Map and Basic Statistics

Image Found Online @ http://kashifilyas.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-zealand-earhthquake-map.html

Wellington, New Zealand (Capital)
Longitude
41°19'S
Latitude
174°46'E
("Maps of World")

New Zealand's Population as of March 31,2011
4,403,000
(Bascand)

Climate
Spring - September, October, November; High 59, Low 48
Summer - December, January, February; High 68, Low 55
Autumn - March, April, May; High 63, Low 52
Winter - June, July, August; High 54, Low 43
Temperatures are all in Fahrenheit for Wellington
("New Zealand Tourism Guide ")


New Zealand's national bird is the kiwi, a flightless bird, which only resides in New Zealand("Kiwi Web").

Image Found Online @ http://www.chem.cmu.edu/groups/collins/about/kiwi.html

Works Cited

Bascand, Geoff. New Zealand. National Population Estimates: March 2011 quarter. Christchurch: , 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"Find Latitude and Longitude." Maps of World (2009): n. pag. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"New Zealand Climate, Weather, Temperatures and Seasons." New Zealand Tourism Guide . N.p., 2010. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"The Kiwi Bird ." Kiwi Web. N.p., 2008. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Flag and Currency

New Zealand National Flag

This became New Zealand's national flag in 1902. It was used prior to this year as early as 1869 only for government ships. The stars on the flag represent the constellation of crux, also known as the southern cross seen from New Zealand. The flag was designed based upon the British Union flag("New Zealand Tourism Guide").

Tino Rangatiratanga

This is the Maori flag of independence. Each color represents a different meaning for the Maori; black for potentiality, white for the physical world of light and understanding, red for open daylight, and the mixture of the colors together. The spiral in the middle (koru) represents the unfolding of new life("New Zealand Tourism Guide").

The Silver Fern

The silver fern flag is a symbol of New Zealand's national pride. Some people of New Zealand view this flag as their national flag as it represents their independence from the British ("New Zealand Tourism Guide").


All Flag Images Found Online @ http://www.33ff.com/flags/worldflags/New-Zealand_flag.html


New Zealand Currency

Image Found @ http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about/3621402.html

Image found online @ http://flagpedia.net/currency/dollar/new-zealand

$1.00 New Zealand Dollar = $0.81 U.S. Dollar
("CoinMill.com ")

Works Cited

"The New Zealand Flag." New Zealand Tourism Guide. N.p., 2010. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"The Currency Converter." CoinMill.com . N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Monuments and Landmarks

National War Monument
-National War Monument located in Wellington, New Zealand honors those who gave their lives in the South African, Korean, Vietnam, Malaysia, and World Wars("National War Memorial (New Zealand)").

Image Found Online @ http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=1410

Auckland War Memorial Museum
-This museum is the oldest museum in New Zealand first established in 1852. The Auckland War Memorial Museum houses three heritage libraries, collections of the Maori and the Pacific, art and educational services. There is limitless information of the history of New Zealand, its natural history and military history of the world("Auckland Museum").


Image Found Online @ http://travel.701panduan.com/art-culture.php?title=Tamaki+Paenga+Hira+-+Auckland+War+Memorial+Museum

Cathedral Square
-Located in the center of Christchurch, one of the most popular places to visit is Cathedral Square. This is the home of the Anglican Cathedral, many cafes, restaurants, outdoor chess gaming, shopping, street performances, a statue of John Robert Godley the founder of Christchurch and Canterbury, and a magnificiant sculpture of a pattern of 42 New Zealand's native leafs.
After the February 2011 Earthquake, much of Christchurch, New Zealand was damaged("Cathedral Square, Christchurch").

Image Found Online @ http://www.sioc.no/fotoalbum_christchurch_city_new_zealand/pages/DSCN7168_JPG.htm

One Tree Hill
-One Tree Hill located in Cornwall Park in Auckland, was first given its name by early European settlers because there was one single native New Zealand pine tree at the top of the hill. The tree was sacred to the Maori. The Maori associated the tree with umbilical cord that is cut from a baby, which is a important ceremony of their people.
The tree was cut down in 1852 by European workmen who were angry about the non-arrival of their rations.
The obelisk was erected in 1940 in honor of Sir John Logan Campbell who worked for the honor of the Maori and their rights. Campbell was also buried on the top of the hill(Jones).


Image Found Online @ http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=4601

Works Cited

"About Us." Auckland Museum. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"Cathedral Square, Christchurch." Wikipedia. July 13, 2011. Web. .

"National War Memorial (New Zealand)." Wikipedia. April 19 2011. Web. .

