INTERESTING FACTS

• New Zealand consists of two main islands, North Island and South Island
• Total length of the country is about 1600km, and land area is slightly larger than that of the United Kingdom
• The North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait (three hours across by ferry)
• The country’s population totals about 4.2 million; the main language is English but many place names are in Maori
• Wellington is the capital city and seat of government but the city with the biggest population is Auckland (1.3 million); other main cities are Christchurch and Dunedin
• The biggest population group is New Zealand European with indigenous Maori the largest minority, followed by non-Maori Polynesian and Asian
• Maori first migrated to New Zealand about 1000 years ago and were followed in the past two centuries by increasing numbers of European settlers
• Maori call New Zealand Aotearoa, which means Land of the Long White Cloud
• Agriculture and horticulture, fishing, forestry and tourism drive the economy
• New Zealand’s climate is temperate and suitable for year-round activity
• National symbols include the kiwi – a flightless, nocturnal bird found only in New Zealand and the reason New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis – and the silver fern, an icon of our native flora that signifies finest quality and achievement