Voted for Change: John Key celebrates National Party's victory during New Zealand General election in Auckland, Nov. 8, 2008.
John Key
Economy
The economy of New Zealand largely relies on overseas trade because it lacks many mineral resources and has only discovered small reserves of oil. It needs to import minerals to keep its economy running. Other
The Clutha : the largest river, 336 km long in the South Island.
Lady Knox Geyser: The
north central region of New Zealand’s North Island is an area of active volcanism. In addition to three active volcanoes, there are geysers, like the Lady Knox Geyser, mud pools, and hot springs.
The European history begins in the 17th century. Abel Tasman: a Dutch navigator, the first European to visit New Zealand in 1642
Captain James Cook: the first Englishman to visit New Zealand in 1769
In the mid-1980s, New Zealand declared its antinuclear policy and became a nuclear free zone. This policy led to America’s suspension of the ANZUS security guarantees to New Zealand in 1986.
Waitangi National Maori Reserve: This site on the Northland peninsula is considered the birthplace of modern New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here between the Maori and the United Kingdom on 6 February 1840.
(Another name is “Aotearoa”,meaning “land of the long white cloud”)


(The size of the country is similar to Britain Isles or Japan.)
It has two main islands: North Island and South Island. And they’re separated by Cook Strait. There is about 2000 km long from north to south.
National Flag of New Zealand: the Union Jack and the stars of the Southern Cross 南十字星座
Geography
Introduction


Official name Capital Area
New Zealand Wellington 270,534 sq km
Mount Ruapehu, the highest active volcano in New Zealand
Lake Taupo sits in central North Island. It covers 606 sq km; it is 40 km long and 27 km wide. In the surrounding area are numerous geysers and hot springs.
Kiwi Fruit
History
3 periods
Maori came between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago → Europeans came in the 17th century → Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840 → After 1840
The South Island is the largest land mass of New Zealand, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps. There are 18 peaks over 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), the highest of which is Aoraki / Mount Cook at 3,754 metres (12,316 ft).
Who is Maori??
The Maori were part of the spread of Polynesian peoples 玻利尼西亚人 across the far-flung islands of the Pacific Ocean between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago.
Mt Cook库克山 :the highest peak, 3,754 meters high
The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism. The highly active Taupo Volcanic Zone has formed a large volcanic plateau, punctuated by the North Island's highest mountain, Mount Ruapehu (2,797 meters ). The plateau also hosts the country's largest lake, Lake Taupo, nestled in the caldera of one of the world's most active super volcanoes.
Famous Cities:
Wellington, the capital of
the New Zealand.
Auckland, the largest
and most populous urban area in the country.
Animals and plants
A rich variety of trees, treeferns, ground ferns, mosses and other plants make up “the bush”, as New Zealanders call their forests.
Political Parties
Two-party system: the National Party and the Labor Party First-level political divisions 12 regions and 4 unitary authorities
Helen Clark In 1999 Helen Clark, leader of the Labor Party, became the first female prime minister in New Zealand. She won her third election in September, 2005 (three years for one term).
The Treaty of Waitangi 1840
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6th February, 1840. In the Treaty, Great Britain formally proclaimed sovereignty over the island and agreed to respect the landownership rights of the Maori, who placed themselves under the protection of the British government. February 6th is now celebrated as New Zealand’s National Day—Waitangi Day 威坦 哲日, 怀唐伊日。
Government and Politics
The Government
Form of government Head of state Parliamentary democracy
Governor-general, representing the British monarch Head of government Prime minister Legislature Unicameral legislature House of Representatives: 120 members (for three years)
Before 1840
The first people to settle New Zealand were the ancestors of the Maori 毛利 人, who are thought to have called the islands Aotearoa (“Land of the Long White Cloud”).