The world’s third largest island, New Zealand, is a state in Oceania. New Zealand is located in the Pacific Ocean, with the nearest country being Australia. The state consists of a North Island and a South Island, which are “connected” by a ferry crossing.
Wherever you travel in New Zealand, you will be greeted by stunning natural areas. Many people designate New Zealand as being the most beautiful place in the world, precisely because the nature here is so varied. Despite its close location to the Equator, the winter can be bitterly cold. At the same time, the summer can be so hot that you can be in the sun for a maximum of 12-13 minutes at a time.
The beautiful surroundings of the islands have formed the backdrop for several acclaimed film classics over time. These include Lord of The Rings and Narnia. New Zealand is also home to the iconic “Maori people” movement. Therefore, island life in New Zealand will surely also introduce you to a lot of unforgettable cultural experiences.
Key facts about New Zealand
| Capital city: | Wellington |
| Area: | 268,021 km2 |
| Population: | 4.795 million (2017) |
| Language: | English and Maori |
| Religion: | 0% Protestants, 12% Catholics, 3% Methodists, 7% other Christians, 1% Buddhists, 1% Hindus, 45% no religion |
| Currency: | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 1 DKK = 0.22 NZD |
Flag
New Zealand’s flag is from 1869. At that time, however, the flag was only used by government ships. In 1902, the flag became the official national flag of New Zealand. The flag’s four stars are derived from the Maori flag from the early 1800s. The four stars form the constellation Southern Cross.
The Southern Cross is one of the most famous constellations, which is not visible in Denmark. In the upper left corner is the national flag of the United Kingdom, called Union Jack. The reason is that it should be reminiscent of New Zealand’s ties to the United Kingdom.
Geography
| Capital city: | Wellington |
| Area: | 268,021 km2 |
| Continent: | Oceania |
| Time zone: | New Zealand Standard Time GMT + 12 |
| Limits to: | New Zealand is two islands located in the Pacific Ocean. Closest is Australia |
| Largest cities: | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga |
Demographics
| Population: | Approx. 4.8 million (2017) |
| Population density: | 18 people / km2 |
| Population growth: | 2.1% annual change (2017) / td> |
| Language: | English and Maori |
| Religion: | 30% Protestants, 12% Catholics, 3% Methodists, 7% other Christians, 1% Buddhists, 1% Hindus, 45% no religion |
Entry
| Currency: | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 1 DKK = 0.22 NZD |
| Vaccinations: | Diphtheria and Tetanus |
| Passport & Visa: | The first three months stay is visa free. However, you must apply for NZeTa. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of three months after the return date. |
| Insurance: | Neither your yellow nor blue health card can be used in New Zealand. You must therefore remember travel insurance. |
| Travel time: | The high season is from December to March |
Mini-phrasebook
| Hi | Hello |
| Goodbye | Poroporoaki |
| Yes | Ae |
| No | Kahore |
| Thanks | Whakawhetai |
| Welcome | Kia pai te Paramanawa |
| Do you speak English? | E korero ana koe i te reo Ingarihi? |
| Excuse me | Tukua ahau |
History and nature in New Zealand
New Zealand’s history involves a lot of immigration from Europe. In 1642, the first European came to the area. This was Abel Tasman, who was Dutch. He therefore named the area after a Dutch province, Zeeland. In 1769-70, the coasts of the North Island and the South Island were mapped. Here several tried to get ashore. However, this was difficult due to the many Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people, who were very aggressive.
Eventually, however, many Europeans managed to enter the country. Alcohol, weapons and diseases therefore also came to the country. Slowly more and more Europeans began to immigrate to New Zealand and in 1839 a fleet from London was sent to New Zealand, with a lot of workers. These were to cultivate land the place where Wellington is located today. In 1940, New Zealand became British. The British government, along with several Maori chiefs, signed a treaty, the Waitangi Treaty, which obliged the Maori to recognize the British crown.
Gold and bloody clashes
In 1860, gold was found in New Zealand. This meant that even more people began to immigrate to the country. Many began digging for gold, and several of the settlers began to demand land. This was against the culture of the Maori who saw the earth as their mother. Therefore, a number of bloody clashes occurred. Between 1862-1870, several wars were fought between the Maori and the immigrants. These wars were lost by the Maori.
By 1905, there were only 40,000 Maori left in the country, and there were more than 1 million immigrants from Europe. Here the land began to change from forest to agricultural land and grassland. In 1947, New Zealand chose to become an independent state within the Commonwealth, formerly known as the British Commonwealth.
Nature in New Zealand
New Zealand is very famous for its beautiful nature. It is not forest that is most of in New Zealand, as only 20 percent of the area is covered by forest. In return, it is a very mountainous country. On the South Island there is one long mountain range, where Mount Cook, the country’s highest mountain, is found, among other things. In addition, there are also many areas that are completely untouched and uninhabited, while some plains are used for grazing sheep.
The landscapes of the south and the North Island were formed during the alpine folding, but ice ages have subsequently transformed nature. That is why nature is also incredibly versatile. New Zealand has fjord landscapes, high waterfalls and deep valleys. In addition, there are several active volcanoes on the North Island and some of these areas are also characterized by hot springs and geysers. With a trip to New Zealand with Kipling Travel, you will have the opportunity to experience the magnificent and unbelievably beautiful nature.
