Inland waters of New Zealand. Geographical location of New Zealand

The geographical position of New Zealand is as follows: it is an island state located in the Pacific Ocean, in its southwestern part, southeast of Australia, approximately 1930 km. The main territory of the country includes two islands, which have corresponding names - North Island and South Island. The islands are separated by Cook Strait. The width of the strait is 107 km. The country includes another 61 islands, which are much smaller in area.

The total area of ​​the country is 268,680 square meters. km. In addition to the area of ​​the main islands, this also includes the area of ​​Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands, Bounty Islands, Chatham Islands, Campbell Islands and Kermadec Islands. In terms of area, this makes it smaller than Japan and Italy, and slightly larger than the UK. Length coastline of this country is 15,134 kilometers.

South Island

The South Island is the largest island that forms part of New Zealand. About one-fourth of the population of the entire country lives here. From north to south, mountains stretch along the island - the Southern Alps. Their highest peak is called Mount Aoraki or Mount Cook, with a height of 3754 meters. In addition to this peak, there are 18 more of them on the South Island, with heights above 3000 meters.

The eastern side of the island is flatter and is occupied almost entirely by agricultural farms. The West Coast is less densely populated. Large tracts of almost untouched nature with virgin animals and flora. The western part is also popular for the fjords and glaciers that slide into the Tasman Sea along the slopes of the Southern Alps, as well as numerous national parks.

Unlike the fjords of Norway or Chile, the local fjords have not yet experienced human activity - this place belongs only to scientists and tourists, and in some corners no human foot has ever set foot here. The biggest ornithological discovery of the 20th century was made here - Jeffrey Orbell found Takahe here in 1948, a unique bird the size of a goose. This colorful flightless bird, long thought extinct, has been found here in the fjords of New Zealand.

That is, the geographical location of New Zealand makes it possible for the islands to preserve flora and fauna almost completely intact since Jurassic times.

North Island

The North Island is less mountainous than the South Island. The highest point of this island is the active volcano Ruapehu, whose height is 2797 meters.

The North Island is characterized by high volcanic activity; out of six volcanic zones in the country, five are located on it. In the very center North Island Lake Taupo is located, the most big lake in New Zealand. The Waikato River originates from it and is 425 km long, making it the longest river in New Zealand.

Geysers erupt from the ground here and hot springs flow. This seismological activity can be explained by the fact that New Zealand is located at the junction of the lithospheric plates, and they are still turbulent. This geographical location of New Zealand has made the local nature incredibly diverse and turned it into a kind of tourist Mecca. Vacationers can see glaciers, deep canyons, and rocky mountains.

Vast plateaus are on the other side. There are prehistoric forests here, and endless beaches line the ocean. Here, the change in landscapes can shock an unaccustomed tourist. Leave Fox Glacier, where the average annual temperature is 12 degrees. And after 120 km you will see palm trees. The rain forests that stretch along the coastal lowlands are not inferior to the tropical jungle. The humidity in them is such that water simply flows over the leaves.

A country at the end of the world, living under the sign of the Southern Cross, a land of extraordinary beautiful nature and diversity of landscapes, Maori country and kiwi birds - all this is New Zealand

New Zealand(English) New Zealand) is one of the youngest states on Earth. The islands, apparently inhabited only in the 13th century, were discovered by Europeans only in the 17th century. began to be developed only in the 18th century. and still combine three components: extraordinary nature, exotic Maori culture and the heritage of the British Empire.

New Zealand is a large country, larger in area than its former metropolis Great Britain or mainland Italy. New Zealand's two main islands are more like a microcontinent than an archipelago. Their landscapes resemble either the Alps with snow-capped peaks, or Norway with its fjords, or Kamchatka with its volcanoes, or Scotland with hills, bushes and lakes, or Iceland with its geysers...

Geographical location of New Zealand

New Zealand occupies two large (North and South) and about 700 small islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is included in Polynesia, which in turn is part of the global region of Oceania.

The two main islands of New Zealand are separated by the Cook Strait. The total area of ​​New Zealand is 268,680 km2. The length of the coastline is 15134 km.

The relief of New Zealand is mainly composed of hills and mountains. More than 75% of the country's territory lies at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. The highest point of the North Island is the Ruapehu volcano (2797 m), the South Island is more mountainous, along it the Southern Alps mountain range stretches from north to south, the highest peak of which is Mount Cook (3754 m). In addition to it, there are 18 more peaks on the South Island with a height of more than 3000 m. Western part South Island famous for its numerous fjords and glaciers descending from the slopes of the Southern Alps directly into the Tasman Sea.

New Zealand climate

New Zealand's climate varies by region, and even more by altitude. In addition, geographically New Zealand lies in the "roaring forties" latitudes, so the weather can be unpredictable.

