New Zealand - NZ - NZL - NZL - Australia and Oceania

Last updated: April 17, 2024

New Zealand Images

Taranaki Falls channels snow runoff over the rim of a lava flow in Tongariro National Park on the North Island.
Te Wahipounamu, "the greenstone waters," is a sacred place in the Maori culture of New Zealand. The foreboding mountains and steep-walled valleys on New Zealand's southwest coast are the places of Atua, "the gods." Additionally, the streams that wash down from the glacier-capped peaks carry a highly prized stone, a hard, translucent, green rock that the Maori carved into jewelry and blades, for both tools and weapons. Most New Zealand greenstone is nephrite - a form of jade - though some is bowenite, another mineral. From space, the west coast of New Zealand resembles the greenstone for which it is named. Dark green native forest extends from the mountain tree line to the shore. The forest harbors unique and endangered animals like the kiwi and takahe, both flightless birds, and the kea, the only alpine parrot. The lighter green land in the southeast was once forested, but is now grassland or agriculture. Te Wahipounamu is wilderness, and New Zealand has set the land aside to conserve it. The entire 2.6 million ha (6.4 million acres) that make up the southwest coast of the South Island (about 10 percent of New Zealand's land area) is divided between four national parks, state forests, and other conservation areas. The natural and cultural significance of Te Wahipounamu led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage area in 1990. Image courtesy of NASA.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour approaches the International Space Station during rendezvous and docking operations. The spacecraft floats over Cook Strait, the body of water separating New Zealand's North Island (on the left) from South Island (to the right). Click on photo to increase resolution. Image courtesy of NASA.
A view of New Zealand's capital of Wellington, located at the southwestern tip of North Island near the Cook Strait. The city is the second largest in New Zealand (after Auckland), and at 41 degrees south latitude, it is the southernmost capital city in the world. Five major geologic faults run through the Wellington municipality. Recognition of the potential seismic hazard in the metropolitan area has led to the adoption of building codes to maximize structural resistance to earthquake damage. Click on photo to increase resolution. Image courtesy of NASA.
A westward-looking view of central South Island, showing the snow-covered Southern Alps fronted by the Canterbury Plain, the largest area of fertile, flat land in New Zealand. Running southwest to northeast along the western coast of South Island, the Southern Alps are rugged mountains made up of numerous peaks in excess of 3,000 m (9,840 ft). Within the Southern Alps, there are over 3,100 active glaciers. Click on photo to increase resolution. Image courtesy of NASA.
Sunrise over Nelson Bay on the South Island.
A distinctive rock formation near the town of Motueka - by the Cook Strait - on the South Island.
The resort town of Queenstown on South Island is known for its adventure and ski tourism. This photo was taken from one of the hills surrounding the town, looking southeast across the harbor. Queenstown is situated at one of the turns in a Z-shaped mountain lake - Lake Wakatipu - which was formed by glacial processes.
This photo was taken looking southeast on the Banks Peninsula on South Island. The peninsula was formed from eroded remnants of two large composite shield volcanoes, the dominate craters forming the Lyttelton and Akoroa Harbors. The mountainous nature of the peninsula is atypical within the surrounding region.
The placid waters and lush foliage of Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, South Island.
Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, South Island.
Aoraki/Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand, in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island.
Sunset over Aoraki/Mount Cook in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island.
A sightseeing plane over Fox Glacier in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island.
Fox Glacier in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island.
At 3,724 meters (12, 218 ft), Aoraki/Mount Cook on the South Island is the tallest peak in New Zealand and a favorite challenge for mountain climbers. The mountain is shown here overlooking Lake Pukaki, whose distinctive light blue color is caused by extremely finely ground glacial particles (glacial flour).
