NEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHY Total area: 268,680 km2; land area: 268,670 km2; includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands Comparative area: about the size of Colorado Land boundaries: none Coastline: 15,134 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm; Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 53%; forest and woodland 38%; other 7%; includes irrigated 1% Environment: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe PEOPLE Population: 3,308,973 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991) Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--New Zealander(s); adjective--New Zealand Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2% Religion: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986) Language: English (official), Maori Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970) Labor force: 1,591,900; services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987) Organized labor: 681,000 members; 43% of labor force (1986) GOVERNMENT Long-form name: none; abbreviated NZ Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Wellington Administrative divisions: 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 Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK) Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6 February (1840) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament) Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II ( since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12 December 1990); Head of Government--Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990) Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE; New Labor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Neil MORRISON; Green Party, no official leader; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Representatives--last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held October 1993); results--NP 49%, LP 35%, Green Party 7%, New Labor 5%; seats--(97 total) NP 67, LP 29, NLP 1 Communists: SUP about 140, other groups, about 200 Member of: ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN; Chancery at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 328-4800; there are New Zealand Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York; US--Ambassador Della M. NEWMAN; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is P. O. Box 1190, Wellington, or FPO San Francisco 96690-0001); telephone 64 (4) 722-068; there is a US Consulate General in Auckland Flag: 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 ECONOMY Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels but growth has been sluggish and unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has been at a record high 7.4%. In 1988 GDP fell by 1%, in 1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%, and was flat in 1990. GDP: $40.2 billion, per capita $12,200; real growth rate 0.7% (1990) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (FY90) Unemployment rate: 7.4% (March 1990) Budget: revenues $17.6 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.) Exports: $8.8 billion (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals, forestry products; partners--EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea 3.1% Imports: $8.1 billion (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment; partners--Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0% External debt: $17.4 billion (1989) Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GNP and 10% of the work force; livestock predominates--wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, and vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988 Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January 1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985) Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: 4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km electrified; over 99% government owned Highways: 92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone Inland waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation Pipelines: 1,000 km natural gas; 160 km refined products; 150 km condensate Ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga Merchant marine: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 204,269 GRT/281,375 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk Civil air: about 40 major transport aircraft Airports: 157 total, 157 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 46 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones; stations 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations DEFENSE FORCES Branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 874,443; 740,831 fit for military service; 28,814 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: $832 million, 1-2% of GDP (FY90)