New Zealand is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia, made up of two main islands and many smaller ones. It is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, including fjords, volcanoes, and glaciers, as well as its unique wildlife such as the flightless kiwi bird. The country is also celebrated for its Māori culture and as the filming location for the Lord of the Rings movies.
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- Region
- Australia and New Zealand
- Area
- 270,467 km²
- Coordinates
- 41° S, 174° E
Country facts
- New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans, with Māori ancestors arriving by canoe from Polynesia around 700 years ago.
- The kiwi, a small flightless nocturnal bird found only in New Zealand, is a national symbol so iconic that New Zealanders themselves are nicknamed Kiwis.
- New Zealand was the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote, achieving this milestone in 1893.
- The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it geologically active with volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal hot springs.
- Te Reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand alongside English and New Zealand Sign Language.
Capital facts
- Wellington became the capital of New Zealand in 1865, replacing Auckland partly because of its more central location between the North and South Islands.
- Perched on steep hills around a natural harbour, Wellington is frequently described as one of the windiest cities in the world.
- Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand located on Wellington's waterfront, is one of the most visited museums in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Wellington has a thriving café culture and has been called the coffee capital of New Zealand.
- Weta Workshop, the world-famous film effects studio behind the Lord of the Rings and Avatar movies, is based in Wellington.