Jones, Martin. "One Tree Hill Obelisk." New Zealand Historic Places Trust. New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga, 21 08 2001. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Culture and History

History
According to the Maori belief, their ancestors traveled to New Zealand from an unknown place called Hawaiki. It is possible that Hawaiki is the present day Polynesian Islands. The Maori arrived in New Zealand over 1000 years ago. They traveled by canoe using the stars and the ocean's current as their navigation system("AcrossNZ.com").

In 1642 the first European explorer to encounter New Zealand and the Maori was Abel Janszoon Tasman from Holland. He never set foot on New Zealand's land, but according to history, the encounter ended up violent. Abel Janszoon Tasman from Holland charted part of New Zealand's coastline, and left soon after("New Zealand in History") .

It was not until another hundred years later that a British Explorer James Cook arrived in New Zealand. This was the exact same time that a French trading boat lead by Jean François Marie de Surville arrived in New Zealand. Neither ship knew the other person was there("New Zealand in History") .

Word spread quickly about New Zealand. Traders across the world were quick to take advantage of New Zealand's prime trade location and the superb climate("New Zealand in History") .

The Maori was constantly at war with the European settlers. It was not until 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and the British started to govern the land. William Hobson became New Zealand's the first Governor("New Zealand in History").

Culture

The Maori culture is highly respected and used throughout New Zealand. The ancestral Maori traditions were all passed down through the years orally. Nothing was ever documented. The Maori use both traditional and contemporary arts. The traditional arts come though wood carving, weaving, chants, tattoos, performances, and public speaking. Over the centuries, the Maori use contemporary arts such as music, theater, poetry, film, and modern art("AcrossNZ.com") .

The dominate language in New Zealand in English, but many people speak Maori. Most of the schools in New Zealand teach the Maori language and customs
("AcrossNZ.com") .

Here is a video that reveals the significance of the Maori Culture.




Customs

When a tourist visits a Maori person, it is custom to bring an unwrapped and inexpensive gift that provides the Maori information about the visitors homeland. This is also a sign of appreciation. The ceremonial tradition of greeting is the touching of noses(Wilson).


Maori Greeting
Image Found @ https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj332_LVZORDw6kUB54K3m6GgvthZXmCcQWMTIuk5fjKFjpzJZMK_opzBz6AfmB8EoiRrHmF_d-CsBlHnDKWuQ4RFRh9oi22kkRzUAF5dBF9TC1-QllbwEgo2sZ0ZdA3npEfyOEs01HoTA/s400/Tamaki+Hongi+New+RGB.jpg

Cuisine

The Maori's traditional way of preparing their food is using what they called a 'hangi', translated as 'Earth-oven'. Stones were heated by fire then placed in a hole. The Maori would then put a sealed basket of food over the stones and bury it all with sand. The food was left to cook for several hours. Both the Maori men and women would prepare the food. The men would traditionally remove the food from the Earth and serve it to the people(Wilson).
Prior to 1975, the main foods in New Zealand was mostly seafood, lamb, mutton birds, wild pork, bread, dairy, seasonal vegetables and kumara (sweet potato). Chicken was a delicacy. Since new trade regulations passed, New Zealand's cuisine is much more modern and diverse(Wilson).

Traditional Maori Hangi-Earth Oven
Image Found Online @http://www.flickr.com/photos/stendec/140231063/, July 20, 2011

Works Cited

"New Zealand Culture." AcrossNZ.com. Pacific Internet Travel, 2008. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"The history of New Zealand : a brief overview of the pre-historic, colonial and modern periods." New Zealand in History. N.p., 22 07 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Wilson, Peter J. "New Zealand." Countries and their Cultures. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Politics, Economy and Religion

Politics

The government system of New Zealand is very much the same as the United Kingdom. The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, and the Prime Minister is Helen Clark. The Prime Minister holds the power, but is assisted by a Cabinet. The Cabinet is the senior policy making body, and is the responsible party to the parliament. All functions of the monarchy is handled by the governor.
There is no written constitution, but New Zealand is fully a member of the Commonwealth act. New Zealand has a mixture of both the Treaty of Waitangi and the constitutional convents("AsiaRooms.com").

Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi is the agreement of peace and order that was first passed on February 6, 1840. The Maori gave the British Crown rights to the development of British Settlement. In return the Crown promises the Maori to full citizenship rights, and protection of the Maori's status and interest. The Maori were never satisfied with their rights because they were not compensated as the agreement said. The act was rewritten several times over the years, the latest being passed in 1975. This act gave the Maori more recognition and right to their land("Treaty of Waitangi").

