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New
Zealand |
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New
Zealand |
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The country of natural beauty. Many breathless
views of amazing countryside make everyone who visits New
Zealand simply fall in love with it. Besides natural beauty
New Zealand is also rich in culture and offers spectacular
outdoor activities. Discover New Zealand with StudyGlobal.
New Zealand is a long narrow country lying roughly north-south.
Consisting of the North and South Islands (and a number of
smaller islands), it covers 103,736 square miles (166,940
square kilometres) and is 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) long.
It covers an area slightly larger than the United Kingdom.
New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific, approximately
6,500 miles (10,400 kilometres) south west of North America
and 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometres) east of Australia. |
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North Island, with
its golden beaches, ancient kauri forests, lakes, volcanos,
thermal areas, and large cities (including Wellington, the capital),
is the more densely populated. South Island, with its snowcapped
mountains, glaciers, lush native bush, and fiords, is the larger
of the two, proudly called "the mainland" by residents
(though North Islanders are quick to disagree!). Tiny Stewart
Island (1,750 square km), an unspoiled, bird-filled bush and
beach paradise at the foot of the South Island, is the closest
most people ever get to the Antarctic. Also within New Zealand's
territorial jurisdiction lie several small island groups, including
the Chatham, Kermadec, and Tokelau Islands, Campbell Island,
Auckland, Antipodes, Snares, Solander, and Bounty Islands, and
Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Surrounded by the South Pacific
Ocean on the east and the Tasman Sea on the west, New Zealand
appears to be a mere speck on the globe, and yet it's about
1,600 km from top to bottom--similar in size to the British
Isles or Japan. |
| Australia, 2,092 km northwest,
is New Zealand's closest neighbor, and because of this relative
proximity the two countries are often mistakenly believed to
be one. But beware! To innocently suggest this to "Kiwis"
(as New Zealanders like to call themselves) is to risk running
afoul of their good natures. New Zealand is an independent self-governing
nation. |
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Population |
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| New Zealand has a population
of almost 3.5 million people, three quarters of whom live in
the North Island, one of the two main islands. New Zealand
Maori make up approximately 10% of the population, and Polynesian
people approximately 4% of New Zealand's multi-cultural society.
Chinese, Indian and Asian ethnic groups are increasing in population
size within New Zealand. |
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Language |
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| English is the official
language of New Zealand. |
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Time Zone |
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| New Zealand is exactly
twelve hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. In summer, early
October to late March, there is an extra hour of daylight saving,
to extend the warm summer evenings. |
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Climate |
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| New Zealand has a particularly
clear and unpolluted atmosphere with average daily sunshine
hours ranging from seven to eight in summer and four to five
in winter.
Ranging from subtropical in the north to temperate in the
south, the mean summer temperature is 23° Celcius (74°
Farenheit) and 14° Celcius (57° Farenheit) in winter.
Seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere -
winter is between June and August and summer is between December
and February.
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Government |
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| A British Colony since
1840, New Zealand declared national sovereignty in 1947, but
remains a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth as head
of state. Recently, New Zealand replaced the previous 'first
past the post' electoral system with a new mixed member system
of proportional representation. There are now several mainstream
political parties - National and Labour, who were the 'traditional'
parties along with more recent political parties including New
Zeland First and the Alliance. The current government is a coalition
between National and New Zealand First. |
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Economy |
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| Even though well over
80% of New Zealanders live in towns and cities, agricultural
products are the basis of New Zealand's economy and is the biggest
export earner. That's not surprising when you consider that
one third of the country's total area is sown in pasture and
that sheep out number people by twenty five to one!
Tourism, forestry, horticulture, fishing and manufacturing
have become increasingly important sectors in the economy
in recent years. Australia is New Zealand's largest export
market, followed by Japan, Asia, the United States and the
United Kingdom. |
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Map |
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Culture |
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Maori |
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| New Zealand is home
to the Tangata Whenua (people of the land), the Maori. It is
believed that the Polynesian navigator, Kupe was the first man
to sight New Zealand around 950AD and then returned home to
tell of his findings. Around 1350AD seven great migratory canoes
(whaka) sailed from Hawaiki to New Zealand.
They called the country Aotearoa, Land of the Long White
Cloud, and quickly adapted to the cooler climate and spread
throughout the country. Here they developed a culture quite
distinct from the rest of the Pacific since the long distances
and treacherous ocean conditions discouraged return voyages.
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| The Maori
have a close kinship with their environment, with legends and
gods representing certain spheres, such as Tane Mahuta (God
of the Forest) and Tangaroa (God of the Sea), who are remembered
through song and dance.
Ancient Maori traditions and artforms have become precious
taonga (treasures) of the modern Maori. Status and prestige
are gained from ancestors who contribute to the living by
giving spiritual strength and guidance to those who call on
them. It is for this reason that traditional artforms such
as the carved walking sticks, greenstone necklaces and bone
carvings are treated with respect, as they carry the spirit
of the original owners.
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The whakapapa (family
tree) is retold in the intricate carvings on every marae. The
marae, or meeting house is still today the main focus for ceremony
and community identity. Visitors are welcomed onto the marae
with a strict formal protocol and traditional welcome which
includes the haka (challenge) and a hongi (pressing of noses).
You may have the opportunity to sample kai (food), cooked in
a hangi (feast steamed in an earth oven).
You will be able to experience Maori culture all over New
Zealand, but in particular at Roturau. Waitangi, the Museum
of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, the Auckland
Museum and the National Marae in Christchurch also offer insights
into the Maori cultural heritage.
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Rugby |
| The New
Zealand Rugby Museum, the oldest and arguably the first
museum in the world devoted to the oval ball code.
It contains New Zealand's biggest and most comprehensive
collection of rugby memorabilia and records, including some
of the world's rarest rugby artefacts. The extensive photo
library provides rare and detailed coverage of the emergence
of New Zealand as a major rugby power. |
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Food |
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Roasted
Lamb |
| The most popular dish
in New Zealand is Roasted Lamb with mint sauce, roasted kumera,
new potatoes freshly picked from Grandmas garden and other fresh
vegetables. It is usually eaten at Christmas’ time go
with a delicious dessert that always includes Pavalova covered
with whipped cream and strawberries. |
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Roasted
Lamb Recipe |
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| 1 leg of lamb, approximately
2 kg or a medium-sized shoulder of lamb 2 cloves garlic,
peeled and quartered lengthways
1 kg potatoes, peeled and quartered lengthways
juice of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons olive oil
300 ml water
salt and pepper
3 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon thyme |
| Rinse the meat. Make
four deep slits with a sharp knife at various fleshy points
and insert the garlic. Lay the meat in a square baking dish
and surround it with the quartered potatoes. Pour the lemon
juice and the olive oil over the meat and potatoes, then pour
the water into a corner of the dish. Season the meat and the
potatoes with the herbs. Cook in a pre-heated oven at 220
degrees Celcius for the first 20 minutes, then turn down to
190 degrees Celcius and cook for one hour. Take out halfway
to stir the potatoes and baste the meat and add a little water
if needed. After this, take out and turn the meat over on
its uncooked side and season with salt pepper and more herbs.
Turn the oven up to 220 degrees Celcius again and cook for
further 20 minutes. The meat should get overcooked by western
standards until it is virtually falling of the bones. Don't
worry, because of the way it is prepared it never dries out.
A shoulder of lamb can be treated in exactly the same way
but cooked less, 11/2 hours would be enough for a medium-sized
one.
Serves 6 persons.
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