View source for Earth:New Zealand

{{Short description|Island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean}}
{{Pp-move|small=yes}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = New Zealand
| native_name            = {{native name|mi|Aotearoa}}
| common_name            = New Zealand
| image_flag             = Flag of New Zealand.svg
| alt_flag               = Blue field with the Union Flag in the top right corner, and four red stars with white borders to the right.
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
| alt_coat               = A quartered shield, flanked by two figures, topped with a crown.
| image_map              = NZL_orthographic NaturalEarth.svg
| alt_map                = A map of the hemisphere centred on New Zealand, using an orthographic projection.
| map_caption            = Location of New Zealand, including outlying islands, its territorial claim in the Antarctic, and Tokelau
| map_width              = 250px
| other_symbol           = "God Defend New Zealand"<br />({{Lang-mi|{{noitalic|"}}Aotearoa{{noitalic|"}}|link=no}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:New Zealand national anthem, performed by the United States Navy Band.wav]]</div><br /><!-- DO NOT REMOVE "GOD SAVE THE KING" -->"God Save the King"{{refn|1="God Save the King" is officially a national anthem but is generally used only on regal and viceregal occasions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/protocols |title=Protocol for using New Zealand's National Anthems |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=17 February 2008 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511022303/http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/protocols |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group=n}}<!-- DO NOT add a media file without discussing on the talk page first -->
| other_symbol_type      = Anthems:
| capital                = [[Place:Wellington|Wellington]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|41|18|S|174|47|E|type:city_region:NZ}}
| largest_city           = [[Place:Auckland|Auckland]]
| official_languages     = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |English{{refn|1=English is a {{lang|la|de facto}} official language due to its widespread use.<ref>{{cite report |title=International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Fifth Periodic Report of the Government of New Zealand |date=21 December 2007 |publisher=New Zealand Government |page=89 |quote=In addition to the Māori language, New Zealand Sign Language is also an official language of New Zealand. The New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 permits the use of NZSL in legal proceedings, facilitates competency standards for its interpretation and guides government departments in its promotion and use. English, the medium for teaching and learning in most schools, is a ''de facto'' official language by virtue of its widespread use. For these reasons, these three languages have special mention in the New Zealand Curriculum. |url= http://mfat.govt.nz/downloads/humanrights/5th-ICCPR-report.pdf |url-status= |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150124193521/http://mfat.govt.nz/downloads/humanrights/5th-ICCPR-report.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2015 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>|group=n}}
  |Māori
  |NZ Sign Language
 }}
| ethnic_groups          = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |70.2% European
  |16.5% Māori
  |15.1% Asian
  |8.1% Pacific peoples
  |1.5% ME/LA/African
  |1.2% other{{refn|1=Ethnicity figures add to more than 100% as people could choose more than one ethnic group. |name="ethnicity"|group=n}}
 }}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2018
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref name="Census2018_pdc">{{cite web |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand#ethnicity |title=Quick stats about ethnicity for New Zealand (2018 Census) |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date= 14 November 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114051053/https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand#religion |at=Source: Stats NZ and licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.}}</ref>
| religion_year          = 2018
| religion_ref           = <ref name="QUICKSTATS">{{cite web |title=Quick stats about religion for New Zealand (2018 Census) |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=14 November 2023 |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand#religion |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231114051053/https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand#religion |archive-date=14 November 2023 |at=Source: Stats NZ and licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.}}</ref>
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |48.2% no religion  
  |36.5% Christianity 
  |2.7% Hinduism 
  |1.3% Islam 
  |1.1% Buddhism 
  |1.3% Māori religions
  |1.9% other 
  |6.7% unanswered
 }}
| demonym                = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;|New Zealander|Kiwi (colloquial)}}
| government_type        = Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
| leader_title1          = Monarch
| leader_name1           = Charles III
| leader_title2          = Governor-General
| leader_name2           = Cindy Kiro
| leader_title3          = Prime Minister
| leader_name3           = Christopher Luxon
| legislature            = Parliament<br />(House of Representatives)
| sovereignty_type       = Stages of independence
| sovereignty_note       = from the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}
| established_event1     = Treaty of Waitangi<ref>{{cite web |title=Treaty of Waitangi |url=https://mch.govt.nz/treatyofwaitangi |website=mch.govt.nz |publisher=Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=22 June 2023 |archive-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622103149/https://mch.govt.nz/treatyofwaitangi |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| established_date1      = 6 February 1840
| established_event2     = Responsible government
| established_date2      = 7 May 1856
| established_event3     = Dominion
| established_date3      = 26 September 1907
| established_event4     = Statute of Westminster adopted
| established_date4      = 25 November 1947
| established_event5     = Constitution Act 1986
| established_date5      = 1 January 1987
| area_rank              = 75th
| area_km2               = 268,021<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15357770 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 November 2023 |date=20 November 2023}}</ref>
| area_sq_mi             = 103,483<!--Do not remove per Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers-->
| percent_water          = 1.6{{refn|1=The proportion of New Zealand's area (excluding estuaries) covered by rivers, lakes and ponds, based on figures from the New Zealand Land Cover Database,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/land/land-cover-dbase/index.html |title=The New Zealand Land Cover Database |work=New Zealand Land Cover Database 2 |publisher=Ministry for the Environment |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=26 April 2011 |archive-date=14 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314113106/http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/land/land-cover-dbase/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> is (357526 + 81936) / (26821559 – 92499–26033 – 19216)=1.6%. If estuarine open water, mangroves, and herbaceous saline vegetation are included, the figure is 2.2%.|group=n}}
| population_estimate    = {{increase neutral}} {{formatnum:{{data New Zealand|poptoday}}}}<ref name="populationestimate">{{cite web |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/population-clock|title=Population clock |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=15 May 2021}} The population estimate shown is automatically calculated daily at 00:00 UTC and is based on data obtained from the population clock on the date shown in the citation.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = {{currentmonth}} {{currentyear}}
| population_estimate_rank = 120th
| population_census      = {{increase neutral}} 4,699,755<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2018-census-population-and-dwelling-counts|title=2018 Census population and dwelling counts|publisher=Statistics New Zealand|date=23 September 2019|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2018
| population_density_km2 = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018||y}}|R}}/268021|1}}
| population_density_sq_mi = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018||y}}|R}}/103483|1}} <!--Do not remove per Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers-->
| population_density_rank = 167th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $279.183 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.NZ">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=196,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (NZ) |publisher=[[Organization:International Monetary Fund|International Monetary Fund]] |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=12 October 2023}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 63rd
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2023
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $53,809<ref name="IMFWEO.NZ" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 32nd
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $249.415 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.NZ" />
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 51st
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2023
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $48,071<ref name="IMFWEO.NZ" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 23rd
| Gini_year              = 2022
| Gini_change            = decrease<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini                   = 30.0<!--number only-->
| Gini_ref               = <ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/household-income-and-housing-cost-statistics-year-ended-june-2022/|title=Household income and housing-cost statistics: Year ended June 2022|language=en|publisher=Statistics New Zealand|date=23 March 2023|access-date=22 September 2023}}</ref>
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI_year               = 2021<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = increase<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                    = 0.937<!--number only-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="HDI">{{cite book|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2021-22pdf_1.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2021/2022|language=en|publisher=[[Organization:United Nations Development Programme|United Nations Development Programme]]|date=8 September 2022|isbn=978-9211264517|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 13th
| currency               = New Zealand dollar ($)
| currency_code          = NZD
| iso3166code            = NZ
| time_zone              = NZST{{refn|1=The Chatham Islands have a [[Chatham Standard Time Zone|separate time zone]], 45 minutes ahead of the rest of New Zealand.|group=n}}
| utc_offset             = +12
| time_zone_DST          = NZDT{{refn|Clocks are advanced by an hour from the last Sunday in September until the first Sunday in April.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand Daylight Time Order 2007 (SR 2007/185) |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2007/0185/latest/whole.html |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=6 March 2017 |date=6 July 2007}}</ref> Daylight saving time is also observed in the Chatham Islands, 45 minutes ahead of NZDT. |group=n}}
| utc_offset_DST         = +13
| date_format            = {{abbr|dd|day}}/{{abbr|mm|month}}/{{abbr|yyyy|year}}<ref>There is no official all-numeric date format for New Zealand, but government recommendations generally follow Australian date and time notation. See {{citation |title=The Govt.nz style guide
|date=22 July 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Government |url= https://www.digital.govt.nz/standards-and-guidance/design-and-ux/content-design-guidance/numbers/
|access-date=9 July 2021}}.</ref>
| drives_on              = left
| calling_code           = +64
| cctld                  = .nz
}}

'''New Zealand''' ({{lang-mi|Aotearoa}} {{IPA-mi|aɔˈtɛaɾɔa|}}) is an [[Earth:Island country|island country]] in the southwestern [[Earth:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]]. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island ({{lang|mi|Te Ika-a-Māui}}) and the South Island ({{lang|mi|Te Waipounamu}})—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the [[Earth:List of island countries|sixth-largest island country]] by area and lies east of {{wipe|Australia}} across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of [[Earth:New Caledonia|New Caledonia]], Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to [[Earth:Tectonic uplift|tectonic uplift]] and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is [[Place:Wellington|Wellington]], and its most populous city is [[Place:Auckland|Auckland]].

The islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable land to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight and record New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which in its English version declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the [[Place:British Empire|British Empire]]. Subsequently, a series of conflicts between the colonial government and Māori tribes resulted in the alienation and confiscation of large amounts of Māori land. New Zealand became a dominion in 1907; it gained full statutory independence in 1947, retaining the monarch as [[Social:Head of state|head of state]]. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5.25 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening of culture arising from increased immigration. The official languages are English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, with the local dialect of English being dominant.

A [[Finance:Developed country|developed country]], it was the first to introduce a [[Social:Minimum wage|minimum wage]], and the first to give women the right to vote. It ranks very highly in international measures of [[Engineering:Human Development Index|quality of life]], human rights, and it has low levels of perceived corruption. It retains [[Finance:Economic inequality in New Zealand|visible levels of inequality]], having structural disparities between its Māori and European populations. New Zealand underwent [[Finance:Rogernomics|major economic changes]] during the 1980s, which transformed it from a [[Finance:Protectionism|protectionist]] to a liberalised [[Social:Free trade|free-trade]] economy. The service sector dominates the national economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is also a significant source of revenue.

Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Government, led by the prime minister, currently Christopher Luxon. Charles III is the country's king and is represented by the governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in [[Social:Associated state|free association]] with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica.

New Zealand is a member of the {{wipe|United Nations}}, [[Organization:Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth of Nations]], ANZUS, UKUSA, [[Organization:OECD|OECD]], [[Organization:ASEAN#ASEAN Plus Six|ASEAN Plus Six]], [[Organization:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]], the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum. It enjoys particularly close relations with the {{wipe|United States}} and is one of its major non-NATO allies;<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=22 USC § 2321k - Designation of major non-NATO allies |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2321k |access-date=14 September 2012 |work=law.cornell.edu |publisher=Legal Information Institute}}</ref> the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}; and with Australia, with a shared "[[Engineering:Trans-Tasman|Trans-Tasman]]" identity between the two countries.<ref name="Lynch2009">{{cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Brian |date=2009 |title=THE TRANS-TASMAN WORLD: towards a closer understanding |journal=New Zealand International Review |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=25–27 |jstor=45235895}}</ref>

==Etymology==<!--linked-->

[[File:Detail of 1657 map Polus Antarcticus by Jan Janssonius, showing Nova Zeelandia.png|thumb|left|Detail from a 1657 map showing the western coastline of {{lang|la|Nova Zeelandia}} (on this map, north is at the bottom)|alt=Brown square paper with Dutch writing and a thick red, curved line]]
The first European visitor to New Zealand, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, named the islands ''Staten Land'', believing they were part of the {{lang|nl|Staten Landt}} that Jacob Le Maire had sighted off the southern end of South America.<ref name="StatenLandt">{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=European discovery of New Zealand – Tasman's achievement |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/european-discovery-of-new-zealand/3 |access-date=24 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz//tm/scholarly/tei-Stout44-t2-body-d1-d1.html |title=The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 44. Chapter 1, Discovery and Settlement |first=John |last=Bathgate |publisher=NZETC |quote=He named the country Staaten Land, in honour of the States-General of Holland, in the belief that it was part of the great southern continent. |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref> Hendrik Brouwer proved that the South American land was a small island in 1643, and Dutch cartographers subsequently renamed Tasman's discovery {{lang|la|Nova Zeelandia}} from Latin, after the [[Place:Seventeen Provinces|Dutch province]] of Zeeland.<ref name="StatenLandt" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Mackay |first=Duncan |chapter=The Search for the Southern Land |date=1986 |editor-last=Fraser |editor-first=B. |title=The New Zealand Book of Events |location=Auckland |publisher=Reed Methuen |pages=52–54}}</ref> This name was later [[Social:Anglicisation|anglicised]] to ''New Zealand''.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://archive.org/stream/b24850366#page/n6/mode/1up |page=iii |first=James |last=Wood |title=The Nuttall Encyclopaedia: Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge |publisher=Frederick Warne & Co |date=1900 |location=London and New York |access-date=10 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="Names">{{cite book |first=Malcolm |last=McKinnon |chapter=Place names – Naming the country and the main islands |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/place-names/1 |access-date=24 January 2011}}</ref>

This was written as ''Nu Tireni'' in the Māori language (spelled ''Nu Tirani'' in Te Tiriti o Waitangi). In 1834 a document written in Māori and entitled "{{lang|mi|He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni}}" was translated into English and became the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand. It was prepared by {{lang|mi|Te W(h)akaminenga o Nga Rangatiratanga o Nga Hapu o Nu Tireni}}, the United Tribes of New Zealand, and a copy was sent to King William IV who had already acknowledged the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, and who recognised the declaration in a letter from Lord Glenelg.<ref name=glenelgletter>{{cite web |last=Grant (Lord Glenelg) |first=Charles |date=1836 |title=Extract of a Despatch from Lord Glenelg to Major-General Sir Richard Bourke, New South Wales |via=Waitangi Associates |url= http://www.waitangi.co.nz/declarationindependence.htm#Extract |access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref>{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=41}}

{{lang|mi|Aotearoa}} (pronounced {{IPA-mi|aɔˈtɛaɾɔa|}} in Māori and {{IPAc-en|ˌ|aʊ|t|ɛəˈr|oʊ|.|ə}} in English; often translated as 'land of the long white cloud'){{sfn|King|2003|p=41}} is the current Māori name for New Zealand. It is unknown whether Māori had a name for the whole country before the arrival of Europeans; {{lang|mi|Aotearoa}} originally referred to just the North Island.{{sfn|Hay|Maclagan|Gordon|2008|p=72}} Māori had several traditional names for the two main islands, including {{lang|mi|Te Ika-a-Māui}} ("the fish of {{lang|mi|italic=no|Māui}}") for the North Island and {{lang|mi|Te Waipounamu}} ("the waters of [[Earth:Pounamu|greenstone]]") or {{lang|mi|Te Waka o Aoraki}} ("the canoe of {{lang|mi|italic=no|Aoraki}}") for the South Island.{{sfn|Mein Smith|2005|p=6}} Early European maps labelled the islands North (North Island), Middle (South Island), and South (Stewart Island / {{lang|mi|italic=no|nocat=y|Rakiura}}).<ref>{{cite book |first=Thomas |last=Brunner |url= http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/BruJour-fig-BruJour_P001a.html |title=The Great Journey: An expedition to explore the interior of the Middle Island, New Zealand, 1846-8 |publisher=Royal Geographical Society |date=1851}}</ref> In 1830, mapmakers began to use "North" and "South" on their maps to distinguish the two largest islands, and by 1907, this was the accepted norm.<ref name="Names" /> The New Zealand Geographic Board discovered in 2009 that the names of the North Island and South Island had never been formalised, and names and alternative names were formalised in 2013. This set the names as ''North Island'' or {{lang|mi|Te Ika-a-Māui}}, and ''South Island'' or {{lang|mi|Te Waipounamu}}.<ref name="Williamson2013">{{cite press release |first=Maurice |last=Williamson |title=Names of NZ's two main islands formalised |date=10 October 2013 |publisher=New Zealand Government |url= http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/names-nz%E2%80%99s-two-main-islands-formalised |access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> For each island, either its English or Māori name can be used, or both can be used together.<ref name="Williamson2013" /> Similarly the Māori and English names for the whole country are sometimes used together (''Aotearoa New Zealand'');<ref>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Health|date=24 June 2021|title=COVID-19: Elimination strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-response-planning/covid-19-elimination-strategy-aotearoa-new-zealand|access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Larner|first1=Wendy|date=31 May 2021|title=COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand|volume=51|issue=sup1|pages=S1–S3|doi=10.1080/03036758.2021.1908208|bibcode=2021JRSNZ..51S...1L |doi-access=free}}</ref> however, this has no official recognition.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Using 'Aotearoa' and 'New Zealand' together 'as it should be' - Jacinda Ardern|language=en|work=Newshub|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/12/using-aotearoa-and-new-zealand-together-as-it-should-be-jacinda-ardern.html|date=17 December 2019|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

In [[Social:Moriori language|Moriori]], the indigenous language of the [[Earth:Chatham Islands|Chatham Islands]], the words ''Aote'' and ''Aotea'' are terms thought to refer to mainland New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |author=New Zealand Government |title=Moriori and the Trustees of the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust and the Crown Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims |url=https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Moriori/moriori-deed-of-settlement-initialled.pdf |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Te Papa|title=Repatriation and return of karāpuna to Rēkohu|date=25 August 2020 |url=https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/repatriation-and-return-karapuna-rekohu|access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==History==
{{For timeline|Timeline of New Zealand history}}
<!-- THIS SECTION IS A *SHORT SUMMARY* OF THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND. PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING INFORMATION TO THE MAIN ARTICLE, HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND, INSTEAD OF TO THIS SUMMARY. -->
[[File:Polynesian Migration.svg|right|thumb|upright=1.3|The Māori people descend from Polynesians whose ancestors emigrated from Taiwan to Melanesia between 3000 and 1000&nbsp;[[Common Era|BCE]] and then travelled east, reaching the Society Islands {{circa|1000 CE}}. After a pause of 200 to 300 years, a new wave of exploration led to the discovery and settlement of New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Atholl |last2=Spriggs |first2=Matthew |date=1993 |title=Late colonization of East Polynesia |journal=Antiquity |volume=67 |issue=255 |pages=200–217 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00045324 |s2cid=162638670 |issn=1745-1744}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jacomb |first1=Chris |last2=Anderson |first2=Atholl |last3=Higham |first3=Thomas |date=1999 |title=Dating the first New Zealanders: The chronology of Wairau Bar |journal=Antiquity |volume=73 |issue=280 |pages=420–427 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00088360 |s2cid=161058755 |issn=1745-1744}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wilmshurst |first1=J. M. |last2=Hunt |first2=T. L. |last3=Lipo |first3=C. P. |last4=Anderson |first4=A. J. |title=High-precision radiocarbon dating shows recent and rapid initial human colonization of East Polynesia |doi=10.1073/pnas.1015876108 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=108 |issue=5 |pages=1815–20 |date=2010 |pmid=21187404 |pmc=3033267 |bibcode=2011PNAS..108.1815W|doi-access=free }}</ref> |alt=One set of arrows point from Taiwan to Melanesia to Fiji/Samoa and then to the Marquesas Islands. The population then spread, some going south to New Zealand and others going north to Hawai'i. A second set start in southern Asia and end in Melanesia.]]New Zealand was the last major landmass settled by humans. The story of Kupe as the first human to set foot on the New Zealand archipelago, accredited to by most Māori iwi, is considered credible by historians; he is generally believed to have existed historically.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kupe |url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/10732 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa}}</ref> Most histories claim that this occurred approximately 40 generations ago (between 900 and 1200 AD).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kupe |url=https://archive.hokulea.com/ike/moolelo/kupe.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=archive.hokulea.com}}</ref> The more specific reasons for Kupe's semi-legendary journey, and the migration of Māori in general, are contested. It is thought by some historians that Hawaiki and other Polynesian islands were experiencing considerable internal conflict at that time, which is thought to have caused an exodus from them. Some historians contend that this was because of the fallout from the 1257 Samalas eruption, which caused crop devastation globally and possibly helped trigger the [[Earth:Little Ice Age|Little Ice Age]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2019 |title=2: Tangata Whenua |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-aotearoa-history-show/story/2018716783/2-tangata-whenua |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10347866 |title=Hemispheric black carbon increase after the 13th-century Māori arrival in New Zealand |journal=Nature |volume=598 |date=6 October 2021 |bibcode=2021Natur.598...82M |access-date=24 May 2023 |last1=McConnell |first1=Joseph R. |last2=Chellman |first2=Nathan J. |last3=Mulvaney |first3=Robert |last4=Eckhardt |first4=Sabine |last5=Stohl |first5=Andreas |last6=Plunkett |first6=Gill |last7=Kipfstuhl |first7=Sepp |last8=Freitag |first8=Johannes |last9=Isaksson |first9=Elisabeth |last10=Gleason |first10=Kelly E. |last11=Brugger |first11=Sandra O. |last12=McWethy |first12=David B. |last13=Abram |first13=Nerilie J. |last14=Liu |first14=Pengfei |last15=Aristarain |first15=Alberto J. |issue=7879 |pages=82–85 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03858-9 |pmid=34616056 |s2cid=238421371 }}</ref>

