New Zealand

The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.

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

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, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

0-14 years:

23% (male 440,824; female 419,740)

15-64 years:

66% (male 1,263,710; female 1,254,958)

65 years and over:

11% (male 191,511; female 249,019) (2000 est.)

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:

0.77 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

total population:

77.82 years

male:

74.85 years

female:

80.93 years (2000 est.)

noun:

New Zealander(s)

adjective:

New Zealand

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

New Zealand

abbreviation:

NZ

• 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

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)

head of government:

Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999)

cabinet:

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

elections:

• none;
• the monarch is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch;
• 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

ABEDA, 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, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

chief of mission:

Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER

chancery:

37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 328-4800

FAX:

[1] (202) 667-5227

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador-designate Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN

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) 471-2380

consulate(s) general:

Auckland

• 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

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables;
• wool, beef, dairy products;
• fish

total:

3,913 km

narrow gauge:

3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)

total:

92,200 km

paved:

53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)

unpaved:

38,632 km (1996 est.)

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

total:

10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 102,461 GRT/133,418 DWT

ships by type:

bulk 4, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)