New Zealand trivia: 55 amazing facts about this country!

New Zealand is a country consisting mainly by big islands! It is in the southwestern Pacific Ocean!

So let’s find out some facts and trivia about it!

1. New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean
2. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses
3. Τhe North Island
4. Αnd the South Island
5. Αnd around 600 smaller islands
6. New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres east of Australia
7. Αcross the Tasman Sea
8. Αnd roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga
9. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans
10. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life
11. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions
12. New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington
13. While its most populous city is Auckland
14. Sometime between 1250 and 1300, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand
15. They developed a distinctive Māori culture
16. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand
17. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi
18. They declared British sovereignty over the islands
19. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire
20. In 1907 it became a dominion
21. It gained full statutory independence in 1947
22. The British monarch remained the head of state
23. Today, the majority of New Zealand’s population of 4.9 million is of European descent
24. The indigenous Māori are the largest minority
25. Followed by Asians
26. And Pacific Islanders
27. New Zealand’s culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers
28. With recent broadening arising from increased immigration
29. The official languages are English, Māori, and NZ Sign Language
30. With English being very dominant
31. A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance
32. Such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom
33. New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s
34. They transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy
35. The service sector dominates the national economy
36. Followed by the industrial sector
37. And agriculture
38. International tourism is a significant source of revenue
39. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament
40. While executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet
41. Led by the Prime Minister
42. Currently the Prime Minister is Jacinda Ardern
43. Queen Elizabeth II is the country’s head of state
44. She is represented by a governor- general
45. Currently this is Dame Patsy Reddy
46. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils
47. And 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes
48. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau
49. Which is a dependent territory
50. The Cook Islands and Niue
51. They are self- governing states in free association with New Zealand
52. The Ross Dependency
53. Which is New Zealand’s territorial claim in Antarctica
54. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations
55. Also of Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEAN Plus Six, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Pacific Islands Forum