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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.nz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1.72 million (2008)

Internet users [time series]

3.36 million (2007)

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; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)

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

1.706 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.245 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $58.31 billion expenditures: $53.5 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

8.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12.83% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Current account balance [time series]

-$10.23 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

36.2 (1997)

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 - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive years and reached $27,300 in 2007 in purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years. Exports were equal to about 22% of GDP in 2007, down from 33% of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output. Inflationary pressures have built in recent years and the central bank raised its key rate 13 times since January 2004 to finish 2007 at 8.25%. A large balance of payments deficit poses another challenge in managing the economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

38.93 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

42.41 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$27.35 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 22%, US 11.5%, Japan 9.2%, China 5.3%, UK 4.6% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$128.1 billion (2007 est.)

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

$112.4 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 4.5% industry: 26.2% services: 69.3% (2007 est.)

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

$27,200 (2007 est.)

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

3.1% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$29.06 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 20.7%, China 13.4%, US 9.7%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 4.9%, Germany 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.5% (2007 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]

2.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.236 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 7% industry: 19% services: 74% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$40.62 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

4.572 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

4.573 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

29.67 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

158,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

14,570 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

137,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

47,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

55 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$71.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$200.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$24.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$117.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.6% (2007 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,021 sq km water: NA 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 invasive species

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%) per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005)

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 contiguous zone: 24 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

397 cu km (1995)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Capital [time series]

name: Wellington geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in March note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham Island

Constitution [time series]

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

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 William P. McCORMICK 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 Roy N. FERGUSON 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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006) head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: 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 - note [time series]

while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

26 September 1907 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the Governor-General

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 (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NP 45.5%, NZLP 33.8%, Green Party 6.4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.2%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 59, NZLP 43, Green Party 8, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1 note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122

National holiday [time series]

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

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

ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

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

Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,009,298 females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 833,073 females age 16-49: 822,807 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 31,834 female: 30,243 (2008 est.)

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

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 446,883/female 424,240) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,390,669/female 1,385,686) 65 years and over: 12.6% (male 238,560/female 287,422) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.2% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups [time series]

European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

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

1,400 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.24 years male: 78.33 years female: 82.25 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.3 years male: 35.6 years female: 37.1 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Net migration rate [time series]

2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

4,173,460 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.971% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 19 years male: 19 years female: 20 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.11 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Illicit drugs [time series]

significant consumer of amphetamines

Transportation

Airports [time series]

121 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 41 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 46 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 13 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1) registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 331 km; gas 1,896 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 260 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei

Railways [time series]

total: 4,128 km narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 93,576 km paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)