GEOPRAPHY:
NZ lies in the southern Pacific Ocean, 1600km east of Australia. Their area of 268,021 sq km is similar to the size of Norway or the British Isles. It has two main islands - the North (113,729 sq km) and South (150,437 sq km) - and a number of smaller islands. New Zealand' average temperatures range from 7ºC in winter to 16ºC in summer.

The North Island has a number of large volcanoes (including the currently active Mount Ruapehu) and highly active thermal areas, while the South Island boasts the Southern Alps - a spine of magnificent mountains running almost its entire length. Another notable feature of New Zealand is its myriad rivers and lakes: notably the Whanganui River, Lake Taupo and the breathtaking lakes Waikaremoana and Wanaka. There are 13 national park(4 in north island, 9 in south island, totally 2,916,988 Hectares), 20 forest, 16 marine reservesand two marine parks, plus two World Heritage Areas: Tongariro National Park in the North Island and Te Waihipouna-mu (including Fiordland, Mt Cook, Westland and Mt Aspiring National Parks) in the South Island.

About 10 to 15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, the bulk protected in national parks and reserves.The National plant of New Zealand is the Pohutukawa (known as the New Zealand Christmas tree) which detonates with brilliant red flowers around December, and the National bird is the Kiwi.

Highest mountain Aoraki/Mt Cook (3,754 m)
Deepest lake Lake Hauroko (462 m)
Longest river Waikato River (425 km)
Largest glacier Tasman Glacier (28.5 km long)
Deepest cave Nettlebed (NW Nelson) (889 m)
Largest lake is Lake Taupo (606 sq km).

HUMANITIES & CULTURE

Population:	3.9387 million, 2,944,300 live in North Island, 935,400 live in South Island. (as at 30 June, 2001)
Density:	14 people per sq km
People:	80% European (Pakeha), 14.7% Maori, 6.6% Asia (2.9% Chinese), 6.5% Polynesian, 0.7 others
Languages:	English is the predominant language spoken, other most widely spoken after English were: Maori, Samoan, French, Yue (Cantonese), German
Capital city:	Wellington
Religion:	Predominantly Christian (81%)
Government:	Independent member of the British Commonwealth

International comparisons
Area1 Unit sq km (000) (Most common date 2001)

Country	Area1 Unit sq	Country	Area1 Unit sq	Country	Area1 Unit sq
New Zealand	268	Australia	7,686	Chile	757
Korea	98	Norway	324	Singapore	0.6
Ireland	70	Israel	20	Japan	378
UK	244	USA	9,629