For further information visit www.stats.govt.nz ,  www.doc.govt.nz , www.linz.govt.nz (external links).

Geology
New Zealand has almost a complete set of landscape features: beaches and mountains, rivers and plains, glaciers and boiling mud-pools. Half of New Zealand is farmland, a quarter is forest and, in a nation the size of Colorado an area the size of Vermont is national park. In the Southern Alps, which stretch almost the entire length of the South Island, there are 16 peaks over 10,000 feet, including Mt Cook, still New Zealand.s highest mountain after 30 of its 12,349 feet slid off in 1991. New Zealand was formed relatively recently and volcanoes in the centre of the North Island show the signs of this geological adolescence, they are usually sleeping, often smoking and likely to erupt unpredictably,

For further information visit www.stats.govt.nz ,  www.gns.cri.nz (external links).

Climate
New Zealand is a maritime nation with a temperate climate . it has a great variety of weather but a much smaller range of temperatures. Wind, rain and bright sunshine can fast-forward through a morning, and re-wind through an afternoon. A daily forecast can provide a synopsis for a year's weather. The seasons in New Zealand, a country in the Southern Hemisphere, are opposite to those in North America. January is the warmest month of the New Zealand summer, July the coolest month of the winter. While the north is warmer than the south, the climate throughout the country is mild, summer temperatures rarely top 85 degrees and winter temperatures in the northern regions often reach 60 degrees. Rain can fall on most places at any time, but snow falls where it should, on the mountains. Sunhats and umbrellas are more useful than long-johns and air conditioners.

For further information visit www.stats.govt.nz , www.niwa.co.nz , www.weather.co.nz (external links).

Population
There are 4 million people in New Zealand. Most live in cities and only 15% live in rural areas, where they do, however, have 44 million sheep for company. Three quarters of the population lives in the North Island, and almost a third lives in Auckland, a Seattle-sized and sailing-obsessed city of a million people. Wellington, the capital (pop. 350,000), a small cousin of San Francisco. It has steep hills, wooden Victorian houses, a cable car and occasional earthquakes, is 400 miles south of Auckland at the foot of the North Island. The main South Island cities are Christchurch (pop. 300,000), which is famously English, and Dunedin (pop. 100,000), still proudly Scottish. Most New Zealanders are of European descent and all speak English. The Maori, the country's original inhabitants, comprise 13% of the population. Much that is unique to New Zealand is derived from Maori culture. Pacific Islanders form a sizable part of the population, and there is a growing number of people of Asian origin.

For further information visit www.stats.govt.nz , www.tpk.govt.nz , www.minpac.govt.nz (external links).

The Maori
The Maori originated in Polynesia. Like the Vikings, they were a warrior people who were also great navigators. Like Native Americans, they are a tribal people with a spiritual attachment to the land. Maori have a strong sense of place, and of their past. An oral tradition preserved tribal genealogies which stretch back to the arrival of the first Maori canoes in New Zealand. Maoritanga, the Maori way of life, is based on cooperation, loyalty and respect, especially for elders and is centered on the marae, a gathering place which often incorporates a meeting-house decorated with highly-stylized carvings of tribal ancestors. There are 450,000 New Zealanders with some Maori ancestry. Maori have always maintained their identity; in the last 25 years they have renewed their culture. This revival has an economic dimension. The government, honouring old promises embedded in the Treaty of Waitangi, is negotiating with Maori tribes to settle historic claims to resources including land, forests and fishing grounds.

For further information visit www.tpk.govt.nz , www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz , www.nzhistory.net.nz , www.maorieducation.org.nz , www.mch.govt.nz , www.tepapa.govt.nz , www.tokm.co.nz (external links).

The New Zealand Way of Life
As befit a do-it-yourself society, New Zealanders are great joiners. There's a lot of outdoors in New Zealand, and sports are a national passion with a community base. New Zealanders are players, not spectators . half of the population are paid-up members of sporting clubs. Rugby, once nearly a religion but now just an obsession, is the largest sport, with 200,000 players. The rituals of cricket are performed in summer. Hiking, skiing, sailing and fishing are popular pursuits. International sporting success (especially against Australia) is important to New Zealand . though they live on islands, they are not insular. For further information visit www.hillarysport.org.nz (external link).

