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New Zealand:
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Other pages in this profile of New Zealand:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. |
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Location |
Definition Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 41 00 S, 174 00 E |
Map references |
Definition Oceania |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,021 sq km water: NA note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands |
Area - comparative |
Definition about the size of Colorado |
Land boundaries |
Definition 0 km |
Coastline |
Definition 15,134 km |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
Climate |
Definition temperate with sharp regional contrasts |
Terrain |
Definition predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m |
Natural resources |
Definition natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 2,850 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 397 cu km (1995) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%) per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity |
Environment - current issues |
Definition deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note |
Definition about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world |
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