Climate zones vary from subtropical in the north of the North Island to cool temperate in the south of the South Island. When climbing the mountains, you can reach the harsh alpine zones.

The average annual temperature ranges from +10°C in the south to +16°C in the north. New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are the opposite of European ones: the coldest month is July, and the coldest warm months- January and February.

The chain of high Southern Alps divides the South Island into two distinct climate zones. The West Coast is the wettest part of the country; the eastern part, located just 100 kilometers away, is the driest.

Precipitation in most of the country is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of slightly drier summers.

Snowfalls in winter time Common only in the east and south of the South Island, they are very rare in the rest of the country, but night frosts are possible throughout the entire territory in winter.

Peculiarities

Population of New Zealand

When it comes to the population of New Zealand, the first thing that comes to mind is the indigenous people of the islands - the people Maori, although they make up less than 15% of the country’s 4.4 million residents. Ethnically, Maori are Polynesians, related, for example, to the peoples of the islands of Tahiti. New Zealand was apparently settled very late, only in the 13th century. and until the beginning of the active development of the islands by Europeans in the 18th century, the history of New Zealand was exclusively the history of the Maori, and later - the history of the interaction of the British Empire with the indigenous population. Many of today's Maori are actually descendants of mixed marriages.

Three-quarters of New Zealanders are descendants of European (mostly British) colonialists, with most of them being third-generation New Zealanders.

The informal name for all New Zealanders is “kiwi.”

There is also a noticeable part of the Asian (Chinese and Indo-Fijian) population on the islands, as well as Polynesians - immigrants from other islands of Oceania.

The official languages ​​of New Zealand are English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language. Almost everyone is literate, every New Zealander speaks English (or rather, the New Zealand dialect of English), but with the Maori language the situation is not so rosy; among the representatives of the Maori people, only a quarter speaks the Maori language fluently, and a quarter of the Maoris do not know their language at all.

The dominant religion in New Zealand (approx. 56% of the population) is Christianity (with a large share of Anglicanism). About 35% of New Zealanders are atheists. Among other religions on the islands, local animist beliefs of the Maori are common, and there is a small part of Judaism and Baha'is.

Ecology of New Zealand

New Zealanders consider one of the main advantages of their country to be particularly ecologically clean and make real efforts to preserve the situation. The country has created many nature reserves, national parks and other environmental zones. New Zealand has been declared a nuclear-free zone. Here, for the first time in the world, the so-called “carbon tax” and by 2020 it is planned to achieve a neutral balance of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, becoming the cleanest country in the world. But even now, eco-benefits are used in the country’s tourism slogans: “Green and Clean New Zealand” and “100% Pure New Zealand”.

New Zealand government

New Zealand's political structure is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the monarch of New Zealand, who essentially performs only a symbolic function, “reigns, but does not rule.” The monarch of the state is the British Queen Elizabeth II. New Zealand, together with the Tokelau Islands, Ross Antarctic Territory and the freely associated states of the Cook Islands and Niue Island, are referred to as the "Kingdom of New Zealand", which is not a state and has no international state recognition. The interests of the monarch on the territory of the country are represented by the Governor-General and Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Residents of all states and territories within the Kingdom of New Zealand are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand ensures the security of the Kingdom's member states and represents their interests in the international arena.

Economy of New Zealand

The country's economy is based on agriculture, manufacturing and food processing, and tourism. To assess the scale, it can be noted that the number of New Zealand sheep alone exceeds the population by an order of magnitude. At least 20% of products produced in the country are intended for export. The country's main trading partners are Australia, the USA and Japan.

New Zealand money

The national currency of New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZD or NZ$), divided into 100 cents. There are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins in denominations of 10, 20, 50 cents, 1 and 2 dollars.

It is better to exchange currency at banks or their branches at airports; this is where the most favorable exchange rate is. Banks are open from 9:30 to 16:30 from Monday to Friday. Closed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on national holidays.

Currency can also be exchanged at hotels, but the exchange rate will be less favorable. Everywhere in cities you can find currency exchange bureaus. Bureau de Change, which work seven days a week and without a lunch break, but they charge an additional fee for their exchange services.

Traveler's checks are accepted for payment, but paying with them is quite unprofitable; some banks set quite high commissions for cashing them. When exchanging traveler's checks, you will need a passport or other identification document.

All major international credit cards common payment systems: VISA, Master Card, Diners Club, American Express. In the provinces and small towns, you may encounter problems when trying to pay for something with a plastic card, because often small private shops simply do not accept card payments. But, almost always, when renting a car you will need a credit card.

New Zealand has an extensive ATM network. ATMs can be found everywhere in large cities, and they usually operate 24 hours a day.

