BackgroundThe Polynesian Maori rched New Zland in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Trty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same yr, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the deft of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zland became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zland's full participation in a of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent yrs, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
GeographyAbout 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world.Loion:Ocnia, islands in the South Pacific Ocn, southst of AustraliaGeographic coordinates:41 00 S, 174 00 r:total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,021 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec IslandsSize comparison: about the size of Colorado
Land Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:15,134 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginClimate:temperate with sharp regional contrastsTerrain:predominately mountainous with some large coastal plainsElevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocn 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 mNatural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestoneLand use:arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)Irrigated land:2,850 sq km (2003)Natural hazards:rthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityCurrent Environment Issues:deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive speciesInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Trty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Environmental Modifiion, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the S, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Sls, Marine Life Conservation
PeoplePopulation:4,173,460 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 20.9% (male 446,883/female 424,240)
15-64 yrs: 66.5% (male 1,390,669/female 1,385,686)
65 yrs and over: 12.6% (male 238,560/female 287,422) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 36.3 yrs
male: 35.6 yrs
female: 37.1 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:0.971% (2008 est.)Birth rate:14.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:7 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 4.99 dths/1,000 live births
male: 5.62 dths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.24 yrs
male: 78.33 yrs
female: 82.25 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:2.11 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - dths:fewer than 200 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: New Zlander(s)
adjective: New ZlandEthnic groups:Europn 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)Religions:Anglican 14.9%, Roman holic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)Languages:English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zland
abbreviation: NZGovernment type:parliamentary democracyCapital:name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in March
note: New Zland is divided into two time zones, including Chatham IslandAdministrative 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 CoastDependent ars:Cook Islands, Niue, TokelauIndependence:26 September 1907 (from UK)National holiday:Waitangi Day (Trty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zland), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zland Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Tur), 25 April (1915)Constitution:consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zland Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987Legal system:based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservationsSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor eral Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)
hd of government: Prime Minister John (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor eral on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor eral appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the lder of the majority party or the lder of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor eral; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor eralLegislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 sts; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional sts chosen from party lists; to serve three-yr terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later than 27 November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NP 44.9%, NZLP 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%, ACT New Zland 3.7%, Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; sts by party - NP 58, NZLP 43, Green Party 9, ACT New Zland 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1
note: results of 2008 election saw the total of sts incrse to 122Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appl; High Court; note - judges appointed by the Governor-eralPolitical parties and lders:ACT New Zland [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jnette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Pita SHARPLES]; National Party or NP [John ]; New Zland First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]; New Zland Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]Political pressure groups and lders:Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclr wpons groups; women's rights groupsInternational organization participation:ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, S, EBRD, FAO, IA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, I, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OE, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) eral: Los Angeles, New YorkDiplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) eral: Auckland
EconomyOver the past 20 yrs the government has transformed New Zland 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 rl 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 has risen for nine consecutive yrs and rched $28,500 in 2008 in purchasing power parity terms. 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 rate stdily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OE in 2007-2008; 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 in 2008, and in line with global peers, the central bank has cut interest rates aggressively; the new government is responding with plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure.GDP (purchasing power parity):$118.9 billion (2008 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$135.7 billion (2008 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:0.6% (2008 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$28,500 (2008 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 26%
services: 69.6% (2008 est.)Labor force:2.26 million (2008 est.)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)Unemployment rate:4% (2008 est.)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%: %NADistribution of family income - Gini index:36.2 (1997)Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.3% (2008 est.)Investment (gross fixed):23.6% of GDP (2008 est.)Budget:revenues: $55.1 billion
expenditures: $54.66 billion (2008 est.)Public debt:22.9% of GDP (2008 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, miningIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:42.41 billion kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - consumption:38.93 billion kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:47,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:158,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - exports:14,570 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:137,300 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:55 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)Natural gas - production:4.573 billion cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:4.572 billion cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:29.67 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)Current account balance:-$9.047 billion (2008 est.)Exports:$29.53 billion (2008 est.)Exports - commodities:dairy products, mt, wood and wood products, fish, machineryExports - partners:Australia 22%, US 11.5%, Japan 9.2%, China 5.3%, UK 4.6% (2007)Imports:$31.11 billion (2008 est.)Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plasticsImports - partners:Australia 20.7%, China 13.4%, US 9.7%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 4.9%, Germany 4.7% (2007)Economic aid - donor:ODA, $259 million (2006)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$15.25 billion (31 December 2008 est.)Debt - external:$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.)Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:$72.41 billion (2008 est.)Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:$NAMarket value of publicly traded shares:$47.45 billion (31 December 2007)Currency ():New Zland dollar (NZD)Exchange rates:New Zland dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)Fiscal yr:1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal yr for tax purposes
CommuniionsTele in use:1.706 million (2007)Cellular in use:4.245 million (2007)Telephone system:eral assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite rth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocn, 7 other)Radio broadcast stations:AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)Television broadcast stations:41 (plus about 700 repters) (1997)Internet country :.nzInternet hosts:1.72 million (2008)Internet users:3.36 million (2007)
TransportationAirports:121 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 41
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 1 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 46 (2007)Pipelines:condensate 331 km; gas 1,896 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 260 km (2007)Railways:total: 4,128 km
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2006)Roadways:total: 93,576 km
paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)Merchant marine:total: 13
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)Ports and terminals:Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Military
Military branches:New Zland Defense Force (NZDF): New Zland Army, Royal New Zland Navy, Royal New Zland Air Force (2009)Military service age and obligation:17 yrs of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 1,009,298
females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 833,073
females age 16-49: 822,807 (2008 est.)
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