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New Zealand is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is located about 2,000 km southeast of Australia and about 1,000 km southwest of Pacific Islands such as Fiji and Tonga.
It is believed that the history of modern New Zealand begins in 1840, when William Hobson (the governor appointed by Britain) signed a peace agreement with the local population (the Treaty of Waitangi is still in force). It stated that Great Britain owns the islands, can buy land without restrictions, in exchange for this, the Maori retained their property and non-property rights.
On September 26, 1907, King Edward VII declared New Zealand a dominion of the British Empire, officially confirming its self-government. In 1986, the Constitution was adopted, which reinforced independence. As of March 31, 2022, the number of residents of the country was 5,127,100 people.
The geographical location of the state affects the ecosystem and climate. The North and South Islands are separated by the Tasman Strait, which is about 200 km long.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed here. There are no venomous snakes, predators, or mosquitoes in most of New Zealand.
Climatic conditions
The landscape is diverse: from magnificent mountains to picturesque beaches and fertile plains. The South island is famous for its mountain range, including the highest point of the country – the peak of Aoroki (or Mount Cook), which reaches a height of 3,724 m. The North is famous for its volcanic origin, including active effusive geological formations such as Ruapehu and Tongariro.
New Zealand is located in a temperate oceanic climate zone, but due to the diverse geographical conditions, it varies depending on the region. The North Island is warmer and wetter. The average temperature in winter ranges from +8 to 12 °C, and in summer it can reach +25 °C. The high rainfall in some areas makes it ideal for agriculture. Fruits, vegetables and cereals are cultivated here.
The South Island is characterized by a variety of conditions. There are forests in the west, while the eastern coast is characterized by a drier climate. The average temperature in this region in winter is about 5-10 °C, and in summer it ranges between +20 and 25 °C.
This is due to the movement of the Pacific and Australian plates. As a result, the state experiences many earthquakes, which in turn affects infrastructure planning and daily life.
The most important city in the seismic risk zone is Wellington. In general, many earthquakes are recorded in the country every year, but most of them are not noticed, as they have little force.
New Zealand has advanced seismic incident monitoring and response systems. The GeoNet project, managed by a government agency, monitors the fluctuations of the earth's crust throughout the country and provides real-time earthquake data.
Demographics
The majority of the population are New Zealanders of European descent, mostly descendants of British immigrants. The following diasporas also live in the country:
- Dutch;
- Germans;
- Croats;
- «white» South Africans.
According to the census data, the proportion of people of European origin is 71,8 % of the total population of the country. There are three official languages in New Zealand, namely:
- English. It is spoken by about 96 % of the inhabitants. It dominates the mass media, including television, radio and literature.
- Maori. It received official status in 1987. Approximately 150,000 people communicate on it. It is required in the names of state institutions.
- Gestural. It was recognized as official in 2006. It appeared to facilitate communication among the deaf and hard of hearing people, of whom there are more than 25,000.
As of 2018, the average age of the country's population was approximately 37,4 years. The increase is 0,95 %. The total fertility rate was 13,61 per 1,000 people, while the mortality rate was 7,54 per 1,000 people.
Among the population, 48,59 % do not profess a religion, while 37,31 % are Christians. The most common denominations include:
- Anglicanism (6,76 %);
- Latin Rite Catholicism (6,2 %);
- Presbyterianism (5,21 %);
- Pentecostalism (1,75 %).
There are also small groups such as the Salvation Army, Seventh-day Adventists, and Assemblies of God.
Economy
New Zealand is a highly developed country with a market economy, the main sectors of which are agriculture, tourism, as well as manufacturing and food industries. The inflation rate is 3,8 %.
The working-age population reached 2,410,000 people, with about 74 % of them working in the service sector. The unemployment rate was 5,7 %.
New Zealand has established itself in the international arena as a state with a highly efficient and developed agricultural industry. Livestock products, especially sheep farming, horticulture, winemaking and forestry are important components of the economy.
Commercial fishing also plays a significant role in the lives of New Zealanders and in the development of the country. Local fishermen are engaged in commercial fishing of more than 130 species of fish.
There are almost no large industrial enterprises and heavy industries in the country.
However, there are about 15,000 companies operating in New Zealand that manufacture industrial products for various sectors of the economy. A significant part of this production is export-oriented. The main industries include:
- agriculture;
- fishing;
- forestry and woodworking industry.
The above-mentioned sectors account for more than half of the country's export revenues.
The tourism sector, as well as related industries, are becoming increasingly important elements of the economy. The geographical location of the country, the beauty of nature, along with a high level of service, convenient transport infrastructure and actively developing programs to attract tourists, contribute to this process.
Freedom of movement
New Zealand ranks 6th in the passport strength ranking. This means that a visa is not required to visit 123 countries. At the same time, upon arrival, you will need to register it in 51 countries.
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