[[Physics:Radiocarbon dating|Radiocarbon dating]], evidence of deforestation<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McGlone |first1=M. |last2=Wilmshurst |doi=10.1016/S1040-6182(98)00067-6 |first2=J. M. |title=Dating initial Maori environmental impact in New Zealand |journal=Quaternary International |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=5–16 |date=1999 |bibcode= 1999QuInt..59....5M}}</ref> and [[Biology:Mitochondrial DNA|mitochondrial DNA]] variability within Māori populations<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Murray-McIntosh |first1=Rosalind P. |last2=Scrimshaw |first2=Brian J. |last3=Hatfield |first3=Peter J. |last4=Penny |first4=David |title=Testing migration patterns and estimating founding population size in Polynesia by using human mtDNA sequences |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=95 |issue=15 |pages=9047–52 |date=1998 |doi=10.1073/pnas.95.15.9047 |pmid=9671802 |bibcode=1998PNAS...95.9047M |pmc=21200|doi-access=free }}</ref> suggest that Eastern Polynesians first settled the New Zealand archipelago between 1250 and 1300,{{sfn|Mein Smith|2005|p= 6}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wilmshurst |first1=J. M. |last2=Anderson |first2=A. J. |last3=Higham |first3=T. F. G. |last4=Worthy |first4=T. H. |title=Dating the late prehistoric dispersal of Polynesians to New Zealand using the commensal Pacific rat|doi=10.1073/pnas.0801507105 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=105 |issue=22 |pages=7676–80 |date=2008 |pmid=18523023 |pmc=2409139 |bibcode=2008PNAS..105.7676W|doi-access=free }}</ref> although newer archaeological and genetic research points to a date no earlier than about 1280, with at least the main settlement period between about 1320 and 1350,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jacomb |first1=Chris |last2=Holdaway |first2=Richard N. |last3=Allentoft |first3=Morten E. |last4=Bunce |first4=Michael |last5=Oskam |first5=Charlotte L. |last6=Walter |first6=Richard |last7=Brooks |first7=Emma |date=2014 |title=High-precision dating and ancient DNA profiling of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) eggshell documents a complex feature at Wairau Bar and refines the chronology of New Zealand settlement by Polynesians |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science |volume=50 |pages=24–30 |doi=10.1016/j.jas.2014.05.023 |bibcode=2014JArSc..50...24J |url= http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/23310/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Walters |first1=Richard |last2=Buckley |first2=Hallie |last3=Jacomb |first3=Chris |last4=Matisoo-Smith |first4=Elizabeth |title=Mass Migration and the Polynesian Settlement of New Zealand |journal=Journal of World Prehistory |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=351–376 |doi=10.1007/s10963-017-9110-y |date=7 October 2017 |doi-access=free}}</ref> consistent with evidence based on [[Social:Whakapapa|genealogical traditions]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roberton |first=J. B. W. |date=1956 |title=Genealogies as a basis for Maori chronology |journal=Journal of the Polynesian Society |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=45–54 |url=http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_65_1956/Volume_65,_No._1/Genealogies_as_a_basis_for_Maori_chronology,_by_J._B._W._Roberton,_p_45%9654/p1 |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310165840/http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_65_1956/Volume_65%2C_No._1/Genealogies_as_a_basis_for_Maori_chronology%2C_by_J._B._W._Roberton%2C_p_45%EF%BF%BD54/p1 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Te Hurinui |first=Pei |date=1958 |title=Maori genealogies |journal=Journal of the Polynesian Society |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=162–165 |url=http://jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_67_1958/Volume_67%2C_No._2/Maori_genealogies%2C_by_Pei_Te_Hurinui%2C_p_162-165/p1 |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212111816/http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_67_1958/Volume_67,_No._2/Maori_genealogies,_by_Pei_Te_Hurinui,_p_162-165/p1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This represented a culmination in a long series of voyages through the Pacific islands.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi= 10.1126/science.1166083 |last1= Moodley |first1=Y. |last2=Linz |first2=B. |last3=Yamaoka |first3=Y. |last4=Windsor |first4=H. M. |last5=Breurec |first5=S. |last6=Wu |first6=J.-Y. |last7=Maady |first7=A. |last8=Bernhöft |first8=S. |last9=Thiberge |first9=J.-M. |last10=Phuanukoonnon |first10=S. |last11=Jobb |first11=G. |last12=Siba |first12=P. |last13=Graham |first13=D. Y. |last14=Marshall |first14=B. J. |last15=Achtman |first15=M. |display-authors=3 |title=The Peopling of the Pacific from a Bacterial Perspective |journal=Science |volume=323 |issue=5913 |pages=527–530 |date=2009 |pmid=19164753 |pmc=2827536 |bibcode=2009Sci...323..527M}}</ref> It is the broad consensus of historians that the settlement of New Zealand by Eastern Polynesians was planned and deliberate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Walter |first1=Richard |last2=Buckley |first2=Hallie |last3=Jacomb |first3=Chris |last4=Matisoo-Smith |first4=Elizabeth |date=1 December 2017 |title=Mass Migration and the Polynesian Settlement of New Zealand |journal=Journal of World Prehistory |language=en |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=351–376 |doi=10.1007/s10963-017-9110-y |s2cid=254743326 |issn=1573-7802|doi-access=free }}</ref> Over the centuries that followed, the Polynesian settlers developed a distinct culture now known as Māori. The population formed different {{lang|mi|iwi|italics=no}} (tribes) and {{lang|mi|hapū|italics=no}} (subtribes) which would sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete and sometimes fight against each other.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ballara |first1=Angela |title=Iwi: The Dynamics of Māori Tribal Organisation from c. 1769 to c. 1945 |date=1998 |publisher=Victoria University Press |location=Wellington |isbn=9780864733283 |edition=1st}}</ref> At some point, a group of Māori migrated to {{lang|mi|Rēkohu}}, now known as the [[Earth:Chatham Islands|Chatham Islands]], where they developed their distinct Moriori culture.<ref>{{cite book |last=Clark |first=Ross |chapter=Moriori and Māori: The Linguistic Evidence |date=1994 |editor-last=Sutton |editor-first=Douglas |title=The Origins of the First New Zealanders |location=Auckland |publisher=[[Organization:Auckland University Press|Auckland University Press]] |pages=123–135}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/moriori/4 |chapter=The impact of new arrivals |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |last=Davis |first=Denise |date=September 2007 |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> The Moriori population was all but wiped out between 1835 and 1862 in the Moriori genocide, largely because of Taranaki Māori invasion and enslavement in the 1830s, although European diseases also contributed. In 1862, only 101 survived, and the last known full-blooded Moriori died in 1933.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Denise |last1=Davis |first2=Māui |last2=Solomon |chapter=Moriori – The impact of new arrivals |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/moriori/4 |access-date= 23 March 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Cook chart of New Zealand.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Map of the New Zealand coastline as Cook charted it on his [[Engineering:First voyage of James Cook|first visit]] in 1769–70. The track of the ''Endeavour'' is also shown.|alt=An engraving of a sketched coastline on white background]]

In a hostile 1642 encounter between Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri and Dutch explorer Abel Tasman's crew,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Hillary|title=Te Tau Ihu|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/te-tau-ihu-tribes|website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=15 September 2016|date=10 February 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|Mein Smith|2005|p=23}} four of Tasman's crew members were killed, and at least one Māori was hit by [[Engineering:Canister shot|canister shot]].<ref>{{cite book |page=82 |title=Two Worlds: First Meetings Between Maori and Europeans 1642–1772 |first=Anne |last=Salmond |publisher=Penguin Books |location=Auckland |isbn=0-670-83298-7 |date=1991}}</ref> Europeans did not revisit New Zealand until 1769, when British explorer James Cook mapped almost the entire coastline.{{sfn|Mein Smith|2005|p=23}} Following Cook, New Zealand was visited by numerous European and [[Earth:North America|North America]]n whaling, [[Biology:Seal hunting|sealing]], and trading ships. They traded European food, metal tools, weapons, and other goods for timber, Māori food, artefacts, and water.{{sfn|King|2003|p=122}} The introduction of the potato and the [[Engineering:Musket|musket]] transformed Māori agriculture and warfare. Potatoes provided a reliable food surplus, which enabled longer and more sustained military campaigns.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Fitzpatrick |first=John |date=2004 |title=Food, warfare and the impact of Atlantic capitalism in Aotearo/New Zealand |journal=Australasian Political Studies Association Conference: APSA 2004 Conference Papers |url= https://www.adelaide.edu.au/apsa/docs_papers/Others/Fitzpatrick.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511142553/https://www.adelaide.edu.au/apsa/docs_papers/Others/Fitzpatrick.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> The resulting intertribal Musket Wars encompassed over 600 battles between 1801 and 1840, killing 30,000–40,000 Māori.<ref>{{Cite book |first= Barry |last=Brailsford |title=Arrows of Plague |location=Wellington |date=1972 |page=35 |publisher=Hick Smith and Sons |isbn=0-456-01060-2}}</ref> From the early 19th century, Christian [[Religion:Missionary|missionaries]] began to settle New Zealand, eventually converting most of the Māori population.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Brock |editor-first=Peggy |title=Indigenous Peoples and Religious Change |publisher=[[Company:Brill Publishers|Brill Academic Publishers]] |chapter=Broken Tongues and Foreign Hearts |last=Wagstrom |first=Thor |location=Boston |date=2005 |isbn=978-90-04-13899-5 |pages=71 and 73}}</ref> The Māori population declined to around 40% of its pre-contact level during the 19th century; introduced diseases were the major factor.<ref>{{cite book |title=May the people live: a history of Māori health development 1900–1920 |first=Raeburn |last=Lange |publisher=[[Organization:Auckland University Press|Auckland University Press]] |date=1999 |isbn=978-1-86940-214-3 |page=18}}</ref>

[[File:Treatyofwaitangi.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Waitangi sheet from the Treaty of Waitangi|alt=A torn sheet of paper]]
The British Government appointed James Busby as British Resident to New Zealand in 1832.<ref name="Busby">{{cite book |chapter=Busby, James – Biography |first=Claudia |last=Orange |date=1990<!--Each article in this work is individually dated.--> |title=[[Dictionary of New Zealand Biography]], Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |editor1-first=W. H. |editor1-last=Oliver |editor1-link=W. H. Oliver |editor2-first=Claudia |editor2-last=Orange |editor3-first=Jock |editor3-last=Phillips |editor3-link=Jock Phillips |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1b54/busby-james |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> His duties, given to him by Governor Bourke in Sydney, were to protect settlers and traders "of good standing", prevent "outrages" against Māori, and apprehend escaped convicts.<ref name="Busby" /><ref>{{cite web |title=First British Resident comes ashore |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/james-busby-inaugurated-british-resident |website=NZHistory |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=19 October 2021 |language=en |date=24 December 2020}}</ref> In 1835, following an announcement of impending French settlement by Charles de Thierry, the nebulous United Tribes of New Zealand sent a Declaration of Independence to King William IV of the United Kingdom asking for protection.<ref name="Busby"/> Ongoing unrest, the proposed settlement of New Zealand by the New Zealand Company (which had already sent its first ship of surveyors to buy land from Māori) and the dubious legal standing of the Declaration of Independence prompted the Colonial Office to send Captain William Hobson to claim sovereignty for the [[History:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] and negotiate a treaty with the Māori.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Sir George Gipps |first=Bernard John |last=Foster |title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |orig-year=1966 |editor-first=Alexander Hare |editor-last=McLintock |date=April 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/gipps-sir-george/1 |via=TeAra.govt.nz |access-date=20 March 2021}}<!--This article has no equivalent in the new Te Ara encylopedia, as of 2021-03.--></ref> The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840.<ref name="Wilson2009">{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=Nation and government – The origins of nationhood |orig-year=2005 |date=16 September 2016 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |editor-first=Jock |editor-last=Phillips |editor-link=Jock Phillips |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/nation-and-government/page-1 |access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> In response to the New Zealand Company's attempts to establish an independent settlement in [[Place:Wellington|Wellington]],<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Settlement from 1840 to 1852 |author=<!--No individual author specified.--> |orig-year=1966 |title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |editor-first=Alexander Hare |editor-last=McLintock |editor-link=Alexander Hare McLintock |date=April 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/land-settlement/3 |via=TeAra.govt.nz |access-date=7 January 2011}}<!--This article has no exact equivalent in the new Te Ara encyclopedia, but there may be a more up-to-date-scholarship article there that covers this.--></ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter=Akaroa, French Settlement At |first=Bernard John |last=Foster |orig-year=1966 |title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |editor-first=Alexander Hare |editor-last=McLintock |editor-link=Alexander Hare McLintock |date=April 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/akaroa-french-settlement-at/1 |via=TeAra.govt.nz |access-date=7 January 2011}}<!--This article has no exact equivalent in the new Te Ara encyclopedia, but there may be a more up-to-date-scholarship article there that covers this.--></ref> Hobson declared British sovereignty over all of New Zealand on 21 May 1840, even though copies of the treaty were still circulating throughout the country for Māori to sign.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Hobson, William – Biography |first=K. A. |last=Simpson |date=1990 |title=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |editor1-first=W. H. |editor1-last=Oliver |editor1-link=W. H. Oliver |editor2-first=Claudia |editor2-last=Orange |editor2-link=Claudia Orange |editor3-first=Jock |editor3-last=Phillips |editor3-link=Jock Phillips |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1h29/hobson-william |access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> With the signing of the treaty and declaration of sovereignty, the number of immigrants, particularly from the United Kingdom, began to increase.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=History of immigration – British immigration and the New Zealand Company |first=Jock |last=Phillips |author-link=Jock Phillips |orig-year=2005 |date=1 August 2015 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |editor-first=Jock |editor-last=Phillips |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration/page-3 |access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref>

New Zealand was administered as a dependency of the Colony of New South Wales until becoming a separate Crown colony, the Colony of New Zealand, on 3 May 1841.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown colony era – the Governor-General |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/history-of-the-governor-general/crown-colony-era |website=NZHistory |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=March 2009 |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Moon |title=New Zealand Birth Certificates – 50 of New Zealand's Founding Documents |publisher=AUT Media |year=2010 |page=66|isbn=978-0-95829971-8}}</ref> Armed conflict began between the colonial government and Māori in 1843 with the Wairau Affray over land and disagreements over sovereignty. These conflicts, mainly in the North Island, saw thousands of imperial troops and the Royal Navy come to New Zealand and became known as the New Zealand Wars. Following these armed conflicts, large areas of Māori land were confiscated by the government to meet settler demands.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/new-zealands-19th-century-wars/introduction |title=New Zealand's 19th-century wars – overview |website=NZHistory |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=April 2009 |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref>

[[File:1863 Meeting of Settlers and Maoris at Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A meeting of European and Māori residents of Hawke's Bay Province. Engraving, 1863.|alt=Black and white engraving depicting a crowd of people]]

The colony gained a representative government in 1852, and the first Parliament met in 1854.<ref name="G and N">{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |editor-first=Jock |editor-last=Phillips |chapter=Government and nation – From colony to nation |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=16 September 2016 |orig-year=2005 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/nation-and-government/page-2 |access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> In 1856 the colony effectively became self-governing, gaining responsibility over all domestic matters (except native policy, which was granted in the mid-1860s).<ref name="G and N" /> Following concerns that the South Island might form a separate colony, premier Alfred Domett moved a resolution to transfer the capital from Auckland to a locality near Cook Strait.<ref>{{cite book |last=Temple |first=Philip |title=Wellington Yesterday |date=1980 |publisher=John McIndoe |isbn=0-86868-012-5|page=}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |title=Capital city – A new capital |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/capital-city/page-3 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=4 May 2015 |date=13 July 2012}}</ref> Wellington was chosen for its central location, with Parliament officially sitting there for the first time in 1865.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament moves to Wellington |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/parliament-sits-for-the-first-time-in-wellington |website=NZHistory |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=27 April 2017|date=January 2017}}</ref>

In 1886, New Zealand annexed the volcanic Kermadec Islands, about {{cvt|1000|km}} northeast of Auckland. Since 1937, the islands are uninhabited except for about six people at [[Earth:Raoul Island|Raoul Island]] station. These islands put the northern border of New Zealand at 29 degrees South latitude.<ref name=ENZ1966>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Kermadec Islands |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Te Ara |editor-first=A. H. |editor-last=McLintock  |year=1966 |last=Jobberns |first=George |author-link=George Jobberns
|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/kermadec-islands |access-date=18 March 2022 }}</ref> After the 1982 UNCLOS, the islands contributed significantly to New Zealand's exclusive economic zone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Island Exclusive Economic Zones |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/6964/pacific-island-exclusive-economic-zones |website=TEARA |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>

In 1891 the Liberal Party came to power as the first organised political party.<ref name="Liberal">{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=History – Liberal to Labour |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/history/page-5 |access-date=27 April 2017}}</ref> The Liberal Government, led by Richard Seddon for most of its period in office,<ref>{{DNZB |last=Hamer |first=David |id=2s11 |title= Seddon, Richard John |access-date=27 April 2017}}</ref> passed many important social and economic measures. In 1893 New Zealand was the first nation in the world to grant all women the right to vote<ref name="Liberal" /> and in 1894 pioneered the adoption of compulsory arbitration between employers and unions.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Peter |last1=Boxall |first2=Peter |last2=Haynes |title=Strategy and Trade Union Effectiveness in a Neo-liberal Environment |date=1997 |journal=British Journal of Industrial Relations |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=567–591 |doi=10.1111/1467-8543.00069 |url= http://www.gurn.info/en/topics/global-trade-union-strategies-union-renewal/organizational-innovation-and-change/industrial-relations-and-labour-regulations-affecting-unions2019-structure/strategy-and-trade-union-effectiveness-in-a-neo-liberal-environment |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511134417/http://www.gurn.info/en/topics/global-trade-union-strategies-union-renewal/organizational-innovation-and-change/industrial-relations-and-labour-regulations-affecting-unions2019-structure/strategy-and-trade-union-effectiveness-in-a-neo-liberal-environment |archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> The Liberals also guaranteed a minimum wage in 1894, a world first.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A brief history of the minimum wage in New Zealand |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2018/12/a-brief-history-of-the-minimum-wage-in-new-zealand.html |access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref>

In 1907, at the request of the New Zealand Parliament, King Edward VII proclaimed New Zealand a Dominion within the [[Place:British Empire|British Empire]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 28058|date= 10 September 1907|page= 6149|title=Proclamation}}</ref> reflecting its self-governing status.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dominion status – Becoming a dominion |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/dominion-day/becoming-dominion |website=NZHistory |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=26 April 2017 |date=September 2014}}</ref> In 1947, New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster, confirming that the British Parliament could no longer legislate for the country without its consent. The British government's residual legislative powers were later removed by the Constitution Act 1986, and final rights of appeal to British courts were abolished in 2003.<ref name="G and N" />