Treaty Of Waitangi 1840
Image Found @http://www.xtimeline.com/__UserPic_Large/750/ELT200707222123158182931.JPG, July 20, 2011

Economy

The estimated Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in New Zealand is $101.685 billion. The Human Developmental Index (HDI) ranked New Zealand 20th in the world. New Zealand is dependent on trade, exporting 20% of their total agriculture. New Zealand also exports its horticulture, fishing, forestry, and wool.
New Zealand partnered with Australia in the "Closer Economic Relations" (CER), allowing free trade in most goods and services("AsiaRooms.com").

Religion

New Zealand has a very diverse religious society. Major cities in New Zealand house several different types of religious places of worship. The dominant religion of New Zealand in Christian. The native religion of the Maori is Ringatu and Ratana. Buddhist and Hindu religions are also in New Zealand (Encyclopedia of the Nations).

Works Cited

"New Zealand Economy and Politics." AsiaRooms.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"New Zealand - Religions ." Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"Treaty of Waitangi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 20 July 2011. Web. .

Travel Advice

Whenever you travel abroad, it is important that you educate yourself about the country you plan on visiting. It is also detrimental to take the necessary precautions to eliminate your chances of being a victim of a crime or a natural disaster.

Here are some tips for traveling to New Zealand:

- Before you leave to the airport to travel to or from New Zealand, check with the airport to make sure there has not been any delays on your flight. Delays happen often because of volcanic ash clouds.

- Pay extra close attention to weather reports prior to visiting remote areas in New Zealand. Treacherous weather comes quickly on these small islands, especially in the winter.

- When traveling it is helpful to invest in comprehensive travel and medical insurance. Particularly if you are planning on taking advantage of one of New Zealand's many recreational activities. It is also a good idea to make sure that the medical insurance covers medical air travel to transport you from New Zealand's many islands.

- Crime is lower in New Zealand compared to other countries. It is still important that tourists stay on the safe side by keeping their belongings secure. This includes travelers checks, passports, and credit cards. Most motels offer its customers lockers for such items.

- Before driving in New Zealand, educate yourself on the laws and regulations of the road. Motor insurance is not required in New Zealand, but private motor vehicle insurance is recommended.
Here is a link to New Zealand's road code:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/

- The ozone above New Zealand is thinner. Be sure that you use plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat.

- Asthma suffers are at a higher risk of having an attack, be sure to be better prepared and bring plenty of medication.

- Earthquakes are frequent in New Zealand. The most recent earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand at a magnitude of 6.3! Be sure to take quick action and follow the advice of local authorities if a natural disaster occurs.

Work Cited
Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Travel & living abroad. Wellington: , 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Places to Visit

Cape Reinga is a famous place to visit in New Zealand because it is the point where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean intersect. Cape Reinga is also a sacred site for the Maori people who believe that this is the location where the spirits enter the underworld. The name reinga translates from the Maori language as,"underworld" and it is also translated as, "e Rerenga Wairua', meaning "the leaping-off place of spirits"("Cape Reinga").

Works Cited
"Cape Reinga." Wikipedia. 21 07 2011. Web.


Cape Reinga Lighthouse
Image Found @ http://www.gulliverstravel.co.uk/RWC2011-north-island, July 18, 2011



Cape Reinga World Sign
Image Found @ http://www.new-zealand-pictures.co.nz/photo/cape-reinga-sign-post-northland-new-zealand-1089.htm, July 18, 2011

MUSEUMS
New Zealand has 11 different museums. These museums include the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology, Canterbury Museum, Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Otago Museum, Southland Museum and Art Gallery, The Colonial Cottage Museum, Wellington Cable Car Museum,National Transport & Toy Museum("List of Museums").
One that stands out is the Museum Of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. The name “Te Papa Tongarewa” is translated in the Maori language as, “the place of treasures of this land”. This museum was first established in 1865 as a Colonial Museum. After centuries of refining this into a Museum that offers its visitors a variety of information about New Zealand's art, history, Pacific Ocean, Maori, and the natural environment. There are educational programs for all ages, perfomances, exhibits, and guided tours("Museum of New Zealand") .

1865 Colonial Museum
Image Found @ http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/AboutUs/history/Pageshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif/default.aspx#1998


Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa new building built in 1998
Image Found @http://mrmkultureklub.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/te-papa-1.jpg

Works Cited

"List of museums." Wikipedia. 17 July 2011. Web. .

"About Te Papa." Museum of New Zealand. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

NATIONAL PARKS

New Zealand has many National Parks that are beautiful and well protected. Some of the National Parks are the Fiordland National Park, Abel National Park, Westland National Park, and Tongariro National Park("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-Fiordland National Park is the largest National Park in New Zealand and in the world. It has rainforests, mountains, thousands of waterfalls and home of the Milford and Doubtful Sound("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-Able Tasman National Park is New Zealand's smallest National Park. This offers its guests more of a private setting. The Maori lived on this white sandy beach's coastline for at least 500 years utilizing the marine life and rainforest for food("New Zealand Travel Guide").

