Introduction of New Zealand

cctv.com 10-20-2003 14:44

Brief history: 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.

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

Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado

Population: 3,951,307 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.09% (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

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

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

Languages: English (official), Maori (official)

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

Capital: Wellington

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code: NZD

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000), 1.8896 (1999), 1.8683 (1998)

Editor:Xiao  Source: