A small country with a population of just four and a half million, New Zealand (Aotearoa) is composed of two main islands, the North and the South Islands, separated by a strip of ocean known as Cook Strait. There are a number of smaller islands, including Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands in the south and west and Great Barrier and Waiheke Islands in the north. English is the official language.
New Zealand offers breathtaking scenery the length and breadth of the country. Visitors will delight in the huge variety they can experience in New Zealand. This ranges from the pohutukawa-fringed white sandy beaches and abundant marine life of the Far North and the bubbling mudpools and thermal geysers of Rotorua, to the snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear rivers and alpine fiords and glaciers of the South Island.
New Zealand is a paradise for a vast array of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, diving, golfing, trekking, caving, bungy jumping, abseiling, jetboating, kayaking, skiing, paragliding and white water rafting – you name it! Everything is accessible and do-able.
New Zealanders have a reputation as friendly, helpful and hospitable people with a ‘can-do’ attitude. Although most New Zealanders are of European descent, the country’s melting pot of nationalities include a strongly Polynesian and Asian-influenced culture in Auckland. Indigenous Maori make up 15 per cent of the population and are a powerful living culture and partners in New Zealand society.
For culture lovers, there is an abundance of highly collectible art and craft and a lively theatre and dance scene. The capital city Wellington, in the lower North Island, is home to Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, and to the legendary Weta Workshop, which provided the special effects for the Lord of the Rings. Remnants of the famous original Hobbiton movie set featured in the trilogy have been preserved and can be visited in the Waikato, south of Auckland.