Time, time zones of New Zealand

Time in New Zealand is 8 hours ahead of Moscow (GMT/UTC +12). On Chatham Island ( Chatham) time is 8 hours 45 minutes ahead of Moscow (GMT/UTC +12.75). From the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April, clocks are moved forward 1 hour. Thus, during this period, local time is ahead of Moscow by 9 hours and 9 hours 45 minutes, respectively.

Electricity: mains voltage 230 V, frequency - 50 Hz. Australian sockets (type, three flat pins at an angle).

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Content
Introduction 2
1 Economic and geographical position of New Zealand 3
2 Natural resource potential of the country 5
3 Stages of territory development 9
4 Country population 13
5 New Zealand economy 22
6 Foreign economic relations of New Zealand 31
Conclusion 37
References 38

Introduction
In this course work on the study of a country called New Zealand, I want to analyze all the components of the country: economic and geographical location, natural resource potential, stages of settlement and development of the country, ethnic composition and the population, economy and foreign economic relations of the country. My task is to observe how and under the influence of what factors the economy, population, and nature of this country have changed, and after analyzing all this data to draw a conclusion about the state of the country today.

1 Economic and geographical position of New Zealand
New Zealand is a relatively large state located on a group of islands of the same name, stretching meridianally for 1700 km, in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. The capital is Wellington. Area 268,680 thousand km.2. Population: 4,353,674 people. The largest islands are the South and North islands, separated by the Cook Strait, the Three Kings, Stewart, Te Snears islands, small coastal and more distant ones (Campbell, Antipodes, Chatham, Bounty, Auckland, Kermadec), as well as the Tokelau islands (overseas territories), Cook and Niue in the central Pacific. The shores are cut in places by fjords. The islands are 75% mountainous. The North Island is distinguished by active seismic and volcanic activity (numerous geysers, hot springs, volcanic lakes, volcanic cones, including active volcano Ruapehu, 2797 m.). In the relief of the South Island, the Southern Alps stand out with the highest point of the country, Mount Cook, 3764 m, with significant glaciation and many lakes. The climate is subtropical and temperate, humid. Natural vegetation represented by forests. The country is distinguished by its wealth of hydro resources.
New Zealand is an island nation with no land borders with any countries. The closest countries with which New Zealand borders are Australia (1,700 km) in the west, separated by the Tasman Sea, and the islands of New Caledonia (1,400 km), Tonga (1,800 km) and Fiji (1,900 km) in the north. The length of the coastline is 15,134 kilometers. Has access to the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
All types are very well developed water transport due to the fact that this country has an island position. Road transport is also developed. Rail transport is less developed. This is explained by the fact that frequent earthquakes, mountainous terrain, a large number of lakes and rivers lead to the need for additional construction of roads, tunnels, etc., which naturally affects the country’s budget. Two largest port countries - Auckland and Wellington. The largest airport is in the city of Auckland, which serves 13 million passengers every year.
New Zealand is located very far from developed countries, which to some extent hinders its development. However, natural and climatic conditions and active cooperation with other countries make it possible for New Zealand to take an active part in the global economy.

2 Natural resource potential of the country
Despite the fact that the country is rich in natural resources, only a few minerals are mined on an industrial scale - gold, oil, silver, gas, coal and sandstone. According to estimates, in total there are more than 300 tons of gold and silver in the bowels of New Zealand. There are more than 800 million tons of sandstone in the country. As for oil, its production has decreased sharply recently. Reserves today are about 14 million tons.
Clay, zinc, mercury, manganese, chromium, platinum and some others are also mined in small quantities. It is worth noting that all jade mining is carried out by the Maori people, since jade plays a special role in the culture and life of this people.

