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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $556 million, 1% of GDP (FY93/94)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 927,212 males fit for military service: 780,976 males reach military age (20) annually: 27,433 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

3.215 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

excellent international and domestic systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.7 million (1986 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

14 (1986 est.)

Televisions [time series]

1.53 million (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, meat, dairy products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988

Budget [time series]

revenues: $22.18 billion expenditures: $20.28 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

donor: ODA, $98 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market toward a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The initial results were mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3% annually, a sign that the new economic approach was beginning to pay off. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, and inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. The government announced its first budget surplus in 16 years in FY94/95 and forecasts a surplus of $5.0 billion in FY97/98. The government intends to use the surplus to reduce the debt, increase social spending, and cut taxes - by $1.35 billion over two years beginning in 1996. Per capita GDP now is up to the levels of the big West European economies.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 7,520,000 kW production: 30.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,401 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$13.41 billion (1995) commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 12%, UK 6%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$38.5 billion (September 1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $62.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7.3% industry: 25.9% services: 66.8% (1990)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$18,300 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

5.5% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$13.62 billion (1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods partners: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2% (FY95/96)

Labor force [time series]

1,634,500 (September 1995) by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4% (1994)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.1% (October 1995)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 268,680 sq km land area: 268,670 sq km comparative area: about the size of Colorado note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Climate [time series]

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Coastline [time series]

15,134 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

about 80% of the population lives in cities

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Irrigated land [time series]

2,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 53% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7%

Location [time series]

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Terrain [time series]

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Capital [time series]

Wellington

Constitution [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Dependent areas [time series]

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 consulate(s) general: Apia (Western Samoa), Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990) were appointed by the governor general cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[64] (4) 472-3537 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)) [time series]

elections last held 6 November 1993 (next must be called by November 1996); results - NP 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First 8.3%; seats - (99 total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand First Party 2

Independence [time series]

26 September 1907 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court; Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ

National holiday [time series]

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National Party (NP, government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; Socialist Unity Party (SUP, pro-Soviet), leader NA; New Zealand First, Winston PETERS; United New Zealand (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand (ACT), Richard PREBBLE; Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev. Graham CAPILL note: the New Zealand Liberal, New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party in September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992; the National Party government formed a coalition with the United New Zealand Party in February 1996; the coalition will be valid through the 1996 elections

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN 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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23% (male 420,900; female 400,159) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,161,522; female 1,154,536) 65 years and over: 12% (male 177,182; female 233,684) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.72 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.01 years male: 73.96 years female: 80.21 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99%

Nationality [time series]

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Net migration rate [time series]

3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

3,547,983 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.12% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.76 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 113 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 with paved runways under 914 m: 50 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 93,348 km paved: 54,142 km (including 141 km of expressways) unpaved: 39,206 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 162,220 GRT/213,749 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate (liquefied petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km

Ports [time series]

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Railways [time series]

total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (504 km electrified)

Waterways [time series]

1,609 km; of little importance to transportation