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General information


Population : 4.85milion people (120th in the World)
Total Area : 268,021 km^2 (75th in the World)
Official languages : English,Maori,NZ Sign
Official currency : New Zealand dollar(NZD)
Capital : Wellington
Population density : 18 people/km^2 (203rd in the World)
Top 5 biggest cities : Auckland,Wellington,Christchurch,Hamilton,Tauranga

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, although its constitution is not codified. Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand and the head of state. The Queen is represented by the Governor-General, whom she appoints on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General can exercise the Crown's prerogative powers, such as reviewing cases of injustice and making appointments of ministers, ambassadors and other key public officials, and in rare situations, the reserve powers (e.g. the power to dissolve Parliament or refuse the Royal Assent of a bill into law). The powers of the Queen and the Governor-General are limited by constitutional constraints and they cannot normally be exercised without the advice of ministers.

The New Zealand Parliament holds legislative power and consists of the Queen and the House of Representatives.

New Zealand is divided into sixteen regions for local government purposes. Eleven are administered by regional councils (the top tier of local government), and five are administered by unitary authorities, which are territorial authorities (the second tier of local government) that also perform the functions of regional councils.The Chatham Islands Council is similar to a unitary authority, authorised under its own legislation.







National sport : Rugby union


National animals : Kiwi (Apteryx sp.)


National plant: Silver fern(Cyathea dealbata)




National instrument: Taonga pūoro





The significance of the 6th of February


Waitangi Day is the national day of New Zealand, and commemorates the signing, on 6 February 1840, of the Treaty of Waitangi. Ceremonies take place throughout the country to commemorate the signing of the treaty, which is regarded as New Zealand's founding document.

The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840 on the grounds of James Busby's house—now known as Treaty House—at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands. The treaty was signed by representatives acting on behalf of the British Crown and, initially, more than 40 Māori chiefs. Over the course of the next seven months, copies of the treaty were toured around the country to give other chiefs the opportunity to sign. The signing had the effect of securing British sovereignty over the islands of New Zealand, which was officially proclaimed on 21 May 1840.

Historically, Waitangi is a day with a mix of community events like markets and concerts, but also a deeply political occasion. It is customary for the prime minister to visit the marae (Māori meeting house) on Waitangi morning and speak with the local Māori leaders. This event is frequently marked by political protests, particularly around issues to do with government handling of Māori affairs.









In Māori mythology, taniwha are beings that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers (giant waves). They may be considered highly respected kaitiaki (protective guardians) of people and places, or in some traditions as dangerous, predatory beings, which for example would kidnap women to have as wives.



Taniwha are supernatural creatures whose forms and characteristics vary according to different tribal traditions. Though supernatural, in the Māori world view they were seen as part of the natural environment. Taniwha have been described as fabulous monsters that live in deep water. Others refer to them as dragons – many taniwha looked like reptiles, had wings and ate people. They could also take the shape of animals such as sharks, whales, octopuses, or even logs. Some taniwha could change their shape, moving between different forms.

Taniwha were either male or female. They usually lived in or near the water – lakes, rivers or the sea. They hid in lairs known as rua taniwha, which could be deep pools, caves, or dangerous waterways – areas that people avoided.

Taniwha were also a symbol for great chiefs. There is a proverb from Waikato:

Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha.

Waikato of a hundred taniwha, every bend a taniwha.

For some this refers to the many taniwha of the Waikato River, while for others it is about the many important chiefs of the area.

This figure of speech is used in laments for chiefs who have passed on, such as this one for
Te Haupā, chief of the Ngāti Pāoa tribe:

Unuhia noatia te taniwha i te rua.

Withdrawn now is the dragon from his lair.



Many taniwha were associated with the sea. A large number were said to have come with the voyaging canoes that brought the Polynesian ancestors of the Māori people to Aotearoa (New Zealand).


Kupe was the great navigator who is reputed to have discovered New Zealand while travelling in the Matawhaorua canoe. He placed one of his guardian taniwha, Tuhirangi, in Cook Strait. Tuhirangi guided and protected canoes, and was later believed to have reappeared in the form of a well-known dolphin named Pelorus Jack, which accompanied ships in this stretch of water.


Āraiteuru was a female taniwha, believed to have escorted the Māmari canoe to New Zealand from Hawaiki. In other traditions Āraiteuru and another taniwha named Ruamano guided the Tākitimu canoe.
When she arrived, Āraiteuru gave birth to 11 sons. All went exploring, and on the way they dug trenches – creating the branches of the Hokianga Harbour. One son, Waihou, burrowed inland and lashed his tail about to form Lake Ōmāpere. Another, Ōhopa, was angered by the large number of rocks he encountered, and came to hate all living things. He terrorised the people near the Panguru mountains.
Āraiteuru was a guardian of the Hokianga Harbour, and had her lair in a cave there. She lived at the south head of the harbour, and her companion, known by some as Niua, lived in the north head.


