New Zealand. Land and people

New Zealand is an island country, 1000 miles of Australia. It covers 286.680 sq km. the original name of NZ is Aotearoa /land of the Long Cloud/. This mountainous island nation lies in the South Pacific about 1600 km southeast of Australia. NZ has hundreds of waterfalls. The two principal land forms are North Island and South Island. Stewart Island and Chatham Islands are far to the east. Small islands are uninhabited.

The climate is temperate, with plenty of sunshine and adequate rainfall. The country is well watered. The seasons are opposite those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Animals have been introduced from other countries. Two species of bats are the only native land mammals. NZ has no snakes. Native birds are kakapo parrot, kiwi, takahe and weka.

The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. Its population is 325.00.british settlers founded Wellington in 1840. Wellington is also a port and manufacture centre.

A private car is preferred mode of transportation. In NZ they drive on the left. All major cities have good bus systems. Trains and a domestic airline also operate between cities. Ferries carry people and cars between the two main islands.

New Zealand’s population is about 4 million. The Maori live on North Island.

In 1642, Dutch explorer A. Tasman sighted the islands and named them Staten Landt. Dutch geographers changed the island’s name into New Zealand after the Dutch province of Zeeland.

British Captain Cook visited Maori in 1769 and opened the door to European settlement. The British monarch granted the Maori legal protection. Colonization proceeded rapidly after 1840. The Maori population declined. In 1852, British granted NZ self-government.

English and Maori are both official languages. 81% are Christians.

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. The British monarch is represented by a governor general.