2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

16 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, West Coast

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.9% (male 443,837; female 423,118) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,318,751; female 1,307,796) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 199,722; female 258,083) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Airports

113 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 28

total

46

under 914 m

5 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 26

under 914 m

39 (2002)

Area

land

NA sq km

note

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

total

268,680 sq km

water

NA sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Colorado

Background

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Geography New Zealand

Birth rate

14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$31.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002)

revenues

$29.2 billion

Capital

Wellington

Climate

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Coastline

15,134 km

Constitution

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter

Country name

abbreviation

NZ

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

New Zealand

Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code

NZD

Death rate

7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$33 billion (2002 est.)

Dependent areas

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS

embassy

29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

mailing address

P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034

telephone

[64] (4) 462-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador L. John WOOD

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Disputes - international

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $99.7 million

Economy - overview

Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, transforming New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. While per capita incomes have been rising, however, they remain below the level of the four largest EU economies, and there is some government concern that New Zealand is not closing the gap. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus far the New Zealand economy has been relatively resilient, although growth may slow to 2.5% in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

34.88 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

37.51 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

31.6%

hydro

57.8%

nuclear

0%

other

10.7% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.16 (2002), 2.38 (2001), 2.2 (2000), 1.89 (1999), 1.87 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)

Exports

$15 billion (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners

Australia 20.3%, US 15.5%, Japan 11.5%, UK 4.8%, China 4.6%, South Korea 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-5227

[64] (4) 472-3478

chancery

37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s) general

Auckland

telephone

[1] (202) 328-4800

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications New Zealand

Flag description

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 Economy New Zealand

GDP

purchasing power parity - $78.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

23%

services

69% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Geography - note

about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world People New Zealand

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military New Zealand

Highways

paved

57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways)

total

92,053 km

unpaved

34,244 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,200 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29.8% (1991 est.)

lowest 10%

0.3%

Imports

$12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners

Australia 22.1%, US 13.6%, Japan 12%, China 8%, Germany 5.2% (2002)

Independence

26 September 1907 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2001 est.)

Industries

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Infant mortality rate

female

5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

6.96 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.07 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, C, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.nz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

36 (2000)

Internet users

2.06 million (2002) Transportation New Zealand

Irrigated land

2,850 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

High Court; Court of Appeal

Labor force

1.92 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

5.8%

other

87.76% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

6.44%

Languages

English (official), Maori (official)

Legal system

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8, other 2

elections

last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.44 years (2003 est.)

male

75.34 years

total population

78.32 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government New Zealand

male

NA%

total population

99% (1980 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

33.9 years (2002)

male

32.4 years

total

33.1 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Australia 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 69,685 GRT/106,627 DWT

Military branches

New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$605.7 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY02) Transnational Issues New Zealand

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,021,770 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

859,505 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

26,803 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Nationality

adjective

New Zealand

noun

New Zealander(s)

Natural gas - consumption

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

58.94 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

30,220 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

119,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

89.62 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refined products 304 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

ACT New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, New Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

3,951,307 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.09% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Radio broadcast stations

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

3.75 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2002)

total

3,898 km

Religions

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

excellent domestic and international systems

international

submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.92 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.2 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations

41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

1.926 million (1997)

Terrain

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2002 est.)

Waterways

1,609 km

note

of little importance in satisfying total transportation requirements