New Zealand (Aotearoa Maori) is a country in Polynesia. The
population, according to the results of the official 2013 census, is
more than 4 million people (according to estimates at the beginning
of 2017 - more than 4.8 million people), the territory is 268,680
km², according to both of these indicators it is the largest country
in Oceania. It ranks 121st in the world in terms of population and
75th in terms of territory.
The capital is Wellington. The
official languages are English, Maori and New Zealand Sign
Language.
Unitary state, constitutional monarchy.
It
is divided into 17 districts, 9 of which are located on the North
Island, 7 on the South Island, and 1 on the Chatham Archipelago. The
Kingdom of New Zealand includes the governmentally independent but
loosely associated island nations of the Cook Islands and Niue, as
well as the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and the
Antarctic Ross Territory.
Located on two large islands (North
and South) and a large number (approximately 700) adjacent smaller
islands, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. One of the main features
of New Zealand is its geographical isolation. The closest neighbors
of the country: to the west - Australia, separated by the Tasman Sea
(the shortest distance is about 1700 km); to the north - the island
territories of New Caledonia (about 1450 km), Tonga (about 1850 km)
and Fiji (about 1900 km).
Industrialized country with a
developed economy. The volume of GDP at purchasing power parity for
2017 amounted to 189 billion US dollars (about 39,000 US dollars per
capita). The monetary unit is the New Zealand dollar.
In the
XI-XIV centuries, the country was settled by people from other
islands of Polynesia, European explorers discovered the islands in
1642. The active development of land by Great Britain began in 1762.
The name given to the Maori country before the first Europeans
appeared here did not survive, but it is known that the North Maori
island was called Te Ika-a-Maui (Maori Te Ika-a-Māui), which can be
translated as "fish belonging to Maui". Maui is a demigod in the
Maori legends, who caught a huge fish in the ocean, which after that
turned into an island. South Island had two common names: Te Wai
Paunamu (Maori Te Wai Pounamu) and Te Waka-a-Maui (Maori Te Waka a
Māui). The first name can be translated as “jade water”, and the
second as “boat belonging to Maui”, already mentioned above the demi
god of Maori legends. Until the beginning of the 20th century,
Severny Island was often referred to as the native inhabitants of
Aotearoa, which can be translated as “the country of a long white
cloud” (ao = cloud, tea = white, roa = long), and later this name
became the generally accepted name in the language Maori for the
whole country.
The first European navigator to visit the
coast of New Zealand, the Dutchman Abel Tasman, called it “Staten
Landt”, thinking that in the south New Zealand is connected to the
island of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of the same name, located
in southern South America. It was this name that was transformed by
Dutch cartographers into the Latin Nova Zeelandia in 1645 in honor
of one of the provinces of the Netherlands - Zealand (Dutch.
Zeeland) and the Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland. Later, British explorer
James Cook used the English version of the name, New Zealand, in his
notes, and it was it that became the official name of the country.
The Russian name, New Zealand, is an exact translation of a
historically established name.
Early European cartographers
called the islands Northern, Middle (present Southern) and Southern
(Stuart or Rakiura). In 1830, the two main islands became known as
the North and the South, and by 1907 these names had settled. In
2009, the New Zealand Geographic Names Board found that the names of
the main islands had never been formally established. In 2013, they
were officially named Northern (or Te Ika-a-Maui) and Southern (or
Te Vaipounama). Names in Maori and English can be used
interchangeably.
Polynesian period
New Zealand is one of the most recently settled
territories. Radiocarbon analysis, evidence of deforestation, and
mitochondrial DNA variability among the Maori suggest that the first
eastern Polynesians settled here in 1250-1300 after extensive travel to
the South Pacific islands. Gradually, the settlers formed their own
culture and language, they were divided into iwi (tribes) and hapu
(clans), who cooperated, competed and fought. Part of the Maori migrated
to the Chatham archipelago (called Rekohu by them), where they turned
into the Moriori people with a separate culture. Moriori were almost
completely destroyed in 1835-1862 as a result of the conquest of the
Maori from iwi Taranaki and diseases introduced by Europeans. In 1862,
only 101 Moriori survived, and the last known purebred Moriori, Tommy
Solomon, died in 1933.
European period
The first Europeans to
reach New Zealand arrived by ship with the Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642.
As a result of skirmishes with the locals, four members of the team were
killed, and at least one Maori was wounded by buckshot. The next visit
of Europeans took place only in 1769: the British explorer James Cook
mapped almost the entire coastline of the islands. Following Cook, many
European and North American whalers and sealers visited New Zealand, as
well as trading ships that exchanged food, metal tools, weapons and
other goods for timber, food, artifacts and water. These merchants
brought potatoes and a musket to the Maori, which radically changed the
agricultural and military way of this people. Potatoes became a reliable
source of food, allowing for longer military campaigns. As a result of
intertribal musket wars, which united more than 600 battles in
1801-1840, from 30 to 40 thousand Maori were killed. From the beginning
of the 19th century, Christian missionaries began to settle in New
Zealand, converting most of the natives to their faith. In the 19th
century, the autochthonous population of the country was reduced to 40%
of the pre-contact level; imported diseases were the main reason for
this.
In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip took over as governor of
the new British colony of New South Wales, which at that time included
New Zealand. The British government appointed James Busby as British
Resident in New Zealand in 1832 after receiving a petition from northern
Māori. Three years later, upon learning of the appearance of the French
settlement of Charles de Thierry, the confederation of Maori tribes sent
a declaration of independence to King William IV, asking for protection.
Unrest, a proposal to settle in New Zealand by the New Zealand Company,
which by that time had already sent a ship to the islands to acquire
land from the Maori, and the ambiguous legal status of the declaration
of independence, forced the Colonial Office to send Captain William
Hobson to New Zealand to establish British sovereignty there and sign
agreements with Maori. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed at the Bay of
the Islands on February 6, 1840. In response to attempts by the New
Zealand Company to establish an independent settlement at Wellington and
French settlers to acquire land at Akaroa, Hobson declared British
sovereignty over all of New Zealand on 21 May 1840, although by that
point not all copies of the Treaty had been signed by the Māori. After
that, the number of immigrants, especially British ones, began to grow.
New Zealand became a colony of the same name separate from New South
Wales on May 3, 1841. In 1852, the colony received a representative
government, and two years later the first meeting of the first
Parliament was held. In 1856, the colony received self-government, and
all internal issues, except for policy towards the native population,
were resolved there independently. New Zealand gained control of
colonial policy in the mid-1860s. Fearing that the South Island might
want to form a separate colony, Alfred Domett, head of the colony,
issued a decree moving the capital from Auckland to Cook Strait.
Wellington was chosen as the new capital for its location in the center
of the country and a convenient bay. Parliament first met in Wellington
in 1865. With the increase in the number of migrants, conflicts over
land broke out, resulting in the New Zealand land wars of the 1860s and
1870s, as a result of which many lands were confiscated from the Maori.
In 1891, the first political party came to power in the country - the
Liberal Party, chaired by John Ballance. The Liberal government, later
headed by Richard Seddon, passed many important socio-economic laws. In
1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to give all
women the right to vote, and in 1894, for the first time in the world,
it passed a law on the procedure for settling disputes between employers
and trade unions. In 1898 the government of Seddon passed the Old Age
Pension Act, the first in the British Empire.
In 1907, at the
request of the Parliament of New Zealand, King Edward VII proclaimed it
a dominion of the British Empire, which reflected its de facto
self-government. The Statute of Westminster was passed in 1947, removing
New Zealand from the obligation to act by the British Parliament.
modern history
New Zealand participated in world politics, taking
part in the First and Second World Wars as part of the British Empire,
and also suffered from the Great Depression. As a result of the
depression, the first Labor government was elected and the construction
of a welfare state with a protectionist economy began. The prosperity of
New Zealand began after the end of the Second World War, at the same
time the Maori began to move to the cities from the villages in search
of work. A Maori protest movement emerged that criticized Eurocentrism
and dealt with issues such as raising the profile of Maori culture and
settling disputes over the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1975, the Waitangi
Tribunal was organized to investigate alleged violations of the terms of
the treaty, and a decision was made ten years later. The government
claims the end of settling disputes with many iwi, but already in the
2000s there were tensions over the ownership of the tidal strip of the
coast and the seabed.
In 1987, New Zealand for the first time in
the world legally proclaimed its territory a nuclear-free zone. As a
result of the adoption of this status, New Zealand introduced a ban on
the entry into its territorial waters of ships with nuclear weapons on
board and with nuclear power plants, which significantly limited the
possibility of US Navy ships entering New Zealand ports.
In April
2013, same-sex marriage was legalized in the country.
New Zealand
continues to develop as an independent democratic country and an active
participant in international economic and political relations, paying
special attention to the development and strengthening of relations
among the countries of the Pacific-Asian region.
On March 15,
2019, the largest terrorist attack in the history of the country took
place: mass executions in mosques in the city of Christchurch. The
attack killed 50 people.
New Zealand is one of the most stable and well-governed countries in
the world. As of 2014, New Zealand was the world's fourth strongest
democratic institution and the second least corrupt, after Denmark. New
Zealand has a high electoral turnout (77% compared to an OECD average of
68%).
Fundamentals of the state system
New Zealand is a
unitary state based on the principles of constitutional monarchy and
parliamentary democracy. The system of government is based on the
principle of the Westminster model of parliamentarism, which consists in
the fact that political power is exercised by a democratically elected
parliament: the queen reigns, but the government rules as long as it has
the support of the House of Representatives. In 1840, the Treaty of
Waitangi was signed, under which the islands of New Zealand became a
colony of Great Britain. The New Zealand monarchy is legally distinct
from the British monarchy, as in 1947 New Zealand ratified the 1931
Statute of Westminster, giving the country the power to make its own
laws.
New Zealand, together with its dependencies of Tokelau, the
Ross Antarctic Territory, and the freely associated states of the Cook
Islands and Niue, constitute the Kingdom of New Zealand.
New
Zealand does not have a codified constitution. The constitution includes
the prerogatives of the queen, the constitutional acts and statutes of
the United Kingdom, which have been incorporated into New Zealand's
constitutional framework (the Magna Carta). Important constitutional
acts are the Constitutional Act of 1986, which recognizes the Queen of
Great Britain as the head of state and designates three branches of
power: the executive (government), legislative (Parliament) and
judiciary, the Bill of Rights of 1990, which sets out the fundamental
rights and freedoms of a person and the law on elections in 1993,
confirming free and democratic elections.
executive branch
The
head of state is the monarch of New Zealand, who since September 2022 is
King Charles III. The status of the monarch is defined by the
constitutional principle "reigns but does not rule", and the monarch
does not have significant political influence, retaining a ceremonial
and symbolic role. However, a number of functions are legally assigned
to the monarch and can only be performed by him. Among the most
important powers are the appointment of the Governor-General and the
signing of the Decree on such appointment; announcement of the
convocation or dissolution of the Parliament of the country. New
Zealand, along with a number of other Commonwealth countries, embodies
the principle of the separation of the monarch, laid down in the Balfour
Declaration of 1926.
The interests of the monarch in the country
are represented by the governor-general (the official title is the
governor-general and supreme commander in New Zealand, Governor-General
and Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand), appointed by the
monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister, as a rule, for a
period of five years. The Chief Justice of New Zealand takes the oath of
the Governor-General. The main duty of the Governor General is to
represent the interests of the monarch, and his functions are limited to
the role of guarantor of constitutional rights, ceremonial duties (for
example, appointing ministers on the advice of the prime minister) and
social activity. As the guarantor of constitutional rights, the
Governor-General ensures the legitimacy and consistency of the
government of the country and executes a number of formal legislative
actions taken on the advice of the Prime Minister and royal
prerogatives, such as the dissolution of Parliament before the next
elections or the appointment of the Prime Minister. In the performance
of his ceremonial functions, the Governor General attends the opening
ceremony of the meetings of the new session of Parliament, receives the
credentials of newly appointed ambassadors of other states in New
Zealand, and leads the receptions of heads of state and government of
other countries in New Zealand. As part of community service, the
Governor General and her/his spouse serve on the boards of trustees of
many charitable societies and participate in civic ceremonies. Since
1967, only New Zealand citizens have been appointed to the post of
Governor-General. The power of the queen and the governor general is
limited by the constitution, and usually requires the approval of the
country's cabinet.
From September 28, 2016 to September 28, 2021,
the post of Governor General of New Zealand was held by Patsy Reddy
(Patricia Lee "Patsy" Reddy). Since October 21, 2021, Cindy Kiro has
been the Governor General.
Parliament
The Parliament of New Zealand is a unicameral legislative body,
consisting of the country's monarch (represented in everyday activities
by the Governor General) and the House of Representatives. Previously,
New Zealand also had a second chamber of parliament - the Legislative
Council - which was abolished in 1951. The role of the monarch in the
work of Parliament is determined by the functions of convening and
dissolving Parliament itself and by imposing royal sanctions on
legislative acts adopted by the House of Representatives. The supremacy
of Parliament over the Crown originally appeared in the UK in the Bill
of Rights, and was later enshrined in New Zealand by a separate law. The
country's first parliament was formed in 1852. The speaker controls the
sittings of the Parliament.
The House of Representatives is
elected by the citizens through democratic elections, after which the
winning party or coalition forms the government. In the absence of such
an opportunity and a corresponding vote, a minority government is
obtained. The prime minister is usually the leader of the winning party
or coalition. The Cabinet, consisting of the prime minister and
ministers, is the highest legislative body of the state, it is
responsible for the most important actions of the government. By
tradition, cabinet members are bound by collective responsibility for
decisions.
House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of
Representatives has 120 members, of which seven are reserved for Maori.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected in accordance with
the Elections Act 1993 (once every three years in a general national
election based on the principles of a mixed proportional electoral
system). From among its members, the House of Representatives elects
members of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Prime Minister of the
country. In 1936, New Zealand became the first country in the world to
regularly broadcast parliamentary meetings on the radio.
Since
1951, the House of Representatives has been the only chamber of the
country's parliament. After the adoption of the Statute of Westminster
in 1947, the House of Representatives became the country's highest
elected legislative body. Based on historical tradition, the New Zealand
House of Representatives in its structure and organization was based on
the principles of the Westminster model of parliamentarism. Significant
changes in this model began to occur only in the 1950s - in 1951, the
supreme Legislative Council with appointed members was abolished, and
the parliament became unicameral and fully elected; the procedure of the
Chamber's work has changed.
Head of the government
The head of
government in New Zealand is the Prime Minister. The leader of the party
faction that received the majority (including the coalition majority) in
the course of the election of members of the House of Representatives
becomes the prime minister of the country. The Prime Minister is
appointed to his post by the Governor General.
As in many other
codes that determine the role of certain statesmen of New Zealand, the
duties of the prime minister of the country do not have a legislative
description and are largely determined by constitutional customs. His
position among other members of the House of Representatives is
determined by the principle of "First among equals" and, while holding
the highest administrative position, the Prime Minister, nevertheless,
is obliged to adhere to the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers. Among
the main rights and duties of the Prime Minister of New Zealand are:
the right to determine the agenda of the meetings of the House of
Representatives;
the right to present to the Governor-General
candidates for appointment and dismissal from their ministerial posts;
the right to appoint and dismiss the Deputy Prime Minister;
the right
to ask the Queen of the Governor-General to propose a date for new
elections to Parliament;
the right to recommend to the monarch a
candidate for the post of governor-general.
In October 2017,
Jacinda Ardern, leader of the Labor Party, became prime minister.
Cabinet of Ministers
The Cabinet of Ministers is the executive
body of the House of Representatives and the country's highest executive
body. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers is the Secretary of the
Cabinet. All members of the Cabinet of Ministers are simultaneously
members of the Executive Council. Cabinet ministers are appointed by the
Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and are New Zealand
Cabinet Ministers, although in some cases a government minister may not
be a member of the Cabinet. In its work, the Cabinet of Ministers is
divided into sectoral committees that prepare draft decisions, which are
then submitted for final discussion by the Committee. Decisions of the
Committee of Ministers are taken by a simple majority of votes.
Executive Council
The Executive Council is an advisory body to the
Governor General. Only a Member of Parliament can be a member of the
Executive Council. Members of the Executive Council are Ministers of the
Crown, whether or not they are members of the Cabinet. The decisions of
the Executive Council are usually presented directly by the Governor
General himself (although the Governor General is not a member of the
Council), and are formed on the basis of policy determined by the
Cabinet.
Judicial system
New Zealand's legal system is based
on the common law. Appointments of judges and judiciaries are not
influenced by political considerations and are subject to strict tenure
controls to ensure that the judiciary remains independent of the
government, as required by the constitution. Theoretically, this means
that the judiciary can interpret the law on the basis of the legislative
acts of Parliament alone, without being influenced by outsiders. The
London Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was the final court of
appeal until 2004, when the Supreme Court of New Zealand came into
being. The judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice of New Zealand,
including the Court of Appeal, the High Court and all lower courts
subordinate to them.
In addition, there are 62 District Courts in
New Zealand, which deal with all cases where the defendant does not face
life imprisonment or the amount of damage does not exceed 200,000 New
Zealand dollars.
There is also a system of specialized judicial
institutions in the country - the Family Court, dealing with cases
related to parental responsibilities, the Youth Court for hearing cases
against persons aged 12 to 16 years old, the Environmental Court
(Environment Court) , Employment Court and a number of others.
The head of the Judiciary is the Queen.
Domestic politics
Electoral system
Almost all parliamentary elections in New Zealand in
1853-1993 were held under the system of relative majority. Since the
1930s, the country's political horizon has been dominated by two
parties, the National and Labor. Since 1996, a type of proportional
voting has been used - a mixed electoral system. Each voter has two
votes: one for voting in single-member districts (with some seats
reserved for Maori), and the other for the party. Since 2014, 71 seats
in the country have been reserved for single-member deputies (including
7 for the Maori), and the remaining 49 are distributed so that the
number of seats in the party corresponds to the number of voters who
voted for it (however, to enter parliament, the party must either
overcome the 5% qualification , or win one seat in a single-member
district). Such a system makes it virtually impossible for any one party
to take all the seats in the House and makes important the issue of
party coalitions, which are often announced even before elections are
held.
From March 2005 to August 2006, New Zealand was the only
country in the world where all the most important positions in
government (Head of State, Governor General, Prime Minister, Speaker of
Parliament and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) were held exclusively
by women.
Every New Zealand citizen over the age of 18 has the
right to stand for election to the House of Representatives. Every
citizen of New Zealand and its permanent resident (Permanent Resident)
has the right to participate in elections. Elections are held every
three years.
Major political parties
As of 2015, there are 15
registered political parties in New Zealand, 7 of which are represented
in the country's Parliament. In addition, about 15 more unregistered
political parties operate in the country. The largest parties in the
country are considered to be both the center-right National Party and
the center-left Labor Party.
In terms of representation in
Parliament, the most influential parties are:
"National Party"
(National Party);
The Labor Party of New Zealand;
Green Party of
Aotearoa New Zealand;
"New Zealand First" (New Zealand First);
"Maori Party" (Maori Party);
United Future New Zealand;
ACT New
Zealand.
The Liberal Party, officially founded in 1891 and
defunct in 1927, was the first political party to be established in the
country.
In the early period of history, foreign trade and foreign policy were
given over to the British colonial government. The Imperial Conferences
of 1923 and 1926 agreed that New Zealand could sign political treaties
itself, and the first such treaty (with Japan) was ratified in 1928. On
September 3, 1939, New Zealand joined Britain and declared war on
Germany.
In 1951, Great Britain began to pay more and more
attention to its interests in Europe, while New Zealand, Australia and
the United States concluded the ANZUS treaty.
New Zealand's
participation in the political life of the Pacific island states is
noticeable. Much of New Zealand's humanitarian aid goes to these
countries, with many locals moving to New Zealand in search of work.
Under the Samoan Quota Acts 1970 and Pacific Visa Acts 2002, up to 1,100
Samoans and up to 750 people from other Pacific nations can become New
Zealand permanent residents each year. 2007 also saw the introduction of
a temporary work visa for seasonal work, and in 2009 it brought about
8,000 Pacific residents.
The New Zealand Armed Forces are divided into three types of troops:
the New Zealand Navy, the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air
Force. National security does not require large expenditures due to the
low probability of a direct attack, the cost of maintaining the armed
forces and the defense of the country is about 1% of GNP. The country
took part in both world wars, including the Dardanelles operation, the
Crete operation, El Alamein and the battle of Monte Cassino. The
Dardanelles campaign was instrumental in shaping New Zealand's national
identity and reinforcing the Australian experience of ANZAC. According
to Mary Edmond-Paul, "The First World War left scars on New Zealand
society: about 18,500 people died as a result of the war, more than
41,000 were injured, many were psychologically traumatized, out of a
total of 103,000 soldiers sent overseas and a population of slightly
more than a million ". New Zealand played a key role in the naval battle
of La Plata and the air battle for Britain. During World War II, the
United States deployed over 400,000 troops to New Zealand.
In
addition, New Zealand took part in the Korean, Anglo-Boer, Malayan,
Afghan wars and the Persian Gulf War. New Zealand regional and global
peacekeeping missions have participated in missions in Cyprus, Somalia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sinai, Angola, Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq border,
Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands.
New Zealand
was ranked 8th in the 2012 Center for Global Development ranking of the
most developed countries in terms of their involvement in improving the
welfare of poorer states. New Zealand is fourth in the 2014 Peace Index.
The flag of New Zealand, approved on March 24, 1902, is a rectangular
panel with a ratio of 1:2. The prototype of the current flag, with a
blue ensign and the flag of Great Britain in the corner, appeared in
1865 as a result of a government decree that ships of all British
colonies should have such a flag. In the years 1867-1869, there were red
letters NZ in the lower right corner, and in the years 1869-1902, four
red stars with a white border. The blue background of the flag is
associated with the blue color of the sky and the sea surrounding the
country. The stars of the Southern Cross communicate with the country's
location in the South Pacific. The symbolism of the flag of Great
Britain speaks of the historical heritage that the country was a former
British colony.
The first state coat of arms of New Zealand was
put into circulation in 1911, the current coat of arms was adopted in
1956. The coat of arms is a shield held on one side by a blond woman
holding the flag of New Zealand and on the other side by a Maori
warrior. Above the shield is the crown of St. Edward. Under the shield
are two branches of a fern. The coat of arms is associated with the
unity of all cultures and peoples inhabiting the country, and with the
commitment to the New Zealand monarchy.
Two national anthems are
recognized in New Zealand - "God, protect New Zealand" (Eng. God, Defend
New Zealand) and "God Save the Queen" (Eng. God, Save the Queen).
Although both have equal status, "God Defend New Zealand" is more
commonly used.
The text "God Defend New Zealand" was written in
1870 by Thomas Bracken. John Joseph Woods won the 1876 competition for
music to the text. The song gained popularity, and in 1940 the
government of the country acquired the copyright for it and designated
it as the national anthem. But only in 1977 the song was legally
approved as the second national anthem.
The text of the anthem
"God Defend New Zealand" consists of five verses. The original text is
written in English, the official version also has a Maori translation.
Traditionally, only the first verse is sung at state events: first the
Maori version is played, then the English version.
New Zealand is located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean in the
Polynesian Triangle in the Central Region of the Water Hemisphere. The
main territory of the country is made up of two islands with the
corresponding names - the South Island and the North Island, which are
separated by the Cook Strait, the width of which is 22.5 km at its
narrowest point. The western coast of the islands is washed by the
Tasman Sea, the rest of the coast of the country by the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to the two main islands, New Zealand owns about 700 islands
of a much smaller area, most of which are uninhabited. The largest of
these are Stewart Island, the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Island, the
Bounty Islands, the Campbell Islands, the Chatham Archipelago and the
Kermadec Islands. The total area of the country is 268,680 km². This
makes it slightly smaller than Italy or Japan, but somewhat larger than
the UK. The coastline of New Zealand is 15,134 kilometers long.
