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New Zealand

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

 consisting of two large islands and many much smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island Stewart Island/Rakiura

Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third largest island of New Zealand [i]. ... 

 and the Chatham Islands Chatham Islands

[i]s within a 40-[[kilometre|km]... 

. It is called Aotearoa in Maori Maori language

Maori or Te Reo Maori, commonly shortened to Te Reo is an official [i] la ... 

, which may be paraphrased as Land of the Long White Cloud. It is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

 to the northwest by the Tasman Sea Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia [i] and New Zealand [i], some 2000 kilometre [i] ... 

, some 2000 kilometres across. Its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia New Caledonia

New Caledonia, the foreshortened form of Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies , is a "sui generis [i] ... 

, Fiji Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation [i] in the South Pacific Ocean [i] ... 

, and Tonga Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, , is an independent archipelago [i] in the southern Pacific Ocean [i] ... 

. The population is mostly of European descent, with Maori Maori

The word Maori refers to the indigenous people [i] of New Zealand [i] and to their language [i] ... 

 being the largest minority.

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Timeline

181   The volcano associated with Lake Taupo Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is a lake [i] situated in the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i]. ... 

 in New Zealand erupts, one of the largest eruptions on Earth in the last 5,000 years. The effects of this eruption were seen as far away as Rome and China.

1642   Abel Tasman Abel Tasman

Abel Janszoon Tasman , was a Dutch [i] seafarer [i], explorer [i] a ... 

 achieves the first recorded European sighting of New Zealand.

1815   British missionaries arrive in New Zealand

1827   Shrigley Abduction: Ellen Turner, a wealthy heiress in Cheshire Cheshire

Cheshire is a county [i] in North West [i] England [i]. ... 

, England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 is abducted by Edward Gibbon Wakefield Edward Gibbon Wakefield

Edward Gibbon Wakefield was the driving force behind much of the early colonization of South Australia [i] ... 

, the future politician in colonial Colonialism

See colony [i] and colonisation [i] for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism. ... 

 New Zealand.

1840   British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 colonists reach New Zealand. Official founding date of Wellington Wellington

Wellington is the capital [i] of New Zealand [i], the country's second largest urban area [i] ... 

.

1840   Treaty of Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6 [i], 1840 [i] at Waitangi [i] in th ... 

, document granting British sovereignty in New Zealand, is signed.

1840   William Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand, suffers a stroke.

1842   New Zealand seat of government moves from Russell to Auckland Auckland

The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i], i ... 

1848   Province of Otago Otago

Otago is a region of New Zealand [i] in the south-east of the South Island [i]. ... 

 in New Zealand is founded.

1850   The first four sailing ships arrived at the Port of Lyttelton (New Zealand), with 792 emigrants or ''Canterbury Pilgrims'' as they called themselves. On this day they founded an exclusive theocratic Utopia Utopia

Utopia, in its most common and general positive meaning, refers to an imaginary, ideal civilizatio... 

, which they called Christchurch Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city [i] in the South Island [i] of New Zealand [i] and the third largest city [i] ... 

.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

 consisting of two large islands and many much smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island Stewart Island/Rakiura

Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third largest island of New Zealand [i]. ... 

 and the Chatham Islands Chatham Islands

[i]s within a 40-[[kilometre|km]... 

. It is called Aotearoa in Maori Maori language

Maori or Te Reo Maori, commonly shortened to Te Reo is an official [i] la ... 

, which may be paraphrased as Land of the Long White Cloud.

It is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

 to the northwest by the Tasman Sea Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia [i] and New Zealand [i], some 2000 kilometre [i] ... 

, some 2000 kilometres across. Its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia New Caledonia

New Caledonia, the foreshortened form of Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies , is a "sui generis [i] ... 

, Fiji Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation [i] in the South Pacific Ocean [i] ... 

, and Tonga Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, , is an independent archipelago [i] in the southern Pacific Ocean [i] ... 

.

The population is mostly of European descent, with Maori Maori

The word Maori refers to the indigenous people [i] of New Zealand [i] and to their language [i] ... 

 being the largest minority. Non-Maori Polynesian and Asia Asia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent [i] or region, depending on the definition.... 

n peoples are also significant minorities, especially in the cities.

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

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Elizabeth II is the Queen [i] of 16 independent sovereign [i] state [i] ... 

, as the Queen of New Zealand Monarchy in New Zealand

New Zealand [i] is a constitutional monarchy [i] and a Commonwealth Realm [i], with Queen Elizabeth II [i]... 

