New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific
Ocean. It lies in the Southwest Pacific Ocean about 1, 6000 kilometres
southeast of Australia.
New Zealand belongs to Polynesia,
a large island group. The country consists of two main islands-the North Island
and the South Island- and several dozen much smaller island. A brown-skinned
people called Maori were the first
people to live in New Zealand. Europeans first visited the country in 1642, but
they did not start to settle in the island until the late 1700’. About 15 per
cent of the people of the New Zealand have Maori ancestry. They make up the
largest minority in the country.
New Zealand has a long tradition of equal rights and
benefits for all its citizens. In 1893, it became the first nation in the world
to give women the vote. New Zealand was among the first countries to provide
social security benefits and old-age pensions for its people. It has one of the
world’s finest public health services.
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The nation
recognises Queen Elisabeth II of Britain as its monarch. The main political
parties in New Zealand are the Labour Party and the National Party.
About three-quarters of all New Zealanders live on the North
Island, and more than four fifths of the country’s population live in urban
areas.
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand.
English is spoken throughout the country. Most of the people speak English with
a New Zealand accent.
The people of New Zealand have a high standard of living.
About 70 per cent of New Zealand families own their homes, and almost every
family has at least one car.
New Zealand’s cities are fairly uncrowded.
New Zealanders love outdoor activities and sports. Ski areas
on New Zealand’s snow-capped mountains attract large numbers of skiers.
Yachting along the coasts or on the lakes is a popular activity.
New Zealand offers free and secular education in state
primary and secondary schools. The law requires children from 6 to 15 to attend
school, but most youngsters enter school at 5. Most children go to secondary
school.
New Zealand has seven universities. It also has 5 colleges
of education and25 polytechnic colleges, which teach applied sciences and trade
and technical skills.
Hundreds of years ago, the Maori developed New Zealand’s
first and most individual arts. Their carefully detailed woodcarvings and
poetic legends created a tradition that still continues among the Maori. Pottery created by modern New Zealand
potters has attracted the attention of art lovers in other countries.
The North Island covers 115,777 square kilometres. It can be
divided into three main land regions: first the Northern Peninsulas and Waikato
Basin, second the Volcanic Region and Western Hill Country, and third the
Eastern Hills.
The Northern Peninsula and Waikato Basin occupy most of the
northern part of the island. This region has forests, rich lowlands, citrus
orchards and undeveloped hill country. Long, sandy beaches line the west coasts
and many inlets mark the east coast.
The Volcanic Region and Western Hill Country covers the
western half of the island south of the Northern Peninsulas and Waikato Basin.
The Eastern Hills occupy the eastern and southern parts of
the North Island.
The South Island covers 151,215 square kilometres. It has
three main regions: first the Southern Alps and High Country, second the
Canterbury Plains and third the Otago Plateau and Basins.
The Southern Alps and High Country cover most of the island.
The Canterbury Plains lie along the east-central coast of
the South Island.
The Otago Plateaus and Basins lie in the southeast corner of
the South Island.
New Zealand’s coastline is about 5,150 kilometres long.
Auckland and Wellington, the nation’s chief seaports, overlook the natural
harbours on the North Island.
Lakes, rivers, and waterfalls are found throughout New
Zealand, Most of the lakes lie in the volcanic plateau of the North Island and
in glacial valleys near the Southern Alps of the South Island. New Zealand has
hundreds of waterfalls.
Most of New Zealand’s animals have been introduced from
other countries. The European settlers brought all deer and rabbits- as well as
cattle, pigs and sheep-. Two species of bats are the only native land mammals.
New Zealand has no snakes.
The kiwi is the only known bird with nostrils in the tip of
its bill. A number of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians have become
endangered.
The native forests of New Zealand consist mainly of
evergreen and tree ferns. Beech forests grow on the cooler uplands of both
islands.
New Zealand has a mild, moist climate like that of the
Pacific Northwest Coast of the USA. July is New Zealand’s coldest month and
January and February are the warmest months.
New Zealand’s mild climate results from ocean breezes that
bring warmth to the land in winter and coolness in summer. Summer temperatures
range from about 18 degrees C to 29 degrees C. Winter temperatures range from
about 2 degrees C to about 13 degrees C. Throughout New Zealand the weather
shifts suddenly from sunny to rainy and back to sunny again.
The mountains chiefly control the distribution of rainfall
in New Zealand. Almost the entire west coast averages more than 250 centimetres
of rain a year. Milford Sound, located on the South Island, receives up to 760
centimetres of rain each year. Severe snowstorms rarely occur in New
Zealand. Snow seldom falls in lowland
areas, though some mountain peaks remain snow-capped all year.
New Zealand has about 400 earthquakes every year, but only
about 100 of them are strong enough to be felt.
The economy of New Zealand has long depended on farming and
foreign trade. But manufacturing has been increasing rapidly and about twice as
many New Zealanders work in factories as on farms. Tourism has also become an
important source of income. New Zealand’s greatest natural resource is its
land. Processed foods are New Zealand’s
most valuable manufactured goods. Auckland is the country’s largest
manufacturing centre.
New Zealand’s economy depends on trade. The country’s chief
trade partners are Australia, Great Britain and other member states of the
European Community, Japan and the USA. The country’s imports include iron and
steel, machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum, scientific instruments and
electronic equipment.
Most of the timber comes from the radiate pine, which grows
mainly on the North Island’s volcanic plateau.
New Zealand has an excellent road network. Almost all
families own a car. A railway system links the main cities. International
airports are at Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. Auckland and Wellington
have the nation’s busiest seaports. Auckland’s New Zealand Herald has the largest circulation. Almost every family
owns a television set and one or more radios. Very Few households are without a
telephone. Postal services are operated by a state-owned enterprise, New
Zealand Post.
Kasutatud kirjandus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand
National Geographic
1989/ 10