The South Island is New Zealand's largest island and the 12th largest
island on the planet, with an area of 150,437 km². About one-fourth of
the country's population lives on the island. Along the island from
north to south stretches the ridge of the folded mountains of the
Southern Alps, the highest peak of which is Mount Cook (43 ° 35′44 ″ S
170 ° 08′27 ″ E, another official name is Aoraki) with a height of 3724
m. In addition to it, on the South Island there are 18 more peaks with a
height of more than 3000 m. The eastern part of the island is more flat
and almost completely occupied by agricultural land. The west coast of
the island is much less densely populated. Significant tracts of almost
untouched nature with virgin flora and fauna have been preserved here.
The western part is also famous for its numerous national parks, fjords
and glaciers descending from the slopes of the Southern Alps right into
the Tasman Sea. The island's largest lake is Te Anau (the second largest
lake in New Zealand).
North Island, with an area of 113,729
km², is the 14th largest island on the planet. The island is much less
mountainous than the South, and more convenient for the creation of
settlements and seaports, which is why the majority of the population
lives on it and the largest cities of the country are located here. The
highest point on the North Island is the active volcano Ruapehu (39°16′
S 175°34′ E) at 2797 meters. The northern island is characterized by
high volcanic activity: out of the six volcanic zones of the country,
five are located on it. In the heart of the North Island is Lake Taupo,
the largest lake in New Zealand. It is the source of the Waikato River,
which is 425 kilometers long, making it the longest river in New
Zealand.
Nature
Relief
New Zealand's terrain is mostly
steep hills (on the North Island) and mountains (on the South Island).
More than 75% of the country's territory lies at an altitude of more
than 200 m above sea level. Most of the mountains of the North Island do
not exceed 1700 m in height. 19 peaks of the South Island are higher
than 3000 m. The coastal zones of the North Island are represented by
spacious valleys. Fjords are located on the western coast of the South
Island. Plains occupy about 10% of the country's territory.
New Zealand's climate varies from warm subtropical in the north of
the North Island to cool temperate in the south and central regions of
the South Island; in mountainous areas, a harsh alpine climate prevails.
The chain of the high Southern Alps divides the country in half and,
blocking the way to the predominant westerly winds, divides it into two
different climatic zones. The west coast of the South Island is the
wettest part of the country; the eastern part, located just 100
kilometers from it, is the driest.
The East Australian Current,
passing through the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, makes
the climate of the islands and the east coast of Australia warmer and
more humid, tropical instead of subtropical; contributes to the spread
of tropical marine life to subtropical areas along the southeast coast
of Australia and New Zealand.
Most of New Zealand has rainfall
between 600 and 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed
relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of the drier
summer period.
The average annual temperature ranges from +10°C
in the south to +16°C in the north. The coldest month is July and the
warmest months are January and February. In the north of New Zealand,
the differences between winter and summer temperatures are not very
significant, but in the south and in the foothills the difference
reaches 14°C. In the mountainous regions of the country, with increasing
altitude, the temperature drops sharply, by about 0.7 ° C every 100
meters.
Auckland, the country's largest city, has an average annual
temperature of +15.1°C, with the highest recorded temperature being
+30.5°C and the lowest being -2.5°C. In the capital of the country,
Wellington, the average annual temperature is +12.8°C, the highest
recorded temperature is +31.1°C, the lowest is -1.9°C. The lowest
temperature in all of Oceania was observed precisely in New Zealand,
since it is located farthest from the equator among the countries of
Oceania (up to 47 parallels south latitude), in the city of Ranfurly on
July 18, 1903 and was −25.6 degrees.
The absolute maximum
temperature in New Zealand was recorded in the city of Rangiora, equal
to +42.4 degrees, in the northeast of the South Island, between 43 and
44 parallels, closer to 43. The absolute minimum and maximum
temperatures in the country were observed in the South Island, where
more continental climate than the North Island.
The number of
hours of sunshine per year is relatively high, especially in areas
protected from westerly winds. In most of the territory, it is at least
2000 hours. Peak solar radiation in the country is about 40% higher than
in North America due to the thin ozone layer over Antarctica, which is
why New Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the
world.
Snowfall is extremely rare in the coastal regions of the
north of the country and in the western part of the South Island. In
other regions, slight and short snowfalls are possible in the winter
months.
The islands that form New Zealand are located in the Pacific
geosynclinal belt between two lithospheric plates - the Pacific and
Australian. Over long historical periods, the fault site between the two
plates has been subjected to complex geological processes, constantly
changing the structure and shape of the earth's crust. That is why,
unlike most of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the islands of New
Zealand were formed not only as a result of volcanic activity, but also
as a result of discharges and are composed of geological rocks of
different composition and different ages.
Active tectonic
activity in the earth's crust of this region continues at the present
geological stage of the formation of our planet. And its results are
noticeable even in a historically short period from the beginning of the
development of the islands by Europeans. So, for example, as a result of
a devastating earthquake in 1855, the coastline near Wellington rose by
more than one and a half meters, and in 1931, also as a result of a
strong earthquake near the city of Napier, about 9 km² of land rose to
the water surface.
The location of New Zealand is historically
associated with active volcanic activity on its territory. Researchers
suggest that it began in the early Miocene, and the period of formation
of modern zones of increased volcanic activity was completed in the late
Pliocene. The largest volcanic eruptions, presumably, took place during
the late Pliocene - early Pleistocene, when about 5 million cubic
kilometers of rock could erupt to the Earth's surface.
At the
present stage, the zone of increased tectonic activity and the
associated high number of earthquakes is the western coast of the South
Island and the northeast coast of the North Island. The annual number of
earthquakes in the country is up to 15,000, most of them are small and
only about 250 annually can be classified as noticeable or strong. In
modern history, the most powerful earthquake was recorded in 1855 near
Wellington, with a magnitude of about 8.2 points; the most devastating
was the 1931 earthquake in the Napier region, which claimed 256 human
lives.
Volcanic activity in modern New Zealand is still high and
6 volcanic zones are active in the country, five of which are located on
the North Island. In the area of Lake Taupo in 186 BC. e. the
largest documented volcanic eruption in the history of mankind, Hatepe.
The consequences of the eruption are described in the historical
chronicles of places as far away as China and Greece. At the site of the
eruption, there is now the largest freshwater lake in the Pacific
region, Taupo, with its area comparable to the territory of Singapore.
New Zealand is located on the border of the Indo-Australian and
Pacific seismic rings. The processes of their interaction, including the
rapid uplift of mountain ranges and active volcanic activity for two
million years, determined the geology of the land mass of the islands.
Despite the diversity of natural resources, only deposits of gas,
oil, gold, silver, iron sandstone and coal are industrially developed.
In addition to the above, there are extensive reserves of limestone and
clays (including bentonite clay). Aluminum, titanium iron ore, antimony,
chromium, copper, zinc, manganese, mercury, tungsten, platinum, heavy
spar, and a number of other minerals are often found, but their explored
industrial reserves are small.
Since 1997, all deposits and all
the extraction of jade have been given to the management of the Maori,
due to the important historical role that pounamu jade products play in
the culture of this people.
New Zealand's proven gold reserves
are 372 tons. In 2002, gold production amounted to a little less than 10
tons.
New Zealand's proven silver reserves are 308 tons. In 2002,
silver production amounted to almost 29 tons.
The proven reserves
of ferruginous sandstone are 874 million tons. Its commercial production
began in the 1960s. In 2002, production amounted to about 2.4 million
tons.
New Zealand's proven natural gas reserves are 68 bcm.
Commercial gas production started in 1970. In 2005, natural gas
production in the country amounted to approximately 50 million m³.
Oil reserves are approximately 14 million tons, its industrial
production began in 1935. Oil production in the country has been
declining markedly in recent years. In 2005, oil production in the
country amounted to just over 7 million barrels.
Coal production,
which has been steadily increasing for many decades, is stabilized in
the first decade of the 21st century thanks to programs aimed at
reducing the consumption of solid fuels. About a third of the coal
produced is exported. 60 coal mines continue to operate in the country.
outer seas
New Zealand is isolated from other islands and
continents by large sea distances. The Tasman Sea washing its western
coast separates the country from Australia for 1700 km. The Pacific
Ocean washes the east coast of the country and separates the country
from its closest neighbors, in the north - from New Caledonia for 1000
km; in the east - from Chile at 8700 km; in the south - from Antarctica
for 2500 km.
The length of the coastal strip of New Zealand is
15,134 km. Territorial waters - 12 nautical miles. Exclusive economic
zone - up to 200 nautical miles. The area of the maritime exclusive
economic zone is approximately 4,300,000 km², which is 15 times the land
area of the country.
In the area of New Zealand, there are
two permanent sea currents - the warm East Australian and the West
Winds. East Australian, following to the north and northeast, washes the
western part of the North Island. The course of the West Winds is
noticeable in the south, and its main stream passes south of the South
Island in an easterly direction.
Up to 700 small islands are
located in the coastal waters of the country, most of them are located
at a distance of up to 50 km from the main islands. Of the total, only
about 60 are habitable or currently occupied.
Inland waters
Due to the special geological and geographical conditions in New
Zealand, there are many rivers and lakes. Most of the rivers are short
(less than 50 km), originate in the mountains and quickly descend to the
plains, where they slow down their flow. Waikato is the largest river in
the country with a length of 425 km. The country also has 33 rivers with
a length of more than 100 km and 6 rivers with a length of 51 to 95 km.
The total length of rivers and other inland waterways in the country is
425,000 km.
In New Zealand, there are 3280 lakes with a water
surface area of more than 0.01 km², 229 lakes have a water surface
of more than 0.5 km² and 40 - more than 10 km². The country's largest
lake is Taupo (area - 623 km²), the deepest lake is Hauroko (depth - 462
meters). Most of the lakes in the North Island are formed by volcanic
activity, while most of the lakes in the South Island are formed by
glacial activity.
New Zealand is one of the few countries in the
southern hemisphere that has glaciers on its territory (Tasmanian, Fox,
Franz Josef, etc.). The Tasmanian glacier forms a narrow tongue of ice
27 km long, up to 3 km wide in places; its total area is 52 km². In some
parts, it reaches a thickness of 610 m and is the largest glacier in New
Zealand.
The average annual volume of renewable water resources, according to
statistics from 1977-2001, in New Zealand is estimated at 327 km³, which
is about 85 m³ / year per capita. In 2001, river and lake resources were
about 320 km³, glacier resources were about 70 km³, atmospheric moisture
resources were about 400 km³, and groundwater resources were estimated
at about 613 km³.
The protection and management of water
resources and the water supply system for the population and economic
facilities in New Zealand is the responsibility of local governments.
The cost of the main production assets of the water management complex
is estimated at more than 1 billion New Zealand dollars. Centralized
water supply systems provide drinking water for about 85% of the
country's population. About 77% of fresh water consumed in the country
is used in irrigation systems.
Soils
In general, the soils of
the country are relatively infertile and not rich in humus. The
following 15 soil types are most common:
allophaneous - volcanic clay
soils,
anthropogenic,
brown,
gley,
grainy,
melanic -
fertile soil with a black arable layer
organic,
oxidic,
pallik,
podzolic,
pumice,
primitive (underdeveloped),
modern (young),
semiarid,
ult.
Long historical isolation and remoteness from other continents have
created a unique and in many ways inimitable natural world of the
islands of New Zealand, which is distinguished by a large number of
endemic plants and birds.
About 1000 years ago, before the
appearance of permanent human settlements on the islands, mammals were
historically completely absent. The exceptions were two species of bats
and coastal whales, the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) and
the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
Simultaneously
with the arrival of the first permanent residents, the Polynesians, the
small rats (Rattus exulans) and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the
first European settlers brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The
development of European settlements in the 19th century caused the
appearance in New Zealand of more and more new species of animals.
The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on
the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats,
ferrets, rabbits (brought into the country for the development of
hunting), stoats (brought into the country to control the rabbit
population). Possums were also brought in to develop the fur industry.
When it was necessary to release the animals into the wild, they began
to climb on the poles with wires and gnaw them. As a result, the city
remained without electricity, and the animals died. I had to upholster
all the posts with tin so that the opossums could not climb up. People
have also thoughtlessly introduced black swans, woodpeckers, canaries,
larks, geese (both wild and domestic), and many other species of birds.
