New Zealand

Capital: Wellington (205,500)

Language: English, Maori

Currency: dollar (NZ$)

Religion: none 26%, unspecified 17.2%, Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentacostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, Muslim 0.17%

Population: 4.07 million (74% NZ European (majority of English origins), 13.5% NZ Maori, 6% Pacific Island Polynesians, 6% Asian); population density of 14 persons per sq. km.; growth rate: 0.99%

Area: 270,534 sq km.

Geography: Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean, 2250 km. southeast of Australia; stretches 1600 km. From north to south, consisting of North and South Island, plus several smaller islands; long coastline with bays, harbors, fiords; many rivers and lakes; a lot of rainfall; predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains; volcanoes, thermals areas, volcanic depressions; ¾ of forests stripped for timber and pasture over many years; deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by introduced species

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts; prevailing wind blowing west to east; wet climate on west side of Southern Alps, dry climate on east side; weather changes very quickly!

Natural Resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone; hydroelectricity supplies about 70% of NZ’s electricity

Health:
Infant Mortality Rate: 5.96; Life Expectancy at Birth – overall: 78.8 years; male: 75.8 years; obesity 20.9%

Education: Literacy: 99%; Duration of compulsory education: 12 years; Average years of schooling: 11.7; School life expectancy: 16.2 years

Government:
Executive branch (chief of state): Prime Minister Helen Clark of the Labour Party (since 1999)

The Prime Minister is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament. The Prime Minister is leader of Cabinet and takes a coordinating role. The Prime Minister is regarded by convention as “first among equals” — he or she holds the most senior post in the administration, but is also required to adhere to any decisions taken by Cabinet. The actual ability of a Prime Minister to give direct orders is surprisingly limited.

Type of Government: parliamentary democracy; The upper house has been abolished and NZ is governed solely through the lower house (House of Representatives)

Suffrage: 18 years of age and universal; the maximum period between elections is 3 years, but the gov’t can call an early election

Independence: September 1907 (from UK)

Constitution adopted January 1, 1987

Economy: GDP per capita: $24,705.58

The NZ economy has undergone radical restructuring since 1984, moving from a welfare-state, government-involved economy towards a private open-market economy. NZ had lost its old UK market for agricultural produce in the 1980s, had incurred huge foreign debts, and had a stagnant economy restricted by government controls. The financial market was deregulated, agricultural subsidies abolished, and the taxation system reformed, amongst other things. Although still overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture for export income, NZ has made progress in its efforts to diversify its economy to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally.

Growth has boosted incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income is now 80% of the level of the four largest EU economies. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade – particularly in agricultural products – to drive growth.

Australia is NZ’s single-largest trading partner, accounting for 20% of all trade. Next come Asia at 30%, the USA at 16%, and the UK at 9%. Tourism, service industries, manufacturing, small-scale industry, and agriculture are important. Although it accounts for only 10% of employment and 10% of the entire GDP, 50% of all land is devoted to pasture. There are 9 million cattle and 48 million sheep (12.5 / person) in NZ.

Principal exports are meat, dairy products, fish, forest products, fruits and vegetables, and wool. Main imports are machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and equipment, textiles, motor cars and other goods.

Food: meat (beef, veal, lamb, mutton); fish and seafood; kiwi fruit, apples, pears; heavy beer drinkers; bread, fruit & vegetables similar to home

Condensed History:
The first humans to populate NZ were the Polynesian Maori, who reached the islands in about 1000 A.D. With the arrival of man, NZs environment was changed irreparably. Flora and fauna were destroyed on a large-scale basis with widespread forest fires, deforestation, the extinction of the giant moa in the 17th century, and introduced animals hunting into extinction or near-extinction many species of ground-dwelling birds.

The country was first discovered by Europeans in 1642, but it wasn’t until 1769 that Captain James Cook claimed NZ for Great Britain. Settlers soon arrived, bringing, among other things, disease and firearms. The Maori embarked on a wholesale slaughter of one another. In 1840, their chieftains signed a treaty with Britain, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. Conflict arose over the treaty, and a series of land wars between 1844 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the Maori. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and an independent country in 1947. It supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.

The economy boomed during the post-war years, and Maori migrated to the cities, lured by the promise of jobs. This was the greatest change to their society. As assimilation occurred, Maori lost more and more of their culture. By the late 1960s, Maori were calling for a cultural revival. As a result, there has been a growing interest in Maori literature, arts, language, and culture. In 1994, the government proposed a $1 billion once-and-for-all payout over 10 years to settle all Maori land claims (although claims still continue).

