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Interesting New Zealand Facts
Some interesting facts about New Zealand and its people
New Zealand is, traditionally at least, an isolated country. A long ocean journey away from Europe and England in it's formative years, New Zealanders had to learn to adapt and improvise, and, as a result, developed a do-it-yourself attitude towards life. A nation that loves sport and outdoors activities, New Zealand can pride itself on having accomplished much in many fields as a small nation during it's relatively short history. Here are a few interesting facts about our nation and it's people - a race and culture that has rapidly become quite diverse over the past three decades. The population is mainly of European descent but the indigenous Maori and their culture is prevalent through out much of New Zealand society. There are also large proportions of Pacific Island and Asian peoples as well, Auckland being classified as the largest Polynesian city in the world.
Interesting New Zealand Facts:
Name: New Zealand - Aotearoa. Aotearoa is the Maori name meaning 'Land of the Long White Cloud'. New Zealand is also known colloquially as 'The Shaky Isles' because of it's geothermal activity and numerous earthquakes - none of which have been fatal since 1968.
New Zealand gained it's independence from Great Britain in 1907.
Location: Oceania Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, 1500 kms south-east of Australia.
New Zealand: is part of what is known as 'The Pacific Rim of Fire' - it's most active volcano is Mount Ruapehu in the central North Island.
Area: total: 268,021 sq km - similar in size to England and Japan.
Coastline: 15,134 km.
Number of National Parks: 14.
Climate: Temperate with sharp regional contrasts.
Elevation Extremes: Lowest: Pacific Ocean 0 m; Highest: Aoraki/Mt Cook 3,754 m.
Largest Lake: Lake Taupo - 606 km.
Deepest lake: Lake Hauroko - 462 m.
Longest River: Waikato river - 452 km.
Largest glacier: Tasman Glacier - 28.5 km long.
Deepest cave: Nettlebed2, NW Nelson - 889 m.
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E (in case you need directions).
New Zealand’s geography includes spectacular landscapes incorporating the vast mountain chain of the Southern Alps (larger than the French, Austrian and Swiss Alps combined), the volcano region of the North Island, fiords, glaciers, lakes, rainforests and extensive grassy plains.
First Humans Arrived: Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. See Related Links below...
Population: 4,100,000 Humans - 40,000,000 Sheep - 9,000,000 Cattle. About 80% of the population lives in cities. (The sheep and cattle remain outstanding - out standing in the field that is!)
Official Languages: English and Te Reo Maori.
National holiday: Waitangi Day - 6 February - the day that the Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840.
Capital: Wellington - the southern most capital in the world - aka: 'The Windy City'.
Largest City: Auckland - 1.25 million and growing - aka: 'The City of Sails' and 'The Jewel of the Pacific'.
New Zealand claims the longest place name (85 letters) in the world - Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu - which means: 'The hilltop ,where Tamatea with big knees, conqueror of mountains, eater of land, traveller over land and sea, played his koauau to his beloved'.
New Zealand's national symbol: is the flightless and fast disappearing Kiwi that lends it's name to the people of our nation. See Kiwi Links below... Also the Silver Fern - more associated with our national sports teams.
... The Kiwi - New Zealand's national symbol ...
New Zealand is home to Sir Edmund Hillary - the first European to climb Mount Everest.
New Zealand was the first western democracy to give women the vote - a battle lead by Kate Sheppard in the 1890's.
Favourite sport: Rugby - our national team, The All Blacks, are the 'winningest' rugby team in the world having won over 73% of their test matches over the years.
New Zealand invented bungee jumping.
New Zealand has a huge number of cars: 2.5 m for 4.1 m people.
New Zealand has won more Olympic gold medals, per capita, than any other country.
New Zealand had no predatory animals prior to European arrival, making it a paradise for birds - many of them flightless.
New Zealand has the world's largest flightless parrot - the Kakapo; the worlds oldest reptile - a relic of Gondwanaland called the Tuatara; the biggest earthworms; the smallest bats - the only native land mammals; the heaviest insect - the Weta; some of the oldest trees; and some of the rarest birds, insects, and plants in the world.
Kiwi Links:
- Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi - Kiwi are an icon, and an oddity. These flightless, nocturnal birds are the national symbol of New Zealand and its people. Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi reveals the world of this wonderful bird.
- Kiwi House and Native Bird Park Otorohanga, New Zealand - The Kiwi House and native bird park in Otorohanga, New Zealand is owned and operated by the Otorohanga Zoological Society, Inc.: A non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand's native wildlife through education, display and breeding programs.
- Kiwi Conservation Club - is a Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society project for children that began in 1988. Over 17,000 children and over 1,000 schools receive the Kiwi Conservation Club magazine.
- Kiwi Facts - on The Kiwi Site - A Beginners Guide to New Zealand/Aotearoa.
- Kiwi are a flightless bird, but in Maori mythology, Kiwi could once fly - a long time ago. Check out this lovely story that one of our Kiwi members posted on his Blog: How The Kiwi Lost His Wings - a classic story of self-giving.
Back To: The New Zealand Sri Chinmoy Centres.