Early in the 20th century, New Zealand was involved in world affairs, fighting in the First and Second World Wars<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war-and-society |title=War and Society |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> and suffering through the [[Finance:Great Depression|Great Depression]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Brian |last=Easton |chapter=Economic history – Interwar years and the great depression |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=April 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/economic-history/7 |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> The depression led to the election of the first Labour Government and the establishment of a comprehensive [[Social:Welfare state|welfare state]] and a protectionist economy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mark |last= Derby |chapter=Strikes and labour disputes – Wars, depression and first Labour government |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=May 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/strikes-and-labour-disputes/6 |access-date=1 February 2011}}</ref> New Zealand experienced increasing prosperity following the Second World War,<ref>{{cite book |first=Brian |last=Easton |chapter=Economic history – Great boom, 1935–1966 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/economic-history/9 |access-date=1 February 2011}}</ref> and Māori began to leave their traditional rural life and move to the cities in search of work.<ref>{{cite book |first=Basil |last=Keane |chapter=Te Māori i te ohanga – Māori in the economy – Urbanisation |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/te-maori-i-te-ohanga-maori-in-the-economy/6 |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> A Māori protest movement developed, which criticised [[Social:Eurocentrism|Eurocentrism]] and worked for greater recognition of Māori culture and of the Treaty of Waitangi.<ref>{{cite book |first=Te Ahukaramū |last=Royal |chapter=Māori – Urbanisation and renaissance |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |access-date=1 February 2011 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori/5}}</ref> In 1975, a Waitangi Tribunal was set up to investigate alleged breaches of the Treaty, and it was enabled to investigate historic grievances in 1985.<ref name="Wilson2009" /> The government has negotiated settlements of these grievances with many iwi,<ref>{{cite book |title=Healing the Past, Building a Future: A Guide to Treaty of Waitangi Claims and Negotiations with the Crown |url= https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Red-Book-Healing-the-past-building-a-future.pdf |publisher=Office of Treaty Settlements |isbn= 978-0-478-32436-5 |access-date=26 April 2017 |date=March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180127162705/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Red-Book-Healing-the-past-building-a-future.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> although Māori claims to the foreshore and seabed proved controversial in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite report |title=Report on the Crown's Foreshore and Seabed Policy |url= https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/WT/reports/reportSummary.html?reportId=wt_DOC_68000605 |publisher=Ministry of Justice |access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Barker |first1=Fiona |chapter=Debate about the foreshore and seabed |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/video/34605/debate-about-the-foreshore-and-seabed |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=26 April 2017 |date=June 2012}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 350
| image1            = King Charles III (July 2023).jpg
| alt1              = The King wearing a pinstripe suit
| caption1          = Charles III,<br> King of New Zealand
| image2            = Cindy Kiro October 2021 (cropped).jpg
| alt2              = A woman wearing medals
| caption2          = Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand
| image3            = Christopher Luxon (52535372229) (cropped).jpg
| alt3              = A smiling man wearing a dark business suit and tie
| caption3          = Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
}}

New Zealand is a [[Social:Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchy]] with a parliamentary democracy,<ref name="GG constitution">{{cite web |title=New Zealand's Constitution |url= http://www.gg.govt.nz/role/constofnz.htm |publisher=Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> although its constitution is not codified.<ref name="Economist factsheet">{{cite news |title=Factsheet – New Zealand – Political Forces |newspaper=[[Finance:The Economist|The Economist]] |date=15 February 2005 |url= http://economist.com/countries/NewZealand/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Forces |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060514204533/http://economist.com/countries/NewZealand/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Forces |archive-date=14 May 2006 |access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref> Charles III is the king of New Zealand<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Titles Act 1974 |at=Section 1 |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0001/latest/DLM411814.html |date=February 1974 |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=8 January 2011}}</ref> and thus the [[Social:Head of state|head of state]].<ref>{{Cite book |date=1 January 1987 |title=Constitution Act 1986 |at=Section 2.1 |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/whole.html#DLM94210|quote=The Sovereign in right of New Zealand is the head of State of New Zealand, and shall be known by the royal style and titles proclaimed from time to time. |access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref> The king is represented by the governor-general, whom he appoints on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Role of the Governor-General |date= 27 February 2017 |url= https://gg.govt.nz/role |publisher=Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand |access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> The governor-general can exercise the Crown's prerogative powers, such as reviewing cases of injustice and making appointments of ministers, ambassadors, and other key public officials,<ref>{{cite journal |first=Bruce |last=Harris |title=Replacement of the Royal Prerogative in New Zealand |date=2009 |work=New Zealand Universities Law Review |volume=23 |pages=285–314 |url= https://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/41876855/REPLACEMENT-OF-THE-ROYAL-PREROGATIVE-IN-NEW-ZEALAND |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718005846/https://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/41876855/REPLACEMENT-OF-THE-ROYAL-PREROGATIVE-IN-NEW-ZEALAND |archive-date=18 July 2011 |access-date=28 August 2016}}</ref> and in rare situations, the [[Social:Reserve power|reserve power]]s (e.g. the power to dissolve Parliament or refuse the [[Social:Royal assent|royal assent]] of a bill into law).<ref name="reserve Powers">{{cite web |title=The Reserve Powers |publisher=Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand |url= http://www.gg.govt.nz/role/powers.htm |access-date=8 January 2011}}</ref> The powers of the monarch and the governor-general are limited by constitutional constraints, and they cannot normally be exercised without the advice of ministers.<ref name="reserve Powers" />

The New Zealand Parliament holds legislative power and consists of the king and the House of Representatives.<ref name="parliament facts">{{cite web |title=Parliament Brief: What is Parliament? |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/pbrief7/ |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> It also included an upper house, the Legislative Council, until this was abolished in 1950.<ref name="parliament facts" /> The supremacy of parliament over the Crown and other government institutions was established in England by the Bill of Rights 1689 and has been ratified as law in New Zealand.<ref name="parliament facts" /> The House of Representatives is democratically elected, and a government is formed from the party or coalition with the majority of seats. If no majority is formed, a [[Social:Minority government|minority government]] can be formed if support from other parties during [[Social:Confidence and supply|confidence and supply]] votes is assured.<ref name="parliament facts" /> The governor-general appoints ministers under advice from the prime minister, who is by [[Social:Constitutional convention (political custom)|convention]] the [[Social:Parliamentary leader|parliamentary leader]] of the governing party or coalition.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McLean |first1=Gavin |chapter=Premiers and prime ministers |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=February 2015 |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> Cabinet, formed by ministers and led by the prime minister, is the highest policy-making body in government and responsible for deciding significant government actions.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=Government and nation – System of government |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/government-and-nation/4 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> Members of Cabinet make major decisions collectively and are therefore [[Social:Cabinet collective responsibility|collectively responsible]] for the consequences of these decisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Principles of Cabinet decision making |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |work=Cabinet Manual |date=2008 |url= http://www.cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/5.11 |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> The 42nd and current prime minister, since 27 November 2023, is Christopher Luxon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christopher Luxon sworn in as New Zealand's new prime minister |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/27/christopher-luxon-sworn-in-as-new-zealands-new-prime-minister/ |access-date=27 November 2023 |agency=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Seddon Statue in Parliament Grounds.jpg|thumb|A statue of Richard Seddon, the "Beehive" (Executive Wing), and Parliament House (right), in Parliament Grounds, Wellington|alt=A block of buildings fronted by a large statue.]]

A parliamentary general election must be called no later than three years after the previous election.<ref>{{cite web |title=The electoral cycle |url= https://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/6.2 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |work=Cabinet Manual |access-date=30 April 2017|date=2008}}</ref> Almost all general elections between {{NZ election link year|1853}} and {{NZ election link year|1993}} were held under the first-past-the-post voting system.<ref>{{cite web |title=First past the post – the road to MMP |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/fpp-to-mmp/first-past-the-post |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=September 2009 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> Since the {{NZ election link|1996}}, a form of [[Social:Proportional representation|proportional representation]] called mixed-member proportional (MMP) has been used.<ref name="Economist factsheet" /> Under the MMP system, each person has two votes; one is for a candidate standing in the voter's electorate, and the other is for a party. Based on the 2018 census data, there are 72 electorates (which include seven Māori electorates in which only Māori can optionally vote),<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of electorates and electoral populations: 2018 Census |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/number-of-electorates-and-electoral-populations-2018-census |work=Stats.Govt.nz |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=9 March 2021 |date=23 September 2019}}</ref> and the remaining 48 of the 120 seats are assigned so that representation in Parliament reflects the party vote, with the threshold that a party must win at least one electorate or 5% of the total party vote before it is eligible for a seat.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system/sainte-lagu%C3%AB-allocation-formula |title=Sainte-Laguë allocation formula |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=31 May 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130914170452/http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system/sainte-lagu%C3%AB-allocation-formula |archive-date=14 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Elections since the 1930s have been dominated by two political parties, National and Labour. More parties have been represented in Parliament since the introduction of MMP.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Curtin |first1=Jennifer |last2=Miller |first2=Raymond |title=Political parties |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/political-parties |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=24 July 2023 |date=21 July 2015}}</ref>

New Zealand's judiciary, headed by the chief justice,<ref>{{cite web |title=Role of the Chief Justice |url= https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/about-the-judiciary/role-judges/role-chief |publisher=Courts of New Zealand |access-date=9 June 2018}}</ref> includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, the High Court, and subordinate courts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Structure of the court system |url= https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/about-the-judiciary/structure-of-the-court-system |publisher=Courts of New Zealand |access-date=9 June 2018}}</ref> Judges and judicial officers are appointed non-politically and under strict rules regarding tenure to help maintain [[Philosophy:Judicial independence|judicial independence]].<ref name="Economist factsheet" /> This theoretically allows the judiciary to interpret the law based solely on the legislation enacted by Parliament without other influences on their decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/the-judiciary |title=The Judiciary |publisher=Ministry of Justice |access-date=9 January 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101124005516/http://justice.govt.nz/courts/the-judiciary |archive-date=24 November 2010}}</ref>

New Zealand is identified as one of the world's most stable and well-governed states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fragile States Index Heat Map |url= https://fragilestatesindex.org/analytics/fsi-heat-map/ |access-date=18 August 2020 |work=Fragile States Index}}</ref> {{As of|2017|post=,}} the country was ranked fourth in the strength of its democratic institutions,<ref>{{cite web |title=Democracy Index 2017 |url= http://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/Democracy_Index_2017.pdf |publisher=[[Company:Economist Intelligence Unit|Economist Intelligence Unit]] |access-date=9 December 2018 |page=5 |date=2018}}</ref> and first in government transparency and lack of corruption.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 |url= https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2017 |publisher=Transparency International |access-date=9 December 2018 |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> LGBT rights in the nation are also recognised as among the most tolerant in [[Earth:Oceania|Oceania]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carroll|first1=Aengus|title=State Sponsored Homophobia 2016: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition|url=http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf|publisher=International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association|access-date=4 December 2016|page=183|date=May 2016|quote=In Australia and New Zealand, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people continue to enjoy many legal rights denied to their comrades across the vast majority of the Pacific.}}</ref> New Zealand ranks highly for civic participation in the political process, with 82% [[Social:Voter turnout|voter turnout]] during recent general elections,<!--As of 2020 election--> compared to an [[Organization:OECD|OECD]] average of 69%.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/new-zealand/ |access-date=31 January 2023 |work=OECD Better Life Index |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}</ref> However, this is untrue for local council elections; a historically low 36% of eligible New Zealanders voted in the 2022 local elections, compared with an already low 42% turnout in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2022 |title=Council election turnout: Low participation revives call for online voting |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/local-elections-2022%20/476379/council-election-turnout-low-participation-revives-call-for-online-voting |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2023 |title=Auckland councillor says record low local election turnout 'extremely concerning' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/local-elections-2022-calls-for-review-over-extremely-concerning-record-low-turnout/TMDMIHJEO7ER7C6LYD3DRWES24/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2022 |title=The media and low local election turnout |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018862513/the-media-and-low-local-election-turnout |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> A 2017 [[Social:Country Reports on Human Rights Practices|human rights report]] by the United States Department of State noted that the New Zealand government generally respected the rights of individuals, but voiced concerns regarding the social status of the Māori population.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand |url= https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=277105 |work=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref> In terms of structural discrimination, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission has asserted that there is strong, consistent evidence that it is a real and ongoing socioeconomic issue.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hrc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HRC-Structural-Report_final_webV1.pdf/ |title=A fair go for all? Rite tahi tätou katoa? Addressing Structural Discrimination in Public Services |date=2012 |publisher=Human Rights Commission |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140330134905/http://www.hrc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HRC-Structural-Report_final_webV1.pdf/ |archive-date=30 March 2014 |access-date=22 July 2023 |page=50}}</ref> One example of structural inequality in New Zealand can be seen in the criminal justice system. According to the Ministry of Justice, Māori are overrepresented, comprising 45% of New Zealanders convicted of crimes and 53% of those imprisoned, while only being 16.5% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cornish |first=Sophie |date=1 May 2022 |title=Māori even more overrepresented in prisons, despite $98m strategy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128306867/mori-even-more-overrepresented-in-prisons-despite-98m-strategy |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata {{!}} New Zealand Ministry of Justice |url=https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/key-initiatives-archive/hapaitia-te-oranga-tangata/#:~:text=M%C4%81ori%20are%20overrepresented%20at%20every,of%20the%20New%20Zealand%20population. |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=www.justice.govt.nz}}</ref>


===Foreign relations and military===
[[File:P20220531AS-0492-2 (52245764500).jpg|thumb|Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern with US president Joe Biden in the Oval Office, 2022]]

During the period of the New Zealand colony, Britain was responsible for external trade and foreign relations.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=External Relations |url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/history-constitutional/10 |access-date=7 January 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> The 1923 and 1926 Imperial Conferences decided that New Zealand should be allowed to negotiate its own political treaties, and the first commercial treaty was ratified in 1928 with Japan. On 3 September 1939, New Zealand allied itself with Britain and [[Social:Declaration of war|declared war]] on Germany with Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage proclaiming, "Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand".<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Joseph Savage |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/michael-joseph-savage-biography |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=July 2010 |access-date=29 January 2011}}</ref>[[File:E 003261 E Maoris in North Africa July 1941.jpg|thumb|Māori Battalion haka in Egypt, 1941|alt=A squad of men kneel in the desert sand while performing a war dance]]

In 1951 the United Kingdom became increasingly focused on its European interests,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.victoria.ac.nz/css/docs/Working_Papers/WP21.pdf |title=Globalisation, Sovereignty, and the Transformation of New Zealand Foreign Policy |first=Robert |last=Patman |access-date=12 March 2007 |work=Working Paper 21/05 |publisher=Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington |page=8 |date=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070925192858/http://www.victoria.ac.nz/css/docs/Working_Papers/WP21.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007}}</ref> while New Zealand joined Australia and the United States in the ANZUS security treaty.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.australianpolitics.com/foreign/anzus/anzus-treaty.shtml |title=Department of External Affairs: Security Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America |date=September 1951 |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=11 January 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629153135/http://www.australianpolitics.com/foreign/anzus/anzus-treaty.shtml |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref> The influence of the United States on New Zealand weakened following protests over the Vietnam War,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Vietnam War |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/vietnam-war|work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=June 2008 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> the refusal of the United States to admonish France after the sinking of the ''Rainbow Warrior'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinking the Rainbow Warrior – nuclear-free New Zealand |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/nuclear-free-new-zealand/rainbow-warrior|work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=August 2008 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> disagreements over environmental and agricultural trade issues, and New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nuclear-free legislation – nuclear-free New Zealand |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/nuclear-free-new-zealand/nuclear-free-zone|work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=August 2008 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lange |first=David |title=Nuclear Free: The New Zealand Way |publisher=Penguin Books |date=1990 |isbn=0-14-014519-2}}</ref> Despite the United States's suspension of ANZUS obligations, the treaty remained in effect between New Zealand and Australia, whose foreign policy has followed a similar historical trend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia in brief |url= http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/history.html |publisher=Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=11 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101222174922/http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/history.html |archive-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> Close political contact is maintained between the two countries, with [[Finance:Closer Economic Relations|free trade agreements]] and travel arrangements that allow citizens to visit, live and work in both countries without restrictions.<ref name="NZ in brief">{{cite web |title=New Zealand country brief |url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/new_zealand/nz_country_brief.html |publisher=Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=11 January 2011 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012052030/http://dfat.gov.au/geo/new_zealand/nz_country_brief.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of|2013|alt=In 2013}} there were about 650,000 New Zealand citizens living in Australia, which is equivalent to 15% of the population of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Collett |url= http://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-funds/kiwis-face-hurdles-in-pursuit-of-lost-funds-20130903-2t1jl.html#ixzz2glaaulCe |title=Kiwis face hurdles in pursuit of lost funds |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref>

New Zealand has a strong presence among the Pacific Island countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mark |first=Simon |date=11 January 2021 |title=New Zealand's public diplomacy in the Pacific: a reset, or more of the same? |url=https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-020-00196-x |journal=Place Branding and Public Diplomacy |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=105–112 |language=en |doi=10.1057/s41254-020-00196-x |issn=1751-8059 |pmc=7798375}}</ref> A large proportion of New Zealand's aid goes to these countries, and many Pacific people migrate to New Zealand for employment.<ref>{{cite book |first=Geoff |last=Bertram |chapter=South Pacific economic relations – Aid, remittances and tourism |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=April 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/south-pacific-economic-relations/4 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> Permanent migration is regulated under the 1970 Samoan Quota Scheme and the 2002 Pacific Access Category, which allow up to 1,100 Samoan nationals and up to 750 other Pacific Islanders respectively to become permanent New Zealand residents each year. A seasonal workers scheme for temporary migration was introduced in 2007, and in 2009 about 8,000 Pacific Islanders were employed under it.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://devpolicy.org/making-migration-work-lessons-from-new-zealand/|title=Making migration work: Lessons from New Zealand |first=Stephen |last=Howes|date=November 2010 |access-date=23 March 2011 |publisher=Development Policy Centre}}</ref> New Zealand is involved in the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Community, [[Organization:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]], and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (including the East Asia Summit).<ref name="NZ in brief" /> New Zealand has been described as a [[Social:Middle power|middle power]] in the [[Earth:Asia-Pacific|Asia-Pacific]] region,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Institute |first=Lowy |title=New Zealand – Lowy Institute Asia Power Index |url=https://power.lowyinstitute.org/countries/new-zealand/ |access-date=7 March 2022 |website=Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and an emerging power.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113097493/caught-between-china-and-the-us-the-kiwi-place-in-a-newly-confrontational-world|title=Caught between China and the US: The Kiwi place in a newly confrontational world|work=Stuff.co.nz |date=7 June 2019|access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-opinion/media/2018/new-zealands-pacific-reset-strategic-anxieties-about-rising-china |last=Steff |first=Reuben|title=New Zealand's Pacific reset: strategic anxieties about rising China|date=5 June 2018 |publisher=[[Organization:University of Waikato|University of Waikato]] |access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref> The country is a member of the United Nations,<ref>{{cite web |title=Member States of the United Nations |publisher=United Nations |url= https://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml#n |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> the [[Organization:Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth of Nations]]<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand |date= 15 August 2013 |url= http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/new-zealand |publisher=The Commonwealth |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),<ref>{{cite web |title=Members and partners |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |url= http://www.oecd.org/pages/0,3417,en_36734052_36761800_1_1_1_1_1,00.html |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> and participates in the Five Power Defence Arrangements.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Future of the Five Power Defence Arrangements |url= https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-future-of-the-five-power-defence-arrangements/ |work=The Strategist |publisher=Australian Strategic Policy Institute |access-date=1 December 2016 |date=8 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:ANZAC Day service at the National War Memorial - Flickr - NZ Defence Force (20).jpg|thumb|Anzac Day service at the National War Memorial|alt=A soldier in a green army uniform faces forwards]]New Zealand's military services—the Defence Force—comprise the New Zealand Army, the {{wipe|Royal New Zealand Air Force}}, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/|title=About Us: Role and Responsibilities |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> New Zealand's national defence needs are modest since a direct attack is unlikely.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=New Zealand Defence and Security Policy, 1990–2005 |last=Ayson |first=Robert |title=New Zealand in World Affairs |volume=IV: 1990–2005 |editor-first=Roderic |editor-last=Alley |publisher=Victoria University Press |date=2007 |page=132 |isbn=978-0-86473-548-5 |location=Wellington}}</ref> However, its military has had a global presence. The country fought in both world wars, with notable campaigns in Gallipoli, Crete,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Battle for Crete |date=May 2010 |work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-battle-for-crete |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> El Alamein,<ref>{{cite web |title=El Alamein – The North African Campaign |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-north-african-campaign/el-alamein|work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=May 2009 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> and Cassino.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_cassino_01.shtml |title=World War Two: The Battle of Monte Cassino |first=Richard |last=Holmes |date=September 2010 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> The Gallipoli campaign played an important part in fostering New Zealand's national identity<ref>{{cite news |title=Gallipoli stirred new sense of national identity says Clark |date=April 2005 |work=The New Zealand Herald |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10122323 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Battlefield Tourism: History, Place and Interpretation |first=Bruce |last=Prideaux |editor-first=Chris |editor-last=Ryan |page=18 |date=2007 |publisher=[[Company:Elsevier|Elsevier]] Science |isbn=978-0-08-045362-0}}</ref> and strengthened the ANZAC tradition it shares with Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spirit of ANZAC |first=Arthur |last=Burke |url= http://www.anzacday.org.au/spirit/spirit2.html |publisher=ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee |access-date=11 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101226110037/http://www.anzacday.org.au/spirit/spirit2.html |archive-date=26 December 2010}}</ref>

