New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific

Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-
Māui), and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is
situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly
1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long
period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life.
The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe
much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington,
while its most populous city is Auckland.
Sometime between 1250 and 1300, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New
Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became
the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom
and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands.
In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion;
it gained full statutory independence in 1947 and the British monarch remained the head of state.
Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 4.9 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 arising from increased immigration. The official languagesare English, Māori, and NZ
Sign Language, with English being very dominant.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national
performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic
freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it
from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national
economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant
source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament,
while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister,
currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by
a governor-general, currently Dame Patsy Reddy. 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 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 United
Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and
the Pacific Islands Forum.

New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific
Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-
Māui), and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is
situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly
1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long
period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life.
The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe
much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington,
while its most populous city is Auckland.
Sometime between 1250 and 1300, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New
Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became
the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom
and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands.
In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion;
it gained full statutory independence in 1947 and the British monarch remained the head of state.
Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 4.9 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 arising from increased immigration. The official languagesare English, Māori, and NZ
Sign Language, with English being very dominant.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national
performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic
freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it
from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national
economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant
source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament,
while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister,
currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by
a governor-general, currently Dame Patsy Reddy. 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 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 United
Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and
the Pacific Islands Forum.

New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific
Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-
Māui), and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is
situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly
1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long
period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life.
The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe
much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington,
while its most populous city is Auckland.
Sometime between 1250 and 1300, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New
Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became
the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom
and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands.
In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion;
it gained full statutory independence in 1947 and the British monarch remained the head of state.
Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 4.9 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 arising from increased immigration. The official languagesare English, Māori, and NZ
Sign Language, with English being very dominant.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national
performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic
freedom. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it
from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. The service sector dominates the national
economy, followed by the industrial sector, and agriculture; international tourism is a significant
source of revenue. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament,
while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the prime minister,
currently Jacinda Ardern. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's monarch and is represented by
a governor-general, currently Dame Patsy Reddy. 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 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 United
Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community and
the Pacific Islands Forum.