New Zealand is a destination like no other. Fascinating heritage, a vibrant artistic tradition and a rich blend of cultures complement the landscapes that make it famous around the world.
| Browse by topic: | ||
Society
New Zealand has a population of 4.2 million. The majority live in the North Island, while the South Island is more sparsely populated. Auckland is the largest city in the nation, with a population of around 1.4 million people. The capital, however, is Wellington, in the lower North Island. The largest city in the South Island is Christchurch, midway along the east coast.
The majority of New Zealanders are of British descent, also referred to using the Maori word ‘Pakeha’. Other European cultures such as Scandinavian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Greek and Dalmatian, are also represented. Many New Zealanders originate from the Pacific Islands or Asia but the largest non-European group is the Maori population.
History
The first inhabitants of New Zealand, the Maori, are thought to have arrived over 1,000 years ago, travelling on canoes from a South Pacific homeland. Maori named the land Aotearoa (‘Land of the Long White Cloud’).
The first European to sight New Zealand was Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer who saw the South Island’s West Coast in 1642. Although he never set foot on New Zealand soil, he annexed it for Holland under the name ‘Staten Landt’ – later changed to New Zealand by Dutch mapmakers. In 1769, Briton Captain James Cook was searching for a southern continent when his cabin boy sighted land near Gisborne in 1769. Cook circumnavigated and mapped the country.
European migration began soon after and by 1839 there were an estimated 2,000 Europeans in New Zealand. In response to increasing lawlessness amongst settlers, the British Government decided more effective rule was required. Captain William Hobson was sent to New Zealand in 1840 as Lieutenant-Governor, charged with acquiring the sovereignty of New Zealand through a treaty with Maori chiefs. Signed on February 6, 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, the Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement between the British Crown and Maori, establishing British law in New Zealand while guaranteeing Maori authority over their land and culture. Although there are continuing debates about the proper interpretation of the Treaty, it is considered New Zealand’s founding document.
After the signing of the Treaty, the number of British migrants increased enormously. A gold rush during the 1860s attracted even more migrants from around the world, yet Britain remained the ‘homeland’ for most settlers and much of New Zealand’s infrastructure was built on British models. Independence from Britain was formally proclaimed in 1947 and since that time New Zealand has increasingly developed its own unique culture – a mix of those that have settled the country throughout the centuries.
Environment
New Zealand is located in the South Pacific Ocean, 6,500 kilometres south-southwest of Hawaii and 1,900 kilometres east of Australia. With a land area of 268,000 km², it is similar in size to Britain and Japan. There are two main islands – the North Island and the South Island – a third, smaller island – Stewart Island – and a number of small satellite islands. More than half of New Zealand is farmland and more than a quarter is forested. The nation is mostly hilly: 13% is alpine terrain, with many peaks in excess of 3,000 metres. The climate is temperate and relatively mild.
As an island nation that has only been populated by humans in relatively recent times, New Zealand is home to some extraordinary plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else. The only native land mammals are tiny bats. A lack of predators (except birds of prey) meant that many birds became flightless. The Kakapo, for instance, is a parrot unlike any other. The heaviest parrot in the world at 4 kg, it is flightless and nocturnal. New Zealand’s national icon, the Kiwi, is also flightless and nocturnal.
The unique characteristics of many native animals means they lack defenses against introduced predators. For that reason, many are rare or endangered, and efforts are underway to protect remaining populations.
Economy & Industry
New Zealand has an economy dominated by the export-focused agricultural sector, together with significant manufacturing and service sectors. The economy is strongly trade-oriented with food and beverages representing a large proportion of exports. New Zealand has developed a world-wide reputation for top quality produce, from meat (New Zealand lamb is particularly renowned), to dairy products, seafood, fruit and vegetables, and boutique wines. Manufactured goods represented the second largest export sector as at March 2009. Service industries, including tourism, consultancy and education, are also extremely significant to the New Zealand economy.
New Zealand Music
New Zealand has a proud musical tradition dating back to the nation’s earliest settlement by the Maori people. Since British colonisation, the major musical influences have been European and American. In more recent times, as New Zealand has become more confident about its South Pacific identity, local artists have mixed popular international styles with Pacific influences, creating a blend that is uniquely New Zealand in style. Each city has its own unique brand of New Zealand music (the ‘Dunedin Sound’ for example), and picking up a CD will give visitors an insight into the character of their destination.
New Zealand music is widely played on popular radio, and visitors can catch live performances at venues ranging from major concert halls to intimate clubs and country pubs all over the country.
New Zealand Art
Maori have developed powerful artistic forms in the carving of bone, stone, wood and shell, and in weaving fibres, since their earliest settlement of New Zealand.
The newness and untouched beauty of New Zealand when European settlers arrived meant that the style of many early artworks was often romanticised and nostalgic, and many were produced by surveyors. In the twentieth century, as New Zealand grew into a confident, vibrant nation, more original artists appeared. Realism and honesty about New Zealand life became dominant themes, and artists like Rita Angus, Colin McCahon and Toss Woolaston came to prominence.
In recent years, themes and styles have increasingly reflected the diversity of New Zealand society. Maori have branched out to use contemporary mediums in which to portray their arts, and distinct Maori, Asian and Pacific Island influences can be clearly seen in various other artworks. Visitors will find intriguing art galleries in every corner of the country, but particularly renowned galleries include the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth, the Sarjeant Gallery in Wanganui, the Christchurch Art Gallery and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
New Zealand on Film
If you’re a movie-goer, you’ve probably seen New Zealand on the big screen. Film-makers have caught on to New Zealand’s charm, and the wealth of talent and innovation available in this resourceful country make its film industry exciting. The Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand and directed by New Zealander Peter Jackson. Computers helped create some of the effects, but the scenery was natural – a number of operators offer tours to sites featuring in the films. Elijah Wood, who played Frodo, says: ‘New Zealand is Middle-Earth. It has every geological formation and geographical landscape you can imagine – and some you couldn’t.’ New Zealand scenery has doubled for other places, including the Himalayas for Vertical Limit and Japan for The Last Samurai. It also became Narnia in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, directed by New Zealander Andrew Adamson. Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong featured a subtly Kiwi background.
New Zealanders are also good at telling their own stories on film. Whale Rider is a haunting tale based on a story by Witi Ihimaera, examining Maori culture and myth in modern New Zealand. The World’s Fastest Indian tells the story of Southland motorcycle legend Burt Munro. The irrepressible Kiwi spirit sings out loud and strong, and the character (and occasional eccentricity) of New Zealand people is brilliantly portrayed by director Roger Donaldson. Much of the movie was shot in and around Southland, and many locals were used as extras in the film. Even the much-loved Mayor of Invercargill, Tim Shadbolt, took a cameo role!
New Zealand Literature
New Zealand literature has a character like no other. The country’s relative isolation means that, although themes similar to other postcolonial nations have slipped in, there is a quality about New Zealand writing which is wholly unique. Kiwi writers aren’t afraid to speak their minds and broaden the minds of others – whether in the prophetic, powerful poetry of James K Baxter, the rich prose of Keri Hulme, the haunting modern myths of Witi Ihimaera or the searing, lyrically honest works of Janet Frame. The landscapes, the rich storytelling tradition of the Maori and the country’s love of individuality and creativity have combined to produce a wonderfully diverse range of books and authors. Visitors are sure to find home-grown books to read.
For information about advertising with us email