In addition to Vietnam and the two world wars, New Zealand fought in the [[History:Second Boer War|Second Boer War]],<ref>{{cite web |title=South African War 1899–1902 |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-south-african-boer-war/introduction |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=February 2009 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> the Korean War,<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand in the Korean War |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/korean-war|work=New Zealand History |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> the Malayan Emergency,<ref>{{cite web |title=NZ and the Malayan Emergency |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-malayan-emergency |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=August 2010 |access-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> the Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War. It has contributed forces to several regional and global peacekeeping missions, such as those in Cyprus, Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sinai, Angola, Cambodia, the Iran–Iraq border, Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/default.htm |title=New Zealand Defence Force Overseas Operations |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=17 February 2008 |date=January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125104529/http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/default.htm |archive-date=25 January 2008}}</ref>

Today, New Zealand enjoys particularly close relations with the {{wipe|United States}} and is one of its major non-NATO allies,<ref name=":0" /> as well as with Australia, with a "[[Engineering:Trans-Tasman|Trans-Tasman]]" identity between citizens of the latter being common.<ref name="Lynch2009" /> New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement, known formally as the UKUSA Agreement. The five members of this agreement compromise the [[Place:Anglosphere|core Anglosphere]]: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/organizations/enterprise-capacity/chco/chco-related-menus/chco-related-links/recruitment-and-outreach/217-about/organization/icig-pages/2660-icig-fiorc|title=Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council (FIORC)|website=www.dni.gov}}</ref> Since 2012, New Zealand has had a partnership arrangement with NATO under the Partnership Interoperability Initiative.<ref>{{cite web |title=Relations with New Zealand |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52347.htm |website=NATO |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Partnership arrangement signed with NATO |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/partnership-arrangement-signed-nato |website=Beehive.co.nz |publisher=NZ Govt |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Scotcher |first1=Katie |title=New Zealand's relationship to Nato is getting stronger, expert says |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealands-relationship-to-nato-is-getting-stronger-expert-says/46LJXVTY4REX3OE6DGLADS54DA/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |work=New Zealand Herald |date=3 April 2023}}</ref>

===Local government and external territories===
[[File:NZ Regional Councils and Territorial Authorities 2017.svg|thumb|Map of regions (coloured) and territorial authorities (outlined) in New Zealand|alt=A map of New Zealand divided into regions and territorial authorities with labels]]
The early European settlers divided New Zealand into provinces, which had a degree of autonomy.<ref name="nine_provinces">{{cite web |url= http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/pdf/hoc_fr_bulletins/31_bulletin.pdf |title=New Zealand's Nine Provinces (1853–76) |work=Friends of the Hocken Collections |publisher=University of Otago |date=March 2000 |access-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110205012614/http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/pdf/hoc_fr_bulletins/31_bulletin.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Because of financial pressures and the desire to consolidate railways, education, land sales, and other policies, government was centralised and the provinces were abolished in 1876.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Provincial Divergencies |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/provinces-and-provincial-districts/3 |access-date=7 January 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> The provinces are remembered in regional public holidays<ref>{{cite book |last1=Swarbrick |first1=Nancy |chapter=Public holidays |chapter-url= http://TeAra.govt.nz/en/public-holidays |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=25 June 2017 |date=September 2016}}</ref> and sporting rivalries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview – regional rugby |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/regional-rugby/overview |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=September 2010 |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref>

Since 1876, various councils have administered local areas under legislation determined by the central government.<ref name="nine_provinces" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dollery |first1=Brian |last2=Keogh |first2=Ciaran |last3=Crase |first3=Lin |title=Alternatives to Amalgamation in Australian Local Government: Lessons from the New Zealand Experience |date=2007 |journal=Sustaining Regions |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=50–69 |url= http://www.anzrsai.org/system/files/f8/f9/f39/f40/o186//Dollery%20sustaining%20regions%20article.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070829001212/http://www.anzrsai.org/system/files/f8/f9/f39/f40/o186//Dollery%20sustaining%20regions%20article.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> In 1989, the government reorganised local government into the current two-tier structure of regional councils and territorial authorities.<ref name="Sancton2000">{{cite book |title=Merger mania: the assault on local government |first=Andrew |last=Sancton |date=2000 |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |page=84 |isbn=0-7735-2163-1}}</ref> The 249 municipalities<ref name="Sancton2000" /> that existed in 1975 have now been consolidated into 67 territorial authorities and 11 regional councils.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Methods%20and%20Services/Tables/Subnational%20population%20estimates/subpopest2001-10.ashx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110610051916/http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Methods%20and%20Services/Tables/Subnational%20population%20estimates/subpopest2001-10.ashx |archive-date=10 June 2011|title=Subnational population estimates at 30 June 2010 (boundaries at 1 November 2010) |date=26 October 2010 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=2 April 2011}}</ref> The regional councils' role is to regulate "the natural environment with particular emphasis on [[Social:Resource Management Act 1991|resource management]]",<ref name="Sancton2000" /> while territorial authorities are responsible for sewage, water, local roads, building consents, and other local matters.{{sfn|Smelt|Jui Lin|2009|p=33}}<ref name="glossary">{{cite web |title=Glossary |url= http://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgip.nsf/wpgurl/Resources-Glossary-Index |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |access-date=28 August 2016}}</ref> Five of the territorial councils are [[Social:Unitary authority|unitary authorities]] and also act as regional councils.<ref name="glossary" /> The territorial authorities consist of 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the [[Earth:Chatham Islands|Chatham Islands]] Council. While officially the Chatham Islands Council is not a unitary authority, it undertakes many functions of a regional council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chatham Islands Council Act 1995 No 41 |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1995/0041/latest/whole.html |date=29 July 1995 |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>

The Realm of New Zealand, one of 15 Commonwealth realms,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gimpel |first1=Diane|title=Monarchies|date=2011 |publisher=ABDO Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-617-14792-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/monarchies0000gimp_v0v5/page/22 22] |url= https://archive.org/details/monarchies0000gimp_v0v5|url-access=registration |access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref> is the entire area over which the king or queen of New Zealand is [[Social:Sovereign|sovereign]] and comprises New Zealand, Tokelau, the Ross Dependency, the Cook Islands, and Niue.<ref name="GG constitution" /> The Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing states in [[Social:Associated state|free association]] with New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gov.nu/wb/pages/system-of-government-fakatokaaga-he-fakatufono.php |title=System of Government |publisher=Government of Niue |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101113024046/http://www.gov.nu/wb/pages/system-of-government-fakatokaaga-he-fakatufono.php |archive-date=13 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Government of the Cook Islands |title=Government – Structure, Personnel |url=http://www.ck/govt.htm#con |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> The New Zealand Parliament cannot pass legislation for these countries, but with their consent can act on behalf of them in foreign affairs and defence. Tokelau is classified as a non-self-governing territory, but is administered by a council of three elders (one from each Tokelauan [[Earth:Atoll|atoll]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Tokelau Government |url= http://www.tokelau.org.nz/Tokelau+Government.html |publisher=Government of Tokelau |access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> The Ross Dependency is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica, where it operates the Scott Base research facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott Base |url= http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/scott-base |publisher=Antarctica New Zealand |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> New Zealand nationality law treats all parts of the realm equally, so most people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency are New Zealand citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizenship Act 1977 No 61 |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1977/0061/latest/whole.html |publisher=Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=26 May 2017 |date=1 December 1977}}</ref>{{Refn|A person born on or after 1 January 2006 acquires New Zealand citizenship at birth only if at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. All persons born on or before 31 December 2005 acquired citizenship at birth (''[[Philosophy:Jus soli|jus soli]]'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Citizenship-Check-if-you're-a-New-Zealand-citizen?OpenDocument |title=Check if you're a New Zealand citizen |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140923112222/http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Citizenship-Check-if-you%E2%80%99re-a-New-Zealand-citizen?OpenDocument |url-status=live}}</ref>|group=n}}

==Geography and environment==

[[File:New Zealand 23 October 2002.jpg|right|thumbnail|upright|The snow-capped Southern Alps dominate the South Island, while the North Island's Northland Peninsula stretches towards the subtropics.|alt=Islands of New Zealand as seen from satellite]]

New Zealand is located near the centre of the water hemisphere and is made up of two main islands and more than 700 smaller islands.<ref name="Walrond1">{{cite book|last=Walrond|first=Carl|title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|date=8 February 2005|chapter=Natural environment – Geography and geology|chapter-url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/natural-environment/page-1}}</ref> The two main islands (the North Island, or {{lang|mi|Te Ika-a-Māui}}, and the South Island, or {{lang|mi|Te Waipounamu}}) are separated by Cook Strait, {{convert|22|km|mi}} wide at its narrowest point.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=The Sea Floor |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/cook-strait/1 |access-date=13 January 2011 |date=April 2009|orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Besides the North and South Islands, the five largest inhabited islands are Stewart Island (across the Foveaux Strait), Chatham Island, Great Barrier Island (in the Hauraki Gulf),<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/introduction/hauraki/default.asp |title=Hauraki Gulf islands |publisher=Auckland City Council |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101225020855/http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/introduction/hauraki/default.asp |archive-date=25 December 2010}}</ref> D'Urville Island (in the Marlborough Sounds)<ref>{{cite web |last=Hindmarsh |date=2006 |url= http://www.historic.org.nz/en/Publications/HeritageNZMagazine/HeritageNz2006/HNZ06-DiscoveringDUrville.aspx |title=Discovering D'Urville |publisher=Heritage New Zealand |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511071150/http://www.historic.org.nz/en/Publications/HeritageNZMagazine/HeritageNz2006/HNZ06-DiscoveringDUrville.aspx |archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> and Waiheke Island (about {{convert|22|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from central Auckland).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.auckland-coastguard.org.nz/Information/Distance+Tables.html |title=Distance tables |publisher=Auckland Coastguard |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110123074649/http://www.auckland-coastguard.org.nz/Information/Distance%2BTables.html |archive-date=23 January 2011}}</ref>

New Zealand is long and narrow—over {{convert|1600|km|mi}} along its north-north-east axis with a maximum width of {{convert|400|km|mi}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Heinemann New Zealand atlas |publisher=Heinemann Publishers |first=D. W. |last=McKenzie |date=1987|isbn=0-7900-0187-X}}</ref>—with about {{convert|15000|km|mi|-2|abbr=on}} of coastline<ref name="CIA" /> and a total land area of {{convert|268000|km2|-2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/PASFull/pasfull.nsf/84bf91b1a7b5d7204c256809000460a4/4c2567ef00247c6acc25697a00043f15?OpenDocument|title=Geography |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=21 December 2009 |date=1999|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100522061011/http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/PASFull/pasfull.nsf/84bf91b1a7b5d7204c256809000460a4/4c2567ef00247c6acc25697a00043f15?OpenDocument |archive-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> Because of its far-flung outlying islands and long coastline, the country has extensive marine resources. Its exclusive economic zone is one of the largest in the world, covering more than 15 times its land area.<ref>{{cite book |title=Offshore Options: Managing Environmental Effects in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone |publisher=Ministry for the Environment |date=2005 |location=Wellington |url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/offshore-options-jun05.pdf |isbn=0-478-25916-6 |access-date=23 June 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411222516/http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/offshore-options-jun05.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| image1            = Mt Cook, NZ.jpg
| caption1          = Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest point in New Zealand, at 3,724 metres.
| alt1              = A large mountain with a lake in the foreground
| image2            = New Zealand moutain ranges.jpg
| caption2          = The Southern Alps stretch for 500 kilometres down the South Island.
| alt2              = Snow-capped mountain range
| total_width       = 
}}
The South Island is the largest landmass of New Zealand. It is divided along its length by the Southern Alps.<ref>{{cite book |title=The rise and fall of the Southern Alps |first=Glen |last= Coates |publisher=Canterbury University Press |date=2002|page=15|isbn=0-908812-93-0}}</ref> There are 18 peaks over {{convert|3000|m|ft}}, the highest of which is {{lang|mi|nocat=yes|italic=no|Aoraki}} / Mount Cook at {{convert|3724|m|ft}}.{{sfn|Garden|2005|p=52}} Fiordland's steep mountains and deep fiords record the extensive ice age glaciation of this southwestern corner of the South Island.<ref>{{cite book |first=David |last=Grant |chapter=Southland places – Fiordland's coast |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/southland-places/10 |access-date=14 January 2011}}</ref> The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central North Island volcanoes |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |access-date=14 January 2011 |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/tongariro/features/central-north-island-volcanoes/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101229222806/http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/tongariro/features/central-north-island-volcanoes/ |archive-date=29 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The highly active [[Earth:Taupō Volcanic Zone|Taupō Volcanic Zone]] has formed a large [[Earth:North Island Volcanic Plateau|volcanic plateau]], punctuated by the North Island's highest mountain, [[Earth:Mount Ruapehu|Mount Ruapehu]] ({{convert|2797|m}}). The plateau also hosts the country's largest lake, [[Earth:Lake Taupō|Lake Taupō]],<ref name=Walrond1 /> nestled in the [[Earth:Caldera|caldera]] of one of the world's most active [[Earth:Supervolcano|supervolcano]]es.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/activity/taupo/about.html |title=Taupō |publisher=[[Earth:GNS Science|GNS Science]] |access-date=2 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110324025353/http://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/activity/taupo/about.html |archive-date=24 March 2011}}</ref> New Zealand is prone to earthquakes and [[Earth:Volcanism of New Zealand|volcanic]] eruptions.

The country owes its varied topography, and perhaps even its emergence above the waves, to the dynamic boundary it straddles between the [[Earth:Pacific Plate|Pacific]] and [[Earth:Indo-Australian Plate|Indo-Australian Plate]]s.<ref name="Keith 2009">{{cite book |first1=Keith |last1=Lewis |first2=Scott |last2=Nodder |first3=Lionel |last3=Carter |chapter=Sea floor geology – Active plate boundaries |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/sea-floor-geology/2 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> New Zealand is part of [[Earth:Zealandia|Zealandia]], a microcontinent nearly half the size of Australia that gradually submerged after breaking away from the [[Earth:Gondwana|Gondwana]]n supercontinent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wallis |first1=G. P. |last2=Trewick |first2=S. A. |doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04294.x |title=New Zealand phylogeography: Evolution on a small continent |journal=Molecular Ecology |volume=18 |issue=17 |pages=3548–3580 |date=2009 |pmid= 19674312 |s2cid=22049973 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2009MolEc..18.3548W }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mortimer |first1=Nick |last2=Campbell |first2=Hamish |title=Zealandia: Our Continent Revealed |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-357156-8 |location=Auckland |publisher=Penguin Books |oclc=887230882}}</ref> About 25 million years ago, a shift in plate tectonic movements began to contort and crumple the region. This is now most evident in the Southern Alps, formed by [[Earth:Continental collision|compression of the crust]] beside the Alpine Fault. Elsewhere, the plate boundary involves the [[Earth:Subduction|subduction]] of one plate under the other, producing the [[Earth:Puysegur Trench|Puysegur Trench]] to the south, the [[Earth:Hikurangi Trench|Hikurangi Trench]] east of the North Island, and the [[Earth:Kermadec Trench|Kermadec]] and [[Earth:Tonga Trench|Tonga Trench]]es<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Dawn |last1=Wright |first2=Sherman |last2=Bloomer |first3=Christopher |last3=MacLeod |first4=Brian |last4=Taylor |first5=Andrew |last5=Goodliffe |title=Bathymetry of the Tonga Trench and Forearc: A Map Series |date=2000 |journal=Marine Geophysical Researches |volume=21 |issue=5 |pages=489–512 |doi=10.1023/A:1026514914220 |bibcode=2000MarGR..21..489W |s2cid=6072675 }}</ref> further north.<ref name="Keith 2009" />

New Zealand, together with Australia, is part of a region known as [[Place:Australasia|Australasia]].<ref name=NZOD>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Australasia |encyclopedia=New Zealand Oxford Dictionary |publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]] |date=2005 |isbn=9780195584516 |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195584516.001.0001|editor1-last=Deverson |editor1-first=Tony |editor2-last=Kennedy |editor2-first=Graeme}}</ref> It also forms the southwestern extremity of the geographic and ethnographic region called [[Place:Polynesia|Polynesia]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hobbs |first1=Joseph J. |title=Fundamentals of World Regional Geography |date=2016 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=9781305854956 |page=367 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0rUaCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA367}}</ref> [[Earth:Oceania|Oceania]] is a wider region encompassing the [[Earth:Australia (continent)|Australian continent]], New Zealand, and various island countries in the Pacific Ocean that are not included in the [[Earth:Continent|seven-continent]] model.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hillstrom |first1=Kevin |last2=Collier Hillstrom |first2=Laurie |title=Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues |volume=3 |date=2003 |publisher=[[Company:ABC-Clio|ABC-Clio]] |isbn=9781576076941 |page=25 |quote=... defined here as the continent nation of Australia, New Zealand, and twenty-two other island countries and territories sprinkled over more than 40 million square kilometres of the South Pacific.}}</ref>

{{clear}}<!----Galleries or clusters  of images are generally discouraged in county summary articles as they cause undue weight to one particular section and may cause accessibility problems because images are fragmented --->
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Landscapes of New Zealand">
File:NZ Landscape.jpg|Rural scene near Queenstown
File:TWC Hokitika Gorge • Stewart Nimmo • MRD 16.jpg|Hokitika Gorge, West Coast
File:Emerald Lakes, New Zealand.jpg|The Emerald Lakes, [[Earth:Mount Tongariro|Mount Tongariro]]
File:Lake Gunn.jpg|Lake Gunn
File:Pencarrow Head, Wellington, New Zealand from Santa Regina, 24 Feb. 2007.jpg|Pencarrow Head, Wellington
</gallery>

