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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

36 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.nz

Internet users [time series]

1.34 million (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

3.75 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.84 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

588,000 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.926 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $19.2 billion expenditures: $19.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

NZD

Debt - external [time series]

$30.8 billion (2000 est.)

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 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. With the FY00/01 budget pushing up pension and other public outlays, the government's ability to meet fiscal targets will depend on sustained economic growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

35.295 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

37.952 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 30.49% hydro: 61.42% nuclear: 0% other: 8.09% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$14.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 22%, US 14%, Japan 13%, UK 7% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $67.6 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 8% industry: 23% services: 69% (1999)

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

purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2000 est.)

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

3.6% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)

Imports [time series]

$14.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 24%, US 17%, Japan 12%, UK 4% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.2% (2000)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.88 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.3% (2000 est.)

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

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]

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter

Country name [time series]

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

Dependent areas [time series]

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999) 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

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

[1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

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

[64] (4) 478-1701 consulate(s) general: Auckland

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]

ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), 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, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, 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 27 November 1999 (next must be called by November 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NZLP 49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ 1 note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National Party became the opposition party

National holiday [time series]

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

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

ACT, New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, New Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) [Jim ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Jenny SHIPLEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United New Zealand or UNZ [Peter DUNNE]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.

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 [time series]

$883 million (FY97/98)

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

1.1% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,000,102 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 841,915 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 26,480 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.36% (male 442,738; female 421,462) 15-64 years: 66.11% (male 1,281,781; female 1,272,674) 65 years and over: 11.53% (male 193,895; female 251,579) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2001 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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.06% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,200 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.99 years male: 75.01 years female: 81.1 years (2001 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]

4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

3,864,129 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.14% (2001 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: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

111 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 42 (2000 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)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 72,389 GRT/109,018 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 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: 3,913 km narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)

Waterways [time series]

1,609 km note: of little importance in satisfying total transportation requirements