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Coordinates: 42°S. New Zealand ( Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island ( Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island ( Te Waipounamu )—and over 700 smaller islands.
- History of New Zealand
The human history of New Zealand can be dated back to...
- Climate of New Zealand
The Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited...
- New Zealand Sign Language
New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL (Māori: te reo Turi) is...
- House of Representatives
The House of Representatives (Māori: Whare o Raro, lit....
- Talk
New Zealand portal; This article is within the scope of...
- New Zealand Dollar
Issuance; Central bank: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Website:...
- Demographics of New Zealand
Terminology. While the demonym for a New Zealand citizen is...
- Islands
Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf...
- Alexandra
Alexandra (Māori: Manuherikia or Areketanara) is a town in...
- Asian
Asian New Zealanders are New Zealanders of Asian ancestry...
- History of New Zealand
Nova Zelândia (em inglês: New Zealand, pronunciado: [ˈnjuː ˈziː.l(ə)nd]; em maori: Aotearoa, pronunciado: [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) é um país insular, oficialmente pertencente à Oceania, no sudoeste do Oceano Pacífico, formado por duas massas de terra principais (comumente chamadas de Ilha do Norte e Ilha do Sul) e por numerosas ilhas ...
New Zealand ( Māori: Aotearoa [ aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island ( Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island ( Te Waipounamu )—and over 700 smaller islands.
- Overview
- Land
New Zealand, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. New Zealand is a remote land—one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled—and lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises two main islands—the North and the South Island—and a number of small islands, some of them hundreds of miles from the main group. The capital city is Wellington and the largest urban area Auckland; both are located on the North Island. New Zealand administers the South Pacific island group of Tokelau and claims a section of the Antarctic continent. Niue and the Cook Islands are self-governing states in free association with New Zealand.
New Zealand is a land of great contrasts and diversity. Active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, verdant valleys, dazzling fjords, long sandy beaches, and the spectacular snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana on the South Island—all contribute to New Zealand’s scenic beauty. New Zealand also has a unique array of vegetation and animal life, much of which developed during the country’s prolonged isolation. It is the sole home, for example, of the long-beaked, flightless kiwi, the ubiquitous nickname for New Zealanders.
New Zealand was the largest country in Polynesia when it was annexed by Great Britain in 1840. Thereafter it was successively a crown colony, a self-governing colony (1856), and a dominion (1907). By the 1920s it controlled almost all of its internal and external policies, although it did not become fully independent until 1947, when it adopted the Statute of Westminster. It is a member of the Commonwealth.
The ascent of Mount Everest by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953 was one of the defining moments of the 20th century. “In some ways,” Hillary suggested, “I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed.”
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Countries & Their Features
New Zealand is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long (north-south) and about 280 miles (450 km) across at its widest point. The country has slightly less surface area than the U.S. state of Colorado and a little more than the United Kingdom. About two-thirds of the land is economically useful, the remainder being mountainous. Because of its numerous ha...
New Zealand ( Māori: Aotearoa) is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones.
Home. Facts about New Zealand. History. New Zealand has a rich and fascinating history, reflecting our unique mix of Māori and European culture. Today New Zealand is home to more than 5 million people. Learn more about how our cultural diversity came about in this young country. The arrival of Māori. The arrival of Europeans. Treaty of Waitangi.
