About New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of great beauty and variety in two main islands: the North and South Islands. Situated in the South Pacific, it is renown for it’s clean air, green landscapes and extensive coastline of beaches and harbours. It is a place to relax and enjoy the natural things in life.  Soak in a hot pool, walk along a golden sand beach, hike through native forests past clear blue lakes and waterfalls, and see a variety of wildlife from the rare yellow-eyed penguins and albatross to whales and the native kiwi. 

Extend your fitness with some stunning hiking trails, skiing, white water rafting, cycling, golfing and any number of outdoor activities.  There are opportunities to swim with dolphins, go whale-watching or trout fishing. Or simply relax in geothermal mud pools, soaking up the minerals in the volcanic waters. 

New Zealand is truly one of the most beautiful countries you will ever visit, with volcanoes, glaciers, geothermal activity, luscious bush, awe-inspiring mountains, endless stretches of beaches, and much much more. 

It is renowned worldwide for having a relaxed, friendly, spacious and outdoor focused lifestyle (sport, walks, BBQ’s, beaches...). Its' people too are well known for their welcoming and accepting nature. New Zealand history is littered with examples of leading the world on equality, environmental and peaceful initiatives. 

Location

South Pacific Ocean (Southeast of Australia, below the Pacific Islands and above Antarctica).

Size

 
A little bigger than the UK, Japan, and California, and a little smaller than Sweden. 

Population

 
4 million (+ 1 million travelling overseas themselves!).

Shape

2 main islands: the North Island and the South Island with many hundreds more like Steward Island, the Chatham Islands, White Island, Rangitoto Island. The Cook Straight, separates the two major islands.

Capital

 
Wellington

Landscape

 
Hugely varied all the way from the Pacific Ocean at 0m to the peaks of Mount Cook at 3754m. 

Ethnic mix

 
NZ European 75%, Maori 14.7%, Asian 6.6%, Pacific 6.5%, Other European, other 0.7%.

Religion

 
Predominantly Christian denominations but generally New Zealanders don’t have strong religious affiliations.

Languages

 
English and Maori are the official languages with Maori phrase like Ki Ora (welcome) being increasingly used.

Main exports

 
Wood and paper products, textiles, wood products, wool, dairy and meat products and fish.

National sports

 
Many New Zealanders are active playing a variety of sports including rugby, netball , cricket, running, swimming, sailing, etc.

Fast Facts:

Currency

New Zealand Dollar: $ NZD

Electrical Plugs

230-240V
50Hz

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +12

Country Dialing Code

+64

Weights & Measures

Metric

Climate

New Zealand has a temperate climate.  The warmer months (November to April) are busiest, especially during the school holidays from December 20 to the end of January. Ski resort towns are busier during the winter months of July - September. If you're travelling during peak periods (especially the Christmas season) it's best to book ahead, as much accommodation and transport fills up. It's probably more pleasant to visit either before or after this hectic period, when the weather is still warm and there aren't as many other travellers around.

New Zealand sits squarely in the 'roaring forties' latitude, which means a prevailing and continual wind blows over the country from west to east ranging from a gentle breeze in summer to strong gales in winter. The weather can change rapidly so travel prepared. Temperatures are a few degrees cooler in the South Island, and snow falls in the mountains of both islands in winter. 

Getting There

T he overwhelming majority of visitors arrive by air. There are six airports that handle international flights: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown and Wellington. A few cruise ships visit New Zealand, but there are no regular passenger ship services.

Getting Around

Although New Zealand is compact and generally easy to get around, it makes good sense to fly - especially for the views over the mountains or volcanoes. Airlines fly to most places and internet booking and early discounts make flying economical.

Air New Zealand is the main airline and there are smaller regional airlines.

New Zealand also has an extensive bus network – InterCity and Newmans or shuttle bus companies, which are smaller, cheaper and friendlier than the large bus companies.

Train routes are few, though train travel is reasonably fast and the trains modern and comfortable. Tranz Scenic has services on the South Island from Picton to Christchurch and Christchurch to Greymouth.

Car travel (New Zealanders drive on the left) is recommended as the roads are good and well signposted and the distances short. Rentals of cars, motorcycles and campervans are popular, with a range of special deals available.

There are plenty of boat services, including the Interislander and Bluebridge ferries operating between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island.

And finally, there's always cycling around the country. Many travellers describe New Zealand as a cyclists' paradise: it's clean, green, uncrowded and unspoiled, and there are plenty of places where you can camp or find cheap accommodation. Bicycle rental can be daily, weekly or monthly and is inexpensive.

Culture

New Zealand has a unique and dynamic culture. The culture of its indigenous Māori people affects the language, the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders. Their place in the South Pacific, and their love of the outdoors, sport, and the arts make New Zealanders and their culture unique in the world.

Pre-20th-Century History

The Polynesian navigator Kupe issaidto have sailed to New Zealand around 800 AD. Legend has it his wife, Hine-te-aparangi, named it Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Continuous settlement of New Zealand dates from about 1200, following which a fairly steady migration of people came from Kupe's homeland of Hawaiki.

In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman briefly sailed along the west coast of New Zealand; any thoughts of a longer stay were thwarted when his attempt to land resulted in several of his crew being killed and eaten. In 1769, Captain James Cook circumnavigated the two main islands aboard the Endeavour . Initial contact with the Maoris also proved violent but Cook, impressed with the Maoris' bravery and spirit and recognising the potential of this newfound land, claimed it for the British crown before setting sail for Australia.

When the British began their antipodean colonising, New Zealand was originally seen as an offshoot of Australian enterprise in whaling and sealing: in fact, from 1839 to 1841 the country was under the jurisdiction of New South Wales. However, increased European settlement soon proved problematic: a policy was urgently required regarding land deals between the settlers (Pakeha) and the Maori. In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, with the Maori ceding governorship of their country to Britain in exchange for protection and guaranteed possession of their lands. But relations between the Maori and Pakeha, although harmonious in some regions, soured in others. Causes were varied and complex, but the most common feature was disagreements about land. The Northland War of 1844-46 was followed by more fighting in other Maori strongholds of Taranaki (1860-61 and 1865-69), Waikato (1863-64) and the East Coast (1868-72). The fighting eventually died down, and though there was no formal resolution to any of the five wars, the Pakehas claimed victory.

Modern History

By the late 19th century, things had temporarily calmed down. The discovery of gold had engendered much prosperity, and wide-scale sheep farming meant New Zealand became an efficient and mostly self-reliant country. Sweeping social changes - women's suffrage, social security, the encouragement of trade unions and the introduction of child care services - cemented New Zealand's reputation as a country committed to egalitarian reform.

New Zealand was given dominion status in the British Empire in 1907 and granted autonomy by Britain in 1931; independence, however, was not formally proclaimed until 1947.

From 1945, Maoris experienced both a population explosion and massive urbanisation. In 1936, Maoris were 17% urban and 83% rural. Fifty years later, these proportions had reversed. The immigration gates, which until 1960 were pretty much labelled 'whites only', widened, first to allow in Pacific Islanders for their labour, and then to allow in (East) Asians for their money.