New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country, situated midway between the Equator and the South Pole in the southern Pacific Ocean. Australia is New Zealand’s nearest western neighbour. The area of New Zealand is 270.534 sq. kilometers. It is a small, quiet and green country with only 3.5 million people.

New Zealand has two large islands and numerous much smaller islands. The main islands are the North Island and the South Island. They are separated by Cook Strait, some 32 kilometers across its narrowest point.

The two main islands are long and narrow. In any place in New Zealand people are within the sight of the mountains and within the sound of the sea. In a small country nature assembled active volcanoes, subtropical rainforests, geysers, fiords, beaches, glaciers and over two dozen peaks heigher than 3000 metres. New Zealand rivers are short and swift, seldom navigable, but a valuable source of hydroelectric power. The longest is Waikato river in the North Island.

New Zealand has an oceanic climate, without extremes of heat or cold. New Zealand enjoys long hours of sunshine throughout the year. In winter the South Island mountains and central North Island have heavy snowfalls. Seasons are reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. The average temperature at Wellington varies between 20⁰ C in January and 6⁰ C in July.

The population is very unevenly distributed. Three fourth of New Zealanders live on a warmer North Island.

About 73 percent of the population is of European (mainly British) descent. About 12 percent are Maori, a Polynesian group, whose ancestors migrated to New Zealand about the 14^th century.

New Zealand was one of the last land areas to be populated by human beings. It was first settled by Polynesians. They remained isolated in New Zealand until the arrival of European explorers (in 1642). During this time they grew in numbers to between100000 and 200000. They had no name for themselves and adopted the name Maori (meaning “normal”) to distinguish themselves from the Europeans, who, after voyages of the Englishman Captain James Cook, began to arrive with greater frequency.

In the Treaty of Waitangi (1840) Maori chiefs ceded to the British crown their rights and powers of sovereignty. European settlements in New Zealand brought conflict over land and the Maori Wars (1860 – 72). After the Maori were defeated a long period of gradual adjustment came, but recovery was slow. The Maori now number more than 12 percent of New Zealand’s population. They have many, but not all, of the same rights as other New Zealanders. Proud of their special identity, they show growing political ripeness.

The majority of New Zealanders live in cities and towns. The main New Zealand’s cities are Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton. The capital of New Zealand and the centre of shipping is Wellington with the population of 326900 people.

New Zealanders enjoy a high standard of living. The state provides social services for the welfare of its citizens. New Zealanders have long enjoyed the benefits of a social security programme and one of the best health care programme in the world. However, since mid-1980s, the economy has forced to cut expences for public services and medical care.

New Zealand is predominantly English-speaking. Almost all of the Maori speak English, and only about 50000 (about 15 percent) are considered fluent Maori speakers. In 1987 Maori was declared an official language. So the country has two official languages. Most immigrants of foreign tongue adopt English as a second language, and their children are educated in English.

New Zealand English is different from Australian English. It is pure and clear. It is easily understood everywhere in the world.

New Zealanders who established international reputations of this century include Lord Rutherford, who split the atom; Sir David Low, a leading political cartoonist; Sir William Liley who introduced the principle of early blood transfusions; Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Everest; Kiri te Kanava, the operatic soprano and many others.

X. Complete the sentences.

1. New Zealand is…

a) a small country; b) the largest country in the world; c) the sixth largest country in the world

2. New Zealand’s area is …

a) 7.534 million sq. km; b) 270.534 sq. km; c) 244.000 sq. km

3. New Zealand’s population is…

a) 18.3 million people; b) 3.5 million people;c) 58.5 million people;

4. The longest New Zealand’s river is…

a) a) the Waitaki; b) Manawatu; c) the Waikato;

5. Maori constitute … of the New Zealand’s population.

a) nearly half; b) one percent; c) 12 percent

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