New Zealand

Polynesians settled New Zealand between the late 1200s and the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. By the 1500s, competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori tribes as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but left after an encounter with local Maori. British sea captain James COOK arrived in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although the position had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori tribes from the North Island declared independence. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, the majority of Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British in 1840. Land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still being actively negotiated in New Zealand.The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and granted limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars between Europeans and various Maori tribes from the 1840s to the 1870s. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947 and signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986, but bilateral relations and military ties have been revitalized since the 2010s with new security agreements. A key challenge for Auckland that has emerged over the past decade is balancing concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific region with its role as New Zealand's largest export destination. New Zealand has close ties with Australia based to a large extent on the two nations’ common origins as British colonies and their shared military history.

land

264,537 sq km

note

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

total

268,838 sq km

water

4,301 sq km

almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

15,134 km

highest point

Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

388 m

41 00 S, 174 00 E

note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

7,000 sq km (2014)

total

0 km

agricultural land

43.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)

forest

31.4% (2018 est.)

other

25.4% (2018 est.)

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Taupo - 610 sq km

Oceania

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (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; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

0-14 years

19% (male 503,120/female 475,490)

15-64 years

64.2% (male 1,674,407/female 1,638,276)

65 years and over

16.9% (2024 est.) (male 407,080/female 462,838)

beer

3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

79.9% (2014/15)

note

note: percent of women aged 16-49

10% of GDP (2020)

57.6% (2023 est.)

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

24.4

potential support ratio

4.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.4

youth dependency ratio

29

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

6% of GDP (2020 est.)

European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)

note

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group

0.9 (2024 est.)

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)

female

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)

note

note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census

female

84.8 years

male

81.2 years

total population

82.9 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

38.6 years

male

37.2 years

total

37.9 years (2024 est.)

27.8 years

adjective

New Zealand

noun

New Zealander(s)

3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

30.8% (2016)

3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

2,576,604 (2024 est.)

male

2,584,607

total

5,161,211

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

0.95% (2024 est.)

Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)

note

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

21 years (2020)

male

20 years

total

20 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

12.3% (2020 est.)

male

15% (2020 est.)

total

13.7% (2020 est.)

1.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

87% of total population (2023)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

etymology

named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo

geographic coordinates

41 18 S, 174 47 E

name

Wellington

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

amendments

proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020

history

New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions

abbreviation

NZ

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

New Zealand

etymology

Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769

Tokelau (1)

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas Stewart UDALL (since 1 December 2021); note - also accredited to Samoa

consulate(s) general

Auckland

email address and website

AucklandACS@state.govhttps://nz.usembassy.gov/

embassy

29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011

FAX

[64] (4) 499-0490

mailing address

4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC  20521-4370

telephone

[64] (4) 462-6000

chancery

37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 17 June 2024)

consulate(s) general

Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

wshinfo@mfat.govt.nzhttps://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/

FAX

[1] (202) 667-5277

telephone

[1] (202) 328-4800

cabinet

Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; 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

head of government

Prime Minister Christopher LUXON (since 27 November 2023)

note

note: according to Prime Minister LUXON, the Winston PETERS of the New Zealand First Party would be the deputy prime minister in the first half of the term while Act party leader, David SEYMOUR, would take the role for the second half of the term

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

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ADB, ANZUS, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

description

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (121 seats for 2023-26 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 49 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - National Party 38.1%, Labor Party 26.9%, Green Party 11.6%, ACT Party 8.6%, New Zealand First 6.1%; Maori Party 3.1%; seats by party - National Party 48, Labor Party 34, Green Party 15, ACT Party 11, New Zealand First 8, Maori Party 6; composition - 67 men, 56 women; percentage of women 45.5%

elections

last held on 14 October 2023 (next scheduled for October 2026)

lyrics/music

Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS

name

"God Defend New Zealand"

note

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 King" serves as a royal anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the King" 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

selected World Heritage Site locales

Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)

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)

Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)

ACT New Zealand Green Party New Zealand First Party or NZ First New Zealand Labor Party New Zealand National Party Te Pāti Māori 

18 years of age; universal

milk, beef, kiwifruit, apples, grapes, lamb/mutton, potatoes, wheat, barley, onions (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

4.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

12.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$88.64 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$83.157 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

AA (2011)

Moody's rating

Aaa (2002)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA (2011)

Current account balance 2021

-$14.804 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$21.627 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$16.982 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, globally integrated Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; slow recovery from post-COVID recession and inflation; challenges of fiscal deficits, below-average productivity, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions

Currency

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1.518 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.414 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.577 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.628 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$54.923 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$57.485 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$59.043 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

milk, beef, wood, sheep and goat meat, butter (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 28%, Australia 11%, US 11%, Japan 6%, South Korea 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

24.4% (2022 est.)

government consumption

21.1% (2022 est.)

household consumption

58.2% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-29.7% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.4% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

5.8% (2021 est.)

industry

19% (2021 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

67.1% (2021 est.)