, is the Head of State Head of State

Head of State or Chief of State is the generic term for the individual or collective office that s... 

 and is represented, in her absence, by a non-partisan Governor-General Governor-General of New Zealand

The Governor-General [i] of New Zealand [i] is the representative of the New Zealand Monarch [i] ... 

; the Queen 'reigns but does not rule', so she has no real political influence. Political power is held by the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government in the democratically-elected Parliament of New Zealand Parliament of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand [i] and the New Zealand House of Representatives [i] ... 

. The Realm of New Zealand Realm of New Zealand

The Realm of New Zealand is the territory in which the Queen in right of New Zealand [i] ... 

 also includes the Cook Islands Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association [i] ... 

 and Niue Niue

Niue is an island nation [i] located in the South Pacific Ocean [i]. ... 

, which are self-governing, but in free association; Tokelau Tokelau

Tokelau is a non-self-governing colonial territory of New Zealand [i] that comprises a group of three tr ... 

; and the Ross Dependency Ross Dependency

The Ross Dependency comprises an area of Antarctica [i] claimed by New Zealand [i]. ... 

 .

History

New Zealand is one of the most recently settled major land masses. Polynesia Polynesia

Polynesia is a large grouping of over 1,000 island [i]s scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean [i]... 

n settlers arrived in their waka some time between the 13th century 13th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 13th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

 and the 15th century 15th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 15th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

 to establish the indigenous Indigenous peoples

The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition.... 

 Maori Maori

The word Maori refers to the indigenous people [i] of New Zealand [i] and to their language [i] ... 

 culture Maori culture

:* Hei-tiki [i]:* Maori [i]:* Maori influence on New Zealand English [i]:* Maori language [i]:* Maori religion [i]... 

. New Zealand's Maori Maori language

Maori or Te Reo Maori, commonly shortened to Te Reo is an official [i] la ... 

 name, Aotearoa, is usually translated as "Land of the long white cloud", reputedly referring to the cloud the explorers saw on the horizon as they approached. Settlement of the Chatham Islands Chatham Islands

[i]s within a 40-[[kilometre|km]... 

 to the east of the mainland produced the Moriori people, but it is disputed whether they moved there from New Zealand or elsewhere in Polynesia. Most of New Zealand was divided into tribal territories called rohe, resources within which were controlled by an iwi . Maori Maori

The word Maori refers to the indigenous people [i] of New Zealand [i] and to their language [i] ... 

 adapted to eating the local marine resources, flora and fauna for food, hunting the giant flightless moa Moa

Moa were giant flightless bird [i]s native to New Zealand [i].... 

 , and ate the Polynesian Rat and kumara Sweet potato

The sweet potato is a crop [i] plant [i] whose large, starch [i]y, sweet-tasting tuberous root [i]... 

 , which they introduced to the country.

The first European Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

s known to have reached New Zealand were led by Abel Janszoon Tasman Abel Tasman

Abel Janszoon Tasman , was a Dutch [i] seafarer [i], explorer [i] a ... 

, who sailed up the west coasts of the South and North Islands in 1642. He named it Staten Landt, believing it to be part of the land Jacob Le Maire had seen in 1616 off the coast of Chile Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America [i] occupying a long coast ... 

. Staten Landt appeared on Tasman's first maps of New Zealand, but this was changed by Dutch Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

 cartographers Cartography

Cartography or mapmaking is the study and practice of making map [i]s or globe [i]s. ... 

 to Nova Zeelandia, after the Dutch province of Zeeland Zeeland

[i], is a province of the [[Netherlands]... 

, some time after Hendrik Brouwer Hendrik Brouwer

Hendrick Brouwer was a Dutch [i] sea explorer. ... 

 proved the supposedly South American land to be an island in 1643. The Latin Latin

Latin is an ancient Indo-European language [i] originally spoken in Latium [i], ... 

 Nova Zeelandia became Nieuw Zeeland in Dutch Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic [i] language [i] spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands [i] ... 

. Captain James Cook James Cook

Captain [i] James Cook, FRS [i], RN [i] was an English [i] explorer, navigator [i]... 

 subsequently called the archipelago New Zealand , although the Maori names he recorded for the North and South Islands were rejected, and the main three islands became known as North, Middle and South, with the Middle Island being later called the South Island, and the earlier South Island becoming Stewart Island. Cook began extensive surveys of the islands in 1769, leading to European whaling Whaling

Whaling refers to the practice, history and industries associated with the hunting and killing of whales [i] ... 

 expeditions and eventually significant European colonisation. From as early as the 1780s, Maori had encounters with European sealers and whalers. Acquisition of musket Musket

A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smoothbore [i] long gun [i], which its user generally fires from the should... 

s by those iwi in close contact with European visitors destabilised the existing balance of power between Maori tribes and there was a temporary but intense period of bloody inter-tribal warfare, known as the Musket Wars, which ceased only when all iwi were so armed.