Figure 1 - New Zealand mineral deposits
There is no place on the North and South Islands of New Zealand that is more than 130 km from the sea. The shores of the islands are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, bordered by sand dunes or rocky. Most large bays- Hauraki, Plenty, Hawk, Tasman, Canterbury. 75% of the territory of these islands is occupied by mountains: more than 200 peaks above 2280 m; there are hills and hills. The small islands are mostly hilly and very picturesque. From time immemorial, Maori have believed that islands are numerous pieces of land generously scattered across the water by the hand of the supreme deity. In the far south lies Stewart Island, separated from the South Island by Foveaux Strait. Lowlands are located along the ocean coast (the Southland Lowlands on the South Island) and along river valleys. The northern island is less mountainous; in the center and west there is a volcanic plateau, which is a reserve of modern volcanism. There are 4 active volcanoes: Ruapehu - the highest peak of the North Island (2796 m), the last eruption was in 1975, Taranaki (2518 m), etc. The thermal “corner of wonders” is represented by mud volcanoes with strange names Inferno, Champagne, Artist's Palette. Their smoking black or color-changing craters of seething mud are adjacent to geysers that emit powerful fountains of steam. The most famous of them, Pohutu, is capricious and you never know when he will act. There are also foaming waterfalls, boiling and hot springs and lakes, over which hangs steam of various shades - yellow, orange, green and black, sometimes with periodic changes in color. Earthquakes are frequent (100-200 per year), but they rarely cause destruction. In the south, rugged hills give way to plains and coastal lowlands, occupied by fields and pastures, the bays on the southern and eastern coasts are bordered by hills covered with beech groves and extinct volcanoes. The South Island is home to the high, snow-capped Southern Alps mountain range, whose peaks are surrounded by glaciers (the Tasman Glacier, for example, is 2 km wide and 29 km long), and the large Franz Josef Glacier, formed by blocks of ice, is now a popular holiday destination for tourists. In total, New Zealand has over 300 glaciers, feeding a huge number of rivers and lakes located in mountain valleys. The average height of the mountains is more than 2000 m, the highest is the city of Kuk. The western slopes are steep, while the eastern slopes gently descend to the foothills of the Canterbury Plains - the most extensive lowland areas in New Zealand, which is the main livestock-raising and agricultural region of the country. Rain forests grow on the slopes, mangrove swamps in the lowlands, and endless fenced-off green fields serve as pastures for sheep. The snow-capped peak of Mount Miter rises above the bay near the town of Milford Sound. Here, on the southwestern coast, are the most picturesque fjords, which greatly indent the southern tip of the island. The southwestern coast of the North Island in North Taranaki Bay contains offshore oil and gas deposits, minor reserves of iron, copper and polymetallic ores, gold, hard and brown coal, etc.
The climate is subtropical, maritime, temperate in the extreme south. Average temperatures in July (winter) are 12 °C in the north and 5 °C in the south, and in January (summer) - 19 °C and 14 °C, respectively. Precipitation falls throughout the year: in the west, in mountainous areas, it is 2000-5000 mm, in the east - 400-700 mm per year. Snow occurs only in the mountains; the total area of ​​glaciation in the Southern Alps is 1000 km2.
The rivers begin in the mountains, are deep and rich in electricity. The largest is Waikato (354 km long) on ​​the North Island; navigable 100 km. There are many lakes of volcanic, tectonic and glacial origin, the largest of which is Lake Taupo on the North Island. Not far from the city of Rotorua, a balneological resort and tourism center located on the shores of the lake of the same name, there are the famous Waitomoto caves with white, cream, gray stalactites and stalagmites, with a fantastic underground landscape, where there are rocks of incredible shapes with fancy names (High Organ, Banquet Hall , Department, etc.), as well as dark, deep gaps between them. There you can sail a boat along the underground river and see the grotto of Fireflies, which glow in the dark with a bizarre light. Forests, preserved mainly in the most inaccessible mountainous areas, occupy 23% of the territory and are represented mainly by local tree species (kauri, namahi, rimu, tarairo, etc.); A small number of introduced species grow (beech, pine, cypress, poplar). More than 75% of native flora species are endemic, such as the ohutukawa and bright yellow kowhi; Perennial evergreen species of vegetation predominate.
The country's fauna is the oldest in the world; it is poor in mammals, but unique species of birds and reptiles are represented here. The only mammals found are rats, dogs, and bats, and the only reptiles are the ancient lizard-like reptile tuatara. As a result of predatory hunting, increased reproduction of wild rats, cats, dogs and some domestic animals (rabbits, goats and pigs) introduced by settlers, as well as deforestation, entire populations of animals (and especially birds) were destroyed and plant communities were destroyed. There are 23 species of birds. Most of them have become rare (Sultan's chicken, kiwi, owl parrot, shepherdesses). The country has 9 national parks, and some islands have been turned into bird sanctuaries. So, on one of the remote islands, scientists are breeding in a nursery the largest beetles in the world, weighing 85-100 g, living in the wilds of New Zealand, since they were recently threatened with extinction: the natives sold them to tourists as souvenirs.
3 Stages of territory development
X - XIV centuries: New Zealand was settled by Maori
17th century: Islands discovered by the Dutch
19th century: English colonization of the islands began
1840: New Zealand declared a British colony
1843 - 1872: The Maori stubbornly resisted the British colonialists (Maori Wars)
1907: New Zealand became a British Dominion
1914 - 1918: The country participated in the Second World War (as part of British troops)
1947: Dominion status replaced by Member of the British Commonwealth status.
The history of the settlement of New Zealand is not well understood. According to some data, even before the resettlement in the 10th-14th centuries. in New Zealand, from Central Polynesia, the ancestors of modern Maoris lived here with tribes that subsequently either disappeared or were assimilated by the Maoris. In 1642 New Zealand was discovered by the Dutch navigator A. Ta........

