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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.nz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

474,395 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

2.11 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems domestic: NA international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

1.765 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.599 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $32.14 billion expenditures: $30.13 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

NZD

Current account balance [time series]

$-3.446 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$37.46 billion (2003 est.)

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

ODA, $99.7 million

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has been rising and is now 80% of the level of the four largest EU economies. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and growth should continue at the same level in 2004. Expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

34.88 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

37.51 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000), 1.8896 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$15.86 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 11%, China 4.9%, UK 4.8% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $85.34 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 27.4% services: 67.8% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2003 est.)

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

3.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$16.06 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 22.2%, US 11.8%, Japan 11.8%, China 9%, Germany 5.3% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.3% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.9% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

2.008 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

58.94 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

30,220 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

119,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

25.6% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$5.083 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.7% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 268,680 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA 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: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 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, 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

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.6% permanent crops: 6.99% other: 87.41% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

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

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]

13 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne-Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nelson-Marlborough, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

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 Charles J. SWINDELLS embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034 telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000 FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 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 Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002) 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; 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, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8, other 2

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]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Coalition [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

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]

$1.147 billion (FY03/04)

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

1% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,033,464 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 868,984 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 27,157 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21.7% (male 443,211; female 422,507) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,337,383; female 1,325,683) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 203,084; female 261,949) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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]

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

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

1,400 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.49 years male: 75.5 years female: 81.61 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 33.4 years male: 32.6 years female: 34.1 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Net migration rate [time series]

4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

3,993,817 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.05% (2004 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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

113 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 70 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 92,053 km paved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways) unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 77,523 GRT/108,352 DWT by type: bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: Australia 1, Isle of Man 1 registered in other countries: 8 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refined products 304 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Railways [time series]

total: 3,898 km narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2003)