Concerned about the exploitation of Maori by Europeans, the British Colonial Office appointed James Busby as British Resident to New Zealand in 1832. In 1834, Busby convened the United Tribes of New Zealand United Tribes of New Zealand

The United Tribes of New Zealand was a loose confederation of Maori tribes based in the north of the North Island [i] ... 

 to select a flag and declare their independence, which led to the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand

The Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand is a proclamation of the sovereign [i] independence [i] ... 

. This declaration did not allay the fears of the Church Missionary Society, who continued lobbying for British annexation. Increasing French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 interest in the region led the British to annex New Zealand by Royal Proclamation in January 1840. To legitimise the British annexation, Lieutenant Governor William Hobson had been dispatched in 1839; he hurriedly negotiated the Treaty of Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6 [i], 1840 [i] at Waitangi [i] in th ... 

 with northern iwi on his arrival. The Treaty was signed in February, and in recent years it has come to be seen as the founding document of New Zealand. The Maori translation of the treaty promised the Maori tribes "tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga

The most contentious phrase from the Treaty of Waitangi [i], tino rangatiratanga has become somethin ... 

" would be preserved in return for ceding kawanatanga, which the English version translates as "chieftainship" and "sovereignty"; the real meanings are now disputed. Disputes over land sales and sovereignty caused the New Zealand land wars New Zealand land wars

The term New Zealand Wars, once called the Maori Wars, or sometimes The Land Wars, refers to... 

, which took place between 1845 and 1872. In 1975 the Treaty of Waitangi Act established the Waitangi Tribunal, charged with hearing claims of Crown violations of the Treaty of Waitangi. Some Maori tribes and the Moriori never signed the treaty.


New Zealand was initially administered as a part of the colony of New South Wales New South Wales

New South Wales is Australia [i]'s most populous state [i], located ... 

, and it became a separate colony in November 1840. The first capital was Okiato or old Russell Russell, New Zealand

Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement and sea port in... 

 in the Bay of Islands Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland region [i] of the North Island [i] ... 

 but it soon moved to Auckland Auckland

The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i], i ... 

. European settlement progressed more rapidly than anyone anticipated, and settlers soon outnumbered Maori. Self-government was granted to the settler population in 1852. There were political concerns following the discovery of gold Gold

Gold is a highly sought-after precious metal [i] that for many centuries has been used as money [i], a store of value [i] ... 

 in Central Otago in 1861 that the South Island would form a separate colony, so in 1865 the capital was moved to the more central city of Wellington Wellington

Wellington is the capital [i] of New Zealand [i], the country's second largest urban area [i] ... 

. New Zealand was involved in a Constitutional Convention in March 1891 in Sydney Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia [i] with a metropolitan area [i] population of over 4.2 m ... 

, New South Wales New South Wales

New South Wales is Australia [i]'s most populous state [i], located ... 

, along with the Australian colonies. This was to consider a potential constitution for the proposed federation Federation

A federation is a union [i] comprised of a number of partially self-governing states or ... 

 between all the Australasia Australasia

Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region [i] of Oceania [i] namely Australia [i], New Zealand [i] ... 

n colonies. New Zealand lost interest in joining Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

 in a federation following this convention.

In 1893 New Zealand became the first nation to grant women the right to vote on the same basis as men; however, women were not eligible to stand for parliament until 1919.

New Zealand became an independent dominion on 26 September 1907, by Royal Proclamation. Full independence was granted by the United Kingdom Parliament Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body [i] ... 

 with the Statute of Westminster in 1931; it was taken up upon the Statute's adoption by the New Zealand Parliament Parliament of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand [i] and the New Zealand House of Representatives [i] ... 

 in 1947. Since then New Zealand has been a sovereign constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association [i] of ... 

.

In 1951, Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

, New Zealand and the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 formally became allies with the signing of the ANZUS Treaty. In 1985, New Zealand declared itself a nuclear-free zone Nuclear-free zone

A nuclear-free zone is an area where nuclear weapons [i] and/or nuclear power [i] are banned. ... 