Introduced rats and small birds serve as food for the ueke shepherd,
endemic to New Zealand. In addition, the man brought deer, pigs and
other large mammals to New Zealand, which he released into the wild,
believing that the forests would look more beautiful this way. Having no
natural enemies in the surrounding nature, the populations of these
animals reached such proportions that the natural representatives of the
flora and fauna of New Zealand were under serious threat. Only in recent
years, through the efforts of the environmental departments of New
Zealand, some coastal islands were spared from these animals, which made
it possible to hope for the preservation of natural natural conditions
there.
Of the representatives of the fauna of New Zealand, the
most famous are the kiwi birds (Apterygiformes), which have become the
national symbol of the country. Among the birds, it is also necessary to
note kea (Nestor notabilis) (or nestor), kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)
(or owl parrot), takahe (Notoronis hochstelteri) (or wingless sultan).
Only in New Zealand, the remains of giant flightless moa birds
(Dinornis) exterminated about 500 years ago, reaching a height of 3.5 m,
were preserved. wings up to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg.
New Zealand is home to 123 species (many undescribed) of amphibians and
reptiles. Among them, 89% are endemic, 8% are migratory marine, and the
remaining 3% are introduced. Amphibians are represented by the endemic
Leiopelmatidae family (3 species considered among the most primitive
frogs) and 3 introduced species of the tree frog family (Hylidae). New
Zealand is home to the only surviving member of the beakhead
(Rhynchocephalia) order, the Hatteria (Sphenodon punctatus). New Zealand
lizards belong to two families - Diplodactylidae (43 species) and Skinks
(Scincidae) (64 species; all except the introduced Lampropholis delicata
belong to the genus Oligosoma). All lizards of the country, with the
exception of two species of skinks, are viviparous. In the waters of New
Zealand, sea turtles and snakes from the subfamilies of sea snakes and
flattails are found.
The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
is the only representative of insectivores brought to the country and
adapted to free living conditions in it.
Of the spiders, only the
katipō are venomous.
29 species of fish live in the fresh waters
of the country, 8 of which are on the verge of extinction (such as the
New Zealand Prototroct). Up to 3,000 species of fish and other sea
creatures live in coastal seas.
There are 40 species of ants in
New Zealand.
The flora of New Zealand has about 2,000 plant species.
The
country's forests are divided into two main types - mixed subtropical
and evergreen. The forests are dominated by legcarps (Podocarpus). The
thickets of New Zealand agathis (Agathis australis) and cypress
dacrydium (Dacrydium cupressinum) have survived, although they have been
sharply reduced during the industrial development of forests.
In
artificial forests, the total area of which is about 2 million
hectares, mainly radiant pine (Pinus radiata), brought to New Zealand in
the middle of the 19th century, is grown. The plantation of radiant pine
in the Kaingaroa Forest area has created the world's largest
artificially grown forest.
New Zealand has the largest amount of
liverworts in comparison to other countries. On the territory of the
country there are 606 species of them, 50% of them are endemic.
Leafy mosses are widespread, New Zealand's bryoflora includes 523
species of leafy mosses.
Among the approximately 70 species of
forget-me-nots (Myosotis) known in nature, about 30 are endemic to New
Zealand. Unlike forget-me-nots in other parts of the world, only two
species of these plants in New Zealand are blue - Myosotis antarctica
and Myosotis capitata.
Of the 187 species of flowering herbaceous
plants in the natural flora of New Zealand, 157 are endemic.
In
New Zealand, there is an unusually large number of ferns in comparison
with other territories with similar climatic conditions. The silver
cyathea (Cyathea dealbata) (also known as the silver fern in the
country) is one of the generally accepted national symbols and is
depicted on the country's national emblem.
One of the main symbols of New Zealand is its carefully maintained
green and clean (. Green and Clean New Zealand) and 100% clean (100%
Pure New Zealand) image. That is why the issues of protection and
environmental protection are among the priorities in the development of
the country.
In 2005, New Zealand became the first country in the
world to introduce a carbon tax. As one of the important promising
areas, it plans to become the first country in the world to have a
neutral balance of carbon emissions into the atmosphere by 2020, and
thereby achieve recognition for itself as the cleanest country in the
world.
The country's legislation defines about 60 types of
natural areas to be protected and preserved, among them the largest and
most significant forms are national parks (including marine parks),
natural, scientific, ecological and tourist reserves and reserves. The
country has 14 national parks, 4 marine parks, 21 marine and coastal
reserves and more than 3,000 reserves. The total area of national
parks, reserves and natural areas under protection is about 6.5 million
hectares, or about 25% of the total territory of the country.
There are several zoos and botanical gardens in the country, the largest
of which is the Auckland Zoo, opened in 1922 and containing more than
170 species of animals on its territory. In addition, large zoos are
open in the cities of Wellington and Auckland, and the only free-range
zoo operates in Christchurch. A unique park, aimed at preserving the
animals of the big cat subfamily, was created near the city of
Whangarei.
Earthquake 2010
A strong earthquake with a
magnitude of 7.1 in the Canterbury region, on the South Island of New
Zealand, occurred on September 4 at 4 hours 35 minutes local time (UTC +
12). The epicenter was located 40 km west of Christchurch, near the town
of Darfield. The hypocenter was at a depth of only 10 km.
Earthquake 2011
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred on February
22, 2011 off the coast of New Zealand. The epicenter of the earthquake
was in close proximity to the second largest city in the country,
Christchurch on the South Island. 147 people died. According to J.P.
Morgan, an earthquake in New Zealand could cost insurance companies $12
billion.
Earthquake 2016
A series of earthquakes with a
magnitude of 6.2 to 7.4 occurred on November 13, 2016 in the South
Island. The epicenter of the tremors was located about 39 km southwest
of the city of Kaikura at a depth of 10 km. Two people died.
The
problem of the ozone layer
Due to the existing giant ozone hole over
Antarctica, New Zealand has very strong ultraviolet radiation. As a
result, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in New Zealand.
67,000 cases of this disease are registered annually, while there are
only 16,000 cases of other types of cancer per year. The number of
melanoma patients in New Zealand and Australia is about four times
higher than in Canada, the US and the UK. The situation is aggravated by
the fact that many residents are descendants of the British, who have
always been distinguished by fair skin. And for a fair-skinned person,
fifteen minutes is enough to get burned in New Zealand. People with fair
skin should use a protective cream.
Timezone
New Zealand is
located in two time zones. The South and North Islands and the adjacent
small islands use New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) and are 12 hours
ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The Chatham Islands use
Chatham Standard Time or CHAST and are 12 hours 45 minutes ahead of
Coordinated Universal Time. During the summer period, the clocks move
forward one hour and the difference with UTC during this period is 13
hours for NZST and 13 hours 45 minutes for CHAST.
The first European settlers who settled in New Zealand divided the
country into provinces. To create a more centralized system of financial
management of the territories, the division of the country into
provinces was abolished in 1876. As a result of this, New Zealand still
does not have a system of intrastate administrative-territorial division
similar to the fact that in other countries a province, state, region
can be called. The existing system of territorial subordination is based
on the principle of local self-government. Since 1989, a system has been
in place based on the use of Regional Councils and Territorial
Authorities.
Administrative unit
Modern New Zealand has 12
regional councils that exercise local self-government and are
responsible for environmental issues and the regional transport system.
In addition, there are 74 territorial administrations (16 city councils,
57 local councils and one island council) responsible for road and
communication systems in their region, life support systems, supervising
and regulating construction, etc.
Outer Islands of New Zealand
New Zealand owns 9 island groups that are located in the subtropical and
subantarctic zones; 7 of them are not included in the regions or
districts of any administrative unit. They are under the direct control
of a special body - eng. Area Outside Territorial Authority. The Chatham
Archipelago has the status of a special territorial unit, and the island
of Soland is part of the Southland region.
Kingdom of New Zealand
The State of New Zealand has one dependent territory (Tokelau). At the
same time, New Zealand is a core member of the Kingdom of New Zealand,
one of the 15 Commonwealth realms. Unlike other Commonwealth realms, the
Kingdom of New Zealand is not a state and does not have international
state recognition. The term "Kingdom of New Zealand" has a conceptual,
symbolic character, indicating the unity of the history and moral values
of various countries, states and territories and the recognition of a
single head of state. In addition to New Zealand itself, the kingdom
also includes the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue and the Antarctic Ross
Territory. The Cook Islands and Niue are independent states loosely
associated with New Zealand. Tokelau is a dependent territory
administered by New Zealand. The Ross Territory was transferred to the
administration of New Zealand by Great Britain in 1923 and since 1961 de
facto New Zealand has complied with the terms of the Antarctic Treaty,
according to which Antarctica is an international territory that does
not belong to any state.
Residents of all of the Kingdom's
constituent states and territories are citizens of New Zealand. New
Zealand ensures the security of the member states of the Kingdom and
represents their interests in the international arena.
The
Monarch of New Zealand is the official head of all the states and
territories of the Kingdom.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
became a New Zealand dependency in June 1901 through an annexation
approved by the New Zealand Parliament in September/October 1900. Direct
control of New Zealand was carried out until 1965, when, under the
auspices of the UN, the country embarked on the path of
self-determination. Based on the country's adopted constitution, the
Cook Islands are self-governing and freely associated with New Zealand.
New Zealand remains committed to the security of the Cook Islands, but
any military intervention is possible only on the basis of a decision by
the government of the Cook Islands. New Zealand also remains committed
to international representation of the interests of the Cook Islands,
but the Cook Islands currently also has its own diplomatic missions in
20 countries around the world.
Tokelau
Tokelau was taken over
by New Zealand in 1926 from Great Britain, which had annexed the islands
10 years earlier. It is currently a non-self-governing territory under
the administrative control of New Zealand. In 2006 and 2007, this status
of the islands was reinforced by the results of referendums. But, in
accordance with the UN charters, Tokelau and New Zealand continue to
work to create conditions for the transition to full self-determination
of Tokelau as an independent state, and in 2005 Tokelau and New Zealand
created a Free Association Treaty and developed a draft of the future
Constitution of Tokelau. Since 2003, Tokelau has been independently
conducting all operations with the state budget. In the international
arena, New Zealand represents the interests of Tokelau, but the
territory also has its own representation in a number of international
organizations.
Niue
Niue became a New Zealand dependency in 1901. In 1975, as a
result of a referendum held under the auspices of the United Nations,
the country gained independence, and since then, in accordance with the
provisions of its own constitution, it has been a self-governing state
in free association with New Zealand. Although New Zealand has retained
its obligations to represent the international interests of Niue,
nevertheless, in practice, Niue independently represents its interests
in the international arena and independently participates in the work of
international organizations. New Zealand is responsible for the security
of Niue. Niue's constitution requires New Zealand to provide economic
assistance to the country, and New Zealand is Niue's largest contributor
to the state budget. In fiscal years 2006 and 2007, Niue began to
administer its own public budget, but in 2008 the budget almost
completely lost revenue, except for income from economic assistance from
other states.
Ross Territory
The Ross Territory came under the
control of New Zealand in 1923 from Great Britain, it was then that the
boundaries of these territories were determined and the lands and
islands included in them were specified, including part of Victoria
Land, the Ross Ice Shelf, the Ross Islands, Balleny, Scott and
Roosevelt. Through a series of government acts, New Zealand extends its
jurisdiction to the Ross Territory and limits the waters around it as
its own exclusive economic zone. Nevertheless, after the signing of the
Antarctic Treaty in 1961, which recognized the existence of territorial
claims of a number of states on the lands and waters of Antarctica (but
did not resolve these claims and limited the emergence of new claims of
this kind), New Zealand de facto respects the international status of
the mainland and limits its jurisdiction only on the territory of its
own Antarctic station or its citizens located on the continent. The
scientific bases Scott Base (New Zealand) and McMurdo (USA) are the only
year-round inhabited bases in this territory.
New Zealand's population is 4.242 million according to the 2013
census and 4.742 million according to 2016 estimates.
The bulk of
the country's population are New Zealanders of European origin, mostly
descendants of immigrants from the UK. There are significant diasporas
of Dutch, Germans, Croats, "white" South Africans. According to the 2013
census, the total share of the population of European origin is
approximately 74% of the total population of the country.
Representatives of the indigenous people, Maori, make up about 14.9% of
the population. The next two largest ethnic groups - representatives of
Asian and Polynesian peoples - account for 11.8% and 7.4% of the
country's population, respectively. Arabs, Hispanics, Africans and
others - 2.9%. In the census, persons of mixed origin may indicate 2
ethnic groups.
The average age of the country's inhabitants in
2013 was about 38 years[. In 2006, more than 500 people over the age of
100 lived in the country. In the same year, the proportion of the
population under the age of 15 was 21.5%.
Population growth in
2007 was 0.95%. The crude birth rate in the same year was 13.61 births
per 1,000 population, and the crude death rate was 7.54 deaths per 1,000
population.
Most New Zealanders permanently (or for a long time)
live outside the country. The largest New Zealand diaspora lives in
Australia (in 2014, the number of New Zealanders living in Australia was
about 567,000 people) and in the UK (in 2001, about 50,000 people, with
about 17% of New Zealanders having either British citizenship or the
right to receiving it). Traditionally, out-of-country New Zealanders
maintain close contact with their homeland, and many of them deservedly
become among the outstanding representatives of their country.
According to the 2013 census, the majority of the population, 47.65%,
profess Christianity (in 2001 there were 58.92% of such people). The
most common denominations of Christianity in the country are Latin Rite
Catholicism - 12.61%, Anglicanism - 11.79%, Presbyterianism - 8.47% and
Methodism - 2.64%. Small groups of the Salvation Army, Seventh-day
Adventists, Assemblies of God operate in the country. Followers of
Buddhism (1.50%), Hinduism (2.11%) and Islam (1.18%) make up the next
largest religious communities in New Zealand. About 41.92% of the
country's population during the census did not associate themselves with
religion (in 2001 there were 29.64% of such people). 0.01% of the
country's inhabitants adhere to various kinds of new religious teachings
("new age"), 0.02% - Satanism; there are more adherents of neo-paganism
in New Zealand than Jews (followers of Judaism in 2013, there were
0.18%).
As of 2019, the UN estimated that there were 1.1 million
immigrants and their descendants living in New Zealand, or 22.3% of the
country's population.
Natives of Polynesia, who began settling the previously deserted
islands of New Zealand, presumably in 1250-1300, created the basis for
the formation of an original people and a unique Maori culture. The
first meeting of Maori and Europeans took place in 1642, when the ship
of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman approached the shores of New Zealand.
modern history
The next meeting took place only in 1769, when
James Cook's expedition approached these shores. The total number of
Maori at this time was estimated to be about 100,000 people. Already by
1800, European ships began to visit New Zealand relatively often, and by
1830 there were already about 2,000 Europeans living in New Zealand.
Their position among the Maori was not always equal, many of them were
slaves or semi-slaves, but some also occupied a fairly high position in
the tribal hierarchy. Maori traditionally did not have commodity-money
relations and trade, but practiced barter. They extended this tradition
to relations with European sailors and whalers. One of the main goods
that interested the Maori was European firearms, as a result of which,
at the beginning of the 19th century, a series of bloody tribal clashes
broke out in the country, called the Musket Wars and continued
intermittently until 1840. Tribal conflicts, Maori familiarity with
alcoholic beverages, as well as previously unknown diseases, mainly
measles, influenza and venereal diseases, significantly reduced the
number of indigenous people in New Zealand during these years, and in
1896 the Maori population reached its lowest level in modern history -
just over 42,000 people.
In 1840, Great Britain and the Maori
tribal leaders reached an agreement and signed a written treaty, called
the Treaty of Waitangi, in accordance with the provisions of which the
Maori transferred New Zealand under the guardianship of Great Britain,
but retained their property rights, and Great Britain received the
exclusive right to purchase land from them. . During this period, there
was an active mutual integration of an increasing number of European
settlers and Maori. Mostly Maori land continued to be traded, but
Maori's own business ventures began to emerge and develop.
One of
the problems that prevented the establishment of sustainable mechanisms
for the sale of Maori land and determining its value was the
disagreement in the fundamental interpretation of the right to land
between Maori and Europeans, which was exacerbated by the inaccuracy of
the wording of the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Historically,
the Maori had never sold land before, but tribal chiefs could give it
away for use by those who needed it. Obviously, this situation was
fundamentally different from the needs and intentions of European
settlers. All this served as the basis for a series of armed conflicts
between the Maori and the settlers and parts of the British army between
1845 and 1872, called the New Zealand Land Wars. Over 2,000 Maori died
in these clashes. The clashes resulted in the confiscation by the
country's administration of more than 14,000 km² of Maori land as
punishment for their uprisings.
In the early 1960s, the number of
Maori and Europeans in New Zealand was for the first time approximately
equal - about 60,000 each of them. Until the 20s of the 20th century,
the number of Maori either decreased or remained at the same level, and
the number of Europeans grew rapidly and in 1921 was already 1,200,000
people.
Despite a significant decrease in their proportional
representativeness in society, the Maori continued to largely remain
socially independent, although they easily adapted to the conditions of
European civilization. Significant Māori politicians and entrepreneurs
began to emerge. In 1858, on the basis of a specially prepared Decree, a
state-subsidized system of schools for Maori children was opened in the
country. In 1865, the system ceased to exist as a punishment for the
Land Wars, but was reinstated two years later. Until 1928, there were
separate educational programs for Maori and Europeans in the country,
and from 1935 education became compulsory (up to 15 years) and free.
Since 1867, the Maori have had a permanently reserved quota of seats
in the Parliament of the country, elected by a separate vote only among
the Maori. As of 2008, seven seats in the country's Parliament (out of
69) were held by such members of Parliament. Maori can also be elected
to Parliament on the basis of a general vote.
In 1900, the
government announced a program to improve Maori health care.
In
1928, the first Maori minister appeared in the government of the
country.
During the Second World War, despite the fact that Maori
were not subject to compulsory military service in New Zealand, a
significant number of them entered the active forces of the New Zealand
Armed Forces as volunteers and participated in the fighting in Egypt,
Italy and Greece.
In the 40-70s of the 20th century, an active
process of Maori urbanization began, and since that time most of the
Maori have lived in cities. In the 60-70s of the same century, in
connection with the general improvement in the level of education of the
Maori and the improvement of their well-being, processes of growth of
national self-consciousness began, which led to the need to recognize
the role of the Maori in the development and formation of the country.
In 1975, a state decree was adopted that consolidated the status of the
Treaty of Waitangi, and on the basis of it, starting from 1977, the
Waitangi Court began to operate in the country, considering cases
related to the return of land and other resources and determining
compensation for damage caused to the Maori people since the period Land
wars. The Waitangi Court is not a judicial body, but creates a mechanism
for consultation and negotiations between the government of the country
and the Maori in the above issues. As of 2008, over NZ$900 million in
compensation has been paid.
In 1987 Maori became one of the
official languages of New Zealand.
Current demographic
situation
Maori make up 14.6% of the country's population. Their
total number is 565,329 people. For 15 years (1991-2006), the number of
this people in the country increased by almost 30%. About 47% of them
are descendants of mixed marriages (mainly with Europeans). 51% of Maori
living in New Zealand are men, 49% are women. Of these, 35% are children
under the age of 15. The average age of Maori living in New Zealand is
about 23 years old. At the same time, the average age of women is a
little over 24 years, and the average age of the male population is a
little over 21 years.
About 87% of Maori live in the North Island
and about 25% live in the city of Auckland or its suburbs. The largest
concentration of representatives of this people is observed on Chatham
Island.
23% can communicate fluently in the Maori language. About
25% do not own it at all.
About 4% of Maori have a university
education (or higher). About 39% of the total Maori population have
permanent full-time jobs.
Socio-economic problems
As of 2008,
Maori made up about 50% of the people incarcerated in the country, and
42% of criminal incidents in the country involve Maori. The Maori of all
ethnic groups in New Zealand maintain the highest unemployment rate and
have the lowest life expectancy and the highest incidence of disease.
English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official
languages of the country.
English is the main language of
communication, and 96% of the country's population uses it as such. Most
books, newspapers and magazines are published on it, it also dominates
the broadcasting of radio and television. The Maori language is the
second official language. In 2006, New Zealand Sign Language became the
third official language.
New Zealand English is close to
Australian English, but retains a much greater influence of the English
language of the southern regions of England. However, he acquired some
of the characteristics of a Scottish and Irish accent. The Maori
language had a certain influence on pronunciation, and some words of
this language entered the daily communication of the country's
multinational community.
In addition, representatives of another
171 language groups live in the country. The most spoken languages
after English and Maori are Samoan, French, Hindi and Chinese.
The Maori language (self-name Te Reo Māori, Te-reo-Maori) received
the status of an official language in 1987. Its use became mandatory in
the names of government departments and institutions, and its use
without restrictions became possible for employees and visitors of all
government services, in courts, in public hospitals, and also in units
of the armed forces. The study of the basics of the Maori language is a
compulsory course in the school curriculum, and a number of educational
institutions provide education in two languages. Many place names in New
Zealand have historically retained their roots in the Maori language.
Maori is the southernmost language of the Austronesian language
family. About 150,000 people claim Maori ownership.
New Zealand
Sign Language
In 2006, New Zealand Sign Language was given the status
of the country's third official language. New Zealand Sign Language is a
naturally occurring language used by deaf or hard of hearing people for
the purpose of communication. It is based on British Sign Language and
is recognized as one of the BANZSL dialects. As of 2013, more than
24,000 people used sign language in everyday communication.
New Zealand is a developed country with a market economy based on
agriculture, manufacturing and food industries and tourism. The
country's economy is export-oriented. The main trading partners are
Australia, USA, Japan, China.
The gross national product (GNP) of
New Zealand was 186.7 billion US dollars in 2016, ranking 58-60th in the
world according to this indicator, according to various estimates. State
budget revenues - $54.36 billion. Per capita income in 2007 was
US$26,300, ranking it 21st in the world.
In December 2014, per
capita income was US$34,910 (NZ$47,836).
The annual growth rate
of GNP is 4.8%. The inflation rate according to 2006 data was 3.8%.
According to 2006 data, the external debt of countries amounted to 59.08
billion US dollars (47th place in the world), which was approximately
11.7 thousand US dollars per capita. The share of the state sector in
the economy is small: in 2008, 19 enterprises and organizations were
under state control.
The number of able-bodied population in the
country in 2013 was 2.41 million people. Most of this number (up to 74%)
is employed in the service sector. The unemployment rate as of December
2014 is 5.7%.
New Zealand is a member of a number of
international and regional economic organizations. Among the most
influential are the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation, and the International Energy Agency.
New Zealand
topped the ranking of the best countries for doing business in 2012,
compiled by the American business magazine Forbes. A year earlier, New
Zealand was second on the list. New Zealand's leadership comes from its
"transparent and stable" business climate that encourages
entrepreneurship, Forbes explains. New Zealand ranked first in four of
the 11 metrics Forbes researched. The country leads in the field of
personal freedom, protection of the rights of investors, low levels of
bureaucratization and corruption.
monetary system
The monetary
system of New Zealand was born only with the arrival of the first
Europeans on these lands. In earlier times, the Maori did not use money
in the usual sense of the word, preferring to build their economic
relationships on the basis of barter exchanges.
Until 1840, there
was no unified monetary system in the country and the settlers used
mainly British minted coins. Banknotes were significantly less common in
circulation. After 1840, private bonds and notes issued by private
merchants entered circulation. This situation continued until 1881, and
a total of 48 private merchants issued their banknotes and coins into
circulation during this period. In 1897, the banknotes of Great Britain
became the only official currency of the country. In addition, 6 more
banks of the country had the right to issue their own banknotes into
circulation. Since 1930, the only legal currency of the country has
become banknotes put into circulation by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
(eng. Reserve Bank of New Zealands). The British monetary system was
used as a model, divided into pounds sterling, shillings and pence. In
1967, the decimal system was introduced into circulation with the
simultaneous introduction of dollars and cents into circulation.
Currently, the country has banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50
and 100 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 and 2 dollars and 10, 20
and 50 cents.
