2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 439,752/female 419,174) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,374,850/female 1,361,570) 65 years and over: 11.8% (male 210,365/female 270,429) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

118 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27

total

45

under 914 m

4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

73 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 31

under 914 m

40 (2006)

Area

land

268,021 sq km

note

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

total

268,680 sq km

water

NA

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

13.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$36.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$41.51 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in March

geographic coordinates

41 28 S, 174 51 E

name

Wellington

note

New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham Island

time difference

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

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, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

Country name

abbreviation

NZ

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

New Zealand

Currency (code)

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code

NZD

Current account balance

$-7.944 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$47 billion (2006 est.)

Dependent areas

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William P. McCORMICK

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

chancery

37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON

telephone

[1] (202) 328-4800

Disputes - international

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) [see Antarctica] This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.2 (1997)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $276 million

Economy - overview

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed 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. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive years and was more than $25,500 in 2006 in purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years. Exports are equal to about 28% of GDP, down from 33 percent of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output.

Electricity - consumption

38.22 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

41.1 billion kWh (2004)

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 invasive species

Environment - international agreements

party to

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

signed, but not ratified

Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.55677 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)

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

$23.69 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Australia 21.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 10.6%, China 5.1%, UK 4.7% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-5227

[64] (4) 499-0490

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s) general

Auckland

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4.3%

industry

26.9%

services

68.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$26,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$98.77 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$106 billion (2006 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 - note

while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand Economy New Zealand

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,400 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA (1991 est.)

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$25.23 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 20.9%, US 11%, Japan 11%, China 10.9%, Germany 4.9% (2005)

Independence

26 September 1907 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

1.2% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

6.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.nz

Internet hosts

1,050,197 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

36 (2000)

Internet users

3.2 million (2005) Transportation New Zealand

Investment (gross fixed)

22% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

2,850 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - Judges appointed by the Governor-General

Labor force

2.18 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

10%

industry

25%

services

65% (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

5.54%

other

87.54% (2005)

permanent crops

6.92%

Languages

English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (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 seven Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%, NZFP 5.72%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.12%, UF 2.67%, ACT New Zealand 1.51%, Progressive 1.16%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7, Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1

elections

last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not later than 15 November 2008)

note

results of 2005 election saw the total number of seats increase to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seat than its entitlement under the party vote

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.93 years (2006 est.)

male

75.82 years

total population

78.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government New Zealand

male

99%

total population

99%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 17-49

965,170 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

984,700

Manpower fit for military service

females age 17-49

802,069 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

809,519

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 17-49

28,523 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

29,738

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

Median age

female

34.7 years (2006 est.)

male

33.2 years

total

33.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

4 (Australia 2, Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)

registered in other countries

8 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Cook Islands 1, Dominica 4, France 1, UK 1) (2006)

total

13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 136,361 GRT/124,972 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.147 billion (FY03/04)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY02) Transnational Issues New Zealand

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)

National holiday

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the 1915 landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April

Nationality

adjective

New Zealand

noun

New Zealander(s)

Natural gas - consumption

4.349 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

4.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

33.36 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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

3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF)

New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)

Oil - consumption

150,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

30,220 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

119,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

27,860 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate 224 km; gas 1,693 km; liquid petroleum gas 45 km; oil 280 km; refined products 288 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,076,140 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.99% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei Military New Zealand

Public debt

19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

3.75 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2005)

total

4,128 km

Religions

Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

59,783 km (including 171 km of expressways)

total

92,931 km

unpaved

33,148 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

excellent domestic and international systems

international

country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; 8 satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7 other

Telephones - main lines in use

1,800,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.53 million (2005)

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 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.3% (2006 est.)