. As a result, US warships Warship

A warship is a ship [i] that is built and primarily intended for war [i]. ... 

 could no longer enter New Zealand ports without declaring themselves to be free of nuclear weapons or power. As such a declaration would be against US Government policy, effectively the ships were banned from New Zealand. The United States suspended its obligations to New Zealand under the ANZUS Treaty.

Government


New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy Constitutional monarchy

A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical [i] government [i] established under a constitution [i] ... 

 with a parliamentary democracy Parliamentary system

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A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government [i] ... 

. Under the New Zealand Royal Titles Act , Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

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Elizabeth II is the Queen [i] of 16 independent sovereign [i] state [i] ... 

 is Queen of New Zealand Monarchy in New Zealand

New Zealand [i] is a constitutional monarchy [i] and a Commonwealth Realm [i], with Queen Elizabeth II [i]... 

 and is represented as head of state Head of State

Head of State or Chief of State is the generic term for the individual or collective office that s... 

 by the Governor-General Governor-General of New Zealand

The Governor-General [i] of New Zealand [i] is the representative of the New Zealand Monarch [i] ... 

, Anand Satyanand Anand Satyanand

Anand "Satch" Satyanand, PCNZM [i] is the Governor-General of New Zealand [i] ... 

.

New Zealand is the only country in the world in which all the highest offices in the land have been occupied simultaneously by women, between March 2005 and August 2006 - The Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

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Elizabeth II is the Queen [i] of 16 independent sovereign [i] state [i] ... 

 of New Zealand, Governor-General Governor-General

A Governor-General is most generally a governor [i] of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above ... 

 Dame Silvia Cartwright Silvia Cartwright

Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, PCNZM [i], DBE [i], ... 

, Prime Minister Helen Clark Helen Clark

Helen Elizabeth Clark is the Prime Minister of New Zealand [i]. ... 

, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand House of Representatives

The New Zealand House of Representatives is the legislature [i] of New Zealand [i]. ... 

 Margaret Wilson Margaret Wilson

Margaret Wilson could also refer to a writer [i], or a tennis player [i]
... 

 and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias.

The New Zealand Parliament Parliament of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand [i] and the New Zealand House of Representatives [i] ... 

 has only one chamber Unicameralism

Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliament [i]ary chamber. ... 

, the House of Representatives New Zealand House of Representatives

The New Zealand House of Representatives is the legislature [i] of New Zealand [i]. ... 

, which usually seats 120 Members of Parliament. Parliamentary general elections New Zealand elections

Members of New Zealand [i]'s House of Representatives [i], commonly called "Parliament [i] ... 

 are held every three years under a form of proportional representation called Mixed Member Proportional Mixed member proportional representation

Mixed member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional representation and... 

. The 2005 General Election New Zealand general election, 2005

The 2005 New Zealand general election took place on 17 September [i] 2005 [i] and determined the composi ... 

 created an 'overhang' of one extra seat , due to that party winning more seats in constituencies than the number of seats its proportion of the party vote would have given it.


There is no written constitution New Zealand constitution

The constitution of New Zealand consists of a collection of statutes, Treaties, Orders-in-Council [i] ... 

: the Constitution Act 1986 New Zealand Constitution Act 1986

The Constitution Act of 1986 is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's Constitution.
... 

is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitutional structure. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council, which is a formal committee consisting of all ministers of the Crown. Members of the Executive Council are required to be Members of Parliament, and most are also in Cabinet New Zealand Cabinet

The New Zealand Cabinet functions as the policy and decision-making body of the New Zealand [i] governme ... 

. Cabinet is the most senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister, who is also, by convention, the Parliamentary leader of the governing party or coalition.

The current Prime Minister is Helen Clark Helen Clark

Helen Elizabeth Clark is the Prime Minister of New Zealand [i]. ... 

, leader of the Labour Party New Zealand Labour Party

The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand [i] political party. ... 

. She is serving her third term as Prime Minister. On 17 October 2005 she announced that she had come to a complex arrangement that guaranteed the support of enough parties for her Labour-led coalition to govern. The formal coalition consists of the Labour Party and Jim Anderton Jim Anderton

The Honourable [i] James Patrick Anderton, almost always referred to as Jim Anderton, is leader of ... 

