheless key trade sectors remain vulnerable to weak external demand. The government plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure while reining in government spending.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 65

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 138

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 46

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: dairy products lamb and mutton; wheat barley potatoes pulses fruits vegetables; wool beef; fish

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2011 est.)
Rank: 132

Labor force: 2.402 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 113

Unemployment rate: 6.5% (2011 est.)
Rank: 70

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 36.2 (1997)
Rank: 82

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 171

Taxes and other revenues: 37.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 60

Public debt: 36.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 84

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 13

Central bank discount rate: 5% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 71

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 6.11% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 140

Stock of narrow money: $26.26 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 62

Stock of broad money: $145.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 46

Stock of domestic credit: $239.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 39

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 55

Current account balance: -$6.709 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 169

Exports: $38.35 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 63
Commodities: dairy products meat wood and wood products fish machinery
Partners: Australia 22.2% China 12.5% US 8.5% Japan 7.1% (2011)

Imports: $35.61 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 62
Commodities: machinery and equipment vehicles and aircraft petroleum electronics textiles plastics
Partners: China 16.1% Australia 15.9% US 10.4% Japan 6.3% Singapore 4.6% Germany 4.3% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $17.01 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 59

Debt external: $91.07 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 48

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $73.92 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 46

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 43.4 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 55
Consumption: 38.96 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 54
Exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 115
Imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 118
Installed generating capacity: 9.482 million kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 59
Generation sources fossil fuels: 30% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 179
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 157
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 56.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 36
Generation sources other renewable sources: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 15

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 49,730 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 58
Crude oil exports: 45,180 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 46
Crude oil imports: 90,840 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 49
Crude oil proven reserves: 96.1 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 73

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 106,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Products production rank: 70
Products consumption: 148,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 68
Products exports: 2,883 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Products exports rank: 103
Products imports: 46,780 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Products imports rank: 72

Natural gas
Production: 4.367 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 52
Consumption: 4.278 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 63
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 130
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 114
Proven reserves: 27.64 billion m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 73

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 39.58 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 71

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.88 million (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 60
Mobile cellular: 4.82 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 107

Telephone system

Broadcast media: state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available (2008)

Internet
Country code: .nz
Hosts: 3.026 million (2012)
Hosts rank: 34
Users: 3.4 million (2009)
Users rank: 62

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 127

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription; 3 years of secondary education required; must be a citizen of NZ the UK Australia Canada or the US and resident of there for the previous 5 years (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 122 (2012)
Rank: 47

Heliports

Pipelines: condensate 331 km; gas 1838 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2010)

Railways
Rank: 41

Roadways
Rank: 46

Waterways

Merchant marine
Rank: 101

Ports and terminals: Auckland Lyttelton Manukau Harbor Marsden Point Tauranga Wellington


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Disputes international: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: significant consumer of amphetamines