Distance has always spurred curiosity. Two in three people in New Zealand read a newspaper every day. There are three national television networks (and CNN, naturally), and dozens of local radio stations. New Zealanders are dedicated travellers. No kiwi resume is complete without a reference to .OE., the overseas experience. of the world's great cities and their backpacker hotels that usually convinces the wanderer that New Zealand.s pastures are indeed greener. For further information visit www.npa.co.nz or www.nzonair.govt.nz (external link).

There are places with a higher standard of living than New Zealand, but few with a better quality of life. The air is fresh, the water is clean and even the larger cities retain the friendliness of smaller towns. Opportunity is accessible, adventure is encouraged and ambitions to get a good education, to start a business, to own a home (as 75% of New Zealanders do) are achievable. There is space to learn and time to experiment. Sir Edmund Hillary traversed the Southern Alps before he became the first man to climb Mt Everest. Peter Jackson made several films before The Lord of the Rings. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was trained as a classical vocalist at home before she became an international diva. Russell Coutts spent many years sailing around the bays of Auckland before he won the America.s Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

Government and Politics
New Zealand is a sovereign, democratic state. Laws are made in Parliament, and administered by an independent judiciary which upholds the basic rights, such as those to free speech and association. While the principles of New Zealand's politics are similar to those of the United States, the forms of its government differ. Unlike the United States, New Zealand is not a republic, nor does it have a federal system of government. Like Australia and Canada, it is a member of the British Commonwealth, and has a Governor-General, who represents the Queen, as its formal head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is leader of the majority party of coalition in the single-chamber House of Representatives. Ministers in the Cabinet, which is effectively the executive branch of government, are all elected members of parliament.

Government in New Zealand is relatively centralised and traditionally accessible. New Zealand is a small democracy where national concerns are virtually local issues, and politicians encounter scepticism that comes with familiarity. At the grassroots level. and in a place dotted with sheep that's literally much of the country- local councils provide many basic services. They also have planning powers and some jurisdiction over regional development.

For further information visit www.govt.nz , www.parliament.govt.nz , www.localgovtnz.co.nz (external links).

Economy
New Zealand has always been a trading nation a long way from its markets. Early on, New Zealanders learnt that distance demanded competence. Traditionally, New Zealand has been an efficient and innovative agricultural producer. The main themes of the country's economic history in the second half of last century have been its determination to surmount protectionist policies, diversify production and lately, to free the economy of unnecessary constraints and control.

Almost two decades ago New Zealand made a decisive turn away from regulation and towards competition. The Government has sold most of its commercial operations, privatised most of its interests in the transport and telecommunications industries, and deregulated the capital and labour markets. It has introduced business sector accounting and management practices into the public sector, halving the public service while increasing efficiency, in part by rewarding initiative. It has raised the historically low charges for social services, medicine and education to recover more of their true costs. It has removed controls on prices, wages and interest rates. It has scraped the barnacles of subsidies, tariffs and quotas from the economy. One symbol of the sleeker New Zealand economy is the unique rural phenomenon, the subsidy-free farmer.

The Government has determined that because distortions are damaging, the economy should perform truly, and because delusion is ultimately very costly, that it should be appraised honestly. The Government codified its commitment in the 1994 Fiscal Responsibility Act, which obliges it to explain fiscal policy objectives, report on progress towards them, and justify any departures from them. The Fiscal Responsibility Act makes it a statutory responsibility of the Government to reduce public debt and to ensure that public expenditure not exceed the state's income. 

In recent years the Government has focused on supporting the growth of innovative, knowledge-based New Zealand industries, based on solid research and educational strengths.  There has been particular emphasis on the growth of high-tech industries including information and communications technology, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.  Research has been boosted through the provision of additional funding and the formation of Centres of Research Excellence.  The need for early stage seed and venture capital has been addressed through the Venture Investment Fund.  "Beachheads" in serviced offices and mentoring facilities have been established offshore to assist companies in sectors like ICT and the Marine Industry to become internationally competitive.  There has been an emphasis generally on global connections and on foreign direct investment as a prime means of bringing to New Zealand the skills, finance and international connections needed for continuing development.  Targeted sectors range from forestry to film. 

