Country Profile: New Zealand

Last reviewed: 25 September 2008

Country information

Map of New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 268,680 sq km (103,737 sq miles)
Population: 4.26 million (April 2008)
Capital City: Wellington
People: New Zealand European, Maori, other European, Pacific Islander, Asian
Languages: English, Maori
Religions: Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Major Political Parties: ACT, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Maori Party, New Zealand National Party, New Zealand First Party, New Zealand Labour Party, United Future New Zealand, New Zealand Progressive Party.
Government: Unicameral House of Representatives - (commonly called Parliament)
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister: Rt Hon Helen Clark (since 10 December 1999)
Foreign Minister: Rt Hon Helen Clark is acting Foreign Minister
Membership of international groups/organisations: Security Treaty between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Asian Development Bank (AsDB), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (dialogue partner), Australia Group, Commonwealth, Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Maritime Satellite Organisation (INMARSAT), International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (INTELSAT), International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) (observer), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Pacific Island Forum (PIF), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Secretariat Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (SPARTECA), United Nations (UN), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Heritage Committee, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Trade Organisation (WTO)