===Climate===
[[File:Christchurch Botanic Gardens in autumn.jpg|thumb|right|Autumn in Christchurch (Botanic Gardens pictured)]]
New Zealand's climate is predominantly<!--with some variations noted--> temperate [[Earth:Oceanic climate|maritime]] ([[Earth:Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfb), with mean annual temperatures ranging from {{convert|10|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the south to {{convert|16|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the north.<ref name="Mullan2009">{{cite book |first1=Brett |last1=Mullan |first2=Andrew |last2=Tait |first3=Craig |last3=Thompson |chapter=Climate – New Zealand's climate |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/climate/1 |access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref> Historical [[Maxima and minima|maxima and minima]] are {{convert|42.4|°C|2|abbr=on}} in Rangiora, Canterbury and {{convert|-25.6|°C|2|abbr=on}} in Ranfurly, Otago.<ref name="niwa">{{cite web |url=http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate/extreme |title=Summary of New Zealand climate extremes |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |date=2004 |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> Conditions vary sharply across regions from extremely wet on the West Coast of the South Island to [[Earth:Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin of inland Canterbury and subtropical in Northland.<ref>{{cite book |first=Carl |last=Walrond |chapter=Natural environment – Climate |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/natural-environment/3 |access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Orange |first=Claudia |chapter=Northland region |date=1 May 2015 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/northland-region/ |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref> Of the seven largest cities, [[Place:Christchurch|Christchurch]] is the driest, receiving on average only {{convert|618|mm|in}} of rain per year and Wellington the wettest, receiving almost twice that amount.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.niwa.co.nz/__data/assets/file/0006/44268/rain.xls |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110503221956/http://www.niwa.co.nz/__data/assets/file/0006/44268/rain.xls |archive-date=3 May 2011|title=Mean monthly rainfall |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |format=XLS |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch all receive a yearly average of more than 2,000 hours of sunshine. The southern and southwestern parts of the South Island have a cooler and cloudier climate, with around 1,400–1,600 hours; the northern and northeastern parts of the South Island are the sunniest areas of the country and receive about 2,400–2,500 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.niwascience.co.nz/__data/assets/file/0006/44655/sunshine.xls |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081015102420/http://www.niwascience.co.nz/__data/assets/file/0006/44655/sunshine.xls |archive-date=15 October 2008 |title=Mean monthly sunshine hours |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |format=XLS |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> The general snow season is early June until early October, though cold snaps can occur outside this season.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand climate and weather |url= http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/new-zealand-climate-and-weather/ |publisher=Tourism New Zealand |access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> Snowfall is common in the eastern and southern parts of the South Island and mountain areas across the country.<ref name="Mullan2009" />
<!---As prose text is preferred overly detailed data charts and diagrams such as weather data boxes, population charts and past elections results etc should be reserved for main sub articles on the topic as per WP:DETAIL.--->
{|class="wikitable collapsible sortable"  style="text-align:right;"
|+Average daily temperatures and rainfall for selected towns and cities of New Zealand<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate |title=Climate data and activities |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |access-date=11 February 2016 |date=28 February 2007}}</ref>
|-
!Location
!January high<br />°C (°F)
!January low<br />°C (°F)
!July high<br />°C (°F)
!July low<br />°C (°F)
!Annual rainfall<br />mm (in)
|-
|[[Place:Auckland|Auckland]] ||{{Convert|23|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|15|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|15|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|8|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|1212|mm|in|abbr=values}}
|-
|[[Place:Wellington|Wellington]] ||{{Convert|20|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|14|C|F|0|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|11|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|6|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|1207|mm|in|abbr=values}}
|-
|[[Place:Hokitika|Hokitika]]
|{{Convert|20|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|12|C|F|0|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|12|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|3|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|2901|mm|in|abbr=values}}
|-
|[[Place:Christchurch|Christchurch]]||{{Convert|23|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|12|C|F|0|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|11|C|F|abbr=values}}||{{Convert|2|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|618|mm|in|abbr=values}}
|-
|Alexandra
|{{Convert|25|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|11|C|F|0|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|8|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|-2|C|F|abbr=values}}
|{{Convert|359|mm|in|abbr=values}}
|}

===Biodiversity===
[[File:TeTuatahianui.jpg|thumb|upright|The endemic flightless [[Biology:Kiwi (bird)|kiwi]] is a national icon.|alt=Kiwi amongst sticks]]
New Zealand's geographic isolation for 80 million years<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cooper |first1=R. |last2=Millener |first2=P. |title=The New Zealand biota: Historical background and new research |date=1993 |journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=429–33 |doi=10.1016/0169-5347(93)90004-9 |pmid= 21236222}}</ref> and island [[Earth:Biogeography|biogeography]] has influenced evolution of the country's species of [[Earth:Fauna|animals]], [[Biology:Fungus|fungi]] and [[Earth:Flora|plants]]. Physical isolation has caused biological isolation, resulting in a dynamic evolutionary ecology with examples of distinctive plants and animals as well as populations of widespread species.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Trewick |first1=S. A. |last2=Morgan-Richards |first2=M. |date=2014 |title=New Zealand Wild Life |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=9780143568896}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lindsey |first1=Terence |last2=Morris |first2=Rod |title=Collins Field Guide to New Zealand Wildlife |publisher=HarperCollins |date=2000 |page=14 |isbn=978-1-86950-300-0}}</ref> The flora and fauna of New Zealand were originally thought to have originated from New Zealand's fragmentation off from Gondwana, however more recent evidence postulates species resulted from dispersal.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McDowall|first=R. M.|date=2008|title=Process and pattern in the biogeography of New Zealand – a global microcosm?|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01830.x|journal=Journal of Biogeography|language=en|volume=35|issue=2|pages=197–212|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01830.x|bibcode=2008JBiog..35..197M |s2cid=83921062|issn=1365-2699}}</ref> About 82% of New Zealand's indigenous [[Biology:Vascular plant|vascular plant]]s are [[Biology:Endemism|endemic]], covering 1,944 species across 65 [[Biology:Genus|genera]].<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |date=May 2010 |url=http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/page.asp?help_faqs_NZ_plants |title=Frequently asked questions about New Zealand plants |publisher=[[Organization:New Zealand Plant Conservation Network|New Zealand Plant Conservation Network]] |access-date=15 January 2011 |archive-date=8 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908012124/http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/page.asp?help_faqs_NZ_plants |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NZPCN 2006">{{cite book |last1=De Lange |first1=Peter James |last2=Sawyer |first2=John William David |last3=Rolfe |first3=Jeremy |title=New Zealand Indigenous Vascular Plant Checklist |date=2006 |publisher=[[Organization:New Zealand Plant Conservation Network|New Zealand Plant Conservation Network]] |isbn=0-473-11306-6}}</ref> The number of fungi recorded from New Zealand, including lichen-forming species, is not known, nor is the proportion of those fungi which are endemic, but one estimate suggests there are about 2,300 species of lichen-forming fungi in New Zealand<ref name="FAQ" /> and 40% of these are endemic.<ref>{{cite book |first=Maggy |last=Wassilieff |chapter=Lichens – Lichens in New Zealand |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/lichens/2 |access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> The two main types of forest are those dominated by broadleaf trees with emergent podocarps, or by [[Biology:Nothofagus|southern beech]] in cooler climates.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Mixed Broadleaf Podocarp and Kauri Forest |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/forests-indigenous/4 |access-date=15 January 2011 |date=April 2010 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> The remaining vegetation types consist of grasslands, the majority of which are [[Biology:Tussock grasslands of New Zealand|tussock]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Alan |last=Mark |chapter=Grasslands – Tussock grasslands |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/grasslands/1 |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref>

Before the arrival of humans, an estimated 80% of the land was covered in forest, with only [[Earth:Tree line|high alpine]], wet, infertile and volcanic areas without trees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commentary on Forest Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region (A Review for Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand and Western Samoa) |date=1997 |publisher=Forestry Department |url= http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7730e/w7730e09.htm#new%20zealand |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Massive deforestation occurred after humans arrived, with around half the forest cover lost to fire after Polynesian settlement.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McGlone |first=M. S. |date=1989 |title=The Polynesian settlement of New Zealand in relation to environmental and biotic changes |journal=New Zealand Journal of Ecology |volume=12(S) |pages=115–129 |url= http://nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol12_s_115.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140717220413/http://nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol12_s_115.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2014}}</ref> Much of the remaining forest fell after European settlement, being logged or cleared to make room for pastoral farming, leaving forest occupying only 23% of the land.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Taylor |first1=R. |last2=Smith |first2=I. |title=The state of New Zealand's environment 1997 |date=1997 |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for the Environment |location=Wellington |url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/ser1997/index.html |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122070627/http://mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/ser1997/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Giant Haasts eagle attacking New Zealand moa.jpg|thumb|left|The giant Haast's eagle died out when humans hunted its main prey, the moa, to extinction.|alt=An artist's rendition of a Haast's eagle attacking two moa]]

The forests were dominated by birds, and the lack of mammalian predators led to some like the [[Biology:Kiwi (bird)|kiwi]], [[Biology:Kākāpō|kākāpō]], [[Biology:Weka|weka]] and [[Biology:Takahē|takahē]] evolving flightlessness.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.terranature.org/flightlessbirds.htm |title=New Zealand ecology: Flightless birds |work=TerraNature |access-date=17 January 2011}}</ref> The arrival of humans, associated changes to habitat, and the introduction of [[Biology:Polynesian rat|rats]], ferrets and other mammals led to the extinction of many bird species, including [[Biology:Megafauna|large birds]] like the [[Biology:Moa|moa]] and [[Biology:Haast's eagle|Haast's eagle]].<ref name="Holdaway2009">{{cite book |first=Richard |last=Holdaway |chapter=Extinctions – New Zealand extinctions since human arrival |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/extinctions/4 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 2005|title=Huge eagles 'dominated NZ skies' |first=Alex |last= Kirby |work=BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4138147.stm |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref>

Other indigenous animals are represented by reptiles ([[Biology:Tuatara|tuatara]], [[Biology:Skink|skink]]s and geckos), [[Biology:Leiopelmatidae|frogs]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |title=Reptiles and frogs |access-date=25 June 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150129135945/http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/ |archive-date=29 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> such as the protected endangered Hamilton's Frog, spiders,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pollard |first1=Simon |chapter=Spiders and other arachnids |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/spiders-and-other-arachnids |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=25 June 2017 |date=September 2007}}</ref> insects ({{lang|mi|[[Biology:Wētā|wētā]]|italics=no}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=Wētā |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/weta/ |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref> and snails.<ref>{{cite book |first=Paddy |last=Ryan |chapter=Snails and slugs – Flax snails, giant snails and veined slugs |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/snails-and-slugs/2 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Some, such as the tuatara, are so unique that they have been called [[Biology:Living fossil|living fossil]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Herrera-Flores |first1=Jorge A. |last2=Stubbs |first2=Thomas L. |last3=Benton |first3=Michael J. |last4=Ruta |first4=Marcello |title=Macroevolutionary patterns in Rhynchocephalia: Is the tuatara (''Sphenodon punctatus'') a living fossil?|journal=Palaeontology |date=May 2017 |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=319–328 |doi=10.1111/pala.12284 |bibcode=2017Palgy..60..319H |doi-access=free}}</ref> Three species of bats ([[Biology:New Zealand greater short-tailed bat|one]] since extinct) were the only sign of native land mammals in New Zealand until the 2006 discovery of bones from a unique, mouse-sized land mammal at least 16 million years old.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/2006/nzmammal.html |title=Tiny Bones Rewrite Textbooks, first New Zealand land mammal fossil |publisher=University of New South Wales |date=31 May 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070531085218/http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/2006/nzmammal.html |archive-date=31 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Worthy |first1=Trevor H. |last2=Tennyson |first2=Alan J. D. |last3=Archer |first3=Michael |last4=Musser |first4=Anne M. |last5=Hand |first5=Suzanne J. |last6=Jones |first6=Craig |last7=Douglas |first7=Barry J. |last8=McNamara |first8=James A. |last9=Beck |first9=Robin M. D. |title=Miocene mammal reveals a Mesozoic ghost lineage on insular New Zealand, southwest Pacific |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=103 |issue=51 |pages=19419–23 |date=2006 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0605684103|bibcode=2006PNAS..10319419W |pmid=17159151 |pmc=1697831|doi-access=free }}</ref> Marine mammals, however, are abundant, with almost half the world's [[Biology:Cetacea|cetacea]]ns (whales, dolphins, and [[Biology:Porpoise|porpoise]]s) and large numbers of [[Biology:Fur seal|fur seal]]s reported in New Zealand waters.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/ |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |title=Marine Mammals |access-date=17 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110308103617/http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/ |archive-date=8 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many seabirds breed in New Zealand, a third of them unique to the country.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/sea-and-shore-birds/ |title=Sea and shore birds |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> More penguin species are found in New Zealand than in any other country, with 13 of the world's 18 penguin species.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/ |title=Penguins |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>

Since human arrival, almost half of the country's vertebrate species have become extinct, including at least fifty-one birds, three frogs, three lizards, one freshwater fish, and one bat. Others are endangered or have had their range severely reduced.<ref name="Holdaway2009" /> However, New Zealand conservationists have pioneered several methods to help threatened wildlife recover, including island sanctuaries, pest control, wildlife translocation, fostering and ecological [[Earth:Island restoration|restoration of islands]] and other protected areas.<ref>{{cite book |first=Carl |last=Jones |chapter=Reptiles and Amphibians |editor1-first=Martin |editor1-last=Perrow |editor2-last=Davy |editor2-first=Anthony |title=Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Principles of Restoration|volume=2 |page=362 |publisher={{wipe|Cambridge University Press}} |date=2002 |isbn=0-521-79128-6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Towns |first1=D. |last2=Ballantine |first2=W. |title=Conservation and restoration of New Zealand Island ecosystems |date=1993 |journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=452–7 |doi=10.1016/0169-5347(93)90009-E |pmid=21236227}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Island restoration: Exploring the past, anticipating the future |first=Mark |last=Rauzon|journal=Marine Ornithology |volume=35|pages=97–107 |date=2008 |url= http://marineornithology.org/PDF/35_2/35_2_97-107.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Diamond |first=Jared |chapter=New Zealand as an Archipelago: An International Perspective |editor1-first=D. |editor1-last=Towns |editor2-first=C. |editor2-last=Daugherty |editor3-first=I. |editor3-last=Atkinson |date=1990 |title=Ecological Restoration of New Zealand Islands |series="Conservation Sciences Publications" series |volume=Z<!--Yes, zed not two.--> |publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation |location=Wellington |pages=3–8 |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/EcologicalRestorationNZIslands.pdf |via=Doc.Govt.nz}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Economy==
[[File:Auckland Waterfrt.jpg|thumb|Waterfront along Auckland CBD, a major hub of economic activity|alt=Boats docked in blue-green water. Plate glass skyscrapers rising up in the background.]]

New Zealand has an advanced [[Finance:Market economy|market economy]],<ref>{{cite book |title=World Economic Outlook |url= https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2018/03/20/~/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2018/April/text.ashx?la=en |publisher=[[Organization:International Monetary Fund|International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=21 June 2018 |page=63 |date=April 2018|isbn=978-1-48434-971-7}}</ref> ranked 13th in the {{As of|2021|alt=2021}} [[Engineering:Human Development Index|Human Development Index]],<ref name="HDI"/> and fourth in the {{As of|2022|alt=2022}} [[Finance:Index of Economic Freedom|Index of Economic Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Country rankings |url= https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking |date=2022 |website=Index of Economic Freedom |publisher=[[Organization:The Heritage Foundation|The Heritage Foundation]] |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> It is a high-income economy with a nominal [[Finance:Gross domestic product|gross domestic product]] (GDP) per capita of {{wipe|United States dollar}}36,254.<ref name=imf2>{{cite web |url= https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2020/October/weo-report?c=193,122,124,156,423,935,128,939,172,132,134,174,532,176,178,436,136,158,542,941,946,137,546,181,138,196,142,182,359,135,576,936,961,184,144,146,528,112,111,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,LUR,LE,&sy=2018&ey=2025&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: October 2020 |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> The currency is the New Zealand dollar, informally known as the "Kiwi dollar"; it also circulates in the Cook Islands (see [[Finance:Cook Islands dollar|Cook Islands dollar]]), Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bsi.si/en/financial-data.asp?MapaId=1239 |title=Currencies of the territories listed in the BS exchange rate lists |publisher=Bank of Slovenia |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref>

Historically, extractive industries have contributed strongly to New Zealand's economy, focusing at different times on sealing, whaling, [[Biology:Phormium|flax]], gold, [[Biology:Kauri gum|kauri gum]], and native timber.<ref name="RWT export evolution">{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/trade-external/1 |title=Historical evolution and trade patterns |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |access-date=10 February 2011 |date=November 2009 |orig-year=1966}}</ref> The first shipment of refrigerated meat on the ''Dunedin'' in 1882 led to the establishment of meat and dairy exports to Britain, a trade which provided the basis for strong economic growth in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Hugh |last1=Stringleman |first2=Robert |last2=Peden |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/sheep-farming/5/2 |chapter=Sheep farming – Growth of the frozen meat trade, 1882–2001 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=October 2009 |access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> High demand for agricultural products from the United Kingdom and the United States helped New Zealanders achieve higher living standards than both Australia and Western Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Some Indicators of Comparative Living Standards |first=John |last=Baker |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/standard-of-living/1/1 |access-date=30 April 2010 |date=February 2010 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}
[http://www.teara.govt.nz/files/3_308_StandardOfLiving_Comparison_0.pdf PDF Table]</ref> In 1973, New Zealand's export market was reduced when the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community<ref>{{cite book|first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=History – The later 20th century |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/history/6 |access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> and other compounding factors, such as the [[Finance:1973 oil crisis|1973 oil]] and 1979 energy crises, led to a severe economic depression.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Chris |first2=John |last2=Yeabsley |chapter=Overseas trade policy – Difficult times – the 1970s and early 1980s |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=April 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/overseas-trade-policy/5 |access-date=22 January 2011 |last1=Nixon}}</ref> Living standards in New Zealand fell behind those of Australia and Western Europe, and by 1982 New Zealand had the lowest per-capita income of all the developed nations surveyed by the World Bank.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Evans |first=N. R. |title=Up from Down Under: After a Century of Socialism, Australia and New Zealand are Cutting Back Government and Freeing Their Economies |date=January 1994 |magazine=National Review |volume=46 |issue=16 |pages=47–51}}</ref> In the mid-1980s New Zealand deregulated its agricultural sector by phasing out subsidies over a three-year period.<ref>{{cite book |title=Trade, Food Security, and Human Rights: The Rules for International Trade in Agricultural Products and the Evolving World Food Crisis |date=2016 |publisher=[[Company:Routledge|Routledge]] |isbn=9781317008521 |page=125}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Wayne |last=Arnold |title=Surviving Without Subsidies |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/worldbusiness/02farm.html?pagewanted=all |quote=... ever since a liberal but free-market government swept to power in 1984 and essentially canceled handouts to farmers .... They went cold turkey and in the process it was very rough on their farming economy |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=2 August 2007 |access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> Since 1984, successive governments engaged in major macroeconomic restructuring (known first as [[Finance:Rogernomics|Rogernomics]] and then Ruthanasia), rapidly transforming New Zealand from a [[Finance:Protectionism|protectionist]] and highly regulated economy to a liberalised free-trade economy.<ref name="Liberalisation">{{cite book |first=Brian |last=Easton |chapter=Economic history – Government and market liberalisation |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/economic-history/11 |access-date=1 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Taking New Zealand Seriously: The Economics of Decency |first=Tim |last=Hazledine |publisher=HarperCollins |url= http://www.ariplex.com/~economic-myth-busters/hazledine-taking%20nz%20seriously.pdf |isbn=1-86950-283-3 |date=1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510082643/http://www.ariplex.com/~economic-myth-busters/hazledine-taking%20nz%20seriously.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>

[[File:MilfordSound.jpg|thumb|left|Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is one of New Zealand's most famous tourist destinations.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/396410|title=NZ tops Travellers' Choice Awards |work=Stuff |date=May 2008 |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref>|alt=Blue water against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains]]
Unemployment peaked just above 10% in 1991 and 1992,<ref name="unemployment">{{cite web |url= http://www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/paid-work/unemployment.html |title=Unemployment: the Social Report 2016 – Te pūrongo oranga tangata |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Social Development |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref> following the [[Finance:Black Monday (1987)#New Zealand|1987 share market crash]], but eventually fell to a record low (since 1986) of 3.7% in 2007 (ranking third from twenty-seven comparable OECD nations).<ref name="unemployment" /> However, the [[Finance:Financial crisis of 2007–2008|global financial crisis]] that followed had a major effect on New Zealand, with the GDP shrinking for five consecutive quarters, the longest recession in over thirty years,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/business/global/11nzrate.html |title=New Zealand Takes a Pause in Cutting Rates |date=10 June 2009 |work=The New York Times |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8120196.stm|title=New Zealand's slump longest ever |date=26 June 2009|work=BBC News |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> and unemployment rising back to 7% in late 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Household Labour Force Survey: December 2010 quarter – Media Release |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/work_income_and_spending/employment_and_unemployment/HouseholdLabourForceSurvey_MRDec10qtr.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110429174323/http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/work_income_and_spending/employment_and_unemployment/HouseholdLabourForceSurvey_MRDec10qtr.aspx |archive-date=29 April 2011 |first=Geoff |last=Bascand |date=February 2011 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Unemployment rates for different age groups follow similar trends but are consistently higher among youth. In the December 2014 quarter, the general unemployment rate was around 5.8%, while the unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 21 was 15.6%.<ref name="unemployment" /> New Zealand has experienced a series of "brain drains" since the 1970s<ref>{{cite journal |last=Davenport |first=Sally |title=Panic and panacea: Brain drain and science and technology human capital policy |journal=Research Policy |volume=33 |date=2004 |issue=4 |pages=617–630 |doi=10.1016/j.respol.2004.01.006}}</ref> that still continue today.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sean |last=O'Hare |title=New Zealand brain-drain worst in world |date=September 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7973220/New-Zealand-brain-drain-worst-in-world.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7973220/New-Zealand-brain-drain-worst-in-world.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Nearly one-quarter of highly skilled workers live overseas, mostly in Australia and Britain, which is the largest proportion from any developed nation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quarter of NZ's brightest are gone |first=Simon |last=Collins|date=March 2005|work=The New Zealand Herald |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10114923}}</ref> In recent decades, however, a "brain gain" has brought in educated professionals from Europe and less developed countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Winkelmann |first=Rainer |title=The labour market performance of European immigrants in New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s |date=2000 |journal=The International Migration Review |volume=33 |pages=33–58 |doi=10.2307/2676011 |jstor=2676011 |issue=1 |publisher=The Center for Migration Studies of New York}} Journal subscription required</ref>{{sfn|Bain|2006|p=44}} Today New Zealand's economy benefits from a high level of [[Social:Innovation|innovation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GII 2016 Report |publisher=[[Global Innovation Index]] |url= https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/userfiles/file/reportpdf/gii-full-report-2016-v1.pdf# |format=PDF |access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