Lake Pukaki, a glacier-fed lake in the central highlands of New Zealand’s South Island, has a unique aqua color. Aoraki (aka Mt Cook), the tallest peak in New Zealand, appears in the background.
Hall Arm of Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park on the South Island is renowned for its still waters.
Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, South Island.
Lake Matheson, on the South Island, is a mirror in the early morning light.
Over the peaks in Fiordland National Park, South Island, the largest of New Zealand's national parks.
A blue-colored lake in South Island.
A glacier lake in Fiordland National Park, South Island.
The rugged mountains in Fiordland National Park, South Island.
The city of Auckland, the largest in New Zealand, is home to almost a third of the country's population. This is a view of the North Island city at night as seen from its tallest tower.
The 328 m (1,076 ft) observation and telecommunications Sky Tower in Auckland (North Island) is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
On 19 September 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women’s suffrage. This memorial in Christchurch (South Island) is a stone aggregate wall, with a central panel showing a life-size bronze relief sculpture of Kate Sheppard and five other women's suffrage leaders.
Lupines grow wild along the road to the central highlands on the South Island of New Zealand.
Aoraki (aka Mount Cook) on South Island is the tallest peak in New Zealand.
On the eastern edge of Aoraki/Mount Cook, a moraine (accumulated glacial debris) created a glacial lake where the Tasman Glacier terminated.
A view of Aoraki/Mount Cook on the South Island.
Glacial lake at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the South Island.
Glacial lake at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the South Island.
A memorial statue to Edmund Hillary shows the explorer as a young man gazing toward the mountains. (In 1953, Hillary was one of the first two people to successfully scale Mount Everest, Earth's tallest peak above sea level.) The monument was commissioned by the Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (South Island) and stands on its grounds to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of Hillary's ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook in 1948, which influenced his early climbing career.
Along the Dunedin Coast of the South Island, yellow-eyed penguins live in nests along the cliff face. They climb down to the shore in search of food.
Indigenous to New Zealand, yellow-eyed penguins have a band of pale-yellow feathers that surround their eyes and encircle the back of their head, as well as trademark yellow eyes.
The Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki are ancient concretions embedded in the shoreline of the South Island’s southeast coast. As the shore erodes, the spherical rocks are exposed on the beach.
In the hills above Queenstown on the South Island, a park pond served as the setting for “The Two Towers” pilgrimage scene - part of the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. The Remarkables mountain range in the background provides a striking backdrop.
This park pond in hills above Queenstown on the South Island served as the setting for “The Two Towers” pilgrimage scene - part of the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. The Remarkables mountain range in the background provides a striking background.
On the South Island’s west coast, two glaciers from the Southern Alps discharge into a coastal river. Fox Glacier has a steep but straight flow from the mountain bowl down to sea level where it forms a glacial river.
As seen from the air, Fox Glacier, in the Aoraki/Mount Cook range, has a steep but straight flow from the upper bowl to sea level where it forms a glacial river.
On the west coast of the South Island, the currently receding Franz Joseph Glacier has a large ice tunnel carrying out the water melting from the glacial flow.
Visitors to the town of Franz Josef can take helicopter rides to the glacier bowl below the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook on the South Island. The massive snowfield feeds both the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