List of sources used
1. Atlas of economic and social geography of the world compiled by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Production Mapping Association "Cartography" in 1993. Editor-in-Chief N.N. Polunkina, Executive editor of the atlas N.N. Sarvas. Corrected based on materials from 2009 and prepared for publication by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory"
2. Small Encyclopedia of Countries / edited by Sirotenko N.G., Mendeleev V.A. 2nd ed., revised. - M.: LLC “Publishing House - AST”; Kharkov: LLC, 2009. - 405 pp.: ill.
3. Countries of the world and continents / Author. - comp. M.V. Adamchik. - Minsk: Harvest, 2008. - 384 p.: ill.
4. New Zealand [electronic resource] access mode: ()
5. New Zealand [electronic resource] access mode ()
6. Country studies catalog “ECONRUS” [electronic resource] access mode: ()
7. Encyclopedia of knowledge [electronic resource] access mode: ()

Geographical location

New Zealand is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,930 km southeast of Australia. The area of ​​New Zealand is 268,021 square meters. km, and the population is 3781.5 thousand people (1997). This country includes two big islands- Northern, where approximately 3/4 of the population is concentrated, and Southern, as well as a number of smaller islands - Stuart, Chatham Islands and several more remote ones with a total area of ​​1015 square meters. km. Of these, the only group of any significant size is the Auckland Islands. Only the Kermadec and Campbell Islands have permanent populations. New Zealand's jurisdiction also includes Tokelau and the Antarctic sector in the Ross Sea region.

New Zealand's climate is flat and humid. The difference in seasonal temperatures is small, there is a lot of rain, but not enough sunny days It’s also not felt. Climatic conditions vary from one region of the country to another. This is partly due to the significant longitudinal extent of New Zealand, resulting in the fact that in its extreme north the climate is warm and humid, without frost, and in the extreme south in the interior of the island it is cold and dry. The mountain ranges located in the west and center of the islands and protecting the eastern coasts from winds blowing from the west also play a certain role. Almost the entire population of the country lives in areas located below 600 m above sea level, so eternal snow does not cause any concern. The west coast of the South Island has a very humid climate. The plains of Canterbury are much drier and are sometimes blown by hot and dry winds, sometimes by cold, rainy southern winds. Throughout the North Island, except for the interior mountainous regions, both summers and winters are mild, and moderate to heavy rainfall occurs throughout its territory.

Visas, entry rules, customs regulations

To obtain a visa you must submit the following documents:

IN consular section international passport,

A completed application form in English with a photo attached,

Evidence of solvency,

Air ticket reservation.

The following can be imported: spirits - 1.125 l, wine, beer - 4.5 l, cigarettes - 200 pcs.

The import of food, drugs, weapons, any plants, items of animal and plant origin, bee products, pet food, ivory in any form, products made from turtle shells, bones and tusks of sea animals is prohibited. Firearms and bladed weapons are subject to mandatory customs control.

The export of specimens of plants and animals under state protection, as well as products made of leather, bone, bird feathers, coral, etc. is prohibited.

Population, political status

The population of New Zealand is about 3.8 million people. The majority of the population is Anglo-New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi guarantees Māori a special place in New Zealand.

English and Maori are used as official languages.

New Zealand is an independent parliamentary democracy within the British Commonwealth. Formally, the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor General. The legislative body is parliament, which is elected every three years on the basis of mixed proportional representation.

What to see

New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is located by a beautiful harbor on the southern tip of the North Island. The city differs from the rest of New Zealand in that the weather is very changeable, and in winter there are often piercing winds. Despite its compact size, Wellington is packed with attractions. One of the most interesting architectural complexes is the Parliament, consisting of three buildings of completely different styles - the main parliament building, built in the neo-classical style, the Gothic library building and the modernist "Bee Hive" of the executive wing of parliament. Wellington is also the country's cultural capital, home to the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Opera House and the National School of Dance. The Te Papa National Museum, known for its extraordinary approach to organizing exhibitions, is also located here, which presents exhibits telling about the history of New Zealand from ancient times to the present day. In the city, it is worth visiting the magnificent Wellington Botanic Garden on Tinakori Hill with a unique collection of flora and observation deck Kelburn Heights with stunning views of the harbor and surrounding area. Also worth a visit are the First Settlers Memorial Park, the Parliament Building (1912), the building of the former Government Palace (19th century), and the Te Papa-Tongarewa National Museum (1998; total exhibition area is about 36 thousand sq. m. ), Queens Wharf Maritime Museum, Buckley Street Art Gallery, New Zealand Portrait Gallery on Mulgrave Street, Civic Square Art Gallery, Newton Park Zoo, New Zealand Astronomy Center and Planetarium.

