About New Zealand

All on NZ: population, geography

New Zealand is located in the South Pacific, (ca. 2000 km east of Australia, and 19 000 km from Europe). By plane, Auckland is about 3 hours away from Sydney, 14 hours from San Francsico and 24 hours from London or other places in Europe.

POPULATION

New Zealand’s Capital is Wellington, with a population of 360 000 people. The biggest city is Auckland with more than 1 300 000 people. More than 12% off them are originally from the Pacific Islands, which makes Auckland the biggest Polynesian city in the world. The total population of NZ went up to 4.3 million in march 2009.
The majority are “Pakehas” (Caucasians with origins in Europe). They make up around 80% of the population. Maoris (the original inhabitants of NZ) represent, nowadays, approx. 15% of the population.

GEOGRAPHY

New Zealand’s size is comparable to Japan or Great Britain. The Country consists of two main islands:
The North Island where 75% of the population live and the South Island, more rural. Stewart Island in the very South is the closes place on earth you can live to the Antarctica.
New Zealand offers amazing beauty and sights throughout. Stunning mountains, tropical rain forests, wide open plains, turquoise crystal lakes, green wide pastures, deserts and last but not least, breathtaking coastlines and bays. Regardless where you are in New Zealand, you will be mesmerized by its natural beauty.