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Communications

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]

41 (in addition, there are 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.53 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $24.9 billion expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$53.2 billion (March 1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $123 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. The slump in demand in Asian markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in 1998.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 18.72% hydro: 75.67% nuclear: 0% other: 5.61% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.85 (February 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$12.9 billion (1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 6% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July--30 June

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

purchasing power parity--$61.1 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 9% industry: 25% services: 66% (1997)

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

purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)

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

-0.2% (1998)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$13 billion (1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Australia 27%, US 19%, Japan 12%, UK 6% (1997)

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]

1.1% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

1.86 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 65.1%, industry 25.1%, agriculture 9.8% (1995)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.6% (1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

about the size of Colorado

Climate [time series]

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Coastline [time series]

15,134 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

about 80% of the population lives in cities

Irrigated land [time series]

2,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Dependent areas [time series]

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation from the US [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 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt CREECH (since NA August 1998); note--the coalition government of the National Party and the New Zealand First Party was dissolved on 18 August 1998 cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, 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 House of Representatives--commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%, NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party--NP 44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1

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 or NP [Jenny coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$562 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.05% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 943,624 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 26,046 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006) 65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.82 years male: 74.55 years female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Net migration rate [time series]

3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.99% (1999 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 total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

111 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,687 GRT/183,372 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Railways [time series]

total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)

Waterways [time series]

1,609 km; of little importance to transportation