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Jan 8, 2024 · Key Facts. Flag. New Zealand, an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, has no bordering countries. It lies over 1,500 km east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, with the Pacific Ocean stretching indefinitely to the north, east, and south. The total land area of the country encompasses approximately 268,021 km 2 (103,483 mi 2 ).
- The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand - Unique Places Around The World
New Zealand is an incredibly safe country and, despite its...
- New Zealand
New Zealand is located approximately 1500 km east of...
- The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand - Unique Places Around The World
New Zealand is located near the centre of the water hemisphere and is made up of two main islands and more than 700 smaller islands. The two main islands (the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu) are separated by Cook Strait, 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide at its narrowest point.
- 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 an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, near the centre of the water hemisphere. It consists of a large number of islands, estimated around 700, mainly remnants of a larger landmass now beneath the sea. The land masses by size are the South Island (or Te Waipounamu) and the North Island ...
- Ranked 75th
- Taieri Plain, −2 m
- Aoraki / Mount Cook, 3,724 m (12,218 ft)
- Oceania
May 15, 2024 · Discover the fascinating facts about New Zealand, a country of stunning natural beauty and diverse culture. Find out about its geography, climate, history, politics, economy, and more from the CIA's authoritative source. Compare New Zealand with other countries in the region and the world using the interactive maps and charts.
Destination New Zealand, a Nations Online country profile of the Land of the Long White Cloud or Aotearoa, the Māori name for New Zealand. New Zealand (NZ) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean located about 2,000 km (1,300 mi) southeast of Australia . The island-nation consists of some smaller islands and two main islands, the North ...
