Land of the Long White Cloud

Known as the Land of the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa), New Zealand's international profile has risen considerably in the last few years following the filming of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Alone on the far side of the world

Geographically isolated, New Zealand lies some 2,000 kilometres to the northwest of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

Two islands of stark scenic beauty

New Zealand is separated into a North and South island and some smaller islands, notably Stewart Island and the Chatlam Islands.

The country's influence extends to the Cook Islands and Niue which are in a free association with New Zealand, but govern themselves.

A short history of relationships and immigration

As countries go, New Zealand was settled by people not all that long ago (in historical terms), some time between the 11th and 13th century when Polynesian settlers made land fall. The first Europeans arrived in 1642, but it wasn't until 1840 with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between British Government representatives and Northern Maori Tribes legitimized the annexation of New Zealand territory to Britain. In recent years the treaty has come to be seen as the founding document of New Zealand.

New Zealand became a full-fledged a sovereign nation (or rather a constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth of Nations) in 1947.

Some key facts

New Zealand has a population of approximately 4.1 million people, 80% of which are from European descent (known as Pakeha meaning 'non-Maori'). The indigenous Maori make up the bulk of the minority ethnic groups with 14.7% of respondents to surveys claiming full or partial Maori ancestry.

New Zealand is comparable in size to Great Britain or Japan, which places 73rd in land mass rankings.

New Zealand's Head of State remains the English monarch, represented in New Zealand by a non-partisan Governor General. The role is all but symbolic. The leadership of the country rests in the elected Parliament of New Zealand and its Prime Minister lead governing party.