$253.466 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2021

$62.984 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$71.35 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$68.429 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, garments, trucks (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 21%, Australia 14%, US 8%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.56% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.94% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.17% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.73% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

3.068 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

54.57% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$246.334 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$253.17 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$254.77 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.55% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.77% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.63% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$48,200 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$49,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$48,800 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.26% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.23% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.24% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$16.114 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$14.4 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$15.487 billion (2023 est.)

29.93% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.78% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.74% (2023 est.)

female

10.5% (2023 est.)

male

10.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

10.7% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

3.687 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

7.293 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

21.018 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

31.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

2.441 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

1.278 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

727,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

3.036 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

7.575 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

41.466 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

10.412 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.712 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

3.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

13.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

17.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

58.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

6.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

120.219 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

3.819 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

3.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

31.149 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

40.993 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

154,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

12,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2020 est.)

total

1,764,984 (2020 est.)

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, as are a range of streaming services (2019)

.nz

percent of population

96% (2021 est.)

total

4.896 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line roughly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 114 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the growth areas in in New Zealand’s telecom market have been in mobile broadband and fiber; New Zealand’s mobile market continues to undergo significant developments; the coverage of LTE networks has been supported by the Rural Broadband Initiative rollout, which added a significant number of mobile sites to new or underserved areas; the market is undergoing additional consolidation; offering fixed and mobile services (2023)

international

country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

757,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.947 million (2022 est.)

202 (2024)

ZK

62 (2024)

by type

container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100

total

117 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,349,300,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

17,249,049 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

199

number of registered air carriers

15 (2020)

331 km condensate, 2,500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)

key ports

Auckland, Bluff Harbor, Gisborne, Manukau Harbor, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otago Harbor, Picton, Tauranga, Timaru, Wellington, Whangarei

large

2

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

14

small

10

total ports

22 (2024)

very small

9

narrow gauge

4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)

total

4,128 km (2018)

paved

61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways)

total

94,000 km

unpaved

32,400 km (2017)

the NZDF is a small military with considerable overseas experience; it supports the country’s national security objectives by protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, and conducting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and other international missionsNew Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s; New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2024)

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2024)

note

note: the New Zealand Police, under the Minister of Police, are responsible for internal security

approximately 8,800 active-duty (Regular Force) troops (4,300 Army; 2,100 Navy; 2,400 Air Force) (2024)

note

note: the total NZDF complement is about 15,300 including the Regular Force, Reserves, and civilians

small numbers of NZ military personnel are deployed on a variety of international missions in Africa, Antarctica, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East (2024)

the NZDF's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and Western-supplied weapons and equipment, including from Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.4% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.5% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023)

17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2024)

note

note: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; as of 2024, women accounted for about 20% of Regular Force personnel

significant consumer of amphetamines

stateless persons

5 (2022)

New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA; established 2016 under the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment); Center for Space Science and Technology (CSST; established 2017) (2024)

Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex (Hawke's Bay) (2024)

the New Zealand space sector model is mostly based on commercial space; NZSA and CSST primarily focus on developing space policy and strategy, bringing commercial space talent to New Zealand, and encouraging the commercial development of space technologies, particularly satellites and satellite/space launch vehicles (SLV); manufactures and launches satellites; builds and launches commercial SLVs; researches and develops a range of other space-related technologies, including propulsion systems; has a national space strategy; participates in international space programs and partners with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Australia, Canada, the EU and its member states, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states, South Africa, and the US; has a small, but growing commercial space sector (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

34.38 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

34.3 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

8.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

agricultural land

43.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)

forest

31.4% (2018 est.)

other

25.4% (2018 est.)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Taupo - 610 sq km

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

327 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

3.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

87% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

3.405 million tons (2016 est.)