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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 15,134 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

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

Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 53% meadows and pastures; 38% forest and woodland; 7% other; includes 1% irrigated

Population: 3,372,763 (July 1989), growth rate 0.9% (1989)

Nationality: noun - New Zealander(s; adjective - New Zealand

Ethnic groups: 88% European, 8.9% Maori, 2.9% Pacific Islander, 0.2% other

Languages: English (official), Maori

Religions: 81% Christian, 18% none or unspecified, 1% Hindu, Confucian, and other

Birth rate: 16 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1000 population (1989)

Environment
Current issues: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe

Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 99%

Country name: conventional long form: none; abbreviated NZ

Government type: independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state

Capital: Wellington

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

Dependent areas: (3) Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6 February (1840)

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

Suffrage: universal age 18 and over

Executive branch: Chief of State - Governor General Most Rev. Sir Paul REEVES (since 20 November 1985; Head of Government - Prime Minister Geoffrey PALMER (since 8 August 1989; Deputy Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 8 August 1989)

Legislative branch: Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force

International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, ASPAC, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth of Nations, DAC, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, OECD, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Harold Huyton FRANCIS; Chancery at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 328-4,800; there are New Zealand Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York; US - Ambassador Paul M. CLEVELAND; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is Private Bag, Wellington, or FPO San Francisco 96,690-0001; telephone Õ64å (4) 722-068; there is a US Consulate General in 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: The economy continues to remain sluggish. Agricultural exports have been suffering from a drop in world commodity prices and shrinking quotas in the key European Community market. In 1988 unemployment reached a near record, while inflation dropped to about 5%. Interest rates have been at a high of about 20%.

Agriculture products: fodder and silage crops, wool, meat, dairy products; food surplus country

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate: - 1.6% (FY88)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 11.3% (November 1988)

Budget: revenues $15.4 billion; expenditures $15.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Exports: $7.9 billion (f.o.b., FY88)
Commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese
Partners: US 16%, Japan 15%, Australia 15%, UK 9%, China 4%

Imports: $6.9 billion (c.i.f., FY88)
Commodities: petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
Partners: Japan 21%, Australia 18%, US 16%, UK 10%, FRG 6%

Debt external: $19.2 billion (September 1988)

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5985 (January 1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 7,700,000 kW capacity; 27,400 million kWh produced, 8,200 kWh per capita (1988)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $789 million, 5.1% of central government budget (FY88 est.)

Airports: 156 total, 156 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 47 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: 1,000 km natural gas; 160 km refined products; 150 km condensate

Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 267,398 GRT/335,501 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 4 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 7 bulk

Disputes international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)