Statistics New Zealand 
New Zealand in the World
New Zealand - Introduction 1992
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.
Area
Total: 268,680 km²
Land:
268,670 km²; includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands,
Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Comparative: about the size of Colorado
Maritime claims
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Land use: arable land: 2%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 53%; forest and woodland 38%; other 7%; includes irrigated 1%
New Zealand - People 1992
top of pageReligions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)
New Zealand - Government 1992
top of pageAdministrative 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
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
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
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 at age 18
House of Representatives:
last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held
October 1993); results - NP 49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29, NLP 1
October 1993); results - NP 49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29, NLP 1
International 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, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LORCS, MTCR, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador - Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN;
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
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 Della M. NEWMAN; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace,
Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96,531-1001); telephone 64 (4) 722-068; FAX 64 (4) 723-537; there is a US Consulate General in Auckland
Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96,531-1001); telephone 64 (4) 722-068; FAX 64 (4) 723-537; 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
New Zealand - Economy 1992
top 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 reduce inflationary pressures and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth has been sluggish and unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May 1991. In 1988, GDP fell by 1%, in 1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%, and was flat in 1990-91.
GDP: purchasing powerequivalent - $46.2 billion, per capita $14,000; real growth rate - 0.4% (1991 est.)
Agriculture products: accounts for about 9% of GDP and 10% of the work force; livestock predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, and 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
Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991); services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987)
Organized labor: 681,000 members; 43% of labor force (1986)
Budget: revenues $17.6 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports: $9.4 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
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%
South Korea 3.1%
Imports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
Commodoties: petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
Partners: Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.8245 (March 1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987)
New Zealand - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita (1990)
New Zealand - Communication 1992
top of pageNew Zealand - Military 1992
top of pageNew Zealand - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
118 total, 118 usable; 34 with permanent-surface runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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
GRT/246,446 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk
Civil air: about 40 major transport aircraft
New Zealand - Transnational issues 1992
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