Geographical Geographical positionposition

New Zealand lies in the south west Pacific Ocean, nearly 2 000 kms from Australia, to the east, and 19 017 kms, or 11 790 miles from Paris, France. New Zealand is over 1.600 kms long, and its widest

part is 450 kms.The capital city is Wellington. It is situated near the southern tip of the

North Island.New Zealand is part of the largely submerged continent of Zealandia,

which stretches from the north of New Caledonia to the south of New Zealand's subantartic islands. 93% of Zealandia is underwater.

New Zealand is an island nation. The three main islands which make up New Zealand are the North Island, the South Island, and Stewart Island, but a number of smaller offshore islands are also included :

The Chatham IslandsThe Kermadec Islands

Campbell IslandThe Antipodes Islands

The Bounty IslandsThe Auckland Islands

Climate.New Zealand has mild temperatures,

moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine throughout most of the country.

New Zealand's climate is dominated by two main geographical features: the mountains

and the sea.

Population.Over 3 million people live in New Zealand. About 50 per

cent of them live in the 4 main cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The Maori

people make up 8 per cent of the total New Zealand population.

Industry.Auckland is commercial and industrial centre. It is also

the biggest sea port in the country. Not far south of the city is lake Taupo, New Zealand’s biggest lake and

world famous trout fishing region.

Political system.The politics of New Zealand takes place in a framework

of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The basic system is closely patterned on

that of the Westminster System, although a number of significant modifications have been made. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, but actual government is conducted by a Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn

from an elected Parliament.

John Key, MP, Prime Minister of New Zealand Queen Elizabeth II

WellingtonWellington is the capital of New Zealand. It situated in the North

Island at Port Nicolson Bay. Built largely on hills, with deep harbour water reaching almost to their feet, Wellington is at attractive city. The streets crossing the city, are long and narrow with plenty of bridges, viaduct, stairs and even tunnels.

Auckland.Auckland is New Zealand's largest city. This represents

about one third of the population of the whole country. Auckland is the retail and commercial centre of New Zealand. The city is known as the 'City of Sails'

because of a great number of yachts that sail in the harbours and the adjoining Hauraki Gulf.

Christchurch.Christchurch is the most English of all New Zealand cities. Christchurch is a great place to live, work, visit

and do business. With a population of over 350 000 Christchurch is the international gateway to the South

Island.

Dunedin.Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island

of New Zealand. The city has a population about 124 000 people. The city's largest industry is tertiary education – Dunedin is home to the University of

Otago, New Zealand's first university (1869), and the Otago Polytechnic.

Flora and fauna.Some 75 per cent of the flora and fauna of New Zealand

are found nowhere else in the world. These are, for example, hayscented fern of some metres high, and

kiwi, a bird with very short wings, that cannot fly. The kiwi is the national emblem of New Zealand.

New Zealand fun facts – Animals1. The national bird, the kiwi bird lays eggs that are

about six times the size as other in size comparable birds. After thirty days the egg reaches 15 to 20% of

the total bird mass.

2. The kea is a native bird and known to rip the rubber from car windows.

3. New Zealand’s oldest native reptile has lived for about 200 million years. Today this

creature of the night still survives on offshore islands. Its name is tuatara. In Maori this

means spiny back.

Planted Fun Facts1. New Zealand Christmas falls into the summer season and our well known New

Zealand Christmas tree blooms crimson red. It is called pohutukawa tree.