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About
New Zealand
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New
Zealand, about 1,250 mi (2,012 km) southeast of Australia,
consists of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying
islands so scattered that they range from the tropical to
the antarctic. The country is the size of Colorado. |
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New Zealand's two main components are the North Island and
the South Island, separated by Cook Strait. The North Island
(44,281 sq mi; 115,777 sq km) is 515 mi (829 km) long and
volcanic in its south-central part. This area contains many
hot springs and beautiful geysers. South Island (58,093 sq
mi; 151,215 sq km) has the Southern Alps along its west coast,
with Mount Cook (12,316 ft; 3754 m) the highest point. Other
inhabited islands include Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands,
and Great Barrier Island. The largest of the uninhabited outlying
islands are the Auckland Islands (234 sq mi; 606 sq km), Campbell
Island (44 sq mi; 114 sq km), the Antipodes Islands (24 sq
mi; 62 sq km), and the Kermadec Islands (13 sq mi; 34 sq km).
Maoris were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving
on the islands in about 1000. Maori oral history maintains
that the Maoris came to the island in seven canoes from other
parts of Polynesia. In 1642, New Zealand was explored by Abel
Tasman, a Dutch navigator. British captain James Cook made
three voyages to the islands, beginning in 1769. Britain formally
annexed the islands in 1840.
The Treaty of Waitangi (Feb. 6, 1840) between the British
and several Maori tribes promised to protect Maori land if
the Maoris recognized British rule. Encroachment on the land
by British settlers was relentless, however, and skirmishes
between the two groups intensified.
From the outset, the country has been in the forefront in
instituting social welfare legislation. New Zealand was the
world's first country to give women the right to vote (1893).
It adopted old-age pensions (1898); a national child welfare
program (1907); social security for the elderly, widows, and
orphans, along with family benefit payments; minimum wages;
a 40-hour workweek and unemployment and health insurance (1938);
and socialized medicine (1941).
New Zealand fought with the Allies in both world wars as well
as in Korea. In 1999, it became part of the UN peacekeeping
force sent to East Timor.
In recent years, New Zealand has introduced extremely liberal
social policies. In June 2003, Parliament legalized prostitution
60–59, and in Dec. 2004, same-sex unions were recognized
and given the same rights as married couples.
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The
People
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New
Zealand — The People - Today, New Zealanders are largely
sophisticated and highly educated urban dwellers. Members
of a unique and vibrant multicultural society, New Zealanders
are embracing 21st century technology and culture in record
numbers.
But New Zealanders also have a background of quiet but rugged
individualism, self-reliance, and a genius for invention —
qualities still evident in the population today.
Unique in the World - New Zealand has a diverse
population — but with some uniting features that make
it unique in the world. Our relatively isolated South Pacific
location and rugged landscapes still makes many New Zealanders
quiet and independent, yet resourceful and self-reliant, with
a famous ‘Kiwi ingenuity’.
Early Voyagers - Over four hundred years
before Christopher Columbus and the rest of Europe worried
about falling off the edge of the world, the first New Zealanders,
the Maori, voyaged thousands of miles across the vast unknown
Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes. In order to reach
New Zealand, these brave adventurers developed their own navigation
system using the stars and the currents.
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Rugged Pioneers - New Zealand’s European
pioneers were also brave, rugged and independent. Before establishing
farms and settlements, they had to first clear the land —
a painstaking and sometimes dangerous activity. Their isolation
and exposure to the elements forced these early New Zealanders
to become hardy and multi-skilled. This resourcefulness and
ingenuity has greatly contributed to the New Zealand character.
The same qualities can be seen today in the new pioneers —
a generation of young Kiwi business executives, computer software
builders, film-makers, fashion designers, and sportspeople
making waves around the world.
Backyard Genius - Since before Sir Ernest
Rutherford ‘split’ the atom early in the twentieth
century, Kiwis have been discovering and inventing things.
Many of these inventions have literally been created in a
backyard. While frozen meat, the Hamilton Jet boat, and the
bungy jump are probably our most famous Kiwi inventions, there
are many others. New Zealanders are also responsible for the
tranquilliser gun, seismic ‘base’ isolators (rubber
and lead blocks which minimise earthquake damage), electric
fences, the fastest motorbike in the world, freezer vacuum
pumps, stamp vending machines, wide-toothed shearing combs,
and the electronic petrol pump — to name a few!
Outdoor People - New Zealand has a low population
density and spectacular scenery. As a result, many New Zealanders
have a love of their landscape and the outdoors. Hiking, mountaineering,
and kayaking are enjoyed by many New Zealanders, while many
more will explore their landscape with a trip to the beach
or a bush walk. They are following in the footsteps of perhaps
the most adventurous Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered
Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in 1953.
Water Passion - With so many coastlines,
it is little wonder New Zealanders love the water. Since Kupe,
the first explorer to reach New Zealand, made landfall in
the far north of the country over a thousand years ago, New
Zealanders have had a passion for ocean-going craft. New Zealanders
were at the forefront of yacht design and racing during much
of the 20th century, and continued their dominance into this
century by winning and retaining the prestigious America’s
Cup. New Zealanders have also won many Olympic medals for
yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and rowing.
Fair Go Mate - Tempering the rugged individualism
of New Zealanders is a strong egalitarian streak and a sense
of fair play and teamwork. This may be partly due to the co-operative
‘whanau’ (extended family) structure of Maori
society, as well as the make-up of early Pakeha (Europeans)
society. Many European immigrants came to New Zealand to escape
the class system. A small population meant co-operation was
vital for survival. The artificial class structures of ‘home’
became irrelevant in such a rugged and young country. New
Zealand was also one of the earliest countries to grant women
the right to vote and has a strong trade union tradition.
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| Education |
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New Zealand has a reputation as a provider of quality education
offering excellent study opportunities and support services
in a safe learning environment. It is fast becoming a popular
choice for international students seeking high quality education
away from home.
Academic, profession and vocation studies are offered at universities,
polytechnics, colleges of education, secondary schools and
private training establishments.
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A number of English Language Institutes and private English
Language Schools are also throughout the country.
New Zealand's national education system is based on the British
system. Research
indicates New Zealand students are ranked amongst the top
in the world academically.
All New Zealand's international student education providers
are required to be signatories to the Code of Practice for
the Pastoral Care of International Students. The code is a
document introduced in 2002 designed to ensure all signatories
provide a high standard of pastoral care to meet the needs
of international students studying in New Zealand. See the
Ministry of Education Web site to view more information on
the code.
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