New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands. It has a total land area of 268,000 square kilometers, Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands – the North Island and the South Island. Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore. The North Island of New Zealand has a ‘spine’ of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides.
Key Cities
Key cities in New Zealand include Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
First to arrive were ancestors of Māori. The first settlers probably arrived from Polynesia between 1200 and 1300 AD. They discovered New Zealand as they explored the Pacific, navigating by ocean currents and the winds and stars. In some traditions, the navigator credited with discovering New Zealand is Kupe. The culture of New Zealand is essentially a Western culture influenced by the unique environment and geographic isolation of the islands, and the cultural input of the indigenous Māori people and the various waves of multi-ethnic migration that followed the British colonization of New Zealand. According to New Zealand’s 2013 Census, 47.65% of New Zealanders are Christian; 12.6% are Catholic, 11.8% are Anglican, 8.5% are Presbyterian, and 7.3% belong to some other denomination of Christianity.
Brief Country History
The Maori arrived in New Zealand in the 10th century AD. They called the new land Aotearoa, which means Land of the Long White Cloud. The Maori brought dogs and rats. They also brought yams and kumara or sweet potatoes and gourds. The Maori also ate fern roots. There was also an abundance of seafood in New Zealand. The Maori hunted dolphins, whales, and seals and they ate fish and shellfish. They also hunted large, flightless birds called moa – until they became extinct. Maori society was tribal. Each person belonged to a family or whanau, a sub-tribe or hapu, and the full tribe or iwi. Warfare was common in New Zealand. The Maori built fortified settlements called pa. They fought with long wooden clubs called taiah and short wooden clubs called patu. They also fought with short jade clubs called mere. People captured in war became slaves. The Maori are famous for their wood carvings. They also make pendants or tikis from whalebone. The Maori are also famous for their tattoos or moko, which were made with a bone chisel, a mallet and blue pigment.
New Zealand still mainly depends on agriculture for its exports. New Zealand is famous for sheep although it also has many cattle. Crops like wheat, barley, peas, and apples are grown and New Zealand has many vineyards. Another important export is kiwi fruit. However, an important industry in modern New Zealand is tourism. Today the population of New Zealand is 4.7 million.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
The language spoken in New Zealand, there are two actual official languages in New Zealand. Māori became an official language in 1987 while in April 2006, New Zealand became the first country to declare sign language as an official language, alongside Māori.
Important Types of Commerce in New Zealand
New Zealand is an island located in the Southwest region of the Pacific Ocean. Wellington is the capital city of the country. New Zealand has the 53rd largest economy globally regarding nominal GDP. New Zealand has a market economy, and the service sector makes up a large portion of the GDP. In 2013, the service sector contributed to 63% of the GDP. The economy is dependent on international trade with other countries. The biggest industries in New Zealand include the Agricultural and horticulture sector, mining, and fishing industries.
Language Services US and others will provide working with New Zealand
New Zealand does business with several countries, and as such, there is significant demand for a Māori translator, Māori interpreter or Māori document translation. Māori is spoken by several people in New Zealand. Most New Zealanders are also fluent in their local dialect and they predominately use it at home and in their daily social lives. Your Māori interpreter will understand that the Māori language is used in the media outlets, business and administrative purposes and taught in schools and universities.
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