New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific. It consists of two major lands, the North Island (TeIka-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu), and more than 700 small islands, with a total area of ​​268,021 square kilometers (103,500 square miles). New Zealand is about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 km (600 miles) south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. The diverse terrain and sharp peaks of the country, including the Southern Alps, owes much to structural uplift and volcanic eruptions. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and Auckland is the most populous city.

The islands of New Zealand are so far away that they were the last large land for humans to live in. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle on the island and subsequently developed a unique Maori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to witness and record New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of British and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty proclaimed British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841 New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and became a dominion in 1907. It gained full legal independence in 1947, and the British monarch remained the head of state. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5 million is of European descent. The indigenous Maori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is primarily derived from Maori and early British settlers, and has recently expanded with an increase in immigrants. The official languages ​​are Maori and New Zealand Sign Language, and English is the mainstream and de facto official language.

New Zealand, a developed country, ranks high in international comparisons of domestic performance in terms of quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency and financial freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes in the 1980s, transforming from a protected trade principle to a free trade economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and then agriculture. International tourism is also an important source of income. Nationally, legislative power is given to a single elected parliament, and the political power of the executive branch is exercised by the Prime Minister, now the Cabinet led by Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of the country and is represented by the governor. In addition, New Zealand is organized by 11 local councils and 67 territorial authorities for local purposes. The Kingdom of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (Dependent). Cook Islands and Niue (The Associated State of New Zealand); and New Zealand's claim of sovereignty in Antarctica, the Los Angeles area.

New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Pacific Community and Pacific Islands Forum.