{zee'-luhnd} New Zealand, an island nation in the middle latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, is the most physically isolated of the advance industrialized countries. Its nearest neighbor, Australia, is some 1,900 km (1,200 mi) to the northeast. New Zealand is bordered by the \TTasman Sea\t on the west and the South Pacific Ocean on the east. The country is about the size of Colorado and larger than Great Britain. It comprises two main islands, the North Island (114,469 sq km/44,197 sq mi) and the South Island (150,660 sq km/58,170 sq mi); Stewart Island (1,751 sq km/676 sq mi); and numerous tiny islands and islets, including the \TAntipodes Islands\t and the \TAuckland Islands\t. In addition, New Zealand administers the \TRoss Dependency\t in Antarctica and the \TTokelau Islands\t. \TNiue\t and the \TCook Islands\t are self-governing, but New Zealand manages their external affairs and their residents are citizens of New Zealand. The \LMaori\ls, a Polynesian people, reached the islands in about AD 900. The Dutch were the first Europeans to arrive, in 1642, but the area remained relatively unknown until the arrival of Capt. James \TCook\t in 1769. The Treaty of \TWaitangi\t (1840) ceded sovereignty of the area to Great Britain while granting the Maoris continued possession of their lands and other holdings. new Zealand became an internally self-governing dominion within the British Empire in 1907 and an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1947. Although New Zealand is an isolated land, its foreign policy is not isolationist. It retains close ties to Great Britain and plays an increasing role in Pacific affairs. LAND AND RESOURCES The two major islands of New Zealand, which are separated by the narrow \TCook Strait\t, would be considered parts of two separate continents. The North Island and the northwest corner of the South Island are carried on the same continental plate as India and Australia, while the South Island is on the Pacific plate. The two plates slide past each other in opposite directions along the Alpine Fault. This movements creates many earthquakes in New Zealand. New Zealand is generally mountainous, with only about 30% of the land classified as flat or rolling. The North Island was shaped by internal volcanic activity and includes regions of boiling mud and steam, which are often harnessed for power and heat. The highest point on the island is Ruapehu volcano (2,797 m/9,176 ft). The South Island has some 20 peaks exceeding 3,000 m (9,840 ft). The highest, Mt. Cook (3,764 m/12,349 ft), is part of the impressive Southern Alps range. Climate The islands extend approximately 1,610 km (1,000 mi) from north to south, and this distance contributes to variations in weather patterns. Generally, however, the climate throughout the country is considered mild and comfortable and there is surprisingly little difference in temperature ranges between the North and the South islands. January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest. Westerly winds from the Tasman Sea bring frequent rain. The North Island generally receives about 150 days of rain a year; the South Island has both the wettest (the Southern Alps) and the driest (Central Otago) regions in the country. Drainage There are numerous lakes and rivers in New Zealand. The country's largest lake is Lake Taupo (606 sq km/243 sq mi), a crater lake ringed by three volcanoes on the North Island. Also on the North Island is the country's longest river, the Waikato, which flows from Lake Taupo to the sea near Auckland. Most lakes and rivers on the South Island are fed by snow and glacier melts from the Southern Alps. Rivers on the west side of the mountains flow into the Tasman Sea; those on the east flow across the plains to the Pacific. Plant and Animal Life Scientists believe that New Zealand was once part of a supercontinent known as \TGondwanaland\t and that its flora and fauna evolved in isolation for more than 100 million years after this land mass broke apart. Some 84% of the country's native plants are found nowhere else. They include two of the world's oldest known plant forms, the puka and the kauri tree. The latter can live for 200 years and is second in size only to the sequoia; the few remaining are now protected by law. Today's forests are dominated by evergreen beech and conifers. New Zealand's isolation has also had a profound impact on its animal life. Before the arrival of the Maoris, there were only birds, lizards, frogs, and two species of bats on the islands. The tuatara is the only reptile that has survived since the age of the dinosaurs. With no predators, numerous species of flightless birds also flourished. The kiwi, kakapo, and takatre can still be found in the forests; other species, such as the huge moas, were hunted to extinction by human beings and by predators introduced by humans. The Maoris brought dogs and rats, and the Europeans brought deer, goats, rabbits, possum (from Australia), and other small animals. Resources New Zealand's most fertile soils are found in the Canterbury Plains near