For more information visit www.med.govt.nz , www.morst.govt.nz , www.knowledgewave.org.nz , www.nzvif.com , www.nzte.govt.nz , www.treasury.govt.nz , www.nzier.org.nz , www.maf.govt.nz (external links).

Investing in New Zealand
New Zealand approaches foreign investors as a good host should - it welcomes their arrival and does not impose too many restrictions on their activities. It offers a modern infrastructure, skilled workforce, and open and accessible government. The economy is adapted for long-term competitiveness and has one of the best standards of living of the industrialised nations. There are no formal impediments to investment. There are few fixed rules on the level of foreign equity interest in New Zealand enterprises and no restrictions on currency transfers or repatriation of profits. There are also no informal obstacles to surprise investors. New Zealand which has made strenuous efforts to rid its economy of distortions resulting from state intervention, is committed to facilitating investment but not to subsidising its stay.

The Overseas Investment Commission approves foreign investment proposals. Consent is usually required only if an investment exceeds NZ$10 million.

Anyone is free to purchase property in New Zealand, but there are some restrictions on the sale of rural and coastal land.

For more information visit www.oic.govt.nz (external link).

The role of Investment New Zealand is to encourage individuals and companies to invest in New Zealand and thereby further the country.s economic development. Investors can choose to go to many places; Investment New Zealand exists to tell them why they should go to New Zealand. The main reason, of course, is that there are many areas of coincident interest and many opportunities for mutual profit. Investment New Zealand can offer information about policies, practices and procedures. Its staff can advise about the various sectors of the New Zealand economy. Investment New Zealand is ideally placed to inform investors about current New Zealand events, conditions, trends and forecasts and to liase between American investors and New Zealand organisations. The government meets Investment New Zealand's operating costs. Its aim is to promote New Zealand, not any particular business.

Some minor changes to the New Zealand investment screening system have been announced. See: Changes to Foreign Investment Rules (external link).

These changes relax some of the thresholds for screening FDI proprosal but also increase monitoiring of FDI investment outcomes.

Filming in New Zealand
Until now, New Zealand has been one of the best-kept secrets in the film world. It's quite possibly the only place on earth where, within a few hours, you can move from sub-tropical rainforests to snowy alps, to lush green farmland, sandy beaches, craggy coastlines, high country sheep and cattle stations, citrus groves or the steel and glass towers of our major cities. We are the world in one country.

But it's not just our locations that are the attraction. New Zealanders by their nature are independent, creative, innovative and quick to embrace new technologies. These are qualities that are the hallmark of some of our better-known exports to the world film industry.

For information on filming in New Zealand please visit www.filmnz.com (external link).

Customs and Agricultural requirements on arrival in New Zealand.
Every person arriving in New Zealand must complete the arrival card handed out on the aircraft or ship. No vaccination certificates are required to enter New Zealand.

The New Zealand Customs Service has published general advice for travellers to New Zealand on their website, and also outlines restrictions on importing goods into New Zealand.

Animal and food products
Animal products, fruit, plant material or foodstuffs that could contain plant or animal pests and diseases may not be brought into New Zealand. Heavy fines will be imposed on people caught carrying these prohibited materials; it is suggested that visitors place any questionable items, particularly fruit, in the bins provided before approaching the immigration on arrival at a New Zealand airport.

Information concerning the importation of agricultural, horticultural or food items can be found at the MAF Quarantine Service website. All enquiries should also be directed to this agency.

You may also like to look at the Protect NZ website for further information/education in this area.

Duty-free Allowances
All information concerning duty free item allowances can be found at the The New Zealand Customs Service website

Taking Pets to New Zealand
Information concerning the requirements for taking pets to NZ can be found on the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) website. All enquires on the importation of animals to NZ should be directed to this agency.

You may also like to look at the MAF Quarantine Service website and the Protect NZ website for further information/education in this area.

For information concerning transportation and other logistics you may like to go to the
Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International, Inc website.