Capital: Wellington
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Capital: Wellington Print | Close |
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Introduction New Zealand is one of the most developed countries in the Pacific, with one of the highest GDP per capita in the region. It has become home for thousands of Pacific Islanders attracted by job opportunities and a high standard of living. Located in an active earthquake and thermal zone, it is known for its hot springs and geysers.
Issues
History Archaeological evidence suggests New Zealand's indigenous people, the Maori, migrated to the islands from Polynesia. They named it Aotearoa - the Land of the Long White Cloud. The Maori came in canoes in successive waves spread over a number of generations. The final large migration appears to have been about 1350 AD. The Maori settled mainly in the warmer North Island. The first European contact came in 1642 when the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sighted the coastline and named it 'Niew Zeeland' (Zeeland being a northern region of the Netherlands). A century later, in 1769, Captain James Cook claimed New Zealand for Britain. During the next few decades European whalers came to the country. They were followed by missionaries and farmers. The treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840 between English Captain William Hobson and about 45 Maori chiefs. The treaty established British sovereignty over the islands, while protecting Maori rights to their lands and natural resources. It is considered the founding document of the nation. Waitangi Day, February 6, has become New Zealand's national day. 1840 also saw the beginning of systematic British migration and colonisation, the creation of towns and the large-scale arrival of farmers and settlers. In 1852 a new constitution was adopted, creating a General Assembly of six provinces, each with a representative government. By 1858, settlers outnumbered Maori. During the 1860s, land was confiscated on the North Island for British settlers. This led to fierce conflicts with Maori tribes. The settlers eventually prevailed after huge loss of life on both sides, and the Treaty of Waitangi was effectively abolished until the 1970s when a process of compensation for land loss began. New Zealand's first parliamentary elections were held in 1853, with voting restricted to men over 21 years of age who owned, leased or rented property of a certain value. Four Maori seats were created in 1867, with universal suffrage for Maori men over 21. Women gained the right to vote in 1893. In 1907 New Zealand became a British dominion. More than 100,000 New Zealanders fought for the British during World War I, and 17,000 were killed. New Zealand was granted the status of sovereign nation in 1931, when Britain passed the Statute of Westminster, which confirmed complete autonomy for its six dominions. With Australia, New Zealand held back from adopting this status, (which removed Britain's ability to override New Zealand legislation) and was the last to do so in 1947. In 1985 New Zealand refused to allow US nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships to enter its ports, prompting the US to suspend its security obligations to New Zealand. That same year, French secret service agents blew up a Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland Harbour, killing one person. New Zealand plays an active role in the Pacific region, and in recent years has sent troops to East Timor (1999) and contributed troops to an Australian-led multinational intervention force to restore law and order in Solomon Islands (2003). Government New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition with the British monarch as its head of state. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by a governor-general whom she appoints on the advice of the New Zealand Government. The governor-general's appointment is usually for five years and the role is largely ceremonial. New Zealand has one chamber of parliament called the House of Representatives. Elections are held every three years to choose a parliament. New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, in which voters are given two votes - one for a local MP and one for a political party. Registered Maori voters may choose to be on either the general or the Maori electoral roll. Depending on the number of people on the Maori roll, the number of Maori seats in parliament changes. It is compulsory to enrol for voting but voting itself is not mandatory. There are 120 seats of parliament, of which 67 represent geographic areas and 53 represent political parties. The party that has the majority in parliament is asked to form a government and its leader becomes prime minister. The governor-general appoints ministers on the prime minister's recommendation. Economy Agriculture was once New Zealand's main industry, with wool and mutton the two biggest exports and Britain its main market. But since the early 1980s, New Zealand has diversified its economy and developed sizeable manufacturing and services sectors. New Zealand's economy relies heavily on exports, with agriculture exports contributing over 50 per cent of total export earnings. Main exports include wool, meat, fish and dairy products, wood and forestry products, fruit and vegetables, chemicals and manufactured goods. New Zealand's main markets are Australia, Japan, the USA and the UK. Tourism also plays an important role in New Zealand's economy. Tourist numbers have recovered steadily since slumping in 2002 and early 2003 over fears of international terrorism and SARS. |
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