, the Progressive Party New Zealand Progressive Party

The Progressive Party is a political party [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

's only MP. In addition to the parties in formal coalition, New Zealand First New Zealand First

New Zealand First functions as a political party [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

 and United Future United Future New Zealand

United Future New Zealand is a political party [i] in the New Zealand [i] parliament [i] ... 

 provide confidence and supply in return for their leaders being ministers outside cabinet. A further arrangement has been made with the Green Party, which has given a commitment not to vote against the government on confidence and supply. This commitment assures the government of a majority of seven MPs on confidence.

The Leader of the Opposition is National Party New Zealand National Party

The New Zealand National Party currently [i] forms the second-largest political party [i] rep ... 

 leader Don Brash Don Brash

Dr Donald Thomas Brash, New Zealand [i] politician, has served as the Leader of the Opposition [i] ... 

, formerly Governor of the Reserve Bank. The ACT party ACT New Zealand

ACT New Zealand is a free market [i] liberal party [i] in the New Zealand Parliament [i] ... 

 and the Maori Party Maori Party

The Maori Party, a political party [i] in New Zealand [i] based around Maori [i] citizens, formed around... 

 are both also in opposition. The Greens, New Zealand First and United Future all vote against the government on some legislation.

Major political parties:
  • Labour Party New Zealand Labour Party

    The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand [i] political party. ... 

  • National Party New Zealand National Party

    The New Zealand National Party currently [i] forms the second-largest political party [i] rep ... 




Minor political parties :
  • ACT New Zealand ACT New Zealand

    ACT New Zealand is a free market [i] liberal party [i] in the New Zealand Parliament [i] ... 

  • Green Party Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

    The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party [i] in the New Zealand [i] parliament [i] ... 

  • Jim Anderton's Progressive Party New Zealand Progressive Party

    The Progressive Party is a political party [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

  • Maori Party Maori Party

    The Maori Party, a political party [i] in New Zealand [i] based around Maori [i] citizens, formed around... 

  • New Zealand First New Zealand First

    New Zealand First functions as a political party [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

  • United Future United Future New Zealand

    United Future New Zealand is a political party [i] in the New Zealand [i] parliament [i] ... 




The highest court in New Zealand is the Supreme Court of New Zealand Supreme Court of New Zealand

The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court in the land and the court of last resort [i] in New Zealand [i] ... 

, which was established in 2004 following the passage of the Supreme Court Act 2003. The Act abolished the option to appeal Court of Appeal rulings to the Privy Council in London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

. The current Chief Justice is Dame Sian Elias. New Zealand's judiciary also includes the High Court, which deals with serious criminal offences and civil matters, and the Court of Appeal Court of Appeal of New Zealand

The Court of Appeal of New Zealand, located in Wellington [i], is New Zealand [i]s principal intermediat ... 

, as well as subordinate courts.

Foreign relations and the military

New Zealand maintains a strong profile on environmental protection, human rights Human rights

Human rights refers to the concept of human beings [i] as having universal rights [i], or status, regard ... 

 and free trade, particularly in agriculture Agriculture

Farming redirects here. For Farming in computer games, see Farmer [i].
... 

.

New Zealand is a member of the following geo-political organisations: APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

| align="center" colspan="2" | |-
... 

, East Asia Summit East Asia Summit

The East Asia Summit is a pan-Asia [i] forum to be held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in East Asia [i] ... 

, Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association [i] of ... 

, OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organisation [i] of those ... 

 and the United Nations United Nations

name = United Nations
Nations Unies
... 

. It has signed up to a number of free trade agreements, of which the most important is Closer Economic Relations with Australia.

For its first hundred years, New Zealand followed the United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

's lead on foreign policy. "Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand", said Prime Minister Michael Savage, in declaring war on Germany Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 on 3 September 1939. However New Zealand came under the influence of the United States of America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 for the generation following the war .

New Zealand has traditionally worked closely with Australia, whose foreign policy followed a similar historical trend. In turn, many Pacific Islands such as Western Samoa Samoa

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country comprising a group of islands [i] ... 

 have looked to New Zealand's lead. The American influence on New Zealand was weakened by the disappointment with the Vietnam War Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam [i] and its al ... 

, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior by France, and by disagreements over environmental and agricultural trade issues and New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.

New Zealand is a party to the ANZUS security treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In February 1985 New Zealand refused nuclear-powered Nuclear power

Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions [i] to release energy for work including propulsion [i] ... 

 or nuclear-armed Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

 ships access to its ports. In 1986 the United States announced that it was suspending its treaty security obligations to New Zealand pending the restoration of port access. The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987 prohibits the stationing of nuclear weapons on the territory of New Zealand and the entry into New Zealand waters of nuclear armed or propelled ships. This legislation remains a source of contention and the basis for the United States' continued suspension of treaty obligations to New Zealand.

