New Zealand
Aotearoa  (Māori)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "God Defend New Zealand"
"God Save the Queen"1
 

 
Capital Wellington
41°17′S 174°27′E / -41.283, 174.45
Largest city Auckland2
Official languages English (98%)3
Māori (4.2%)3
NZ Sign Language (0.6%)3
Demonym New Zealander, Kiwi (colloquial)
Government Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy
 -  Head of State HM Queen Elizabeth II
 -  Governor-General Anand Satyanand
 -  Prime Minister Helen Clark
Independence from the United Kingdom 
 -  Dominion 26 September 19074 
 -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931 (adopted 25 November 1947 ) 
 -  Constitution Act 1986 13 December 1986 
Area
 -  Total 268,680 kmē (75th)
103,738 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 2.1
Population
 -  December 2007 estimate 4,268,0005 (122nd (2008))
 -  2006 census 4,143,2796 
 -  Density 15/kmē (204th)
39/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2008 IMF estimate
 -  Total $117.696 billion7 (58th)
 -  Per capita $27,785 (28th)
GDP (nominal) 2008 IMF estimate
 -  Total $128.071 billion8 (53rd)
 -  Per capita $30,234 (27th)
Gini (1997) 36.2 (medium) 
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.943 (high) (19th)
Currency New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Time zone NZST9 (UTC+12)
 -  Summer (DST) NZDT (UTC+13)
  (Sep to Apr)
Internet TLD .nz10
Calling code +64

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, which is commonly translated into English as The Land of the Long White Cloud. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing but in free association; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. During its long isolation New Zealand developed a distinctive fauna dominated by birds, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.

The population is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Māori being the largest minority. Asians and non-Maori Polynesians are also significant minorities, especially in the cities. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New Zealand, is the Head of State and, in her absence, is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. The Queen 'reigns but does not rule.' She has no real political influence, and her position is essentially symbolic. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government.