Banking system
New Zealand has an established
system of banking services, built on a system of compulsory state
licensing of all banking activities. As of 2009, there were 19 banks
operating in the country, of which 9 were branches of large
international banks. The organization of banking activities is
coordinated by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which acts as the
country's central bank and determines the monetary and financial policy
of the state. The main banks of the country have an extensive network of
branches in all major settlements of the country, while KiwiBank
branches operate on the basis of post offices. All major banks of the
country participate in the EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of
Sale) interbank system, which provides mutual settlements for credit and
debit card payments.
New Zealand has an international reputation for being an efficient
and highly developed agricultural industry. The products of industrial
animal husbandry (especially dairy farming and sheep breeding),
horticulture, winemaking and viticulture, and forestry have become one
of the main items of the national economy. Research work and modern
technologies play an important role in the sustainable competitiveness
of New Zealand agricultural products and the high demand for them in the
international market.
The industrial number of sheep in 2005 was
more than 40 million heads; number of cattle - 8.6 million heads, of
which 4.2 million heads are dairy herds; the farmer's livestock of deer
in the same year amounted to 1.6 million heads.
The structure of
New Zealand's agricultural industry is in many ways unique to developed
countries. Its main feature is the absence of any state subsidies to
farms. This makes it necessary for producers and exporters of
agricultural products to independently compete with their counterparts
from other producing countries, in many of which the agricultural
industry traditionally receives state subsidies. It is in this regard
that New Zealand persistently advocates at international economic
forums, and especially within the framework of the WTO, for the
introduction of a general regime for monitoring the processes of state
financial support for agricultural sectors of the economy in all
producing countries.
Control over the development and functioning
of the country's agriculture is carried out by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry. However, such control is not restrictive - all
New Zealand agriculture exists and develops on the principles of a free
economy.
Industrial fishing
Industrial fishing plays a big
role both in the life of New Zealanders and in the development of the
country's economy. This largely determines the importance for New
Zealand of its 200-mile exclusive economic zone, which is the main base
for the country's fishermen.
In 2002, the marine economy
contributed $3.3 billion, or more than 3% of GDP. In 2006, fresh fish
and seafood exports alone amounted to $1.3 billion.
The
extraction of marine resources is carried out on the basis of
scientifically based quota norms, determined by the state and
distributed among national fishing companies. Part of the industrial
production quotas belongs to the Maori. To fulfill the quota catch, New
Zealand companies often charter the fishing and processing fleet of
other countries, most often Ukraine, Russia, and China.
The
country's fishermen are commercially harvesting more than 130 species of
fish and other marine resources. The most important among them are the
New Zealand macrouronus, snapper, hoplostet, squid, bigfin jakas, hake,
spiny lobster and a number of others. About 90% of the caught fish and
seafood are intended for export.
Agricultural production, industrial fishing, food and timber
industries are the basis of the country's economy and largely determine
the direction of development of industrial production. The food industry
is the largest industrial sector in terms of employment and
infrastructure in the New Zealand economy. The total volume of food
industry products is about 10% of GNP, and the export of food industry
products is about 15 billion dollars.
A distinctive feature of
the country is the almost complete absence of large industrial
enterprises and heavy industries. At the same time, there are about
15,000 companies in the country engaged in the production of industrial
products for various sectors of the economy. A large share of production
is directed to export. Industrial companies generate a total of about
15% of GNP. The bulk of industrial production is aimed at meeting the
needs of road transport, aviation and the defense industry, as well as
the production of electronic products and the high-tech industry.
Biotechnological production (especially agricultural biotechnologies
and pharmacological technologies) is traditional for New Zealand. Its
annual volume is about 800 million dollars.
The energy sector of the New Zealand economy is based on the use of
oil and gas products, electricity and geothermal energy. Due to the
country's non-nuclear status, nuclear power is not used in New Zealand,
and there are no plans for its introduction.
The total energy
performance of gas production in New Zealand is approximately 200
petajoules.
The total energy performance of oil production is 38
petajoules. Oil production in the country has been noticeably declining
in recent years, and the amount of imported petroleum products has been
steadily growing, amounting to a total of about 300 petajoules in 2004.
Coal production in New Zealand is approximately 140 petajoules in
total energy terms (according to 2006 data). About a third of the coal
produced is exported.
Geothermal energy is actively used. Of the
129 known geothermal areas in New Zealand, 36 are of industrial
importance, with water temperatures ranging from 70 to 220 degrees.
Geothermal steam is used in a range of industrial and agricultural
applications, but most of it is used to generate electricity. Such use
of it provides at least 7% (2.7 billion kWh) of the total electricity
generated in the country.
The total electricity generation in the
country in 2006 was 41.5 billion kWh. At the same time, the largest
amount of electricity (56%, more than 23 billion kWh) was produced at
hydroelectric power plants. Gas and coal have become the next most
important source of electricity. With their use in 2006, 21.3% and 13.1%
of the total electricity volume, or 8.8 billion kWh and 5.4 billion kWh,
respectively, were generated. Alternative sources of electricity
generation are represented by wind farms, in 2006 they provided 1.5% of
the total.
The country continues to actively develop wind energy,
doubling the generating volume of wind farms in 2007 compared to 2006
figures. In 2008, there were 8 wind farms operating in the country. 11
new farms are in various stages of construction or design.
international trade
The geographic isolation of New Zealand, the
limitations of its own industrial base and its remoteness from the main
world markets have forced throughout the history of its development to
pay great attention to foreign trade and international economic
cooperation. According to various estimates, at least 20% of the
products produced in the country are intended for export. In 2006, New
Zealand's total exports were almost $33 billion (hereinafter in this
section, figures are given in New Zealand dollars) and imports in the
same year exceeded $37 billion.
The main export sectors of the
country's economy are traditionally considered to be agriculture,
fishing and seafood processing, timber and woodworking industries. These
industries account for more than half of the country's export earnings.
Dairy products account for at least 18% of total exports, wool exports
account for at least 14%, and forestry and timber products account for
at least 4% of New Zealand's total exports.
Oil and fuel products
accounted for the largest share of imports into the country; the
country's consumers spent more than $3.1 billion on such purchases. The
country's second largest import niche has been automobiles in recent
years, attracting $3.1 billion in total imports. This is followed by the
import of aviation equipment with an annual cost of at least $1.7
billion.
The main trading partners of the country are Australia
(the volume of trade with this country is, according to 2005 data, 6.1
billion dollars), the USA (4.2 billion dollars according to the same
data), Japan (3.3 billion dollars). At least 70% of New Zealand's
exports go to APEC countries.
New Zealand has entered into a
number of Free Trade Agreements. The first agreement of this kind was
concluded in 1966 with Australia, later (in 1983) the agreement was
expanded (Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade
Agreement). Since 2001, a similar agreement has been in effect with
Singapore (New Zealand and Singapore Closer Economic Partnership). In
2005, a free trade agreement was concluded with Thailand (New Zealand
and Thailand Closer Economic Partnership). In the same year, a
quadripartite agreement of a similar nature was concluded with Brunei,
Chile and Singapore (Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership). In
2008, New Zealand was the first among developed countries to conclude a
free trade agreement with China (New Zealand China Free Trade Agreement)
Trade and economic relations between New Zealand and the Russian
Federation (as well as other countries of the former USSR) are still
insignificant and significantly inferior to the volume of trade between
the USSR and New Zealand. In 2007, the trade turnover amounted to 97.2
million US dollars, in 2008 - 149 million US dollars. At the same time,
in 2008, out of a total volume of 149 million US dollars, Russian
exports amounted to 5.2 million dollars, and imports from New Zealand -
143.8 million dollars. Since 2006, the Russian company Nutritek entered
the New Zealand market, acquiring a stake in the local dairy producer
New Zealand Dairies Limited and investing $115 million in the
enterprise.
Tourism and related industries are becoming more and more important
elements of the New Zealand economy every year. The location of the
country and the beauty of its nature, combined with a high level of
service, the convenience of transport structures and the development of
active programs to attract tourists to the country, favor this.
Currently, tourism creates at least 10% of the country's GNP. Nearly
18,000 enterprises operate in the tourism sector and they create about
10% of jobs in the country.
In 2006, the country was visited by a
record number of tourists in its entire history - 2,422,000 people. At
the same time, on average, each tourist spent 20 days in the country,
and they spent more than $6.5 billion in total in New Zealand. The
majority of tourists are from Australia. The number of tourists from the
PRC has increased significantly in recent years, and in 2006 they
constituted the second largest group of international tourists visiting
the country. This is followed by tourists from the USA, Germany, South
Korea, and Japan.
In relation to citizens of the Russian
Federation and the CIS countries, New Zealand observes a rather strict
visa regime. The average processing time for documents by the New
Zealand Immigration Service is 14 calendar days. In some cases and
depending on the season, this period may be reduced or extended. If the
trip is planned in November-January, documents for a visa must be
submitted at least one and a half months before the date of departure.
The development of transport and transport infrastructure has been
one of the economic priorities of the country throughout the history of
its development. This is due, first of all, to a rather low population
density over a relatively large area and significant distances between
settlements.
The structure of the transport system within the
country is built on the basis of the New Zealand State Highway Network,
which includes more than 100 highways. This network is operated by the
government organization Transit New Zealand. The main transport artery
of the country is the SH1 highway, which runs along the entire length of
the North and South Islands from north to south. The total length of the
country's highways is more than 92,000 km.
The length of the
country's railway lines is 3898 km (about 500 km are electrified). The
national railroad system is managed by the state organization ONTRACK.
In 1993, the country's railways were privatized. Due to their economic
hardship, in 2003 the New Zealand government agreed to take them back
under its own control, and in 2008 the government bought out the entire
rail and ferry network, thereby renationalizing them.
The inland
waterways of the country have lost their former importance as transport
arteries, but to this day 1609 km are suitable and partially used for
river navigation.
North Island and South Island are connected by
a direct ferry service that regularly carries passengers and cargo. Some
of the ferries used are adapted for the transport of railway wagons and
cars.
Seaports have historically been of great importance for the
country's economy. Ports with container terminals currently operate in
Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin and Napier. Port points operate
in Whangarei, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Nelson, Picton, Timaru and Bluff.
Three more bays are occasionally used for mooring and minor cargo
handling. The country also has six river ports that do not play any
important transport role today.
Despite the importance of
maritime transport, New Zealand has a very small number of
large-capacity sea vessels. This was caused by the opening in 1994 of
cabotage transportation for international shipping companies and the
objective impossibility of New Zealand shipping companies to compete
with them.
The country has 113 airports and airfields. The
largest of these is the Auckland Airport, which receives about 11
million passengers a year. At least 70% of passengers arrive in New
Zealand through it. Wellington and Christchurch airports are next in
importance and traffic volumes, receiving about 4 million passengers
annually.
New Zealand's national carrier is Air New Zealand,
based in Auckland. Aircraft of this company make regular flights to 11
countries of the world, and the participation of the company in
international partnership programs allows its passengers to easily get
to almost anywhere in the world. Its four subsidiaries - Air Nelson,
Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline and Freedom Air - carry out the
majority of cargo and passenger air travel within the country.
Transport pipelines are used insignificantly in New Zealand. The
pipelines were laid for the transportation of gas (about 1000
kilometers), the transportation of petroleum products (160 kilometers)
and liquefied gas (150 kilometers)
Passenger cars in the late
2000s were dominated by Japanese foreign cars in New Zealand.
New Zealand, being a full member of the international financial
market, actively participates in global investment processes. Australia
and the US are the country's most important financial partners.
According to 2006 data, the total volume of current investments of
entrepreneurs from these countries in the New Zealand economy amounted
to approximately $110 billion (hereinafter in this section, figures are
given in New Zealand dollars), which amounted to almost half of the
total foreign investment. The United Kingdom, Switzerland and Singapore
were next in terms of total current investment in the country, investing
a total of more than $20 billion. The most popular areas for foreign
investment in the New Zealand economy are finance and insurance
projects. Investments by foreign entrepreneurs in New Zealand in 2006
amounted to $19.5 billion, while New Zealand entrepreneurs invested only
$10.7 billion in overseas projects in the same year.
Long-term
credit ratings of New Zealand (in local currency):
Fitch Ratings
(2008): AAA
Standard & Poor's (2009): AAA
Moody's Investor's
Service (2008): Aaa
Communication and communications
Due to
its geographic location, New Zealand throughout its modern history has
paid attention to the development of communication systems. Already in
1840, a postal service began to operate in the country, and in 1862 the
first telegraph line was laid connecting the city of Christchurch with
one of the surrounding settlements. In 1865, telegraph communication was
laid between the North and South Islands, and in 1872, telegraph
communication connected the two largest cities of the country,
Wellington and Auckland. The laying of a submarine cable to Australia in
1876 for the first time connected New Zealand's lines of communication,
both with Australia itself and through it with the countries of Asia and
Europe. In 1877, the first telephone line appeared in the country. Since
1906, radio stations began to work. In 1939, the country ranked second
in the world in terms of the number of radios per capita (after the
United States). In 1960, the first television station appeared in the
country. Since 1971, satellites have been used in the civil
communications system in New Zealand. In 1985, all higher education
institutions in the country were connected to a single computer network,
and in 1986, the New Zealand national domain appeared. In 1993, the
country received permanent access to the Internet.
As of 2009,
there are 4.245 million cell phones in use in the country, and the cable
telephone network covers about 99% of the country's residential
buildings. There are 41 TV broadcasting stations in the country. 3.36
million New Zealanders use the Internet on a regular basis.
There
are three mobile operators in the country using 1X EV-DO, GSM, HSDPA,
UMTS - 2degrees, Vodafone and Telecom.
In 2009, there were 986
post offices in New Zealand handling about 1 billion items of mail
annually.
Optical communication lines laid on the seabed
Tasman-2, bandwidth - 1.2Gbps. Put into operation in 1992. Australia -
New Zealand.
Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN), bandwidth -
3.6Tbps. Commissioned in 2000. Approximate potential throughput >
12Tbps. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaiian Islands, North
America.
Tasman Global Express, throughput - 30Tbps. Put into
operation in 2015. Australia - New Zealand.
APX East, throughput
- 19.2Tbps. Put into operation in 2015. Australia - New Zealand - North
America.
Hawaiki Cable, throughput - 25Tbps. Commissioning - the
second quarter of 2018. The project focuses on communication with North
America. Also provides communication with Australia, American Samoa,
Hawaiian Islands.
Sports shipbuilding
More than a million
pleasure sailing yachts and boats are registered in the country.
Navigation is possible all year round. The yachting industry enjoys the
support of the government, the number of specialists in this industry is
over 10,000 people. The total number of companies united under the
"Marine Industry Association NZ" is over 500, and their gross annual
product in 2008 exceeded 1 billion euros. Unlike all other countries,
where the struggle for the most prestigious sailing trophy in the world
- the America's Cup - is a private affair, in New Zealand it became a
national idea and laid the foundation for the yachting industry. New
Zealanders are globally recognized trendsetters in the construction of
superyachts.
astronautics
On January 21, 2018, New Zealand
launched an Electron light-class launch vehicle with two satellites from
the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, built on the Mahia Peninsula, located
on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
In the modern culture of New Zealand, the traditions and cultural
influence of the peoples inhabiting the British Isles, and the cultural
principles inherent in most Western European peoples, whose
representatives at one time or another moved to New Zealand, are still
of particular importance. At the same time, traditionally influenced by
the cultural traditions of the Polynesian peoples. Among the latter,
Maori traditions are the strongest, and in recent decades, people from
Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga have contributed to the development of Polynesian
trends in the country's culture. In the last 25 years, due to the
intensification of immigration processes, the contribution of
representatives of the peoples of Asia to the creation of a single and
multi-colored culture of New Zealand has increased.
The
preservation and development of the Maori national culture is one of the
country's priorities. Half a century ago, the Maori language almost
ceased to be used in everyday communication. Today, one of the national
television channels broadcasts only in this language, newspapers are
published, books are published.
The work of state bodies in
matters of cultural development of the country and society is
coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage.
Literature
Maori culture before the arrival of Europeans had no
written language, so literary creativity in New Zealand began to develop
relatively late. Maori quickly adopted writing as a means of
communication, and many of their oral traditions and poems were
translated into written form. From the 1930s, New Zealand literature
began to move more and more away from global trends towards local
issues, but its wide popularity began to grow only from the middle of
the 20th century, with the increase in the number of local publishers.
The traditional genre of New Zealand literature is the short story and
the short story. The most famous authors are Katherine Mansfield and
Janet Frame. Dunedin is a UNESCO City of Literature.
Cinematography
Despite the fact that filming began in New Zealand as
early as the 1920s, the film industry only gained momentum in the 1970s.
Every year the number of films shot in the country or created with the
participation of New Zealand filmmakers is increasing. The trilogies
"The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", the films "The Last Samurai",
"The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian", "Xena the Warrior Princess" and a
number of others. Among the brightest representatives of the New Zealand
film industry, one should note film director Peter Jackson, screenwriter
and film director Jane Campion, screenwriter, film director and actor
Taika Waititi, actors Temueru Morrison, Craig Parker, Sam Neill and
Russell Crowe, actresses Keisha Castle-Hughes and Lucy Lawless.
Photo
Photography in New Zealand developed similarly to other
colonies. In the early years of photography, New Zealand experienced a
lack of photographic materials due to its geographical remoteness, but
the pioneers of photography left many pictures - in particular, a
significant number of Maori photographs. In the first half of the 20th
century, pictorialism and social realism dominated the photography of
the country. In the 21st century, due to the ubiquity of ultra-compact
cameras, photography has been democratized and has become accessible to
all segments of the population.
Architecture
In the
pre-European period of the development of New Zealand, the only form of
architectural architecture was the Polynesian traditions, preserved and
developed in the Maori culture. In addition to residential premises, the
only forms of buildings at that time were buildings for the general
collections of the tribe (marae, Maori Marae) and fortifications. Marae
have a single architecture and carved decorations that are
characteristic of the entire Maori people and differed very little in
individual tribes.
The beginning of the European development of
the country was accompanied by the development of construction. Since
most of the population of that time were immigrants from Great Britain,
it is quite natural that in their construction they initially adhered to
the British architectural school. However, already in the 19th century,
and especially in the first half of the 20th century, a pronounced New
Zealand architectural style began to take shape, so even the earliest
New Zealand buildings have significant stylistic differences not only
from the British buildings of that time, but also from Australian ones.
The reason for this was largely the remoteness of the country and the
low population density, which made it extremely difficult to finance the
construction of any large facilities or buildings. The abundance of
stone suitable for construction made it possible to abandon the use of
wood in construction already at the early stages of the development of
the country.
One of the most interesting architectural monuments
of the country is the development of the central part of the city of
Napier. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, the city was rebuilt and
built in the Art Deco architectural style characteristic of that time,
which remains unchanged to this day and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The most famous example of modern New Zealand architecture and
building technology is the Sky Tower, built in 1997 in Auckland. The
height of the tower is 328 m and as of May 2007 it is the tallest
building in the southern hemisphere.
Maori traditional art
Historically, Maori art has mainly had a religious meaning. Its main
areas were wood or bone carving, weaving, music and dancing and
tattooing. The first Maori language book was published in 1840, and the
first newspaper was published in 1900.
Due to the lack of writing
prior to European contact, woodcarving became a kind of Maori substitute
for it, and the scenes depicted often conveyed the history and
traditions of the people. To this day, the Maori have preserved the
tradition of reading the history of their kind from carvings.
Artistic tukutuku wicker coverings were most often used as one of the
few decorations in residential premises, as well as for cult and
religious purposes in the premises for general gatherings of tribes.
The moko or ta-moko tattoo is one of the oldest cultural traditions
of the Maori, which came into their history at the first steps of the
development of the people. For a long time, the presence of moko was a
symbol of social status and people of the lower social stratum were not
allowed to have a tattoo on their face, although elements of a tattoo on
their body could be allowed. For men, it was traditional to apply moko
on the face, buttocks and thighs. Women could be tattooed on the lips
and cheeks. For both men and women, the tattoo could be applied to other
parts of the body, but in this case it was of less importance. In recent
years, the popularity of moko has increased again, and now its
application is often a tribute to Maori for their ancestors and their
traditions. At the same time, moko elements became popular with other
ethnic groups in New Zealand and even abroad.
Kapa haka is one of
the most significant elements of Maori culture, which includes a system
of dances, facial expressions and movements, accompanied by singing. The
dance traditions of kapa haka include several directions - poi (Maori
Poi) - a dance better known today in the world as one of the types of
juggling balls on ropes, and haka (Maori Haka) - a dance that has become
famous in the world thanks to the performances of the New Zealand
national team Rugby All Blacks. Haka entered everyday life and is an
attribute of state and public ceremonies. The army and navy units of the
New Zealand armed forces have their own versions of khaki. Many sports
clubs use versions adapted for themselves.
In 2006, there were 20 daily newspapers published in the country. The
largest of these is the New Zealand Herald, with over 195,000 copies. In
addition, another 126 newspapers are published in the country, most of
which are owned by public organizations and individuals. In 2006, about
230 magazines were published in the country. The largest magazines are
Skywatch and New Zealand Women's Day. Their circulation is more than
500,000 and 130,000 copies, respectively.
The largest television
company in the country is the national Television New Zealand. The
company broadcasts on two nationwide channels TV ONE and TV2. Programs
run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Broadcasting is available almost
throughout the country. With government funding, in 2006 the company
also launched a new free and ad-free TV channel, FreeView. To develop
and maintain the national Maori language, the Māori Television channel
operates in the country, the programs on which are conducted mainly in
Maori. The country also has two independent broadcasters SKY Television
and HT Media. The first one specializes in broadcasting satellite
digital channels, the second one broadcasts on TV3 and C4 channels.
National public radio began programming in the early 1930s, and the
first independent private radio stations began to appear in the country
only in the 1960s. National broadcasting is provided by Radio New
Zealand Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa. They manage: three nationwide
networks National, Concert and AM Network; the New Zealand
government-run international broadcaster, Radio New Zealand
International; news channels Radio New Zealand News and Current Affairs;
national audio archive. The largest independent radio company is Niu FM,
operated by the National Pacific Radio Trust. The company's programs are
available for admission in areas where more than 85% of the country's
population lives. The radio channel Māori Radio broadcasts in the Maori
language and was created in 1989 precisely in order to support the
development and preservation of the language of this people. The channel
has 21 radio stations, all belonging to different Maori tribes. In
general, there are about 200 other independent radio stations operating
in the country.
The science
The Royal Society of New Zealand
is the national Academy of Sciences and brings together about 60
independent research and technology centers. The Crown Research
Institutes, a public organization established in 1992, uniting nine
research centers working in vital research areas for the country, is the
country's largest research association. Work in the field of scientific
research and the implementation of research developments is coordinated
at the national level by the Ministry of Research, Science and
Technology. Public spending on the development of science and research
amounted to about 0.5% of GNP in fiscal year 2005. Government spending
is about 11% of the total funding for science, technology and
development in the country's economy.
Traditionally, New
Zealand's priorities are medical research, biology, biochemistry,
agricultural research and forestry, engineering and social sciences, and
Antarctic research. The largest astronomical observatory in New Zealand
is Mount John University Observatory.
Museums
Despite the
short history of European exploration of New Zealand, the first museum
in the country was established already in 1852. It was the Auckland
Military History Museum, which exists to this day and is one of the
largest museums in the country. The largest museum in the country is
currently located in Wellington, the National Museum of New Zealand,
better known as Te Papa. The history of this museum began in 1865, but
in its present form the museum was opened to the public in 1998. It
receives about 1.3 million visitors annually.
Small museums with
expositions telling about the history of certain regions, cities and
towns, as well as expositions dedicated to the development of certain
types of industry or certain areas of science, exist in almost all
cities of the country. Many of these museums are privately owned or
funded by public organizations and local governments. More than 1.3
million New Zealanders (31% of the population) visit museums annually.
Libraries
The largest library in the country is the National
Library of New Zealand, founded in 1858. A developed network of
libraries exists in all cities and large settlements of the country.
Also popular is the system of mobile libraries visiting certain sparsely
populated or remote settlements. Most libraries are funded by local
governments and charitable contributions. About 40% of the country's
population constantly uses the services of libraries.