A glacier bowl that lies below the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook on the South Island is accessible by helicopter from the town of Franz Josef. The snowfield feeds both the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Lake Taupo on the North Island is the largest lake in New Zealand. The lake formed in the caldera of the massive Taupo Volcano and sits in the center of New Zealand's thermal region. Tongariro National Park at the southwest edge of the lake can be seen in the distance and is home to several active volcanos.
Huka Falls, along the Waikato River on the North Island, is the outlet for Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. After surging through a narrow canyon, the river cascades over large falls before winding its way to the sea.
New Zealand's North Island is home to some of the most active thermal features on the planet. Hot springs like the ones in Wairaki Terraces are found across much of the central plains of the North Island.
Accessible only by river, Orakei Korako in the central highlands of the North Island is the most active geyser in any of New Zealand's geothermal parks. The park is also home to one of only two geothermal caves in the world.
Lady Grey Geyser, located in Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park on the North Island, is one of the larger geysers in the Rotorua region. Park employees trigger eruptions by releasing the underground reservoir surface tension with soap flakes.
Champagne Pool, located in Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, is a large hot spring on the North Island. Antimony-rich deposits around the rim turn the soil a bright orange color. Surface temperatures are near boiling.
The Kaituna River is a favorite North Island white-water rafting area. The terraced waterfalls and swift-moving water provide an exciting ride. The navigable section of the river ends with Tutea Falls, a 6.5-m (21-ft) waterfall into a large pool.
In 1886, a 17-km rift volcano erupted south of Rotorua on the North island. Over the course of 6 hours, fire, ash, and smoke filled the air. The famed White and Pink Terraces, a world wonder, were destroyed in the eruption, and the rift resulted in an enlarged nearby lake. Today, the rift section is a popular hiking area with climbers scree-sliding down the slopes to the rift floor.
Okere Falls on the Kaituna River on New Zealand’s North Island is known for its spectacular rapids and waterfalls.
Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest national park, is an active volcanic area (and ski resort) on the North Island. The park served as a filming location for “Mordor” in the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy.
Tongariro National Park is an active volcanic area (and ski resort) on the North Island. The park contains kilometers of hiking trails past all the peaks in the region.
In Tongariro National Park on the North Island, the Chateau Tongariro at the base of Mount Ruapehu was a classic ski lodge and provided access to the region. A seismic assessment found that because of underground shifts the hotel's infrastructure no longer met safety standards. The Chateau closed in February of 2023.
Taranaki Falls channels snow runoff over the rim of a lava flow in Tongariro National Park on the North Island.
Te Wahipounamu, "the greenstone waters," is a sacred place in the Maori culture of New Zealand. The foreboding mountains and steep-walled valleys on New Zealand's southwest coast are the places of Atua, "the gods." Additionally, the streams that wash down from the glacier-capped peaks carry a highly prized stone, a hard, translucent, green rock that the Maori carved into jewelry and blades, for both tools and weapons. Most New Zealand greenstone is nephrite - a form of jade - though some is bowenite, another mineral. From space, the west coast of New Zealand resembles the greenstone for which it is named. Dark green native forest extends from the mountain tree line to the shore. The forest harbors unique and endangered animals like the kiwi and takahe, both flightless birds, and the kea, the only alpine parrot. The lighter green land in the southeast was once forested, but is now grassland or agriculture. Te Wahipounamu is wilderness, and New Zealand has set the land aside to conserve it. The entire 2.6 million ha (6.4 million acres) that make up the southwest coast of the South Island (about 10 percent of New Zealand's land area) is divided between four national parks, state forests, and other conservation areas. The natural and cultural significance of Te Wahipounamu led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage area in 1990. Image courtesy of NASA.