Christchurch and the Southland-Otego alluvial plains at he southern end of the South Island. New Zealand has more than 3 billion tons of coal reserves and abundant offshore natural-gas reserves. The country is also rich in hydroelectric potential. It was thought to lack petroleum until 1988, when a field estimated to contain 40 million barrels of petroleum was discovered in the western part of the the North Island. Other resources include geothermal energy, iron sands, and limestone. PEOPLE New Zealand is one nation and two peoples and is only now coming to grips with its biculturalism. The initial Maori settlers are far outnumbered by people of European descent, primarily of English and Scottish heritage. The pakeha (the Maori word for European settlers) make up 86% of the total population. Maori constitute approximately 9%, and other Pacific islanders 3%. Immigration to New Zealand is not significant. A recent census revealed that 85% of the residents were New Zealanders by birth, and the country suffered a new out-migration of more than 30,000 between 1982 and 1986 due to adverse economic conditions. The official language is English. The Maori language, which has similarities to other Pacific island languages, is widely used by Maoris and is an important factor in the Maori cultural renaissance that has occurred since the late 1960s. Christianity is the dominant religion. About 24% of the population is Anglican, 18% is Presbyterian, and 15% is Roman Catholic. Demography About 74% of the population live on the North Island, which is often described as a town, while only 25% live on the South Island, which is considered the country. The Maori population is increasing at a more rapid rate than that of non-Maoris. New Zealand is highly urbanized, with one in four New Zealanders living in the city and suburbs of \TAuckland\t, but cities are not overcrowded and the overall population density remains low. Other cities include \TWellington\t (the capital), \TChristchurch\t, and \TDunedin\t. Education and Health The 1877 Education Act declared free, compulsory, and secular education for all. Preschool and kindergarten are provided before five years of compulsory elementary school begin at age six. Recently, the government established Maori-language kindergartens (kohanga reo) for Maori children. Most children attend two years of intermediate school. During the first two years of secondary school, students follow a general curriculum; the later years are more specialized. All students who qualify for university studies receive government scholarship. In addition to its universities, New Zealand has numerous technical institutes, community colleges, and teacher-training colleges. The government also sponsors extensive continuing and adult education programs. New Zealand is a social welfare state. Citizens are eligible for unemployment benefits, retirement at age 60 with a pension equalling as much as 80% of average pay, and essentially free medical care, including medicine and hospitalization. The Arts New Zealanders are very aware and proud of their two cultures. A major exhibit of Maori art, Te Maori, was assembled for showing in the United States in 1985. New Zealanders have made and continue to make contributions of international significance to literature, the visual arts, ballet, opera, and contemporary music. Authors such as Janet FAME, Katherine \TMansfield\t, Sylvia \TAshton-Warner\t, Ian Cross, Ngaio \Tmarsh\t, M.K. Joseph, and Teri Hulme and the soprano Kiri \TTe Kanawa\t have won international acclaim. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY New Zealand is an advanced industrial state with an economy dependent on trade. Commodities were traditionally exported to Great Britain. These exports decreased once Great Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1971, causing great economic upheaval in New Zealand. A second jolt forcing New Zealand to reexamine its traditional economic ties was the oil crisis of the early 1970s, which increased the nation's oil bill by 123%. Today New Zealand is attempting to build new markets, particularly in the Pacific region, to increase economic self-reliance, and to restructure the economy to make it more responsive to world market forces. Agriculture Although fewer than 1% of New Zealand's people are farmers, agricultural production has generated most of the nation's wealth. New Zealand is the world's third largest producer and second largest exporter of wool and produces approximately 50% of the world's lamb and mutton exports. Sheep in New Zealand outnumber people by nearly 20 to 1. There are also more than 8 million cattle, and the country is the world's largest and most efficient exporter of dairy products. New Zealand is also a major exporter of fresh fruit, beef, and fish. The government is funding research to make farming more efficient and adaptable to world market trends. The strategy is to grow, make, and market anything the climate will support and a world market will buy. Thus, the emphasis is on marketing food for specialized markets rather than on bulk exporting. Mining, Manufacturing, and Services In addition to the processing of agricultural products, goods manufactured in New Zealand include light engineering products, electronic equipment, textiles, leather goods, carpets, rubber and plastic products, glassware, and pottery. About 30% of New Zealand's exports are manufactured goods, and that percentage is increasing. The mining industry is relatively small. Construction materials (sand, gravel, and rock), limestone, and coal are mined; coal is exported to Japan and Korea. New technologies are being used to convert volcanic black sands to iron and other minerals. A significant portion of the labor force is employed in public and private service industries, including tourism. Fishing and Forestry New Zealand's rivers and lakes support more than 50 species of freshwater fish, and sport fishing is a popular tourist attraction. The country also has an important coastal fishing industry. Forestry products are another important source of income. The Monterey pine grows exceptionally well in New Zealand and is a major source of timber. Power To reduce its dependency on imported petroleum, New Zealand has dramatically increased its exploration of new energy sources and has begun to exploit existing energy sources more efficiently. Hydroelectric power meets nearly 75% of national electricity needs, and coal reserves are abundant. New Zealand is also exploiting its natural-gas reserves; a pipeline carries natural gas from the offshore Kapuni field throughout the North Island. The country has also put into operation the world's first synthetic-fuels plant, which converts natural gas to methanol and then to gasoline. This satisfies about 20% of the nation's primary oil requirements. Exploration for petroleum continues, with a major find in 1988. Geothermal energy fields have also been successfully harnessed to produce heat and power. Transportation New Zealand's cities and towns are linked by a sophisticated road system. In addition, most areas are linked by air and rail. Air New Zealand and New Zealand Railways are both government owned. These are international airports at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The chief ports are Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. Trade New Zealand must export to live. The primary exports are agricultural commodities. More sophisticated processes for refrigeration and improved transportation services have led to a tremendous expansion of trade. Automobiles and other manufactured goods and petroleum are leading imports. Japan, Australia, and the United States purchase about 40% of New Zealand's exports and provide a substantial percentage of its imports. The country's longstanding trade deficit improved in the late 1980s and early 1990s. GOVERNMENT New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy. Like Great Britain, it has no written constitution. The legislature, which has been unicameral since 1950, comprises 95 members who serve 3-year terms. Ninety-one are elected by universal suffrage and 4 are elected from Maori electoral rolls. The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, is recognized as queen of New Zealand. Executive authority rests with a cabinet headed by a prime minister. New Zealand was the first country to enfranchise women (in 1893), and all citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. Counties, boroughs, district councils, and town districts are units of local government. New Zealand's leaders have been committed to a moderately controlled economic system an an extensive social welfare system since the 1930s. The two major political parties are the Labour party (founded 1916), which originated most of the nation's social welfare and labor legislation, and the National party (founded 1931), which traditionally favors personal initiative, private enterprise, and the dismantling of extensive government controls. The Labor party controlled the government during the periods 1935-49, 1958-61, 1972-75, and again from 1984, when National party leader Robert David \TMuldoon\t was replaced as prime minister by David \TLange\t. Despite Labour's socialist traditions, Lange and his successors, Geoffrey Palmer and Mike Moore, dramatically deregulated the economy. Discontent with the resultant high unemployment contributed to the return to power of the National party, led by Jim Bolger, in October 1990. Steven L. Lamy Bibliography: Brownlie, B., and Lockley, R., The Secrets of Natural New Zealand (1988); Bush, G., Local Government and Politics in New Zealand (1980); Fleet, H., The Concise Natural History of New Zealand (1986); Franklin, S. H., Trade Growth and Anxiety: New Zealand Beyond the Welfare State (1980); Hawke, G. R., The Making of New Zealand (1985); McLaughlin, G., ed., New Zealand Encyclopedia, 2d ed. (1988); Metge, A. J., The Maoris of New Zealand (1976); Orbell, M., and Moon, G., The Natural World of the Maori (1985); Shadbolt, M., Reader's Digest Guide to New Zealand (1988); Sinclair, K., A History of New Zealand, rev. ed (1980); Ward, I., ed., New Zealand Atlas (1976).