Poverty in New Zealand is characterised by growing income inequality; wealth in New Zealand is [[Finance:Economic inequality in New Zealand|highly concentrated]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Income inequality |url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-progress-indicators/Home/Social/income-inequality.aspx |website=NZ Progress Indicators |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731201824/http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-progress-indicators/Home/Social/income-inequality.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> with the top 1% of the population owning 16% of the country's wealth, and the richest 5% owning 38%, leaving a stark contrast where half the population, including state beneficiaries and pensioners, receive less than $24,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pearl |first1=Harry |title=NZ income gap at crisis level - author |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9182609/NZ-income-gap-at-crisis-level-author |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Stuff |date=18 September 2013 |language=en}}</ref> Moreover, child poverty in New Zealand has been identified by the Government as a major societal issue;<ref name="Chpov">{{Cite news |date=13 October 2020 |title=NZ election: The people left behind in Ardern's 'kind' New Zealand |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54444643 |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Reducing child poverty |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/reducing-child-poverty |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |access-date=24 July 2023 |language=en |date=22 April 2022}}</ref> the country has 12.0% of children living in low-income households that had less than 50 percent of the median equivalised disposable household income {{as of|June 2022|lc=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child poverty statistics show no annual change in the year ended June 2022 {{!}} Stats NZ |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/child-poverty-statistics-show-no-annual-change-in-the-year-ended-june-2022 |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref> Poverty has a disproportionately high effect in ethnic-minority households, with a quarter (23.3%) of Māori children and almost a third (28.6%) of Pacific Islander children living in poverty {{as of|2020|lc=on}}.<ref name="Chpov"/>

===Trade===
New Zealand is heavily dependent on international trade,<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Groser|date=March 2009|title=Speech to ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Seminars |url= http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-asean-australia-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement-seminars |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref> particularly in agricultural products.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/NZ-and-the-WTO/Improving-access-to-markets/0-agriculturenegs.php |title=Improving Access to Markets:Agriculture |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075407/http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/NZ-and-the-WTO/Improving-access-to-markets/0-agriculturenegs.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Exports account for 24% of its output,<ref name="CIA" /> making New Zealand vulnerable to international commodity prices and global [[Finance:Recession|economic slowdowns]]. Food products made up 55% of the value of all the country's exports in 2014; wood was the second largest earner (7%).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/infoshare|title=Standard International Trade Classification R4 – Exports (Annual-Jun) |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |date=April 2015 |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> New Zealand's main trading partners, {{as of|June 2018|alt=as at June 2018}}, are China (NZ$27.8b), Australia ($26.2b), the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] ($22.9b), the United States ($17.6b), and Japan ($8.4b).<ref name="GSTC StatNZ">{{cite web |title= Goods and services trade by country: Year ended June 2018 – corrected |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/goods-and-services-trade-by-country-year-ended-june-2018 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date= 17 February 2019}}</ref> On 7 April 2008, New Zealand and China signed the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement, the first such agreement China has signed with a developed country.<ref>{{cite news |title=China and New Zealand sign free trade deal|date=April 2008 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-7tradefw.11718461.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In July 2023, New Zealand and the European Union entered into the EU–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement which eliminated tariffs on several goods traded between the two regions.<ref>{{cite web |title=EU and New Zealand sign ambitious free trade agreement |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_23_3715/IP_23_3715_EN.pdf |website=European Commission |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> This free trade agreement expanded on the pre-existing free trade agreement<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ardern |first1=Jacinda |last2=O'Connor |first2=Damien |title=New Zealand secures major free trade deal with European Union |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-secures-major-free-trade-deal-european-union |website=beehive.govt.nz |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> and saw a reduction in tariffs on meat and dairy<ref>{{cite web |title=Key points from New Zealand's free trade agreement with the EU |url=https://my.nzte.govt.nz/article/eu-nz-fta-negotiations-concluded |website=myNZTE |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> in response to feedback from the affected industries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Jamie |title=Primary sector gives its verdict on NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/primary-sector-gives-its-verdict-on-nz-eu-free-trade-agreement/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=nzherald |agency=NZME |date=1 July 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The service sector is the largest sector in the economy, followed by manufacturing and construction and then farming and raw material extraction.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web |title=New Zealand |work=The World Factbook |date=25 February 2021 |publisher=US Central Intelligence Agency |url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/new-zealand/ |access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> Tourism plays a significant role in the economy, contributing $12.9 billion (or 5.6%) to New Zealand's total GDP and supporting 7.5% of the total workforce in 2016.<ref name="TourismStats">{{cite web |title=Key Tourism Statistics |url= http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/documents-image-library/key-tourism-statistics.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |access-date=26 April 2017 |date=26 April 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170427004444/http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/documents-image-library/key-tourism-statistics.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, international visitor arrivals were expected to increase at a rate of 5.4% annually up to 2022.<ref name="TourismStats" />

[[File:Fauna de Nueva Zelanda07.JPG|thumb|right|Wool has historically been one of New Zealand's major exports.|alt=A Romney ewe with her two lambs]]

Wool was New Zealand's major agricultural export during the late 19th century.<ref name="RWT export evolution" /> Even as late as the 1960s it made up over a third of all export revenues,<ref name="RWT export evolution" /> but since then its price has steadily dropped relative to other commodities,<ref>{{cite book |first=Brian |last=Easton |chapter=Economy – Agricultural production |date=March 2009 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/economy/2 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> and wool is no longer profitable for many farmers.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Hugh |last1=Stringleman |first2=Robert |last2=Peden |chapter=Sheep farming – Changes from the 20th century |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/sheep-farming/7 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> In contrast, dairy farming increased, with the number of dairy cows doubling between 1990 and 2007,<ref>{{cite book |first1=Hugh |last1=Stringleman |first2=Frank |last2=Scrimgeour |chapter=Dairying and dairy products – Dairying in the 2000s |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/dairying-and-dairy-products/10 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> to become New Zealand's largest export earner.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Hugh |last1=Stringleman |first2=Frank |last2=Scrimgeour |chapter=Dairying and dairy products – Dairy exports |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/dairying-and-dairy-products/11 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> In the year to June 2018, dairy products accounted for 17.7% ($14.1 billion) of total exports,<ref name="GSTC StatNZ" /> and the country's largest company, Fonterra, controls almost one-third of the international dairy trade.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Hugh |last1=Stringleman |first2=Frank |last2=Scrimgeour |chapter=Dairying and dairy products – Manufacturing and marketing in the 2000s |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/dairying-and-dairy-products/12 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Other exports in 2017–18 were meat (8.8%), wood and wood products (6.2%), fruit (3.6%), machinery (2.2%) and wine (2.1%).<ref name="GSTC StatNZ" /> New Zealand's wine industry has followed a similar trend to dairy, the number of vineyards doubling over the same period,<ref>{{cite book |first=Bronwyn |last=Dalley |chapter=Wine – The wine boom, 1980s and beyond |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/wine/6 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> overtaking wool exports for the first time in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wine in New Zealand|newspaper=The Economist|date=27 March 2008 |url= http://www.economist.com/node/10926423 |access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.maf.govt.nz/news-resources/statistics-forecasting/international-trade.aspx |title=Agricultural and forestry exports from New Zealand: Primary sector export values for the year ending June 2010 |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |date=14 January 2011 |access-date=8 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510042204/http://www.maf.govt.nz/news-resources/statistics-forecasting/international-trade.aspx |archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>

===Infrastructure===
In 2015, renewable energy generated 40.1% of New Zealand's gross energy supply.<ref name="Energy2015">{{cite report |title=Energy in New Zealand 2016 |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |date=September 2016 |issn=2324-5913 |page=47 |url= http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/energy/energy-data-modelling/publications/energy-in-new-zealand/energy-in-nz-2016.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170503234030/http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/energy/energy-data-modelling/publications/energy-in-new-zealand/energy-in-nz-2016.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> The majority of the country's electricity supply is generated from hydroelectric power, with major schemes on the Waikato, Waitaki and Clutha / Mata-Au rivers, as well as at Manapouri. Geothermal power is also a significant generator of electricity, with several large stations located across the Taupō Volcanic Zone in the North Island. The four main companies in the generation and retail market are Contact Energy, Genesis Energy, Mercury Energy and Meridian Energy. State-owned Transpower operates the high-voltage transmission grids in the North and South Islands, as well as the Inter-Island HVDC link connecting the two together.<ref name="Energy2015" />

The provision of water supply and sanitation is generally of good quality. Regional authorities provide water abstraction, treatment and distribution infrastructure to most developed areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Appendix 1: Technical information about drinking water supply in the eight local authorities |url= http://www.oag.govt.nz/2010/water/part1.htm |publisher=Office of the Auditor-General |access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Water supply |url= http://www.gw.govt.nz/water/ |publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council |access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Air New Zealand, Boeing 787-9 ZK-NZE 'All Blacks' NRT (27091961041).jpg|thumb|left|A [[Engineering:Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787–9 Dreamliner]] of Air New Zealand, the flag carrier of New Zealand|alt=A mid-size jet airliner in flight. The plane livery is all-black and features a New Zealand silver fern mark.]]
New Zealand's transport network comprises {{convert|94000|km|mi|-1}} of roads, including {{convert|199|km|mi|0}} of motorways,<ref>{{cite web |title=State highway frequently asked questions |url= http://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/research-and-data/state-highway-frequently-asked-questions/ |publisher=NZ Transport Agency |access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> and {{convert|4128|km|mi|0}} of railway lines.<ref name="CIA" /> Most major cities and towns are linked by bus services, although the private car is the predominant mode of transport.<ref>{{cite book |first=Adrian |last=Humphris |chapter=Public transport – Passenger trends |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=April 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/public-transport/8 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> The railways were privatised in 1993 but were re-nationalised by the government in stages between 2004 and 2008. The state-owned enterprise KiwiRail now operates the railways, with the exception of commuter services in Auckland and Wellington, which are operated by Auckland One Rail and Transdev Wellington respectively.<ref>{{cite book |first=Neill |last=Atkinson |chapter=Railways – Rail transformed |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/railways/11 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Railways run the length of the country, although most lines now carry freight rather than passengers.<ref>{{cite book |first=Neill |last=Atkinson |chapter=Railways – Freight transport |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=April 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/railways/6 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> The road and rail networks in the two main islands are linked by roll-on/roll-off ferries between Wellington and [[Place:Picton, New Zealand|Picton]], operated by Interislander (part of KiwiRail) and Bluebridge. Most international visitors arrive via air.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/Documents/International%20Market%20Profiles/Total%20Profile.pdf |title=International Visitors|date=June 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Economic Development |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref> New Zealand has four international airports: Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington; however, only Auckland and Christchurch offer non-stop flights to countries other than Australia or Fiji.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____9038.aspx#P5641_412038 |publisher=Ministry of Economic Development |work=Infrastructure Stocktake: Infrastructure Audit |title=10. Airports |date=December 2005 |access-date=30 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100522203825/http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____9038.aspx |archive-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>

The New Zealand Post Office had a monopoly over telecommunications in New Zealand until 1987 when Telecom New Zealand was formed, initially as a state-owned enterprise and then privatised in 1990.<ref name="Wilson2010">{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=A. C. |chapter=Telecommunications – Telecom |chapter-url= https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/telecommunications/page-6 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=11 August 2017|date=March 2010}}</ref> Chorus, which was split from Telecom (now Spark) in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |title=Telecom separation |url= http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/technology-communications/communications/previous-reviews-and-consultations/telecom-separation |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |access-date=11 August 2017 |date=14 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170811055739/http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/technology-communications/communications/previous-reviews-and-consultations/telecom-separation |archive-date=11 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> still owns the majority of the telecommunications infrastructure, but competition from other providers has increased.<ref name="Wilson2010" /> A large-scale rollout of gigabit-capable fibre to the premises, branded as Ultra-Fast Broadband, began in 2009 with a target of being available to 87% of the population by 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/it-communications-and-broadband/fast-broadband/broadband-and-mobile-programmes/|title=Broadband and mobile programmes |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |work=MBIE.Govt.nz |access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2017}}, the United Nations [[Organization:International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union]] ranks New Zealand 13th in the development of information and communications infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Global ICT Development Index |url= http://www.itu.int/net4/ITU-D/idi/2017/ |publisher=[[Organization:International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union]] |access-date=18 September 2018 |date=2018}}</ref>

===Science and technology===

Early indigenous contribution to science in New Zealand was by Māori {{lang|mi|tohunga}} accumulating knowledge of agricultural practice and the effects of herbal remedies in the treatment of illness and disease.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Voyce|first=Malcolm|date=1989|title=Maori Healers in New Zealand: The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1834-4461.1989.tb02347.x|journal=Oceania|language=en|volume=60|issue=2|pages=99–123|doi=10.1002/j.1834-4461.1989.tb02347.x|issn=1834-4461}}</ref> Cook's voyages in the 1700s and [[Biography:Charles Darwin|Darwin]]'s in 1835 had important scientific botanical and zoological objectives.<ref name="Science New Zealand">{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Science – History and Organisation in New Zealand |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/science-history-and-organisation-in-new-zealand |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> The establishment of universities in the 19th century fostered scientific discoveries by notable New Zealanders including [[Biography:Ernest Rutherford|Ernest Rutherford]] for splitting the atom, William Pickering for rocket science, [[Biography:Maurice Wilkins|Maurice Wilkins]] for helping discover DNA, [[Biography:Beatrice Tinsley|Beatrice Tinsley]] for galaxy formation, Archibald McIndoe for plastic surgery, and [[Biography:Alan MacDiarmid|Alan MacDiarmid]] for conducting polymers.<ref name="New Zealand Herald">{{cite web |last=Morton |first=Jamie |title=150 years of Kiwi science |work=The New Zealand Herald |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11830407 |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref>

Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) were formed in 1992 from existing government-owned research organisations. Their role is to research and develop new science, knowledge, products and services across the economic, environmental, social and cultural spectrum for the benefit of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Research Institutes |url= https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/agencies-policies-and-budget-initiatives/research-organisations/cri/ |work=MBIE.Govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> The total gross expenditure on [[Research and development|research and development]] (R&D) as a proportion of GDP rose to 1.37% in 2018, up from 1.23% in 2015. New Zealand ranks 21st in the OECD for its gross R&D spending as a percentage of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |title=Research and development (R&D) – Gross domestic spending on R&D – OECD Data |url= https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |access-date=14 April 2020 |date=2018}}</ref> New Zealand was ranked 27th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.wipo.int |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Organization:New Zealand Space Agency|New Zealand Space Agency]] was created by the government in 2016 for space policy, regulation and sector development. [[Company:Rocket Lab|Rocket Lab]] was the notable first commercial rocket launcher in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/space/|title=New Zealand Space Agency &#124; Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment}}</ref>

==Demography==
[[File:New Zealandpop.svg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|[[Population pyramid|Population pyramid]] (2017)|alt=Stationary population pyramid broken down into 21 age ranges.]]
The 2018 New Zealand census enumerated a resident population of 4,699,755, an increase of 10.8% over the 2013 census figure.<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> As of {{currentmonth}} {{currentyear}}, the total population has risen to an estimated {{formatnum:{{data New Zealand|poptoday}}}}.<ref name="populationestimate" /> New Zealand's population increased at a rate of 1.9% per year in the seven years ended June 2020. In September 2020 Statistics New Zealand reported that the population had climbed above 5 million people in September 2019, according to population estimates based on the 2018 census.<ref name="population1">{{Cite press release|title=New Zealand's population nears 5.1 million |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/new-zealands-population-nears-5-1-million |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>{{refn|A provisional estimate initially indicated the milestone was reached six months later in March 2020, before population estimates were rebased from the 2013 census to the 2018 census.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pullar-Strecker |first=Tom|title=New Zealand population tops 5 million |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121544285/new-zealand-population-tops-5-million|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=18 May 2020 |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>|group=n}}

New Zealand's population today is concentrated to the north of the country, with around {{Rnd|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|North Island regions|y}}|R}}/{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|New Zealand|y}}|R}}*100|1}}% of the population living in the North Island and {{Rnd|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|South Island regions|y}}|R}}/{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|New Zealand|y}}|R}}*100|1}}% in the South Island as of {{NZ population data 2018|3=y|4=}}.{{NZ population data 2018|4=y}} During the 20th century, New Zealand's population drifted north. In 1921, the country's [[Center of population|median centre of population]] was located in the Tasman Sea west of Levin in Manawatū-Whanganui; by 2017, it had moved {{Convert|280|km|abbr=on}} north to near Kawhia in Waikato.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 October 2017|title=Three in four New Zealanders live in the North Island {{!}} Stats NZ|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/three-in-four-new-zealanders-live-in-the-north-island|access-date=7 October 2021|website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref>

New Zealand is a predominantly urban country, with {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Major urban area|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Large urban area|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Medium urban area|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Small urban area|y}}|R}})/{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|New Zealand|y}}|R}}*100|1}}% of the population living in urban areas, and {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Major urban area|y}}|R}}/{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|New Zealand|y}}|R}}*100|1}}% of the population living in the seven cities with populations exceeding 100,000.{{NZ population data 2018||||y}} [[Place:Auckland|Auckland]], with over 1.4 million residents, is by far the largest city.<ref name="NZ_population_data_2018" /> New Zealand cities generally rank highly on international livability measures. For instance, in 2016, Auckland was ranked the world's third most liveable city and Wellington the twelfth by the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Quality of Living Ranking 2016 |date=23 February 2016 |publisher=Mercer |location=New York / London |url= https://www.mercer.com/newsroom/2016-quality-of-living-survey.html |access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref>

The median age of the New Zealand population at the 2018 census was 37.4 years,<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Census place summaries {{!}} Stats NZ|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand|access-date=9 September 2021|website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref> with life expectancy in 2017–2019 being 80.0 years for males and 83.5 years for females.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National and subnational period life tables: 2017–2019 {{!}} Stats NZ|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/national-and-subnational-period-life-tables-2017-2019|access-date=9 September 2021|website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref> While New Zealand is experiencing sub-replacement fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.6 in 2020, the fertility rate is above the OECD average.<ref>{{Cite web|last=de Jong|first=Eleanor|date=18 February 2021|title=New Zealand birthrate sinks to its lowest ever|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/18/new-zealand-birthrate-sinks-to-its-lowest-ever|url-status=live|access-date=9 September 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=10 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910021458/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/18/new-zealand-birthrate-sinks-to-its-lowest-ever}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Demography – Fertility rates – OECD Data|url=http://data.oecd.org/pop/fertility-rates.htm|access-date=9 September 2021|website=theOECD|language=en}}</ref> By 2050, the median age is projected to rise to 43 years and the percentage of people 60 years of age and older to rise from 18% to 29%.<ref name="UNtwspop">{{cite web|date=2009|title=World Population Prospects|url=https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf|access-date=29 August 2009|publisher=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|version=2008 revision}}</ref> In 2016 the leading cause of death was [[Medicine:Cancer|cancer]] at 30.3%, followed by [[Medicine:Coronary artery disease|ischaemic heart disease]] (14.9%) and cerebrovascular disease (7.4%).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mortality 2016 data tables|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/mortality-2016-data-tables|access-date=9 September 2021|website=Ministry of Health NZ|language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2016}}, total expenditure on health care (including private sector spending) is 9.2% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |title=Health expenditure and financing |url= http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SHA |work=Stats.OECD.org |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |access-date=8 December 2017|date=2016}}</ref>

