New Zealand

Branches

New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $556 million, 1% of GDP (FY93/94)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49: 927,212 males fit for military service: 780,976 males reach military age (20) annually: 27,433 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

3.215 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

excellent international and domestic systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

1.7 million (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

14 (1986 est.)

Televisions

1.53 million (1992 est.) Defense

Agriculture

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, meat, dairy products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988

Budget

revenues: $22.18 billion expenditures: $20.28 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $98 million (1993)

Economic overview

Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market toward a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The initial results were mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3% annually, a sign that the new economic approach was beginning to pay off. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, and inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. The government announced its first budget surplus in 16 years in FY94/95 and forecasts a surplus of $5.0 billion in FY97/98. The government intends to use the surplus to reduce the debt, increase social spending, and cut taxes - by $1.35 billion over two years beginning in 1996. Per capita GDP now is up to the levels of the big West European economies.

Electricity

capacity: 7,520,000 kW production: 30.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,401 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports

$13.41 billion (1995) commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 12%, UK 6%

External debt

$38.5 billion (September 1994)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $62.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: 7.3% industry: 25.9% services: 66.8% (1990)

GDP per capita

$18,300 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

5.5% (1995 est.)

Imports

$13.62 billion (1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods partners: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (FY95/96)

Labor force

1,634,500 (September 1995) by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4% (1994)

Unemployment rate

6.1% (October 1995)

Area

total area: 268,680 sq km land area: 268,670 sq km comparative area: about the size of Colorado note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Climate

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Coastline

15,134 km

Environment

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Geographic note

about 80% of the population lives in cities

International disputes

territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Irrigated land

2,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 53% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7%

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Terrain

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Administrative divisions

93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Capital

Wellington

Constitution

no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted

Data code

NZ

Dependent areas

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 consulate(s) general: Apia (Western Samoa), Los Angeles

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990) were appointed by the governor general cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

FAX

[64] (4) 472-3537 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)

elections last held 6 November 1993 (next must be called by November 1996); results - NP 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First 8.3%; seats - (99 total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand First Party 2

Independence

26 September 1907 (from UK)

International organization participation

ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

High Court; Court of Appeal

Legal system

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Political parties and leaders

National Party (NP, government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; Socialist Unity Party (SUP, pro-Soviet), leader NA; New Zealand First, Winston PETERS; United New Zealand (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand (ACT), Richard PREBBLE; Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev. Graham CAPILL note: the New Zealand Liberal, New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party in September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992; the National Party government formed a coalition with the United New Zealand Party in February 1996; the coalition will be valid through the 1996 elections

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068

Age structure

0-14 years: 23% (male 420,900; female 400,159) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,161,522; female 1,154,536) 65 years and over: 12% (male 177,182; female 233,684) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

15.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.72 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate

6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.01 years male: 73.96 years female: 80.21 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99%

Nationality

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Net migration rate

3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

3,547,983 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.12% (1996 est.)

Religions

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 113 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 with paved runways under 914 m: 50 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

Highways

total: 93,348 km paved: 54,142 km (including 141 km of expressways) unpaved: 39,206 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 162,220 GRT/213,749 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate (liquefied petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km

Ports

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Railways

total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (504 km electrified)

Waterways

1,609 km; of little importance to transportation