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New Zealand Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Stewart UDALL (since 1 December 2021) note - also accredited to Samoa

embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011

mailing address: 4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC 20521-4370

telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000

FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490

email address and website:
AucklandACS@state.gov

https://nz.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Auckland

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.15% (male 503,190/female 475,527)

15-64 years: 64.36% (male 1,661,312/female 1,627,304)

65 years and over: 16.49% (2023 est.) (male 394,339/female 448,030)

This is the population pyramid for New Zealand. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2023)

note 1: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; in 2022, women accounted for about 20% of armed forces personnel

note 2: as of 2022, the NZDF’s program for recruiting foreign volunteers had been suspended

Background

Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand.

The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986.

In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.

Environment - current issues

water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Population below poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Exports - commodities

milk cream powders, lumber, beef, butter, mutton (2021)

Exports - partners

China 33%, Australia 12%, United States 11%, Japan 6%, South Korea 3% (2021)

Administrative divisions

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Agricultural products

milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots

Military and security forces

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2024)

note: the New Zealand Police, under the Minister of Police, are responsible for internal security

Budget

revenues: $76.694 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $88.593 billion (2020 est.)

Capital

name: Wellington

geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)

etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, delivery trucks, broadcasting equipment, gas turbines (2021)

Climate

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Coastline

15,134 km

Constitution

history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions

amendments: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020

Dependent areas

Tokelau (1)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.577 (2022 est.)
1.414 (2021 est.)
1.542 (2020 est.)
1.518 (2019 est.)
1.445 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Christopher LUXON (since 27 November 2023); Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 27 November 2023)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general

note: according to Prime Minister LUXON, the Winston PETERS of the New Zealand First Party would be the deputy prime minister in the first half of the term while Act party leader, David SEYMOUR, would take the role for the second half of the term

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

Flag description

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Illicit drugs

significant consumer of amphetamines

Independence

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

Industries

agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)

other: 25.4% (2018 est.)

Legal system

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

Maritime claims

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

International organization participation

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Nationality

noun: New Zealander(s)

adjective: New Zealand

Natural resources

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Geography - note

note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism

note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire

note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

Economic overview

high-income Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and energy sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; sustained growth; low unemployment; high living standards; sharp growth post COVID-19 lockdown

Pipelines

331 km condensate, 2,500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)

Political parties and leaders

ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]
Green Party [Marama DAVIDSON and James SHAW]
New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
New Zealand Labor Party [Chris HIPKINS]
New Zealand National Party [Christopher LUXON]
Te Pāti Māori [Debbie NGAREWA-PACKER and Rawiri WAITITI]

note: in the October 2023 general election, 11 additional parties won votes but no seats in Parliament

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment:

the growth areas in in New Zealand’s telecom market have been in mobile broadband and fiber; New Zealand’s mobile market continues to undergo significant developments; the coverage of LTE networks has been supported by the Rural Broadband Initiative rollout, which added a significant number of mobile sites to new or underserved areas; the market is undergoing additional consolidation; offering fixed and mobile services

(2023)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 114 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019)

Terrain

predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: New Zealand

abbreviation: NZ

etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Map references

Oceania

Irrigated land

7,000 sq km (2014)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Bede Gilbert CORRY (since 16 September 2022)

chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277

email address and website:
wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/

consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York

Internet country code

.nz

GDP (official exchange rate)

$248.102 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: AA (2011)

Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)

Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

327 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 20 years

male: 20 years

female: 21 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 87% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services (2019)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "God Defend New Zealand"

lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS

note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the King" serves as a royal anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the King" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played

This is an audio of the National Anthem for New Zealand. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physicians density

3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)

National symbol(s)

Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)

The coat of arms of New Zealand. The first quarter of the shield shows four stars that represent the Southern Cross, then three ships symbolizing the importance of New Zealand's sea trade. In the second quarter a fleece represents the farming industry. The wheat sheaf in the third quarter represents the agricultural industry, and the crossed hammers in the fourth quarter represent mining. The supporters on either side of the shield are a Māori Chieftain holding a taiaha (a Māori war weapon) and a European woman holding the New Zealand Ensign. St Edward's Crown, shown above the shield, was used in the Coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The crown symbolizes Her Majesty as Queen of New Zealand under the New Zealand Royal Titles Act 1953. The Queen approved a revised version in 1956.

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.8 years

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -26.1% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.4

youth dependency ratio: 29

elderly dependency ratio: 24.4

potential support ratio: 4.1 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Population distribution

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 199

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,249,049 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,300,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Ethnic groups

European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group

Religions

Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion

Languages

English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)

note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census

Imports - partners

China 22%, Australia 15%, United States 7%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2021)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 5 (2022)

Disputes - international

none identified

Elevation

highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 388 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

79.9% (2014/15)

note: percent of women aged 16-49

Current health expenditure

10% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the NZDF is a small military with considerable overseas experience; it supports the country’s national security objectives by protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, and conducting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and other international missions; the Army’s primary combat units are an infantry brigade and a special forces regiment; the Navy has a small force of frigates and patrol vessels, while the Air Force has squadrons of maritime patrol, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare aircraft

New Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily

New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s; New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2024)

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 12,200 active-duty troops including active reservists (6,600 Army; 2,800 Navy; 2,800 Air Force) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the NZDF is equipped mostly with Western-supplied weapons and equipment with the US as the leading provider (2023)

