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Australia-Oceania :: New Zealand

- ## Introduction :: NEW ZEALAND

- 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. 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. New Zealand assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.

- ## Geography :: NEW ZEALAND

- Location:
  Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
  Geographic coordinates:
  41 00 S, 174 00 E
  Map references:
  Oceania
  Area:
  total: 267,710 sq km
  land: 267,710 sq km
  water: NA
  note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Area - comparative:
  almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  15,134 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  Climate:
  temperate with sharp regional contrasts
  Terrain:
  predominately mountainous with large coastal plains
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
  Natural resources:
  natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 43.2%
  arable land 1.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 41.1%
  forest: 31.4%
  other: 25.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  6,193 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  327 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 4.75 cu km/yr (23%/5%/72%)
  per capita: 1,200 cu m/yr (2010)
  Natural hazards:
  earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
  volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (elev. 2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island
  Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
  Geography - note:
  almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

- ## People and Society :: NEW ZEALAND

- Nationality:
  noun: New Zealander(s)
  adjective: New Zealand
  Ethnic groups:
  European 71.2%, Maori 14.1%, Asian 11.3%, Pacific peoples 7.6%, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African 1.1%, other 1.6%, not stated or unidentified 5.4%
  note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group (2013 est.)
  Languages:
  English (de facto official) 89.8%, Maori (de jure official) 3.5%, Samoan 2%, Hindi 1.6%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1%, Other or not stated 20.5%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official)
  note: shares sum to 120.8% due to multiple responses on census (2013 est.)
  Religions:
  Christian 44.3% (Catholic 11.6%, Anglican 10.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 7.8%, Methodist, 2.4%, Pentecostal 1.8%, other 9.9%), Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, objected to answering 4.1%
  note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because people were able to identify more than one religion (2013 est.)
  Population:
  4,438,393 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19.87% (male 451,684/female 430,084)
  15-24 years: 13.74% (male 313,140/female 296,654)
  25-54 years: 40.25% (male 894,475/female 891,973)
  55-64 years: 11.52% (male 249,765/female 261,670)
  65 years and over: 14.62% (male 299,862/female 349,086) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 54%
  youth dependency ratio: 31.1%
  elderly dependency ratio: 22.9%
  potential support ratio: 4.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 37.7 years
  male: 36.8 years
  female: 38.5 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.82% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Birth rate:
  13.33 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Death rate:
  7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Net migration rate:
  2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 86.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.05% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Auckland 1.344 million; WELLINGTON (capital) 383,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.05 years
  male: 78.97 years
  female: 83.22 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Total fertility rate:
  2.04 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Health expenditures:
  9.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Physicians density:
  2.74 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  30.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Education expenditures:
  7.4% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 19 years
  male: 18 years
  female: 20 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 17.7%
  male: 17.3%
  female: 18.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64

- ## Government :: NEW ZEALAND

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: New Zealand
  abbreviation: NZ
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
  Capital:
  name: Wellington
  geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E
  time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
  note: New Zealand has two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)
  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:
  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:
  Constitution Act 1986 (the principal formal charter) adopted and effective 1 January 1987; amended 1999, 2005 (2013)
  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
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011)
  head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Simon William ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
  cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies, including 7 Maori constituencies, by simple majority vote and 50 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)
  elections: last held on 20 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 48.1%, Labor Party 24.7%, Green Party 10%, NZ First 8.8%, Maori 1.29%, ACT Party .69%, United Future .22%; seats by party - National Party 61, Labor Party 32, Green Party 13, NZ First 11, Maori 2, ACT Party 1, United Future 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final appeals court
  judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the attorney-general; justices appointed for life
  subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, Maori lands, and military
  Political parties and leaders:
  ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]
  Green Party [Russel NORMAN and Metiria TUREI]
  Jim Anderton's Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]
  Mana Party [Hone HARAWIRA]
  Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Dr. Pita SHARPLES]
  New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
  New Zealand Labor Party [Phil GOFF]
  New Zealand National Party [John KEY]
  United Future New Zealand [Peter DUNNE]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
  other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups
  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), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Kenneth MOORE (since 5 August 2010)
  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, Pago Pago (American Samoa), Santa Monica (CA)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Marie C. DAMOUR (since 17 January 2014); note - also accredited to Samoa
  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) 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
  National symbol(s):
  Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)
  National anthem:
  name: "God Defend New Zealand"
  lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS
  note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the Queen" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played

- ## Economy :: NEW ZEALAND

- Economy - overview:
  Over the past 30 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, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. 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. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while 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 pulled out of recession in 2009, and achieved 2%-3% growth between 2011 to 2014. Nevertheless, key trade sectors remain vulnerable to weak external demand and lower commodity prices. In the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes, the government has continued programs to expand export markets, develop capital markets, invest in innovation, raise productivity growth, and develop infrastructure, while easing its fiscal austerity.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $158.9 billion (2014 est.)
  $153.9 billion (2013 est.)
  $150.5 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 71
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $198.1 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.2% (2014 est.)
  2.2% (2013 est.)
  2.4% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $35,200 (2014 est.)
  $34,000 (2013 est.)
  $33,300 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Gross national saving:
  20% of GDP (2014 est.)
  19.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  18% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 58.8%
  government consumption: 18.7%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
  investment in inventories: 0.7%
  exports of goods and services: 28.4%
  imports of goods and services: -27.8%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 3.8%
  industry: 26.6%
  services: 69.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  dairy products, sheep, beef, poultry, fruit, vegetables, wine, seafood, wheat and barley
  Industries:
  agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Labor force:
  2.452 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 7%
  industry: 19%
  services: 74% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5.4% (2014 est.)
  6.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  36.2 (1997)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Budget:
  revenues: $82.63 billion
  expenditures: $84.37 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  41.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Public debt:
  35.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  35.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.2% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Central bank discount rate:
  2.5% (31 December 2009)
  5% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6.1% (31 December 2014 est.)
  5.53% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Stock of narrow money:
  $33.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $32.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Stock of broad money:
  $105.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $97.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $271.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $275.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $79.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $71.66 billion (31 December 2011)
  $71.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Current account balance:
  -$6.972 billion (2014 est.)
  -$6.153 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Exports:
  $40.21 billion (2014 est.)
  $39.94 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Exports - commodities:
  dairy products, meat and edible offal, logs and wood articles, fruit, crude oil, wine
  Exports - partners:
  China 20%, Australia 17.5%, US 9.3%, Japan 5.9% (2014)
  Imports:
  $40.71 billion (2014 est.)
  $38.81 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum and products, mechanical machinery, vehicles and parts, electrical machinery, textiles
  Imports - partners:
  China 17%, Australia 12.3%, US 11.7%, Japan 6.7%, Germany 4.8%, South Korea 4.5%, Malaysia 4.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $18.96 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $16.32 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Debt - external:
  $87.16 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $86.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $85.64 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $81.38 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $59.08 billion (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
  1.206 (2014 est.)
  1.2187 (2013 est.)
  1.23 (2012 est.)
  1.263 (2011 est.)
  1.3874 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: NEW ZEALAND

- Electricity - production:
  42.91 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Electricity - consumption:
  40.45 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  9.722 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  30.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  54% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  15.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Crude oil - production:
  39,410 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Crude oil - exports:
  35,520 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Crude oil - imports:
  105,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  81.4 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  117,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  152,800 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  2,471 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  37,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Natural gas - production:
  4.765 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Natural gas - consumption:
  4.718 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  29.42 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  37.89 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71

- ## Communications :: NEW ZEALAND

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.85 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 5.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2011)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .nz
  Internet users:
  total: 4 million
  percent of population: 91.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77

- ## Transportation :: NEW ZEALAND

- Airports:
  123 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 39
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 23
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 84
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 33
  under 914 m:
  48 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 331 km; gas 1,936 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 4,128 km
  narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Roadways:
  total: 94,902 km
  paved: 62,759 km (includes 199 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 32,143 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Merchant marine:
  total: 15
  by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2
  foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 2, Hong Kong 1, South Africa 1, Switzerland 2, UK 1)
  registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 2, Samoa 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington

- ## Military :: NEW ZEALAND

- Military branches:
  New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi, RNZAF) (2013)
  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 NZ for the previous 5 years (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,019,798
  females age 16-49: 1,003,429 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 843,526
  females age 16-49: 828,779 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 30,846
  female: 28,825 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.13% of GDP (2012)
  1.12% of GDP (2011)
  1.13% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 87

- ## Transnational Issues :: NEW ZEALAND

- Disputes - international:
  asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
  Illicit drugs:
  significant consumer of amphetamines

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