New Zealand |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| |
| Background |
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. |
| Natural
resources |
natural gas, iron ore,
sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone |
| Land
use |
arable land: 5.8%
permanent crops: 6.44%
other: 87.76% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
3,951,307 (July 2003 est.)
|
| 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) |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Capital |
Wellington |
| Government
type |
parliamentary democracy
|
| Independence |
26 September 1907 (from
UK) |
| National
holiday |
Waitangi Day (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand),
6 February (1840) |
|
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