Includes brochure, itinerary booklet and large NZ map
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Trip reviews of ACTIVE NZ
Average: 4.45 
(6,396 trip reviews since 2004)
(6,396 trip reviews since 2004)
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Adventure Tours
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"This trip was a wonderful adventure for my 28-year-old daughter and her 58-year-old mother to have. We will always treasure the memories of the time we spent together as well as the fabulous scenery, wonderful people of NZ and the great group we were with for 2 weeks. "
Anne & Liz Fishman (Maryland, USA) December 2002 Rimu
Anne & Liz Fishman (Maryland, USA) December 2002 Rimu
MEET OUR GUIDES:
Liz Mathieson
"Five out of five!! Patience of a saint. Extremely knowledgeable with an obvious pride in the island she now lives in. A fantastic cook. AND she really did have a lot to contend with - including the weather conditions! "
Jo Cullen (Beijing, China) July 2011 Winter Rimu
PHOTO OF THE MONTH:
Rimu Nov 2011
Who needs Photoshop when you've got views like this?
New Zealand Facts
The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.
| Location: | Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 41 00 S, 174 00 E |
| Map references: | Oceania |
| Area: | total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands |
| Area - comparative: | about the size of Colorado |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 15,134 km |
| Maritime claims: | continental shelf: 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: | temperate with sharp regional contrasts |
| Terrain: | predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m |
| Natural resources: | natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone |
| Land use: | arable
land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | 2,850 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity |
| Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation |
| Geography - note: | about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world |
| New Zealand People | |
| Population: | 4,290,347 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14
years: 22.36% (male 442,738; female 421,462) 15-64 years: 66.11% (male 1,281,781; female 1,272,674) 65 years and over: 11.53% (male 193,895; female 251,579) (2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.882% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 13.68 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at
birth: 1.048 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total
population: 80.59 years male: 78.61 years female: 82.67 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.08 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand |
| Ethnic groups: | European 56.8%, Asian 8%, Maori 7.4%, Pacific islander 4.6%, mixed 9.7%, other 13.5% (2006 Census) |
| Religions: | Anglican 13.8%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Reformed 10%, Christian (no denomination specified) 4.6%, Methodist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Baptist 1.4%, other Christian 3.8%, Maori Christian 1.6%, Hindu 1.6%, Buddhist 1.3%, other religions 2.2%, none 32.2%, other or unidentified 9.9% (2006 Census) |
| Languages: | English (official), Maori (official) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.) |
| New Zealand Government | |
| Country name: | conventional
long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ |
| Government type: | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital: | Wellington |
| 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) |
| Dependent areas: | Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau |
| Independence: | 26 September 1907 (from UK) |
| National holiday: | Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) |
| Constitution: | consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter |
| Legal system: | based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief
of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
Governor General Lt Gen Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011) head of government: Prime Minister John KEY and Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) |
| Judicial branch: | High Court; Court of Appeal |
| Flag description: | 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 |
| New Zealand Economy | |
| Economy - overview: | Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income rose for ten consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current account deficit. The economy fell into recession before the start of the global financial crisis and contracted for five consecutive quarters in 2008-09. In line with global peers, the central bank cut interest rates aggressively and the government developed fiscal stimulus measures. The economy posted a 1.7% decline in 2009, but pulled out of recession late in the year, and achieved 2.1% growth in 2010. Nevertheless, key trade sectors remain vulnerable to weak external demand. The government plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure, while reining in government spending. |
Information on NZ Geography