Military deployments

up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2023)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 1.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 3.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2016 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 13.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 8.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 34.38 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 34.3 megatons (2020 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

Heliports

62 (2024)

Coal

production: 3.226 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 3.001 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 1.14 million metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 1.09 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 7.575 billion metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 19.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 54.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 18.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 4,771,126,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

consumption: 4,946,237,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 31.148 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 13,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 184,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 21,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 99,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 41 million barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.6% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.27% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.26% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Space program overview

the New Zealand space sector model is mostly based on commercial space; NZSA and CSST primarily focus on developing space policy and strategy, bringing commercial space talent to New Zealand, and encouraging the commercial development of space technologies, particularly satellites and satellite/space launch vehicles (SLV); manufactures and launches satellites; builds and launches commercial SLVs; researches and develops a range of other space-related technologies, including propulsion systems; participates in international space programs and partners with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Australia, Canada, the EU and its member states, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states, South Africa, and the US; has a small, but growing commercial space sector that contributed over $1 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2019 and provided over 12,000 jobs (2023)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Space launch site(s)

Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex (Hawke's Bay) (2023)

Space agency/agencies

New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA; established 2016 under the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment); Center for Space Science and Technology (CSST; established 2017) (2023)

Labor force

2.971 million (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 11.4% (2021 est.)

male: 12.2%

female: 10.6%

Net migration rate

4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 37.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 36.9 years

female: 38.4 years

Debt - external

$190.621 billion (2019 est.)
$192.327 billion (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$14.4 billion (2022 est.)
$16.114 billion (2021 est.)
$13.733 billion (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Refined petroleum products - imports

56,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Public debt

54.27% of GDP (2022 est.)
50.99% of GDP (2021 est.)
46.15% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.5% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019)
1.2% of GDP (2018)

Unemployment rate

3.3% (2022 est.)
3.78% (2021 est.)
4.6% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

5,109,702 (2023 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 4.896 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 96% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

40.344 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.139 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 25.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 9.445 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 268,838 sq km

land: 264,537 sq km

water: 4,301 sq km

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Taxes and other revenues

29.77% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$231.534 billion (2022 est.)
$225.116 billion (2021 est.)
$214.054 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 94,000 km

paved: 61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways)

unpaved: 32,400 km (2017)

Airports

202 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 5.846 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

36.2 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.17% (2022 est.)
3.94% (2021 est.)
1.71% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

1,782 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Current account balance

-$21.627 billion (2022 est.)
-$14.804 billion (2021 est.)
-$2.401 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$45,200 (2022 est.)
$44,000 (2021 est.)
$42,100 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,764,984 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 13.7% (2020 est.)

male: 15% (2020 est.)

female: 12.3% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.8% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

186.804 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

12.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 9.615 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 41,169,838,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2,256,332,000 kWh (2019 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 117 (2023)

by type: container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Imports

$71.35 billion (2022 est.)
$62.984 billion (2021 est.)
$48.118 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$57.485 billion (2022 est.)
$54.923 billion (2021 est.)
$50.173 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 757,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 81 years

female: 84.6 years

Real GDP growth rate

2.85% (2022 est.)
5.17% (2021 est.)
-0.65% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

3.94% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 4,128 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.7% (2017 est.)

industry: 21.5% (2017 est.)

services: 72.8% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

1.06% (2023 est.)

Legislative branch

description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (121 seats for 2023-26 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 49 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

elections:
last held on 14 October 2023 (next scheduled for October 2026)

election results:
percent of vote by party - National Party 38.1%, Labor Party 26.9%, Green Party 11.6%, ACT Party 8.6%, New Zealand First 6.1%; Maori Party 3.1%; seats by party - National Party 48, Labor Party 34, Green Party 15, ACT Party 11, New Zealand First 8, Maori Party 6; composition as of February 2024 - 67 men, 56 women; percentage of women 45.5%

Sources: