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New Zealand is a small, island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, located 1200 miles southeast of Australia.  And though its population is only 4 million people, its residents are as diverse as its landscape.  From sunny beaches to snowy mountains to desert plains, and everything in between, New Zealand has as many climates as the United States, even though it is only the size of Colorado in square miles.


                            



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about new zealand



JUST THE FACTS...

Population:  4.1 million

Demographics:     European Descent       78.0%

                             Maori                           14.6%

                             Pacific Islander              6.5%

                             Asian                             9.2%

                             % Born Overseas         23.0%  

Continent:  Oceania

Capitol City:  Wellington

Largest City: Auckland

Date Discovered:  c. 800-1300 AD

Date Settled: 1642

Government:  Constitutional Monarchy/Parliamentary Democracy

Official Language:  English

Major Industries:  Agriculture, Service Industries

Exchange Rate:  $.76 US=$1 NZ

National Pastime:  Rugby

 



WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click any of the following links for more information about this small but intriguing country.

Wikipedia

Official New Zealand Website

The World Factbook

 



IMMIGRATION STATION

Immigration plays a major role in New Zealand’s social structure.  Nearly one-fourth of the nation’s inhabitants were born somewhere else.  And though the country maintains a great deal of its British heritage (architecture, sports, government, language), parts of the country, including Auckland, have become truly multi-cultural.  Immigration has brought with it some of the world’s most prominent religions, such as Hinduism, Atheism, Buddhism, and Islam, all of which are gaining popularity among the people of New Zealand.

 



“You Don’t Even Know Where New Zealand Is.”


       “You Can Dance Your Way There from

        Old Zealand.”                                    ~NBC’s Scrubs

New Zealand is home to the indigenous Maori people.  It was settled first by Dutch explorers in the 17th century, and then by the famous British Captain James Cook (i.e., Cook Islands, Cook Straight) in 1768.  After becoming home to many Maori tribes and European colonies, the nation was unified under the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.  This agreement made New Zealand part of the British Empire, a status they maintain to this day, though they now are fully self-governing.

 


WHO KNEW?

The Kiwi bird is indigenous

to New Zealand, and is one of their national symbols. In fact, New Zealanders are often  referred to as “Kiwis.”