According to localcollegeexplorer, New Zealand is an island nation located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is comprised of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, as well as a number of smaller islands. The indigenous Māori people have inhabited New Zealand for around 800 years, and it was first sighted by Europeans when Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sailed to its shores in 1642. The British began to colonize New Zealand in 1840, and the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between Māori chiefs and representatives of Britain’s Queen Victoria that same year. This treaty established British sovereignty over New Zealand while also protecting Māori rights and interests. In 1852, New Zealand officially became a colony of Britain and remained so until 1907 when it became a dominion within the British Empire. During World War I, New Zealand fought alongside Britain against Germany and other Central Powers. After the war, New Zealand’s economy grew steadily due to increased demand for agricultural exports such as wool and dairy products. By 1935, it had become a fully independent nation with its own currency (the New Zealand pound) and laws governing trade, immigration and other matters. In World War II, New Zealand joined forces with Britain against Germany once again but also sent troops to fight alongside Australia in North Africa and Asia Pacific countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. After the war ended in 1945, many Māori people returned from overseas service to find that their land had been taken from them by European settlers or destroyed by military action during the conflict. Since then, New Zealand has experienced considerable economic growth driven largely by tourism but also through investments in renewable energy sources such as hydropower stations on rivers throughout both islands. The country has also become increasingly multicultural with large numbers of immigrants arriving from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world over recent decades which has enriched its culture further still. New Zealand is now an independent nation with a diverse population that enjoys economic prosperity thanks to its natural resources, vibrant culture and strategic location near key trading partners including Australia, China and Japan – all making it an attractive destination for tourists looking for an unforgettable experience down-under. In 2010, New Zealand was a prosperous and vibrant nation. With a population of just over 4 million people, the country was known for its strong economy and peaceful society. The services sector dominates the New Zealand economy, accounting for approximately 65% of GDP in 2010. This sector is highly diversified and includes banking, finance, insurance, telecommunications, tourism and retailing. Manufacturing also plays an important role in the economy with exports of agricultural products such as dairy products and wool making up a large portion of export earnings. In 2010, New Zealand had one of the highest living standards in the world with a GDP per capita of $36,000 USD (PPP basis). The country has an excellent infrastructure with well-developed road networks connecting major cities while most smaller towns are served by extensive public transport systems. In addition to this, New Zealand is home to some of the most advanced technology companies in the world such as Xero which produces software for small businesses. The government places a strong emphasis on education with free primary and secondary education available to all children as well as numerous universities offering post-secondary education. The literacy rate is high with almost all adults able to read and write in English or Maori – two of New Zealand’s official languages – while many also speak other languages such as French or German. Additionally, science-related courses are popular at universities with many students pursuing degrees in fields like chemistry or physics or engineering related courses like IT or programming languages like Java or Python. Check extrareference for New Zealand in 2007.
National Flag of New Zealand According to aceinland, the national flag of New Zealand is a dark blue ensign with the Union Jack in the upper left corner and four red stars with white borders arranged in a Southern Cross constellation on the right. The design of the flag was adopted on 24 March 1902 after a competition held by the government. It has been used as the national flag ever since, and it is one of the few flags…
Settlement and colonization Traces of Maori settlement are archaeologically documented from the middle of the 14th century. The myths of the Maori tell of a Polynesian settlement between the middle and the end of the 1st millennium AD. In 1642 the Dutch navigator A. Tasman sighted the west coast of New Zealand. Dutch cartographers first named the country “Staten Landt”, later “Nieuw Zeeland” after a province in their homeland. In October 1769, the English explorer J. Cook set foot on…
New Zealand – country information Country name New Zealand Official name New Zealand Capital Wellington Continent Australia and Oceania Area 270,534 km2 Population 4,518,330 (2014) Foundation of a state 9/26/1907 The highest mountains Mount Cook 3764m (South Island), Ruapehu 2797m (North Island) The largest lakes Taupo 606 km2 State system a constitutional monarchy with a unicameral parliament The biggest cities Auckland 895,000 (conurbation), Christchurch 310,000, Wellington (capital city) 260,000 Official language English, Maori Ethnicity/National Composition European 73.8%, Maori 9.6%, Polynesian…