Kayaking at Able Tasman National Park
Image Found @ http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/kayaking-in-the-abel-tasman.jpg

-Westland National Park is located on New Zealand's south island. Westland is especially unique because it is the only place in the world, outside of the polar regions, that has glaciers on the coast line. Another extraordinary fact is that the climate is warm most of the year("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-Tongariro National Park is one of the worlds oldest National Parks and is known for the regular erupting volcano. It is located in the Taupo region and is home of 3 volcanos which are Mt. Ruapehu, Mt. Tongariro, and Mt. Ngauruhoe. Mt. Ruapehu is the largest volcano on New Zealand's north island and has the most ski-fields in New Zealand("New Zealand Travel Guide").

MORE PLACES TO VISIT

-QUEENSTOWN
Queenstown is also named, "New Zealand's Adventure Capital. This is the location that you would want to visit if you want an adrenaline rush. There is bungee jumping, jet-boating, skiing, and many more activities that are listed below. Queenstown is also a great place to go shopping and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-ROTORUA
Rotorua is famous for the Whakareewa Thermal Reserve. There is constant volcanic activity, geysers, steaming hot pools, and mud pools. Activities that are popular here is trout fishing, and boating on one of 16 lakes in this region("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-BAY OF ISLANDS
There is a total of 144 islands in New Zealand's Bay of Islands. A tourist could take advantage of a cruise in order to witness the breathtaking views of white sand beaches, subtropic climate, and marine life including whales, dolphins, penguins, and marlin("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-MT. COOK
MT. Cook is located in the Canterbury region. It is also credited for being the tallest mountain in New Zealand reaching a height of 12,316 ft. Mt. Cook is home of the largest ski-run in the world("New Zealand Travel Guide").

-KAIKOURA
Kaikoura is located near Christchurch and is famous for its year around whale watching with a beautiful scenery of lakes and snow-capped mountains("New Zealand Travel Guide").

This travel blog photo's source is TravelPod page: KIWIS, CRAMPONS AND CREVASSES

-COROMANDEL
Coromandel is known for having hot water beaches. There is a river of hot water from the interior of the Earth that rises to the Pacific Ocean. Near the ocean, if you were to dig a hole in the gold and white beach sand, you can make your very own spa pool("Coromandel").

WORKS CITED

"Top 10 must see places." New Zealand Travel Guide. N.p., 10 11 2010. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

"Hot Water Beach." The Coromandel. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Activities

New Zealand is famous for its outdoor activities. In fact many famous sports were invented in New Zealand including river jet-boating, bungee jumping, and fly by water.
There are hundreds of other activities that both locals and tourist can enjoy. There is something for everyone. Here is a list of things to do in New Zealand.
Abseiling Waitomo, aerial sightseeing (helicopter and fixed-wing) bird watching, black water rafting (cave rafting), boat tours, canoeing and kayaking, canyoning, caving, climbing, fishing (trout, salmon, marlin, broadbill, sharks and many other salt-water species), four-wheel driving, gliding, golf, hang-gliding, hiking, horse trekking, hot-air ballooning, hunting (deer, wild pig, tahr, chamois, goat, wallabies, and game birds) ice-climbing, jet-skiing, kite surfing, luge (on concrete not ice), mountaineering, mountain biking, museums, nature tours, paragliding/parapenting, quad biking, rafting, rap jumping, rock climbing, rugby,sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling, sea kayaking, shark cage diving, skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, skydiving, surfing, swimming with dolphins and seals, whale watching, white water rafting, white water sledging, and windsurfing("Wikitravel") .

Work Cited
"New Zealand." Wikitravel. N.p., 19 07 2011. Web. 22 Jul 2011. .

Beautiful New Zealand

White Island, New Zealand. New Zealand's most active Volcano
Image Found @ http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/print/3165/islands-firehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif, July 16, 2011



Rotorua, New Zealand
Image Found Online @ http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-p544750-Rotorua_New_Zealand_-_Landscape.html,
July 16, 2011


Bay of Islands
Image Found Online @ http://www.tapeka.com/Bay_of_Islands.htmhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif,
July 16,2011


Auckland, New Zealand
Image Found Online @http://www.citypictures.org/r-australia-144-new-zeland-242-auckland-new-zealand-3406.htm, July 15, 2011



Tongariro Mountain
Image Found Online @ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0510/sports/new_zealand_trekking.html
, July 15, 2011


Image Found Online @ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/greentravel/3445915/New-Zealand-is-worlds-greenest-destination.html, July 15, 2011