The unique natural landscape of New Zealand has long been the hallmark of the country. Stretches from south to north of the South Island mountain range New Zealand Alps, the highest point of which is Mount Cook Peak. Every year mountain peaks New Zealand attracts a large number of fans of various sports: from alpine skiing to rock climbing. The North Island is located in an active volcanic belt, which has led to the emergence of many thermal springs and geysers here. The most famous geysers are located in the Rotorua area, which has recently become especially popular among tourists.
The Matamata area is home to the famous active volcano Tongariro. Not far away you can take part in a fascinating spectacle, when geysers release not white, but multi-colored smoke into the atmosphere. The real mystery for tourists is still the luminous caves of the Waikato Valley, frightening and at the same time enticing lovers of the exotic.
New Zealand is famous for its rich and diverse nature - geysers, mountains and lakes, forests and grottoes, glaciers and beaches. A widely developed environmental movement makes it possible to preserve all this splendor in an almost pristine state, even in the area of ​​large cities. The national parks of Mount Cook on South Island, Tongariro, Fiordland and others attract special attention from tourists.
North Island - snow-capped mountain peaks in Tongariro National Park, geysers and mud puddles in the vicinity of Rotorua, endless green meadows, mountain slopes buried in dense forests, and the coastline is an endless sandy beach. The ski season in the mountains of the island lasts 3 months - from June to September, sometimes, on the sunniest spring days, skiing is combined with the swimming season.
Very beautiful city of Auckland. This coastal city has the pulse of life and the glow of the sea reflected in its eyes. Its location on a thin strip of the North Island is very interesting, as it seems that the city is surrounded on all sides by water. All of Auckland's tourist attractions are connected to the sea in one way or another. Once you've explored all the aquariums and learned the history of sailing, you can learn about Maori culture, dinosaur skeletons, or stargaze at the observatory.
South Island is home to countless fjords, glaciers, turbulent mountain streams and rivers where trout live, impenetrable jungle, tropical rainforests on the coast, palm groves and mountain ranges with peaks 3000 meters high. The island is a great place for fishing, kayaking, biking, rafting and long hikes. Almost all trips begin in Picton, a town that looks like a small and colorful postcard.
Rotorua is one of the country's main attractions. The Valley of Geysers is the heart of the geyser region. You will be able to take a mud bath and experience the healing properties of hot springs. The cultural center of the New Zealand aborigines, the Maori, is also located here. An opportunity to get acquainted with Maori culture, local legends, songs and dances. We recommend staying in Rotorua for 2-3 days. If you are a thrill-seeker, in Rotorua you can try: bungee jumping - Bungy Jumping, tobogganing (rolling down the slides on special equipment like mini beans), jetboat - riding on high-speed boats along a mountain river with rocky steep banks and zrobing - going downhill in a transparent ball with a scooter.
Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake and is located in the heart of the North Island. A 3.5 hour drive from Auckland, these places are famous primarily for New Zealand trout fishing. Several types of fishing are possible - on the lake and in mountain rivers. Here you can also take a cruise on the lake, ride a speed boat, and for extreme sports enthusiasts - rafting on mountain rivers. From here you can take a plane flight over the mountains and the active White Island volcano. Trips around the most beautiful places, Maroi caves, where rock paintings are preserved, visiting Otupotu waterfalls, swimming in crystal clear water. It is possible to organize personal expeditions with accommodation in tents.
Queenstown is a land of wild nature. The second most popular place in New Zealand. Cruises on the lake are possible from here national park fjords of Milfond Sound, jeep safaris, rafting on wild rivers. Queenstown is the starting point for excursions along the southwest - the most picturesque coast. Here are the best ski resorts New Zealand.
Mount Cook is the highest point in New Zealand. The magnificent, breathtaking Tasmanian Glacier is 30 km long and more than 3 km wide at its widest point. Various walks are possible mountain paths, helicopter flights over glaciers.

end of form beginning of form In 1642, Captain Abel Janszoon Tasman of the Dutch East India Company first observed the coast of New Zealand. However, when trying to land, the Dutch were attacked by Maori warriors. Tasman did not make a second attempt and sailed away without declaring his rights as a discoverer. In 1769, Captain James Cook, who was sailing at that time on instructions from the British Admiralty, circumnavigated both islands, landed on each of them and declared New Zealand a possession of the British crown. In the 1790s, settlements of fugitive sailors and adventurers began to spontaneously appear on the islands, who traded in seal and fur seal skins with great profit. Throughout the 19th century. There was an active trade in whale oil and whalebone here.

In 1814, Samuel Marsden established the first Anglican missions among the Maori tribes. In the early 1820s, the Anglican missionaries were joined by the Methodists of the Wesleyan Mission, and later, in the 1830s, a French Catholic mission appeared. On January 4, 1840, a group of company representatives landed in Wellington, and on January 22, the first settlers arrived. Settlements were established in the Wellington and New Plymouth, Whanganui and Nelson areas; a little later, settlements of subsidiaries arose, the Otago Association in Dunedin and the Canterbury Association in Christchurch. These last settlements were in the nature of religious communities. The settlers resented delays in obtaining the land they had formally purchased from the New Zealand Land Company; At the same time, the Maori twice, in 1834-1835 and in 1860-1870, resorted to military action in an attempt to drive settlers from land that they believed was taken from them unjustly. In 1865, a native land court was established to resolve disputed issues of land ownership. This simplified the procedure for acquiring land, and most of the Maori land was then sold off.

end of form beginning of form New Zealand remained dependent on New South Wales until 3 May 1841, when it was declared a separate British Crown colony. In 1846, parliament passed a law establishing representative institutions; but the Governor, Sir George Grey, delayed the proclamation of this constitution on the ground that some of its provisions were contrary to the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1852, Parliament adopted the Constitutional Act, which granted powers of self-government to the General Assembly, which consisted of an appointed legislative council and an elected House of Representatives. The Act of 1852 also established provincial councils, but they were abolished in 1876. From 1852 to 1907, New Zealand had a self-government regime. In 1907 it began to be called a dominion, but without any change in its constitutional status. In 1931, under the Statute of Westminster, Great Britain granted full self-government to all its dominions. The New Zealand Parliament did not recognize this statute until 1947, leaving the decision on foreign policy issues to the British government. After the first Labor government came to power in the country in 1935, New Zealand entered into treaties and exchanged diplomatic representatives with a number of foreign countries, including the United States.

Prosperity in New Zealand that came after the American Civil War and Franco-Prussian War in Europe, ended with severe financial crises in 1874 and 1879, followed by a period of depression that lasted until 1896. From 1870 to 1890, the so-called “Permanent Government”, consisting of conservatives and expressing the interests of mainly large sheep farmers, remained in power. In 1885, called the "year of the exodus", many hundreds of people left New Zealand, heading mainly to Australia. At the same time, powerful social movements arose for women's suffrage, for anti-alcohol legislation, for protective tariffs on manufacturing industries, and for state socialism, which could end the long economic depression.

Until recently, the political system in New Zealand was characterized by a high degree of stability. After a period of rule by conservative landowners from 1870 to 1890, the Liberal Party came to power, representing the interests of urban workers and small farmers. Then the conservative Reform Party was in power, supported by business circles and small farmers, who, after the collapse of the Liberal-Labour coalition in 1919, found themselves deprived of political representation. Ending the wars with the Maori and developing the territory of the North Island by building highways, bridges and railways contributed to the rapid growth of the number of immigrants, and by 1901 its population exceeded that of South Island. The dairy industry, organized in small cooperatives, developed rapidly. The Reform Party's policies were based mainly on expanding the rights of free landowners and supporting agriculture.

New Zealand supported Britain in the First World War. Most New Zealanders joined Australian units, forming the famous Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. They distinguished themselves on the battlefields of France and Palestine. In 1914 Samoa surrendered to the New Zealand army, and in 1919 the League of Nations gave the Prime Minister of New Zealand a mandate to govern this territory, called Western Samoa.

After war was declared on Germany in September 1939, a New Zealand division was sent to the Western theater of operations, which performed well in North Africa. When Japan entered the war, a second division was formed to defend the country, which participated in the fighting in the Pacific Ocean as part of the US armed forces. New Zealanders also served in navy and in the British Air Force.

In 1972, the Labor Party, led by Norman Kirk, returned to power. The Kirk government recognized the People's Republic of China, abandoned New Zealand's military participation in the SEATO bloc and canceled tariff benefits on goods from South Africa. It set out to improve education and housing for Māori and established a special court to hear complaints of discrimination and violations of indigenous rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1975, a march of Maori representatives to parliament took place, which drew public attention to the facts of oppression of the indigenous population. After Kirk's unexpected death in 1974, the Labor Party elected Wallace Rowling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, as his successor.

The Labor government failed to insulate New Zealand from the global economic downturn and rising prices of the early 1970s. The country was hit hard by the oil crisis of 1974. Inflation became a political problem, and in 1975 the National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, returned to power. Inflation continued to rise in subsequent years; the ever-increasing trade deficit and rising unemployment exacerbated economic crisis. Although the National Party won subsequent elections, in 1978 and 1981, its position in parliament became increasingly precarious. Disagreements within the party prompted Muldoon to call early elections in July 1984. They were won decisively by the Labor Party, led by David Langie.

