New Zealand

parliamentary democracyIndependence 26 September 1907 (from UK)

New Zealand as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalWellington

Position41 00 S, 174 00 E

Area268,680 sq km

LocationOceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of

Populationas each edition published it

3.59 million July 1997 est. · 3.3m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.08% 1997 est. · 0.61% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.27 years 1997 est. · 76.11 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.96 children per woman 1997 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$18,500 1996 est. · $14,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.8% 1996 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 268,680 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 5%permanent pastures 50%forests and woodland 28%other 8% (1993 est.)irrigated 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

268,680sq km

land: 268,670 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmnote: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islandsabout the size of Colorado

Coastline

15,134km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

3,764m

Mount Cooklowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Terrain

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note

about 80% of the population lives in cities

People

15 fields

Population

3,587,275

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.08% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

15.35Death

7.67Net migration

3.12

Ethnic groups

European 88%Maori 8.9%Pacific Islander 2.9%other 0.2%

Religions(1986)

Anglican 24%Presbyterian 18%Roman Catholic 15%Methodist 5%Baptist 2%other Protestant 3%unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Literacy

99%

(1980 est.)definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 424,584; female 403,792)
15-64 years:: 65% (male 1,174,945; female 1,167,913)
65 years and over:: 12% (male 179,853; female 236,188) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 77.27 years
male:: 74.16 years
female:: 80.56 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: New Zealander(s)
adjective:: New Zealand

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996); Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 16 December 1996)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

34.1%

NP 34.1%NZLP 28.3%NZFP 13.1%Alliance 10.1%ACT 6.17%UNZ 0.91%last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October 1999)

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: New Zealand
abbreviation :: NZ

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy

National capital

Wellington

Administrative divisions

93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville

note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Dependent areas

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence

26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution

no formal, written constitution;
consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments;
Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted

Legal system

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)
head of government:: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 16 December 1996)
cabinet :: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:: none;
the queen is a hereditary monarch;
governor general appointed by the queen;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term;
deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

note: the government is a coalition of the National Party and the New Zealand First Party

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)

elections:: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October 1999)
election results :: percent of vote by party - NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%, NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%;
seats by party - NP 44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1

Judicial branch

High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

National Party (NP), James BOLGER; New Zealand First Party (NZFP), Winston PETERS; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, John WRIGHT; New Zealand Liberal Party, Frank GROVER; Green Party, Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD;

Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; United New Zealand (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand (ACT), Richard PREBBLE; Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev. Graham CAPILL

International organization participation

ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD
chancery:: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone :: [1] (202) 328-4800
consulate(s) general:: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
embassy:: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address :: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
telephone:: [64] (4) 472-2068

FAX

[64] (4) 472-3537; consulate(s) general: Auckland

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

Economy

22 fields

Real growth rate

2.8%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.9%

(December 1996)

Labor force

1,634,500

(September 1995)by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4% (1994)

GDP - composition by sector(1990)

agriculture 7.3%industry 25.9%services 66.8% (1990)

Budget

Revenues

$22.18 billionExpenditures

$20.28 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

Economy - overview

Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring from an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures.

Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, but tailed off in 1996. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP now is up to the levels of the big West European economies.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $65.6 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $18,500 (1996 est.)

Industries

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Electricity - capacity

7.75 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production

34.4 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

9,198 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables;
wool, meat, dairy products;
fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988

Exports

total value:: $13.7 billion (1995)
commodities:: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood
partners:: Australia 19%, Japan 15%, UK 15%, US 12%

Imports

total value :: $14 billion (1995)
commodities:: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
partners:: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%

Debt - external

$38.5 billion (September 1994)

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $98 million (1993)

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4247 (January 1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

1.7 million

(1986 est.)

Telephone system

excellent international and domestic systems

domestic:: NA
international:: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

3.215 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

14 (1986 est.)

Televisions

1.53 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 31

Networkskm

Highways

92,306Railways

3,973Waterways

1,609

Highways: paved: 53,537 km (including 144 km of expressways) · unpaved : 38,769 km (1993 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (504 km electrified) · Waterways: ; of little importance to transportation

Railways

total:: 3,973 km
narrow gauge:: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (504 km electrified)

Highways

total:: 92,306 km
paved:: 53,537 km (including 144 km of expressways)
unpaved :: 38,769 km (1993 est.)

Waterways

1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Pipelines

petroleum products 160 km;
natural gas 1,000 km;
liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Ports and harbors

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Merchant marine

total :: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 173,831 GRT/224,544 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 6, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 (1996 est.)