Sport has traditionally played an important role in the lives of New
Zealanders. In many ways, preserving the traditions of immigrants from
the British Isles to this day, rugby can rightly be considered the
national sport of New Zealand. The national rugby team (All Blacks)
ranks first in the international ranking of national teams and has the
best ratio of games won and lost among all the national teams in the
world in this sport. For many years the team has been recognized as the
strongest in the world. There are more than 140 thousand registered
players in the country, united in 520 clubs, and more than 2 thousand
referees of this game.
The New Zealand running school entered the
world elite in the late 1950s and early 1960s: Olympic champions Peter
Snell and Murray Halberg, along with their coach Arthur Lydiard.
Lydiard's ideas have been adopted by many coaches around the world.
Under the influence of Lydiard's popularizing ideas, jogging was born in
Auckland in 1961, which led to a worldwide running "boom" in the 1970s.
New Zealand athletes regularly participate in the Olympic Games
(since 1920, the national team has participated in the summer Games, and
since 1952 in the winter). New Zealand athletes have won over 110
Olympic medals, including over 45 gold medals. Rowers achieved the
greatest Olympic success: canoeist Ian Ferguson was the only New
Zealander to win 4 gold and one silver at the 1984 and 1988 Games, and
his partner Paul McDonald won three golds, one silver and one bronze.
Three Olympic gold medals in 1960 and 1964 were won by famed runner
Peter Snell. Among women, four-time world champion Barbara Kendall, who
won gold (1992), silver (1996) and bronze medals (2000) in windsurfing
competitions, can be noted. Shot putter Valerie Adams won two
consecutive gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Traditionally, the Commonwealth Games are an important event in the
country's sports life. In 1950 and 1990, these games were held in
Auckland. Christchurch and Wellington are among the contenders to host
the games in 2018. The New Zealand national team is one of six other
national teams represented at all games. During the Commonwealth Games,
the New Zealand team won 525 medals (of which 124 gold, 167 silver and
234 bronze).
New Zealanders have achieved serious success in
world motorsport. Bruce McLaren became vice world champion of Formula 1
in 1960, and subsequently founded the famous McLaren racing team, one of
the most successful racing teams in history. And the first New Zealand
Formula 1 world champion was Denny Hulme in 1967. Also among the leading
F1 drivers in the 1960s and 1970s was Chris Amon. The New Zealand crew
of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans
in 1966 in a Ford GT40.
In 1995, 2003 and 2017 the crews of the
New Zealand yachts Black Magic (team leader - Sir Peter Blake), Team New
Zealand and Emirates Team New Zealand became the winners of the
America's Cup, one of the most famous regattas in the world. The final
matches of the 36th America's Cup will take place in March 2021 in
Auckland.
The largest indoor sports arenas in New Zealand include
TSB Bank Arena in Wellington (4650 seats), Westpac Arena in Christchurch
(9000 seats), Vector Arena in Auckland (12,000 seats), North Harbor
Stadium in North Shore (25,000 seats). ), Waikato Stadium in Hamilton
(25,800 seats), Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua (30,000 seats),
Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington (34,500 seats), Forsyth Barr
Stadium in Dunedin (36,000 seats), Eden Park in Auckland ( 60,000
seats). For the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland, it was planned to
build the country's largest stadium with a capacity of up to 60,000
seats. The planned stadium has already been named Stadium New Zealand.
But as a result, the city council decided to modernize the Eden Park
stadium, increasing its capacity to 60,000 seats.
In recent
years, especially among young people, football has become increasingly
popular. Among the population of New Zealand under the age of 17, about
18% in 2006 preferred active participation in this particular sport.
Other popular sports and outdoor activities include golf, cricket,
tennis, netball (the most popular women's sport in the country), and
swimming.
New Zealand law defines national holidays and memorial days, as well
as regional memorial days. All national holidays are obligatory days off
for the working population of the country and students. Regional
commemorative days mark certain dates in the history of individual
regions and cities of the country and may be days off in celebrating
regions.
In the event that Christmas or New Year falls on a day
off, employees whose days off are non-working days receive an additional
day off on Monday.
Important common celebrations include Mother's
Day (2nd Sunday in May) and Father's Day (1st Sunday in September).
National symbols
The national symbols of the country are
collectively known as "kiviana". They can be divided into geographical,
natural, military-political and cultural. The country's location in the
Southern Hemisphere is indicated on the New Zealand flag by the
constellation Southern Cross, the Southern Alps mountain system became a
symbol of New Zealand in the 19th century, giving way to the beaches in
the next century. Developed animal husbandry has made sheep, rubber
boots and wire used in fencing one of the symbols of the country. The
generally accepted national symbols of the country are the kiwi birds
(Apterygiformes) (eng. kiwi) and the silver cyathea plant (Cyathea
dealbata), known in the New Zealand dialect as the silver fern (eng.
Silver Fern). The symbolic image of its shoots in the form of a spiral,
called the "koru", was created by the Maori and adopted by the
Europeans.
The kiwi bird is so popular that in the 1950s it gave
its name to the fruit of one of the plants of the species Actinidia
sinensis (Actinídia), grown in New Zealand and exported to many
countries of the world, and now these fruits are better known under the
name kiwi. In addition, kiwi has become a daily self-name and an
international national nickname for New Zealanders. The extinct bird moa
is also a "kiwiana", although after the end of the colonial period, the
popularity of kiwi increased.
Along with the kiwi bird, the
silver fern is popular and is often used in the graphics of New Zealand
national brands and logos, including currency.
The headdress of
New Zealand soldiers - a field hat - is a symbol of the country's
military victories. The historical influence of Great Britain is
reflected by the presence of the Union Jack on the flag and Queen
Elizabeth on the national currency. personified Zeeland was the symbol
of the country at the beginning of the 20th century.
The culinary traditions of New Zealand are largely formed on the basis of the isolated geographical position of the country, causing a limitation of the food base throughout the entire historical stage, and the presence of significant marine resources. The formation of traditions was also influenced by the demographic nature of the European settlement of the country - mainly representatives of the peoples of the British Isles. A great influence on the formation of a common culinary culture for the country in the period after the 70s of the XX century was caused by the culinary traditions of new immigrants from Asian countries, mainly China and India. Modern New Zealand cuisine combines international culinary schools at its core with strong influences from traditional British cuisine. Among the most popular dishes are still fish and french fries, Pavlova cake, as well as a peculiar and common meat pie, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. The influence of New Zealand cuisine on world culinary traditions is insignificant, although the products of New Zealand winemakers have gained notable popularity in the world. Traditional Maori cuisine is virtually non-existent in New Zealanders' daily diet, although certain Maori foods, such as sweet potatoes, have become widespread throughout the population, and the Maori themselves eat the traditional hangi food at meetings.
The education system in New Zealand includes: preschool institutions
(Childhood Services), free primary and secondary school education
(Primary and Secondary Education) and a higher education system
(Tertiary Education) with equal access to it for all New Zealanders.
The system of pre-school education covers the period of a child's
life up to the age of six. Preschools in New Zealand are not owned by
the government and are part of the private business sector. On average,
up to 60% of preschool children attend children's educational centers.
School education covers children from the age of five and is
compulsory for children between the ages of six and sixteen. All schools
provide education in English, several specialized schools provide
education with predominant teaching in the Maori language. At the same
time, the Maori language is a compulsory subject of study in primary
schools, and in most schools in the country there are specialized
training programs for those wishing to study in the Maori language.
Education in schools meets the generally accepted world standards of
education with the recognition of the New Zealand school certificate
NCEA Level 1 corresponding to the standards for the British General
Certificate of Secondary Education, Canadian and American Grade 10.
The higher education system covers the entire sector of
post-secondary vocational training and education. Currently, there are
36 open higher educational centers in the country, including 8
universities, 21 institutes of technology (English Institute of
Technologies) and a polytechnic educational center (English
Polytechnic). In addition, there are 46 vocational training centers and
895 private educational institutions, most of which are English language
centers for foreign students.
The country has developed and
operates a system of correspondence education at all levels. Many
educational institutions conduct training in the evening and during the
holidays.
Education comparable to the "higher education" accepted
in Russia and other republics of the former USSR is provided mainly at
the country's universities, but can also be obtained at a number of
technological institutes and polytechnic educational centers.
New Zealand's healthcare system is multi-tiered and based on the
District Health Boards. There are 21 such organizations in the country,
their work is financed by the state. Their main task is to
comprehensively solve the problems of protecting the health of the
population on their territory and the integration of all structures and
links of the national health care system on their territory.
The
next link in the New Zealand health care system are organizations and
professionals providing the so-called Primary Health Care. This term
includes all non-hospital services provided to New Zealanders, including
the services of physicians and medical specialists who carry out first
appointments; services of specialists and organizations that monitor the
health of the population or provide educational and informational
medical services; services of dentists and psychologists; services of
osteopaths and chiropractors. Primary care professionals, although they
may receive government subsidies, are most often self-employed outside
the public health system.
The next important link in the New
Zealand health system should be considered the Primary Health
Organizations, which include hospitals, specialized medical centers and
sanitary facilities.
The state exercises control over the full
range of health issues in the country through the structure of the
Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health). The Ministry provides
structural financing of the industry at the expense of the state budget
and extrabudgetary revenues. The main purpose of such financing is the
need to provide equal opportunities for obtaining medical care to all
segments of the country's population. That is why public hospitals
provide free care in a number of cases, and through the government's
Accident Compensation Corporation, every New Zealander can receive free
accident care. The state also allocates subsidies to the population for
the purchase of a large list of medicines and pays pensions and benefits
in case of prolonged illness or disability. The country also has a
developed system of private health insurance.
The New Zealand Police is a system of state law enforcement agencies
of the country for the protection of public order and the fight against
crime.
The first police force in New Zealand was formed in 1840
from six British constables sent to the country. In 1886, for the first
time, a unified law enforcement organization was formed, called the New
Zealand Police Force.
The New Zealand Police are led by a
National Managers with the rank of Commissioner, and government
administration is carried out by the Minister of Police. The police
headquarters is located in Wellington, and 12 regional police centers
operate in the country for operational management. According to the
specifics of the work, the police units are divided into the General
Directorate, the Criminal Investigation Directorate and the Road Safety
Directorate.
Police training takes place in the country's only
Royal New Zealand Police College (Royal New Zealand Police College). The
number of police personnel is about 10,500 (including civilian
specialists).
New Zealand police officers do not usually carry
firearms and carry only batons and gas canisters. Since 2007, police
officers have been given the right to use electric shock weapons. Police
units or police officers armed with firearms are used only for special
tasks.
In addition to the tasks of maintaining public order, the
New Zealand police also deal with issues related to ensuring national
security, including the fight against terrorism. In a number of cases,
stipulated by law, to protect national security, the New Zealand police
may resort to the help of the country's Armed Forces. Police officers
are often involved in joint international efforts to maintain order in
the countries of the Pacific region. The New Zealand Police are actively
involved in the work of Interpol.
Polls show that about 60% of
the country's population has a positive and sympathetic attitude towards
the work of the police.
The national police emergency number is
111.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS, less commonly
NZSIS) is New Zealand's national intelligence and counterintelligence
organization, operating since 1956. SIS is a civil organization that is
legally limited in a number of issues of operational activities directly
on the territory of New Zealand itself. The headquarters of the
organization is located in the capital city of Wellington, offices
operate in the cities of Christchurch and Auckland. The organization
reports directly to the Cabinet of Ministers of the country. The number
of employees is expected to be no more than 140, and the budget (in the
2006 valuation analysis) is around NZ$40-45 million.
The
Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is New Zealand's
national intelligence organization specializing in electronic
intelligence and information gathering in matters of communications
security. The organization has been operating since 1977 and was
originally formed as one of the intelligence units of the country's
Ministry of Defense. In 2000, the bureau received independent status and
is now a civilian organization reporting directly to the New Zealand
government. The number of employees is expected to be no more than 300,
and the budget (as estimated in 2006) is about NZ$40 million.
For
the technical support of its activities, the GCSB has two observation
stations. Ground tracking stations in the Waihopai Valley and Tangimoana
are elements of the ECHELON global system operating under the UKUS
SIGINT alliance.