In addition to the various wars between iwi, and between the British settlers and iwi, New Zealand has fought in the Second Boer War Second Boer War

The Second Boer War, also known as the South African War , the Anglo-Boer War and in [[Afrikaans]... 

, World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

, World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

, the Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

, the Malayan Emergency , the Vietnam War Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam [i] and its al ... 

, the Gulf War Gulf War

The Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq [i] and a coalition [i] force of approximately 20 nations led b... 

 and the Afghanistan War, and briefly sent a unit of army engineers to help with rebuilding Iraq Iraq

The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle East [i]ern country [i] in southwestern Asia [i] encomp ... 

i infrastructure.

The New Zealand military has three branches: the New Zealand Army New Zealand Army

The New Zealand [i] Army
... 

, the Royal New Zealand Navy Royal New Zealand Navy

The Royal New Zealand Navy is the navy [i] of New Zealand [i].... 

, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air force [i] arm of the New Zealand Defence Force [i]... 

. New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest; it dismantled its air combat capability in 2001. New Zealand has contributed forces to recent regional and global peacekeeping missions, including those in Cyprus Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasia [i]n island nation [i] in the eastern pa ... 

, Somalia Somalia

Somalia , formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal nation at the Horn of Africa [i] ... 

, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan [i] peninsula of southern Europe [i] with an a ... 

, the Sinai Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangle-shaped peninsula [i] lying between the Mediterranean Sea [i] ... 

, Angola Angola

Angola is a country in south-west Africa [i] bordering Namibia [i], the Democratic Republic of the Congo [i] ... 

, Cambodia Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia [i] with a population of more than 13 million. ... 

, the Iran Iran


Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

/Iraq Iraq

The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle East [i]ern country [i] in southwestern Asia [i] encomp ... 

 border, Bougainville Bougainville

*Louis Antoine de Bougainville [i]
... 

 and East Timor East Timor

East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia [i] co ... 

.

Local government and external territories


The early European settlers divided New Zealand into provinces Provinces of New Zealand

(For the current top-level subdivision of New Zealand, see Regions of New Zealand [i])
... 

. These were abolished in 1876 so that government could be centralised, for financial reasons. As a result, New Zealand has no separately represented subnational entities such as provinces, states or territories, apart from its local government. The spirit of the provinces however still lives on, and there is fierce rivalry exhibited in sporting and cultural events. Since 1876, local government has administered the various regions of New Zealand. In 1989, the government completely reorganised local government, implementing the current two-tier structure of regional councils Regions of New Zealand

Region [i] is the formal term for the top tier of local government [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

 and territorial authorities.

Today New Zealand has 12 regional councils for the administration of environmental and transport matters and 74 territorial authorities that administer roading, sewerage, building consents, and other local matters. The territorial authorities are 16 city councils, 57 district councils, and the Chatham Islands County Council. Four of the territorial councils and the Chatham Islands County Council also perform the functions of a regional council and thus are known as unitary authorities. Territorial authority districts are not subdivisions of regional council districts, and a few of them straddle regional council boundaries.

Regions Regions of New Zealand

Region [i] is the formal term for the top tier of local government [i] in New Zealand [i]. ... 

 are : Northland, Auckland Auckland

The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i], i ... 

, Waikato Waikato

Waikato is the name of a region in the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i]. ... 

, Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty

The Bay of Plenty, often abbreviated to BoP, is a region of New Zealand [i] situated around the bo ... 

, Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand

Gisborne is the name of a unitary authority in New Zealand [i], named after an early Colonial Secretary... 

*, Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is a region [i] of New Zealand [i]. ... 

, Taranaki Taranaki

Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand [i]'s North Island [i], and a mountain of the same name... 

, Manawatu-Wanganui Manawatu-Wanganui

Manawatu-Wanganui is a region situated in the lower half of the North Island [i] of New Zealand [i], aro ... 

, Wellington Wellington Region

The Wellington region [i] of New Zealand [i] occupies the southern end of ... 

, Marlborough Marlborough, New Zealand

Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand [i], located in the nort ... 

*, Nelson Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson stands on the southern corner of Tasman Bay [i], on the northern end of the South Island [i] of New Zealand [i] ... 

*, Tasman Tasman, New Zealand

[i]
... 

*, West Coast West Coast, New Zealand

The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand [i], l ... 

, Canterbury Canterbury, New Zealand

The New Zealand region [i] of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury