| New Zealand |
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New Zealand | Introduction | Top of Page

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.

New Zealand | Geography | Top of Page

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

Geographic coordinates: | 41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area - comparative: | about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 15,134 km

Maritime claims: | continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: | predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

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

Land use: | arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: | 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note: | about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

New Zealand | People | Top of Page

Population: | 3,864,129 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: 22.36% (male 442,738; female 421,462) 15-64 years: 66.11% (male 1,281,781; female 1,272,674) 65 years and over: 11.53% (male 193,895; female 251,579) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 1.14% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | 14.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: | 7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: | 4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: | 6.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 77.99 years male: 75.01 years female: 81.1 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: | 1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.06% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 1,200 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: | noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups: | New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Religions: | Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Languages: | English (official), Maori

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

New Zealand | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ

Government type: | parliamentary democracy

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 note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Dependent areas: | Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: | 26 September 1907 (from UK)

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

Constitution: | consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter

Legal system: | based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch: | unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 27 November 1999 (next must be called by November 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NZLP 49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ 1 note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National Party became the opposition party

Judicial branch: | High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: | ACT, New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, New Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) [Jim ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Jenny SHIPLEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United New Zealand or UNZ [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA

International organization participation: | ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068 FAX: [64] (4) 478-1701 consulate(s) 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

New Zealand | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. With the FY00/01 budget pushing up pension and other public outlays, the government's ability to meet fiscal targets will depend on sustained economic growth.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $67.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: | 3.6% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8% industry: 23% services: 69% (1999)

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force: | 1.88 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: | services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)

Unemployment rate: | 6.3% (2000 est.)

Budget: | revenues: $19.2 billion expenditures: $19.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: | 6.2% (2000)

Electricity - production: | 37.952 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 30.49% hydro: 61.42% nuclear: 0% other: 8.09% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: | 35.295 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Exports: | $14.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities: | dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures

Exports - partners: | Australia 22%, US 14%, Japan 13%, UK 7% (1999)

Imports: | $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics

Imports - partners: | Australia 24%, US 17%, Japan 12%, UK 4% (1999)

Debt - external: | $30.8 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - donor: | ODA, $123 million (1995)

Currency: | New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code: | NZD

Exchange rates: | New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)

Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

New Zealand | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1.84 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 588,000 (1998)

Telephone system: | general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios: | 3.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: | 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: | 1.926 million (1997)

Internet country code: | .nz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 36 (2000)

Internet users: | 1.34 million (2000)

New Zealand | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | total: 3,913 km narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)

Highways: | total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1996)

Waterways: | 1,609 km note: of little importance in satisfying total transportation requirements

Pipelines: | petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Ports and harbors: | Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Merchant marine: | total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 72,389 GRT/109,018 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: | 111 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 42 (2000 est.)

New Zealand | Military | Top of Page

Military branches: | New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military manpower - military age: | 20 years of age

Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,000,102 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 841,915 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 26,480 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $883 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.1% (FY97/98)

New Zealand | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)