===Ethnicity and immigration===
[[File:Queen Street Midtown Auckland.jpg|thumb|Pedestrians on Queen Street in Auckland, an ethnically diverse city|alt=Pedestrians crossing a wide street which is flanked by storefronts]]

In the 2018 census, 71.8% of New Zealand residents identified ethnically as European, and 16.5% as Māori. Other major ethnic groups include Asian (15.3%) and Pacific peoples (9.0%), two-thirds of whom live in the Auckland Region.{{refn|name="ethnicity"|group=n}}<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> The population has become more multicultural and diverse in recent decades: in 1961, the census reported that the population of New Zealand was 92% European and 7% Māori, with Asian and Pacific minorities sharing the remaining 1%.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pool |first=Ian |chapter=Population change – Key population trends |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/28720/new-zealand-population-by-ethnicity-1840-2006 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=18 August 2017|date=May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170818220947/https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/28720/new-zealand-population-by-ethnicity-1840-2006 |archive-date=18 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

While the demonym for a New Zealand citizen is New Zealander, the informal "Kiwi" is commonly used both internationally<ref>{{cite journal |last=Dalby |first=Simon |title=The 'Kiwi disease': Geopolitical discourse in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the South Pacific |journal=Political Geography |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=437–456 |doi=10.1016/0962-6298(93)90012-V |date=September 1993}}</ref> and by locals.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Paul |last=Callister |title=Seeking an Ethnic Identity: Is 'New Zealander' a Valid Ethnic Category? |date=2004 |journal=New Zealand Population Review |volume=30 |issue=1 & 2 |pages=5–22 |url=http://panz.rsnz.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/nzpr-vol-30-1and-2_callister.pdf |access-date=18 January 2011 |archive-date=15 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515090608/http://panz.rsnz.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/nzpr-vol-30-1and-2_callister.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Māori loanword {{lang|mi|Pākehā}} has been used to refer to New Zealanders of European descent, although some reject this name. The word today is increasingly used to refer to all non-Polynesian New Zealanders.<ref name="Pakeha">{{cite web |url= http://maorinews.com/writings/papers/other/pakeha.htm |title='Pakeha', Its Origin and Meaning |last=Ranford |first=Jodie |quote=Originally the Pakeha were the early European settlers, however, today 'Pakeha' is used to describe any peoples of non-Maori or non-Polynesian heritage. Pakeha is not an ethnicity but rather a way to differentiate between the historical origins of our settlers, the Polynesians and the Europeans, the Maori and the other. |access-date=20 February 2008 |work=Māori News}}</ref>

The Māori were the first people to reach New Zealand, followed by the early European settlers. Following colonisation, immigrants were predominantly from Britain, Ireland and Australia because of restrictive policies similar to the White Australia policy.<ref>{{cite book |title=Trends in international migration: Continuous reporting system on migration |author=Socidad Peruana de Medicina Intensiva (SOPEMI) |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |date=2000 |pages=276–278}}</ref> There was also significant Dutch, Dalmatian,<ref>{{cite book |last=Walrond |first=Carl |chapter=Dalmatians |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=21 September 2007 |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/dalmatians |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> {{wipe|Germany}}, and Italian immigration, together with indirect European immigration through Australia, North America, South America and South Africa.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Peoples |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/peoples |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=2 June 2017|date=2005}}</ref><ref name="Immigration history">{{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=Jock |chapter=History of immigration |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=2 June 2017 |date=11 August 2015}}</ref> Net migration increased after the [[Social:World War II|Second World War]]; in the 1970s and 1980s policies on immigration were relaxed, and immigration from Asia was promoted.<ref name="Immigration history" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brawley |first1=Sean |title='No White Policy in NZ': Fact and Fiction in New Zealand's Asian Immigration Record, 1946–1978 |journal=New Zealand Journal of History |date=1993 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=33–36 |url= http://www.nzjh.auckland.ac.nz/docs/1993/NZJH_27_1_03.pdf |access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> In 2009–10, an annual target of 45,000–50,000 permanent residence approvals was set by the New Zealand Immigration Service—more than one new migrant for every 100 New Zealand residents.<ref name="Recent immigration">{{cite journal |title=International Migration Outlook: New Zealand 2009/10 |date=2010 |journal=OECD Continuous Reporting System on Migration (SOPEMI) |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |url= http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/research/sopemi/2009-2010/imo-2009-2010.pdf |access-date=16 April 2011 |issn=1179-5085 |page=2 |via=New Zealand Department of Labour |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511071208/http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/research/sopemi/2009-2010/imo-2009-2010.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> In the 2018 census, 27.4% of people counted were not born in New Zealand, up from 25.2% in the 2013 census. Over half (52.4%) of New Zealand's overseas-born population lives in the Auckland Region.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8279|title=Birthplace (detailed), for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB) |work=nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=22 July 2020}}</ref> The United Kingdom remains the largest source of New Zealand's immigrant population, with around a quarter of all overseas-born New Zealanders born there; other major sources of New Zealand's overseas-born population are {{wipe|China}}, {{wipe|India}}, {{wipe|Australia}}, {{wipe|South Africa}}, Fiji and Samoa.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 Census totals by topic – national highlights |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2018-census-totals-by-topic-national-highlights |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=22 July 2020 |date=23 September 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190923102431/https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2018-census-totals-by-topic-national-highlights |url-status=dead}}</ref> The number of fee-paying international students increased sharply in the late 1990s, with more than 20,000 studying in public [[Social:Tertiary education|tertiary institutions]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Andrew |last1=Butcher |first2=Terry |last2=McGrath |title=International Students in New Zealand: Needs and Responses |date=2004 |journal=International Education Journal |volume=5 |issue=4 |url= http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/iej/articles/v5n4/butcher/paper.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309072621/http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/iej/articles/v5n4/butcher/paper.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2012 |access-date=19 January 2011}}</ref>

===Language===
[[File:TeReoMaori2013.png|thumb|alt=Map of New Zealand showing the percentage of people in each census area unit who speak Māori. Areas of the North Island exhibit the highest Māori proficiency.|Speakers of Māori according to the 2013 census<ref>{{cite book |title=2013 Census QuickStats |date=2013 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |isbn=978-0-478-40864-5}}</ref>
{{legend|#fef0d9|Less than 5%}}
{{legend|#fdd8a4|More than 5%}}
{{legend|#fcb779|More than 10%}}
{{legend|#fc8d59|More than 20%}}
{{legend|#eb603f|More than 30%}}
{{legend|#d33121|More than 40%}}
{{legend|#a50c0c|More than 50%}}]]
English is the predominant language in New Zealand, spoken by 95.4% of the population.<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> New Zealand English is a variety of the language with a distinctive [[Social:Accent (sociolinguistics)|accent]] and lexicon.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Bardsley|first1=Dianne|title=English language in New Zealand – Characteristics of New Zealand English |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/english-language-in-new-zealand/page-1 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=11 November 2021 |date=7 October 2018}}</ref> It is similar to [[Social:Australian English|Australian English]], and many speakers from the Northern Hemisphere are unable to tell the accents apart.{{sfn|Hay|Maclagan|Gordon|2008|p=14}} The most prominent differences between the New Zealand English dialect and other English dialects are the shifts in the short front vowels: the short-''i'' sound (as in ''kit'') has centralised towards the schwa sound (the ''a'' in ''comma'' and ''about''); the short-''e'' sound (as in ''dress'') has moved towards the short-''i'' sound; and the short-''a'' sound (as in ''trap'') has moved to the short-''e'' sound.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bauer |first1=Laurie |last2=Warren |first2=Paul |last3=Bardsley |first3=Dianne |last4=Kennedy |first4=Marianna |last5=Major |first5=George |title=New Zealand English |journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association |date=2007 |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=97–102 |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282778721 |doi=10.1017/S0025100306002830 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

After the Second World War, Māori were discouraged or forced from speaking their own language ({{lang|mi|te reo Māori}}) in schools and workplaces, and it existed as a community language only in a few remote areas.<ref name="Māori language" /> The Native Schools Act 1867 required instruction in English in all schools, and while there was no official policy banning children from speaking Māori, many suffered from [[Medicine:Physical abuse|physical abuse]] if they did so.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2023 |title=The Crown's legacy of beating Māori children for speaking their reo |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/te-wiki-o-te-reo-maori-beaten-for-speaking-their-native-tongue-and-the-generations-that-suffered/F7G6XCM62QAHTYVSRVOCRKAUYI/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 September 2019 |title=Crown should apologise to Māori beaten as children for te reo, says Dover Samuels |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/115508946/crown-should-apologise-to-mori-beaten-as-children-for-te-reo-says-dover-samuels |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2015 |title=Native Affairs - Silenced |url=https://www.teaomaori.news/native-affairs-silenced |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Māori Television |language=en}}</ref> The Māori language has recently undergone a process of revitalisation,<ref>{{cite news |title=British influence ebbs as New Zealand takes to talking Māori |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/1490814/British-influence-ebbs-as-New-Zealand-takes-to-talking-Maori.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/1490814/British-influence-ebbs-as-New-Zealand-takes-to-talking-Maori.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first=Nick |last=Squires |date=May 2005|work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=3 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> being declared one of New Zealand's official languages in 1987,<ref>{{cite web |title=Waitangi Tribunal claim – Māori Language Week |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/waitangi-tribunal-claim |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=July 2010 |access-date=19 January 2011}}</ref> and is spoken by 4.0% of the population.<ref name="Census2018_pdc" />{{refn|In 2015, 55% of Māori adults (aged 15 years and over) reported knowledge of {{lang|mi|te reo Māori}}. Of these speakers, 64% use Māori at home and 50,000 can speak the language "very well" or "well".<ref name="tereoMaori">{{cite web |title=Ngā puna kōrero: Where Māori speak te reo – infographic |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/maori/te-kupenga/use-te-reo-infographic-english.aspx |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=8 September 2016}}</ref>|group=n}} There are now Māori language-immersion schools and two television channels that broadcast predominantly in Māori.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11670518 |first=John |last=Drinnan |title='Maori' will remain in the name Maori Television |work=The New Zealand Herald |quote=According to 2015 figures supplied by Maori TV, its two channels broadcast an average of 72 per cent Māori language content – 59 per cent on the main channel and 99 per cent on Te Reo |date=8 July 2016 |access-date=28 August 2016}}</ref> Many places have both their Māori and English names officially recognised.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0097/latest/DLM429090.html |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=20 May 2014 |orig-year=1 October 1998}}</ref>

As recorded in the 2018 census,<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> [[Social:Samoan language|Samoan]] is the most widely spoken non-official language (2.2%), followed by "Northern Chinese" (including [[Social:Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], 2.0%), [[Social:Hindi|Hindi]] (1.5%), and French (1.2%). New Zealand Sign Language was reported to be understood by 22,986 people (0.5%); it became one of New Zealand's official languages in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2006 |title=New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0018/latest/DLM372754.html |publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office |version=1 July 2022}}</ref>

===Religion===

[[File:Ratana Church Raetihi.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A Rātana church on a hill near Raetihi. The two-tower construction is characteristic of Rātana buildings.<ref name="Kaa" />|alt=Simple white building with two red domed towers]]
Christianity is the predominant religion in New Zealand, although its society is among the most secular in the world.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zuckerman |first1=Phil |editor1-last=Martin |editor1-first=Michael |title=The Cambridge Companion to Atheism |date=2006 |publisher={{wipe|Cambridge University Press}} |isbn=978-0-521-84270-9 |pages=47–66 |s2cid=16480812 |url=http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f379/ed99e57782aca6391ef5f666da7ba41f1333.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809040833/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f379/ed99e57782aca6391ef5f666da7ba41f1333.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2017 |access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Walrond |first=Carl |chapter=Atheism and secularism – Who is secular? |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/atheism-and-secularism/page-3 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=8 August 2017 |date=May 2012}}</ref> In the 2018 census, 44.7% of respondents identified with one or more religions, including 37.0% identifying as Christians. Another 48.5% indicated that they had no religion.{{refn|1=Religion percentages may not add to 100% as people could claim multiple religions or object to answering the question.|group=n}}<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> Of those who affiliate with a particular Christian denomination, the main responses are Anglicanism (6.7%),{{refn|1=This is a percentage of total respondents to the census, not a percentage of Christians.|group=n}} Roman Catholicism (6.3%), and Presbyterianism (4.7%).<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> The Māori-based Ringatū and Rātana religions (1.2%) are also Christian in origin.<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /><ref name="Kaa">{{cite book |last1=Kaa |first1=Hirini |chapter=Ngā hāhi – Māori and Christian denominations – Ringatū and Rātana |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/nga-hahi-maori-and-christian-denominations/page-7 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=March 2017}}</ref> Immigration and demographic change in recent decades have contributed to the growth of minority religions, such as Hinduism (2.6%), Islam (1.3%), Buddhism (1.1%), and Sikhism (0.9%).<ref name="Census2018_pdc" /> The Auckland Region exhibited the greatest religious diversity.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 Census place summaries |url= https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/auckland-region#religion |work=stats.govt.nz |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=30 March 2020 |date=23 September 2019}}</ref>

===Education===

Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority of children attending from the age of 5.<ref name="Education Stats">{{cite web |title=Education Statistics of New Zealand: 2009 |publisher=Education Counts |first=Olivia |last=Dench|date=July 2010 |url= http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/ECE/2507/80221 |access-date=19 January 2011}}</ref> There are 13 school years and attending state (public) schools is free to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents from a person's 5th birthday to the end of the calendar year following their 19th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0080/latest/DLM177440.html |title=Education Act 1989 No 80|at=Section 3 |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |date=1989 |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref> New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99%,<ref name="CIA" /> and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 hold a tertiary qualification.<ref name="Education Stats" /> There are five types of government-owned tertiary institutions: [[Organization:University|universities]], colleges of education, polytechnics, specialist colleges, and wānanga,<ref name="EducationAct1989">{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0080/latest/DLM183668.html |title=Education Act 1989 No 80 (as at 0<!-- no reformat -->1 February 2011), Public Act. Part 14: Establishment and disestablishment of tertiary institutions, Section 62: Establishment of institutions |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |work=Education Act 1989 No 80 |date=1 February 2011 |access-date=15 August 2011}}</ref> in addition to private training establishments.<ref name="NZQA">{{cite web |title=Studying in New Zealand: Tertiary education |publisher=New Zealand Qualifications Authority |url= http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new-zealand/tertiary-education |access-date=15 August 2011}}</ref> In 2021, in the population aged 25–64; 13% had no formal qualification, 21% had a school qualification, 28% had a tertiary certificate or diploma, and 35% have a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Educational attainment of the adult population |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/achievement-and-attainment/educational-attainment-of-the-adult-population.xlsx |website=educationcounts.govt.nz}}</ref> The OECD's [[Organization:Programme for International Student Assessment|Programme for International Student Assessment]] ranks New Zealand as the 28th best in the [[Organization:OECD|OECD]] for maths, 13th best for science, and 11th best for reading.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=PISA 2018 results |url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/pisa-2018-results.htm |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=PISA}}</ref>

==Culture==

Early Māori adapted the tropically based east Polynesian culture in line with the challenges associated with a larger and more diverse environment, eventually developing their own distinctive culture. Social organisation was largely communal with families (''whānau''), subtribes (''hapū'') and tribes (''iwi'') ruled by a chief (''rangatira''), whose position was subject to the community's approval.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|p=398}} The British and Irish immigrants brought aspects of their own culture to New Zealand and also influenced Māori culture,<ref>{{cite book |first=Terry |last=Hearn |chapter=English – Importance and influence |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/english/ |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Conclusions – British and Irish immigration |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/home-away-from-home/conclusions |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=March 2007 |access-date =21 January 2011}}</ref> particularly with the introduction of Christianity.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Stenhouse |chapter=Religion and society – Māori religion |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=November 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/religion-and-society/4 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> However, Māori still regard their allegiance to tribal groups as a vital part of [[Social:Cultural identity|their identity]], and Māori kinship roles resemble those of other Polynesian peoples.<ref>{{cite web |title=Māori Social Structures |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Justice |url=http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2001/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/maori-social-structures |date=March 2001 |access-date=21 January 2011 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610051020/http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2001/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/maori-social-structures |url-status=dead }}</ref> More recently, American, Australian, Asian and other European cultures have exerted influence on New Zealand. Non-Māori Polynesian cultures are also apparent, with Pasifika, the world's largest Polynesian festival, now an annual event in Auckland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands turn out for Pasifika Festival |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/327424/thousands-turn-out-for-pasifika-festival |access-date=18 August 2017|work=Radio New Zealand|date=25 March 2017}}</ref>

The largely rural life in early New Zealand led to the image of New Zealanders being rugged, industrious problem solvers.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|p=400}} Modesty was expected and enforced through the "[[Social:Tall poppy syndrome|tall poppy syndrome]]", where high achievers received harsh criticism.{{sfn|Kennedy|2007|p=399}} At the time, New Zealand was not known as an intellectual country.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jock |last=Phillips |chapter=The New Zealanders – Post-war New Zealanders |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/the-new-zealanders/10 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> From the early 20th century until the late 1960s, Māori culture was suppressed by the attempted [[Social:Cultural assimilation|assimilation]] of Māori into British New Zealanders.<ref name="Māori language">{{cite book |first=Jock |last=Phillips |chapter=The New Zealanders – Bicultural New Zealand |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/the-new-zealanders/12 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> In the 1960s, as tertiary education became more available, and [[Earth:Urbanization|cities expanded]]<ref>{{cite book |first=Jock |last=Phillips |chapter=The New Zealanders – Ordinary blokes and extraordinary sheilas |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/the-new-zealanders/11 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> urban culture began to dominate.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jock |last=Phillips |chapter=Rural mythologies – The cult of the pioneer |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/rural-mythologies/5 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> However, rural imagery and themes are common in New Zealand's art, literature and media.<ref>{{cite book |first=Fiona |last=Barker |chapter=New Zealand identity – Culture and arts |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2012 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-6 |access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref>

New Zealand's national symbols are influenced by natural, historical, and Māori sources. The [[Biology:Silver fern|silver fern]] is an emblem appearing on army insignia and sporting team uniforms.<ref name="Wilson2016">{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=John |chapter=Nation and government – Nationhood and identity |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nation-and-government/page-9 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=3 December 2016 |date=September 2016}}</ref> Certain items of popular culture thought to be unique to New Zealand are called "Kiwiana".<ref name="Wilson2016" />

===Art===
[[File:Hinepare.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Portrait of Hinepare of Ngāti Kahungunu by Gottfried Lindauer, showing chin moko, pounamu hei-tiki and woven cloak|alt=Refer to caption]]
As part of the resurgence of Māori culture, the traditional crafts of carving and weaving are now more widely practised, and Māori artists are increasing in number and influence.<ref name="Creative">{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Visual arts and crafts |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/2 |access-date =4 February 2011}}</ref> Most Māori carvings feature human figures, generally with three fingers and either a natural-looking, detailed head or a grotesque head.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Elements of Carving |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/4 |access-date=15 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Surface patterns consisting of spirals, ridges, notches and fish scales decorate most carvings.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Surface Patterns |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/5 |access-date=15 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> The pre-eminent Māori architecture consisted of carved meeting houses (''wharenui'') decorated with symbolic carvings and illustrations. These buildings were originally designed to be constantly rebuilt, changing and adapting to different whims or needs.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McKay |first=Bill |title=Māori architecture: transforming western notions of architecture |date=2004 |journal=Fabrications |volume=14 |issue=1 & 2 |pages=1–12 |url= http://www.library.uq.edu.au/ojs/index.php/fab/article/viewFile/108/126|doi=10.1080/10331867.2004.10525189|s2cid=144007691 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513145228/http://www.library.uq.edu.au/ojs/index.php/fab/article/viewFile/108/126 |archive-date=13 May 2011}}</ref>

Māori decorated the white wood of buildings, canoes and cenotaphs using red (a mixture of red [[Ochre|ochre]] and shark fat) and black (made from soot) paint and painted pictures of birds, reptiles and other designs on cave walls.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Painted Designs |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/8 |access-date=15 February 2011|date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Māori tattoos (''moko'') consisting of coloured soot mixed with gum were cut into the flesh with a bone chisel.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Tattooing |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/9 |access-date=15 February 2011 |date=2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Since European arrival paintings and photographs have been dominated by landscapes, originally not as works of art but as factual portrayals of New Zealand.<ref name="beginnings">{{cite web |title=Beginnings – history of NZ painting |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/nz-painting-history/beginnings |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=December 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> Portraits of Māori were also common, with early painters often portraying them as an ideal race untainted by civilisation.<ref name="beginnings" /> The country's isolation delayed the influence of European artistic trends allowing local artists to develop their own distinctive style of regionalism.<ref>{{cite web |title=A new New Zealand art – history of NZ painting |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/nz-painting-history/a-new-new-zealand-art |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=November 2010 |access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> During the 1960s and 1970s, many artists combined traditional Māori and Western techniques, creating unique art forms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contemporary Maori art |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/nz-painting-history/contemporary-maori-art |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=November 2010 |access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> New Zealand art and craft has gradually achieved an international audience, with exhibitions in the Venice Biennale in 2001 and the "Paradise Now" exhibition in New York in 2004.<ref name="Creative" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Paradise Lost: Contemporary Pacific Art at the Asia Society |first=Julie |last=Rauer |url= http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/paradise/article.html |work=AsianArt.com |location=Santa Fe, New Mexico, US |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref>

Māori cloaks are made of fine flax fibre and patterned with black, red and white triangles, diamonds and other geometric shapes.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Textile Designs |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/10 |access-date=15 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> [[Earth:Pounamu|Greenstone]] was fashioned into earrings and necklaces, with the most well-known design being the hei-tiki, a distorted human figure sitting cross-legged with its head tilted to the side.<ref>{{cite book |first=Basil |last=Keane |chapter=Pounamu – jade or greenstone – Implements and adornment |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/pounamu-jade-or-greenstone/4 |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> Europeans brought English fashion etiquette to New Zealand, and until the 1950s most people dressed up for social occasions.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Wilson |chapter=Society – Food, drink and dress |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/society/9 |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> Standards have since relaxed and New Zealand fashion has received a reputation for being casual, practical and lacklustre.<ref>{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Design and fashion |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/3 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="The Economist print edition" /> However, the local fashion industry has grown significantly since 2000, doubling exports and increasing from a handful to about 50 established labels, with some labels gaining international recognition.<ref name="The Economist print edition">{{cite news |title=Fashion in New Zealand – New Zealand's fashion industry |newspaper=The Economist |date=28 February 2008 |url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=E1_TDSGGNTD |access-date =6 August 2009}}</ref>

===Literature===
Māori quickly adopted writing as a means of sharing ideas, and many of their oral stories and poems were converted to the written form.<ref>{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Writing and publishing |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/6 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Most early English literature was obtained from Britain, and it was not until the 1950s when local publishing outlets increased that New Zealand literature started to become widely known.<ref>{{cite web |title=The making of New Zealand literature |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/literature-in-new-zealand-1930-1960 |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=November 2010 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Although still largely influenced by global trends (modernism) and events (the Great Depression), writers in the 1930s began to develop stories increasingly focused on their experiences in New Zealand. During this period, literature changed from a journalistic activity to a more academic pursuit.<ref>{{cite web |title=New directions in the 1930s – New Zealand literature |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/literature-1940-60/1930s |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=August 2008 |access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> Participation in the world wars gave some New Zealand writers a new perspective on New Zealand culture and with the post-war expansion of universities local literature flourished.<ref>{{cite web |title=The war and beyond – New Zealand literature |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/nz-literature/the-growth-of-publishing |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=November 2007 |access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> Dunedin is a UNESCO City of Literature.<ref>{{cite web |title=28 cities join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network |url= http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/28_cities_join_the_unesco_creative_cities_network/back/9597/#.VPojtC6RNiR |publisher=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |date=December 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

===Media and entertainment===

New Zealand music has been influenced by blues, jazz, country, rock and roll and hip hop, with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation.<ref name="music">{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Music |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/7 |access-date=21 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514223830/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/creative-life/7 |archive-date=14 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Māori developed traditional chants and songs from their ancient Southeast Asian origins, and after centuries of isolation created a unique "monotonous" and "doleful" sound.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Maori Music |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-music/1 |access-date=15 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Flutes and trumpets were used as musical instruments<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Musical Instruments |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-music/6 |access-date=16 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> or as signalling devices during war or special occasions.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|editor-first=Alexander|editor-last=McLintock |title=Instruments Used for Non-musical Purposes |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-music/7 |access-date=16 February 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Early settlers brought over their ethnic music, with brass bands and choral music being popular, and musicians began touring New Zealand in the 1860s.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Music: General History |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/music/1 |access-date=15 February 2011|date=April 2009|orig-year=1966|encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Music: Brass Bands |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/music/3 |access-date=14 April 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Pipe bands became widespread during the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Alexander |editor-last=McLintock |title=Music: Pipe Bands |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/music/7 |access-date=14 April 2011 |date=April 2009 |orig-year=1966 |encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand}}</ref> The New Zealand recording industry began to develop from 1940 onwards, and many New Zealand musicians have obtained success in Britain and the United States.<ref name="music" /> Some artists release Māori language songs, and the Māori tradition-based art of ''kapa haka'' (song and dance) has made a resurgence.<ref>{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Performing arts |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/8 |access-date=21 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110515153908/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/creative-life/8 |archive-date=15 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The New Zealand Music Awards are held annually by Recorded Music NZ; the awards were first held in 1965 by Reckitt & Colman as the Loxene Golden Disc awards.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rianz.org.nz/awards2008/history.asp |title=History – celebrating our music since 1965 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand |date=2008 |access-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110914072406/http://rianz.org.nz/awards2008/history.asp |archive-date=14 September 2011}}</ref> Recorded Music NZ also publishes the country's official weekly record charts.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/rianz_about.asp |title=About RIANZ – Introduction |publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand |access-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111221160800/http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/rianz_about.asp |archive-date=21 December 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Hobbit holes reflected in water.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Hills with inset, round doors. Reflected in water.|The Hobbiton Movie Set, located near Matamata, was used for ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Downes |first1=Siobhan|title=World famous in New Zealand: Hobbiton Movie Set |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/87903487/world-famous-in-new-zealand-hobbiton-movie-set |access-date=6 July 2017 |publisher=Stuff |date=1 January 2017}}</ref>]]
Public radio was introduced in New Zealand in 1922.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brian |first1=Pauling |chapter=Radio – The early years, 1921 to 1932 |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/radio/page-1 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=6 July 2017 |date=October 2014}}</ref> A state-owned television service began in 1960.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand's first official TV broadcast |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/first-official-tv-broadcast |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=December 2016 |access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> Deregulation in the 1980s saw a sudden increase in the numbers of radio and television stations.<ref name="NZ TV">{{cite book |first=Nancy |last=Swarbrick |chapter=Creative life – Film and broadcasting |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/5 |access-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> New Zealand television primarily broadcasts American and British programming, along with many Australian and local shows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horrocks |first1=Roger |title=A History of Television in New Zealand |url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/history |work=[[NZ On Screen]] |access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> The number of New Zealand films significantly increased during the 1970s. In 1978 the New Zealand Film Commission started assisting local film-makers, and many films attained a world audience, some receiving international acknowledgement.<ref name="NZ TV" /> The highest-grossing New Zealand films are ''Hunt for the Wilderpeople'', ''Boy'', ''The World's Fastest Indian'', ''Whale Rider'', ''Once Were Warriors'', ''Heavenly Creatures'' and ''The Piano''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.flicks.co.nz/blog/list/top-10-highest-grossing-new-zealand-movies-ever/ |title=Top 10 Highest Grossing New Zealand Movies Ever|date=May 2016 |work=Flicks.co.nz |access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> The country's diverse scenery and compact size, plus government incentives,<ref>{{cite news |title=New Zealand Bends and 'Hobbit' Stays |first1=Michael |last1=Cieply |first2=Jeremy |last2= Rose |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/business/media/28hobbit.html |date=October 2010|work=The New York Times |access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> have encouraged some producers to shoot very big-budget and well known productions in New Zealand, including ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' film trilogies, ''Avatar'', ''The Chronicles of Narnia'', ''King Kong'', ''Wolverine'', ''The Last Samurai'' and ''The Power of the Dog''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Production Guide: Locations |work=Film New Zealand |url= http://www.filmnz.com/production-guide/locations.html |access-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101107112931/http://www.filmnz.com/production-guide/locations.html |archive-date=7 November 2010}}</ref> The New Zealand media industry is dominated by a small number of companies, most of which are foreign-owned, although the state retains ownership of some television and radio stations.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Myllylahti |first1=Merja |title=JMAD New Zealand Media Ownership Report 2016 |pages=4–29 |publisher=[[Organization:Auckland University of Technology|Auckland University of Technology]] |date=December 2016 |url= http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/704053/JMAD-Report-2016.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170521074651/http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/704053/JMAD-Report-2016.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> Since 1994, [[Organization:Freedom House|Freedom House]] has consistently ranked New Zealand's press freedom in the top twenty, with the 19th freest media {{as of|lc=y|2015|post=.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Scores and Status Data 1980–2015 |url= https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FOTP2015%20Scores%20and%20Status%201980-2015.xls|work=Freedom of the Press 2015 |publisher=[[Organization:Freedom House|Freedom House]] |access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref>
{{clear}}

===Sport===

[[File:Haka 2006.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Rugby team wearing all black, facing the camera, knees bent, and facing toward a team wearing white|A haka performed by the national rugby union team ("All Blacks") before a game. The haka is a challenge with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet.]]

Most of the major sporting codes played in New Zealand have British origins.<ref>{{cite book |first=Terry |last=Hearn |chapter=English – Popular culture |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=March 2009 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/english/12 |access-date=22 January 2012}}</ref> Rugby union is considered the national sport<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/nzstories.nsf/0/479c4ffcbb884149cc256b1f00001198?OpenDocument |title=Sport, Fitness and Leisure |date=2000 |work=New Zealand Official Yearbook |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=21 July 2008 |quote=Traditionally New Zealanders have excelled in rugby union, which is regarded as the national sport, and track and field athletics. |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110607011003/http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/nzstories.nsf/0/479c4ffcbb884149cc256b1f00001198?OpenDocument |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> and attracts the most spectators.<ref name="Organised Sport">{{cite book |first=Jock |last= Phillips |chapter=Sports and leisure – Organised sports |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=February 2011 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/sports-and-leisure/4 |access-date=23 March 2011}}</ref> Golf, netball, tennis and cricket have the highest rates of adult participation, while netball, rugby union and football (soccer) are particularly popular among young people.<ref name="Organised Sport" /><ref name="nzsssc" /> Horse racing is one of the most popular spectator sports in New Zealand and was part of the "rugby, racing, and beer" subculture during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rugby, racing and beer |url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/rugby-racing-and-beer |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=August 2010 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Around 54% of New Zealand adolescents participate in sports for their school.<ref name="nzsssc">{{Cite news |title= More and more students wear school sports colours |url= http://www.sportsground.co.nz/Article.asp?SiteID=19259&ArticleID=44316 |publisher=New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council |access-date= 30 March 2015 |archive-date= 18 May 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170518035647/http://www.sportsground.co.nz/Article.asp?SiteID=19259&ArticleID=44316 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Victorious rugby tours to Australia and the United Kingdom in the late 1880s and the early 1900s played an early role in instilling a national identity.<ref>{{cite book |first=Scott |last=Crawford |chapter=Rugby and the Forging of National Identity |chapter-url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/ASSHSSH/ASSHSSH11.pdf |date=January 1999 |editor-first=John |editor-last=Nauright |title=Sport, Power and Society in New Zealand: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives |series="ASSH Studies in Sports History" series |url-status=dead |publisher=Australian Society for Sports History |via=LA84Foundation.org (and Internet Archiave) |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120119025021/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/ASSHSSH/ASSHSSH11.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2012 |access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> Māori participation in European sports was particularly evident in rugby, and the country's team performs a haka, a traditional Māori challenge, before international matches.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mark |last=Derby |chapter=Māori–Pākehā relations – Sports and race |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=December 2010 |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/maori-pakeha-relations/4 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> New Zealand is known for its extreme sports, adventure tourism{{sfn|Bain|2006|p=69}} and strong mountaineering tradition, as seen in the success of notable New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Langton |first=Graham |title=A history of mountain climbing in New Zealand to 1953 |date=1996 |location=Christchurch |publisher=[[Organization:University of Canterbury|University of Canterbury]] |url= https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/3549 |access-date=12 August 2017 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World mourns Sir Edmund Hillary |date=11 January 2008 |work=The Age |location=Melbourne |url= http://news.theage.com.au/national/world-mourns-sir-edmund-hillary-20080111-1ldx.html}}</ref> Other outdoor pursuits such as cycling, fishing, swimming, running, tramping, canoeing, hunting, snowsports, surfing and sailing are also popular.<ref name="SportsParticipation">{{cite web |url= http://www.activenzsurvey.org.nz/Documents/Participation-Levels.pdf |title=Sport and Recreation Participation Levels |publisher=Sport and Recreation New Zealand |access-date=27 November 2016 |date=2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150115065459/http://www.activenzsurvey.org.nz/Documents/Participation-Levels.pdf |archive-date=15 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> New Zealand has seen regular sailing success in the America's Cup regatta since 1995.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand and the America's Cup |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/americas-cup|date=17 May 2018 |publisher=New Zealand History}}</ref> The Polynesian sport of waka ama racing has experienced a resurgence of interest in New Zealand since the 1980s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barclay-Kerr |first1=Hoturoa |chapter=Waka ama – outrigger canoeing |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/waka-ama-outrigger-canoeing |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=12 August 2017 |date=September 2013}}</ref>

New Zealand has competitive international teams in rugby union, rugby league, netball, cricket, softball, and sailing. New Zealand participated at the Summer Olympics in 1908 and 1912 as a joint team with Australia, before first participating on its own in 1920.<ref>{{cite web |title=NZ's first Olympic century |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/olympics/overview |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=27 April 2017|date=August 2016}}</ref> The country has ranked highly on a medals-to-population ratio at recent Games.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/olympics.aspx |title=London 2012 Olympic Games: Medal strike rate – Final count (revised) |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=4 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Medals per capita |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/olympics-2016.aspx |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=27 April 2017|date=30 August 2016}}</ref> The All Blacks, the national rugby union team, are the most successful in the history of international rugby<ref>{{cite news |last=Kerr |first=James |title=The All Blacks guide to being successful (off the field) |date=14 November 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/10427619/The-All-Blacks-guide-to-being-successful-off-the-field.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/10427619/The-All-Blacks-guide-to-being-successful-off-the-field.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=4 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and have won the World Cup three times.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand |date=2019 |work=RugbyWorldCup.com |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/teams/new-zealand |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104085131/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/teams/new-zealand |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
[[File:Hangi_ingredients.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Raw meat and vegetables|Ingredients to be prepared for a hāngī]]

The national cuisine has been described as [[Earth:Pacific Rim|Pacific Rim]], incorporating the native Māori cuisine and diverse culinary traditions introduced by settlers and immigrants from Europe, Polynesia, and Asia.<ref name="cuisine">{{cite web |title=New Zealand Cuisine |work=New Zealand Tourism Guide |publisher=Tourism New Zealand |date=January 2016 |url= http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/nz/cuisine-and-dining |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> New Zealand yields produce from land and sea—most crops and livestock, such as maize, potatoes and pigs, were gradually introduced by the early European settlers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Petrie |first1=Hazel |chapter=Kai Pākehā – Introduced foods |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/kai-pakeha-introduced-foods |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=27 June 2017 |date=November 2008}}</ref> Distinctive ingredients or dishes include lamb, salmon, {{lang|mi|kōura}} (crayfish),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whaanga |first1=Mere |chapter=Mātaitai – Shellfish gathering |chapter-url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/mataitai-shellfish-gathering/page-6 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=June 2006 |access-date=27 June 2017}}</ref> Bluff oysters, [[Biology:Whitebait|whitebait]], {{lang|mi|[[Biology:Pāua|pāua]]}} (abalone), mussels, scallops, {{lang|mi|[[Biology:Paphies australis|pipi]]}} and {{lang|mi|[[Biology:Tuatua|tuatua]]}} (types of New Zealand shellfish),<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Shellfish |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/shellfish |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> {{lang|mi|kūmara}} (sweet potato), [[Biology:Kiwifruit|kiwifruit]], [[Biology:Tamarillo|tamarillo]], and pavlova (considered a national dessert).<ref>{{cite book |last=Burton |first=David |chapter=Cooking – Cooking methods |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/cooking/page-2 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=September 2013 |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="cuisine" /><!--Second source references ingredients--> A hāngī is a traditional Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven; still used for large groups on special occasions,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satyanand |first1=Anand |title=Hangi for Prince William |date=17 January 2010 |url= https://gg.govt.nz/publications/hangi-prince-william |publisher=Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand |access-date=9 November 2018}}</ref> such as ''tangihanga''.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Māori foods – kai Māori |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori/page-4 |title=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand| The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |last1=Royal |first1=Charles |last2=Kaka-Scott |first2=Jenny |date=September 2013 |access-date=1 September 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* List of New Zealand-related topics
* [[Place:Outline of New Zealand|Outline of New Zealand]]
{{clear}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=n|30em}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bain |first=Carolyn |title=New Zealand |date=2006 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=1-74104-535-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Garden |first=Donald |editor-last=Stoll |editor-first=Mark |title=Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific: An Environmental History |date=2005 |series="Nature and Human Societies" series |publisher=ABC-Clio/Greenwood |isbn=978-1-57607-868-6}}
* {{cite book |first1=Jennifer |last1=Hay |first2=Margaret |last2= Maclagan |first3=Elizabeth |last3=Gordon |title=Dialects of English: New Zealand English |date=2008 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-0-7486-2529-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Jeffrey|chapter=Leadership and Culture in New Zealand |date=2007 |title=Culture and Leadership Across the World: The Globe Book of In-depth Studies of 25 Societies |editor1-first=Jagdeep |editor1-last=Chhokar |editor2-first=Felix |editor2-last=Brodbeck |editor3-first=Robert |editor3-last=House |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-8058-5997-3}}
* {{cite book |last=King |first= Michael |title=The Penguin History of New Zealand |date=2003 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-301867-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mein Smith |first=Philippa |title= A Concise History of New Zealand |date=2005 |publisher={{wipe|Cambridge University Press}} |isbn=0-521-54228-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Palmer|first=Matthew |title=The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand's Law and Constitution |date=2008 |publisher=[[Organization:Victoria University of Wellington|Victoria University of Wellington]] Press |isbn=978-0-86473-579-9 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Roselynn |last1=Smelt |first2=Yong |last2=Jui Lin |title=New Zealand |edition=2nd |date=2009 |series="Cultures of the World" series |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7614-3415-3}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Alley |first=Roderic |title=New Zealand in World Affairs IV 1990–2005 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VEa-0PKh__oC |date=2008 |publisher=Victoria University Press |isbn=978-0-864-73548-5}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Bateman |editor-first=David |title=Bateman New Zealand Encyclopedia |date=2005 |publisher=David Bateman |edition=6th |isbn=1-86953-601-0}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sinclair |first1=Keith |last2=Dalziel |first2=Raewyn |title=A History of New Zealand |edition=revised |date=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-029875-8}}
* {{cite book |title=New Zealand Official Yearbook |date=2010 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |isbn=978-1-86953-776-0}} (Annual.)
{{Refend}}

==External links==

'''Government'''
* of the New Zealand Government
* [http://www.mch.govt.nz/ New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage] – includes information on flag, anthems and coat of arms
* [http://www.stats.govt.nz/ Statistics New Zealand]

'''Travel'''
* of New Zealand Tourism

'''General information'''
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/new-zealand/ "New Zealand"]. ''The World Factbook'', Central Intelligence Agency.
* {{curlie|Regional/Oceania/New_Zealand}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15357770 New Zealand country profile] from ''BBC News''
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/ ''Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand'']
* [http://www.oecd.org/newzealand/ New Zealand]. OECD.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080607085330/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/newzealand.htm New Zealand]. Directory from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''. Archived 7 June 2008.
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=NZ Key Development Forecasts for New Zealand] from [[International Futures]]

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[[Category:Zealandia]]

{{Sourceattribution|New Zealand}}