Information About New Zealand
Language : English and Maori
Capital city : Wellington
Population : 4.37 million
Currency : New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Date of independence : 1947
National day : Feb 6
International dialling code : +64
Time Zone : GMT +12.00
Lying in the South Pacific,New Zealand consists of 2 main islands, each of which offers their own unique attractions. There are North Island and the South Island, with a third smaller island in the south, Stewart Island.
South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is a little larger than the North Island. It is approximately 800 km long by 200 km wide. Total surface area is 268,680 sq km. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island, with a population of over 320,000.
Features:
- The most scenic ski fields, and the most different club fields are in the south.
- Queenstown – the adventure capital of the world.
- Kaikoura – offers a unique combination of ocean and mountains
North Island
The North Island is home to the largest city in New Zealand – Auckland, also known as the ‘City of Sails’, and the Capital City of New Zealand – Wellington.
Features:
- The beaches and surf are better.
- More Maori culture to experience
- Volcanoes in Tongariro National Park
- The large kauri trees of Waipoua Forest
- Meeting of the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea at Cape Reinga
- Meet more hot pools and geothermal activity to see.
Stewart Island
Stewart Island, the southern-most island of New Zealand with 64 km long, and 40 km across. Stewart Island offers the best chance most people will have to see New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, in its natural environment.
New Zealand is also known as Aotearoa, the name given to it by the local Maori who settled the islands around the year 850 AD. Aotearoa means “the land of the long white cloud”. The culture of its indigenous Maori people affects the language, the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders.
