New Zealand is located in the southwest Pacific, and offers a fantastic nature experience. Here are glaciers, subtropical rainforests, deep fjord landscapes, sandy beaches, active volcanoes and geysers that spray fifty meters into the air. But also cosmopolitan cities and a fascinating Maori culture.
| Capital: | Wellington |
| Biggest city: | Auckland |
| State: | monarchy within the Commonwealth |
| Language: | English, Maori |
| Religion: | Protestantism |
| Surface: | 268 680 km² |
| Population: | 4.5 million (2013) |
| Population density: | 16 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 80 years |
| Illiteracy: | 1% |
| Currency: | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 1 dollar = SEK 5.78 |
| GDP per capita: | $ 27,400 (2010) |
| Time difference: | +11 hours |
| Electricity: | 230 V AC, 50Hz |
| National Day: | 6th of February |
| Country area code: | 64 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | NZ (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | service sector 70%, industry 20%, agriculture 10% |
| Climate: | temperate; warmer in the north, cooler in the south and wetter in the west |
New Zealand is located opposite Sweden on the other side of the globe, and consists of two larger islands, the North Island and the South Island, as well as several smaller islands. New Zealand also includes the Tokelau Islands and the two autonomous territories of the Cook Islands and Niue.
New Zealand also includes the Kermadec Islands (a group of 13 uninhabited volcanic islands), New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands (consisting of five archipelagos, which were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998), and claims the Ross Dependency in Antarctica.
New Zealand was uninhabited until sometime between 1000 and 1300, when the Polynesians settled here. This culture later became known as the Maori. The first Europeans arrived with the Dutchman Abel Tasman’s expedition in 1642. Captain James Cook mapped the islands 1769-1770, and in 1840 the country became part of the British Empire.
The Lord of the Rings movies are all filmed in New Zealand. Books such as “Once Were Warriors” by Alan Duff and “Whale Rider” by Wit Ihimaera have both been filmed, and are also set in New Zealand.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in New Zealand are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- Te Wahipounamu National Park (1990)
- Tongariro National Park (1990)
- New Zealand’s subantarctic islands (1998)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in New Zealand
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: I
Need an adapter: Yes, Swedes need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Wellington
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| Day °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 19 |
| Night °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| Rain (mm) | 30 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 30 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
| Soltim / day | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 6 |
Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city with 1.3 million residents (2008) with suburbs. It is located 37 degrees south of the equator on the northwestern part of the North Island. The city of Auckland was founded in 1840 and was the capital of the then British colony from 1841 to 1865, when Wellington became the capital.
Christchurch
Christchurch is a city in New Zealand. It is Sydön’s largest city with around 368,900 residents (2008). The city is located in the middle part on the east coast of Sydön.
It is believed that the Maori population arrived at the site around the year 1000 AD. As late as 1860, the first Europeans arrived at the site. Even before the Europeans reached the city, it had its name, Christ Church. Nowadays, the city’s name is composed of Christchurch, when the locals said and wrote so.
Wellington
According to Countryaah, Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country’s second largest city after Auckland. The city has 381,900 residents (2008). Wellington is located on the south coast of the North Island at Cooksundet. The city was founded in 1840 and became the capital in 1865.
New Zealand’s top financial institutions are located in both Wellington and Auckland, and some organizations are also headquartered in both cities. The city, on the other hand, is the country’s political center, and houses the parliament and headquarters of all government ministries and ministries. Wellington is also often described as the cultural center of New Zealand, with a world-class film industry, Te Papa Tongarewa (New Zealand Museum), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.