The implementation of Langi's program, which aimed to reduce the role of the state and develop a market economy, led to some economic growth. The program began restructuring the public sector, education and health care systems. Under the Companies Act 1993, a number of state-owned utilities were granted autonomous enterprise status, which in some cases led to their subsequent privatization. The decisions of the special court to oversee compliance with the provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi were given retroactive force. Although the court could only make recommendations to the government, its decisions brought issues of race relations and indigenous rights into new light.

The foreign policy of the Langi government caused sharp dissatisfaction with the United States, especially in connection with the ban on ships with nuclear engines and nuclear weapons from entering New Zealand waters. Langie unexpectedly resigned as prime minister in August 1989. He was replaced by Geoffrey Palmer. In September 1990, Palmer was replaced as prime minister by Mike Moore, the new leader of the Labor Party.

In the general election in October 1990, the National Party, led by Jim Bolger, achieved victory over Labour. The Bolger government has reduced government spending, especially in the social sector of the budget. An agreement was reached with Australia on a free trade zone and closer economic ties between the two countries.

In 1990, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was celebrated. This event, which coincided with rising unemployment, emigration and Maori demands for recompensation, brought to the fore many issues related to race relations, women's rights, and the welfare state. These problems were further exacerbated by the ensuing economic downturn. At this moment, a third party appeared on the political arena - the Alliance of several groups united by common interests; The new party's task was to return to a policy aimed at creating a welfare state. By 1993, employment increased sharply and the economy began to recover. However, the general elections held at the end of 1993 showed that both the ruling National Party and the opposition Labor Party had largely lost voter support. The National Party, which won 50 of the 99 seats, struggled to maintain its position as the majority party, and was able to achieve this only by offering the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives to a member of the Labor Party.

In 1993, in parallel with the parliamentary elections, a referendum was held on the issue of the electoral system. The referendum participants spoke in favor of abolishing the hitherto existing majoritarian electoral system, in which election was ensured by a simple majority of votes, and introducing a system of mixed proportional representation.

When elections under the new system were held for the first time in October 1996, it turned out that no party had won a majority in the parliament, which now had 120 seats. After lengthy negotiations, the National Party, led by James Bolger, formed a coalition with the New Zealand First Party. In December 1997, Jenny Shipley replaced Bolger as National Party leader and Prime Minister. In August 1998, the coalition collapsed and representatives of the New Zealand First party left the government. The National Party, supported by a number of smaller parties and independent members of parliament, continued to remain in power

Foreign trade

New Zealand's economy is heavily dependent on foreign trade. Export earnings primarily come from the sale of dairy products, meat, timber and wood products, other forest products and wool. Trade volumes with Asian countries, especially Japan, have increased significantly. In December 1982, a “closer economic cooperation agreement” (CER) was signed with Australia, and in 1990 all restrictions on trade between these countries were lifted. New Zealand's main trading partners are Australia, Japan, the USA and the UK.

Stores

The Government Goods and Services Tax (GST) is 12.5% ​​and is added to the cost of all goods and services. All in-store prices are inclusive of GST unless otherwise stated.

Demography

Population growth is mainly due to immigration. 14.5% of the population are Maori, 5.6% are Pacific Islanders; Chinese, Indians and Vietnamese are also present, each accounting for less than 1%. Among the rest of the population, approximately 90% are descendants of immigrants from Great Britain. The population of the North Island is growing faster than that of the South Island, and more than 3/4 of the country's population is now concentrated there.

Industry

The main industries are food; production of transport equipment; production and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment; carpet weaving, furniture, printing and publishing industries; aluminum smelting and woodworking industry.

Vegetable and fauna

After 1850, New Zealand was transformed from a forested country into a vast grassland. Now only 29% of its territory is occupied by forests. Of the more than a hundred tree species growing here, only a few are of economic importance, including four species of conifers - Dacridium cypress, Totara footcarp, paniculata and Dacridium - and one broad-leaved species - Nothofagus. The famous and once widespread forests of New Zealand agathis now survive only in reserves in the north of the North Island. In the east of the North Island, communities of the native grass Danthonia are still quite widespread.

The fauna of New Zealand is similar to that of some other regions of the Southern Hemisphere, there are endemic species and even genera and, with the exception of two species of bats, there are no placental mammals. The most interesting are the birds. Only here were found the remains of extinct moa, or dinornis, giant flightless birds, some species of which reached 3.6 m in height. They were completely exterminated probably about 500 years ago. The forests are still inhabited by flightless kiwis, which are depicted on the country's emblem. Another flightless bird, the New Zealand plume, was considered extinct, but was rediscovered in 1948.

Banks and money

New Zealand banknotes / Currency converter

New Zealand introduced a decimal coinage system in 1967, when the New Zealand pound was replaced by the New Zealand dollar. The New Zealand dollar is equal to 100 cents. There are coins in circulation in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents; 1 and 2 dollars; banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. All money is issued by the state-owned Reserve Bank of New Zealand.