New Zealand: Background & Geography
| Introduction | New Zealand |
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Background:
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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. |
| Geography | New Zealand |
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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 00 S, 174 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 268,680 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands water: NA sq km land: NA sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of Colorado |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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15,134 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate with sharp regional contrasts |
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Terrain:
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predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m |
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Natural resources:
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natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.8%
permanent crops: 6.44% other: 87.76% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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2,850 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world |