The NZ economy has undergone radical restructuring since 1984, moving from a welfare-state, government-involved economy towards a private open-market economy. Although still overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture for export income, NZ has made progress in its efforts to diversify its economy to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally.

Full History:
Early Settlement:
Driven by land shortages, war, or religious dissent in their homeland, Polynesians (who were later to become the Maori peoples) arrived in NZ from around 1000 AD in a series of migration over several generations. Agriculture was not initially well-developed, but the Maori feasted on the plentiful mao, the native flightless bird that stood over 9 ft. tall. With the arrival of man, NZs environment was changed irreparably. Flora and fauna were destroyed on a large-scale basis with widespread forest fires, deforestation, the extinction of the giant moa in the 17th century, and introduced animals hunting into extinction or near-extinction many species of ground-dwelling birds.

Between the 14th and 16th centuries, increasing pressure for land caused the Maori to become more warlike and even cannibalistic, and numerous tribes were wiped out through enslavement and conquest.

European Exploration and Settlement:
The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sailed up the west coast of NZ in 1642, and christened the land “Niuew Zeeland,” after the Dutch province of Zeeland. They lost interest, though, when his only landing attempt resulted in members of his crew perishing. James Cook was the next European explorer to arrive in NZ, in 1769, and claimed the land for Britain before continuing on to Australia. Sealers and whalers were the first European explorers, and they introduced diseases, prostitution, firearms, and created such a demand for preserved heads that the Maori chiefs began chopping off their slaves’ heads “to order” (the practice had previously been confined to the heads of warriors who died in battle). With the firearms, the Maori embarked on wholesale slaughter of one another The Maori population had fallen dramatically by 1830.

By the mid-19th century, tribal warfare, cannibalism, and the impact of European-introduced diseases had abated. But a lot of Maori culture and traditions were forever changed. Christian missionaries tried to convert the Maori, and the Bible was written in Maori – the first time the Maori language had been written down.

In 1838, the threat of a French colony at Akaroa, the unscrupulous ‘purchases’ of Maori land by European settlers, and the lawlessness problem prompted the British to seek annexation of NZ by persuading the Maori chiefs to give up their sovereignty to the British Crown. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by over 500 chiefs in 1840, but this same treaty is still debated today in NZ because the word “sovereignty” did not have the same connotation in Maori as it does in English. The Maori chiefs had a different understanding as to what they were signing. In exchange for signing the treaty, the Maori peoples were to be granted all citizenship rights and duties as British citizens.

Land Wars (mid-19th century):
The treaty guaranteed the Maori possession of their land and resources, but when settlers arrived and wanted to buy land, and when the Maori didn’t want to sell, conflict inevitably resulted. Many land sales were disputed, as chiefs sold land belonging to the whole tribe or sold land belong to other tribes. Tensions between the Maori and Europeans escalated to fully-fledged wars, known as the Land Wars. Troops arrived from England and Australia. When the last war was over in 1872, the British gov’t. confiscated huge areas of Maori land.

While development in the North Island languished because of the Land Wars, the South Island prospered because of farming and gold. NZ became a productive agricultural country with European settlement, with sheep farming being the backbone of agriculture (as it is to this day).

Social reform came in the late 19th century, but the Maori – though given the vote in 1867 – were still losing in the struggle to hold onto their culture and land. The Maori population had dropped to only 42,000 by 1900.

20th century:
After becoming a self-governing colony in 1856 and a dominion in 1907, NZ finally became an independent country in 1947. NZ troops helped the British in both World Wars. The country had one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world in the post-war years and a developed social welfare system. NZ joined the South Pacific Forum in 1971.

The Maori began to organize at the turn of the 20th century, when race relations were at their bleakest. The government introduced laws in 1935 guaranteeing equality in employment and increased spending on housing, education, and health. But the communities saw little interaction. During the post-war years, Maori migrated to the cities, lured by the promise of jobs. They are now predominately urban. This was the greatest change to their society. As assimilation occurred, Maori lost more and more of their culture.

By the late 1960s, Maori were calling for a revival in Maori culture. As a result, the Maori language is now taught in schools and the Race Relations Act banning discrimination was passed. There has been a recent growing interest in Maori literature, arts, language, and culture. In 1994, the government proposed a $1 billion once-and-for-all payout over 10 years to settle all Maori land claims (although claims still continue).

The NZ economy has undergone radical restructuring since 1984, moving from a welfare-state, government-involved economy towards a private open-market economy. The financial market was deregulated, agricultural subsidies abolished, and the taxation system reformed, amongst other things. Although still overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture for export income, NZ has made progress in its efforts to diversify its economy to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. Growth has boosted incomes, but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder.