New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses, and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori language name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud.

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation: it is situated about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbors to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

The majority of New Zealand’s population is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority. Asians and non-Maori Polynesians are also significant minority groups, especially in urban areas. The most commonly spoken language is English.
New Zealand is a developed country that ranks highly in international comparisons on many topics, including education, economic freedom, and lack of corruption. Its cities also consistently rank among the world’s most livable.

General Information

Capital : Wellington
Languages : English Māori NZ Sign Language
Area : 268,021 km2 (74th)103,483 sq mi
Location : Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Population : 2010 estimate 4,380,029
Time zone : NZST7 (UTC+12)
Currency : New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Calling code : +64
Religions : Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, Unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Trading Partners : Australia,  United States, Japan, China and U.K.
Main Exports : Milk powder, Sheep meat, Crude oil, frozen beef, Butter, Cheese, Fruit, Wine, Wood
Main Imports : Crude oil, Refined oil, Motor cars, Aircraft, Automatic data process machines, Medicaments, Telephone equipment, Aircraft parts, Medical instruments, TV receivers, including video monitors and projectors
Main Industries : Biotechnology and agricultural technology, Consultancy services, Creative industries, Education, Food and beverage, Information and communications technologies (ICT), Specialised manufacturing, Tourism, Wood, building and interiors
Agriculture Products : wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables, wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Geography New Zealand, about 1,250 mi (2,012 km) southeast of Australia, consists of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying islands so scattered that they range from the tropical to the antarctic. The country is the size of Colorado. New Zealand’s two main components are the North Island and the South Island, separated by Cook Strait.
The North Island is 515 mi (829 km) long and volcanic in its south-central part. This area contains many hot springs and beautiful geysers. South Island has the Southern Alps along its west coast, with Mount Cook (12,316 ft; 3754 m) the highest point. Other inhabited islands include Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and Great Barrier Island. The largest of the uninhabited outlying islands are the Auckland Islands Campbell Island ,the Antipodes Islands, and the Kermadec Islands.

Maoris were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving on the islands in about 1000. Maori oral history maintains that the Maoris came to the island in seven canoes from other parts of Polynesia. In 1642, New Zealand was explored by Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator. British captain James Cook made three voyages to the islands, beginning in 1769. Britain formally annexed the islands in 1840.
The Treaty of Waitangi (Feb. 6, 1840) between the British and several Maori tribes promised to protect Maori land if the Maoris recognized British rule. Encroachment by British settlers was relentless, however, and skirmishes between the two groups intensified.
New Zealand’s colourful history commences from the time when the Rangitata Land mass separates from the ancient super continent of Gondwana 80 million years ago, evolving over time to become modern New Zealand.