Whātaitai and Ngake were also sea taniwha who created Wellington Harbour. In tradition, the harbour was once a lake in which these taniwha lived. But Ngake was restless and smashed his way through to nearby Cook Strait. Whātaitai tried to get out a different way and became stranded on dry ground. It is said that his spirit took the form of a bird named Te Keo, which flew to the top of Wellington’s Mt Victoria and mourned (tangi), hence the name of the mountain, Tangi te keo.




In more recent years, taniwha have featured prominently in New Zealand news broadcasts - due to taniwha spirits being referenced in both court cases and in various legal negotiations." Beliefs in the existence of taniwha have a potential for controversy where they have been used to block or modify development and infrastructure schemes.

In 2002, Ngāti Naho, a Māori tribe from the Meremere district, successfully ensured that part of the country's major highway, State Highway 1, be rerouted in order to protect the abode of their legendary protector. This taniwha was said to have the appearance of large white eel, and Ngāti Naho argued that it must not be removed but rather move on of its own accord; to remove the taniwha would be to invite trouble. Television New Zealand reported in November 2002 that Transit New Zealand had negotiated a deal with Ngāti Naho under which "concessions have been put in place to ensure that the taniwha are respected".Some like the journalist Brian Rudman have criticised such deals in respect of 'secretive taniwha which rise up from swamps and river beds every now and again, demanding a tithe from Transit New Zealand'.

In 2001,another notable instance of taniwha featuring heavily within the public eye was that of a proposed Northland prison site at Ngawha which was eventually granted approval through the courts."
Māori academic Dr Ranginui Walker, in a detailed letter to the Waikato Times, said that in the modern age a taniwha was the manifestation of a coping mechanism for some Māori. It did not mean there actually was a creature lurking in the water, it was just their way of indicating they were troubled by some incident or event.
In 2010 there was an episode of Destination Truth where Josh Gates and his team went looking for the taniwha, but turned up no good evidence.











Top 5 visited places by tourists


Rotorua






Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. There are numerous geysers and hot springs in and around the city. Many of these are in parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally occur in new locations. Nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also a popular place to visit with many hot springs noted for their colorful appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser.

Bay of Islands







The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. Not surprisingly, it is a popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen.





Fiordland






One of the most scenic spots in New Zealand is the Fiordland National Park. Here, you can set off on incredible hikes, fish for trout or cruise on the spectacular fjords (named sounds here) in the south-western corner of the South Island. Milford Sound is the biggest attraction in Fiordland, and it is a true fjord created by a glacier. On a cruise through Milford Sound, you can spot waterfalls, admire the sheer rock faces towering over the water and even see wildlife like dolphins and penguins.


Queenstown








On New Zealand’s South Island is Queenstown, a destination known as the dream spot for those in search of adrenaline and adventure. Surrounded by the towering peaks of the Southern Alps, and right on the banks of deep-blue Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is also an incredibly beautiful spot. One of the best ways to experience the scenery is on Lake Wakatipu itself. You can cycle around the lake’s perimeter or set off on a cruise of the lake’s magnificent waters. There is also a vibrant nightlife with the town’s small central area packed with bars and restaurants.


Nelson-Tasman area


At the top of the South Island is Nelson, a spot known for having the greatest number of sunshine hours per year in all of New Zealand. This great climate and the fact that the city is surrounded by three national parks makes Nelson a fantastic spot for outdoor recreation. There is also an emphasis on local agriculture and the area’s wineries. Founder’s Park is an amazing spot in the city where you can dine on local farm-to-table cuisine, and soak up the sunshine right in the heart of an urban area. You can even do a day-trip to Abel Tasman National Park from Nelson using an early bus, which give you just enough time to enjoy the park.






Top 3 locations suggested by the locals



Hobbiton








If you are a fan of the world created by Tolkien, this is the place to be. It is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometres west of Hinuera and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Matamata, in Waikato, New Zealand. Come and live the life of your favorite heroes from the LOTR and Hobbit series.

Coromandel Peninsula





This north-eastern peninsula is famous for its white and golden sand beaches that frame magnificent coastal scenery, forests perfect for days of exploration and other natural wonders. Start your visit in Thames, a small but picturesque city with a rich history of gold mining. Don’t miss a stop at Hot Water Beach, where visitors can dig their own hot pool from the springs under the sands.




Hauraki Gulf Islands


Stretching between Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hauraki Gulf is dotted with motu (islands), and is as equally stunning as Northland's Bay of Islands. Some islands are only minutes from the city and make excellent day trips. Wine-soaked Waiheke and volcanic Rangitoto really shouldn’t be missed. Great Barrier requires more effort (and cash) to get to, but provides an idyllic escape from modern life.







Inventions New Zealand gave to the world!

*Bungee jumping!
*AJ Hackett,1987.



*Referee whistle!
*before this,referees used to raise their voice; William Atack,1884



*Zorb!
*Akers brothers,1994.



*Tranquilizer gun!
*Colin Murdoch,1950’s.



*Jet-boat!
*William Hamilton,1954.











Famous people from New Zealand

Edmund Hillary - New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt.

(1919-2008)

Ernest Rutherford - New Zealand-born British physicist who came to be known as the father of nuclear physics.Encyclopædia Britannica considers him to be the greatest experimentalist since Michael Faraday (1791–1867). In 1911, although he could not prove that it was positive or negative,he theorized that atoms have their charge concentrated in a very small nucleus, and thereby pioneered the Rutherford model of the atom, through his discovery and interpretation of Rutherford scattering by the gold foil experiment of Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden. He conducted research that led to the first "splitting" of the atom in 1917 in a nuclear reaction between nitrogen and alpha particles, in which he also discovered (and named) the proton.
(1871-1937)

Lorde - New Zealand singer, songwriter, and record producer who holds both New Zealand and Croatian citizenship. Born in Takapuna and raised in Devonport, she became interested in performing as a child. In her early teens, she signed with Universal Music Group and was later paired with songwriter and record producer Joel Little. At the age of sixteen, she released her first extended play, The Love Club EP (2012), reaching number two on the national record charts in both New Zealand and Australia.
(born 1996)

Peter Jackson - New Zealand film director, screenwriter and film producer. He is best known as the director, writer, and producer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy(2001–03) and The Hobbit trilogy (2012–14), both of which are adapted from the novels of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. Other films include the critically lauded drama Heavenly Creatures (1994), the mockumentary film Forgotten Silver (1995), the horror comedy The Frighteners (1996), the epic monster remake film King Kong (2005), and the supernatural drama film The Lovely Bones (2009). He produced District 9 (2009), The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011), West of Memphis (2012) and Mortal Engines (201😎.
(born 1961)

Russell Crowe - actor, film producer and musician. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has lived most of his life in Australia. He came to international attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, an Empire Award for Best Actor and a London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and 10 further nominations for best actor.

(born 1964)








Traditional food


Hangi



Let’s start with the traditional Maori hangi! This is involves meat and vegetables slow-cooked in an underground oven. Although it was a common cooking method for thousands of years in New Zealand, today a hangi is saved for more special occasions (mainly because it takes all day to prepare!) Prepare to be overfed but extremely satisfied at hangi meals as part of Maori cultural experiences.

Kiwi burger



You’ll either think it’s weird or it’s genius! What makes a “Kiwi burger” Kiwi is the fact it has beetroot and fried egg along with your standard burger patties and whatever else between two burger buns. Don’t knock it until you try it!

Tuatua



Tuatua are an indigenous New Zealand shellfish that you won’t find anywhere else in the world (as far as I know). While very similar in shape and size to pipis, tuatuas have a milder flavour than most shellfish and a softer, creamier texture as well.

Whitebait fritter



Whitebait is a delicacy in New Zealand and currently demands the highest price of any fish in the country. The preferred method of cooking is the whitebait fritter; a simple combination of eggs, flour and whitebait, fried like an omelette and then topped with lemon, salt and pepper. As you can see from the photo it’s a very tiny fish (as they’re not fully matured) and the the strong fishy flavour can be a little off-putting to some. However a perfectly cooked fritter with just the right amount of crisp will quickly turn you into a loyal fan.

Rewena bread



As the story goes, the Maori cooked up the receipe for rewena after the British introduced them to flour, and since then it has become a favourite among the Maori community in NZ. The bread is made with flour and potato, and follows a recipe similar to that of a sourdough. A nice, subtle difference to your regular loaf of white.



Traditional desserts

Pavlova



Pavlova is a New Zealand dessert best described as a big meringue cake topped with fresh fruit and cream. The inside is soft, like a marshmallow, and together with the crispy outside provides quite a special collision of different flavours and textures. Very sweet, so if you’re a dessert lover this will definitely rate highly on your list.

Common to Australia as well.

Lamingtons



Lamingtons are a sponge cake, coated in rasberry or chocolate and then sprinkled with shaved coconut. It’s common to cut them in half and fill them with cream or jam, but in most cases it’s simply eaten as is. A very popular snack enjoyed during morning or afternoon tea.

Afghans



While the name might suggest a Middle Eastern origin, make no mistake – this cookie is 100% a Kiwi food original. A classic recipe afghan consists of a chocolate cookie baked with cornflakes mixed in, coated with chocolate icing and then finished off with half a walnut on top.

Cookie time



Cookie Time’s “Original Chocolate Chunk Cookie” is a timeless Kiwi favourite, with the recipe being unchanged since 1983.


Traditional drinks

L&P



Monteith Beer and Cider








Interesting facts about New Zealand


1.No part of the country is more than 128km away from the sea
2.Wellington is the southernmost capital city in the world.
3.15% of the population is Maori.
4.More people live in Auckland than in the entirety of the South Island.
5.New Zealand is the only country with the right to put Hobbit-related images on its currency.
6.New Zealand was the last habitable land mass to be populated.
7.The only land mammals native to NZ are bats. The rest were introduced by Maoris and Europeans.
8.NZ high schools and universities are permitted to keep a pound of uranium or thorium for educational purposes. However, there is a $1 million fine if it explodes.
9.There are only two countries in the world where drug companies are permitted to advertise to the public: New Zealand and USA.
10.NZ is the least corrupt nation in the world (tied with Denmark), according to the Corruptions Perception Index.






My 5 words when I hear about New Zealan😛
#Rugby,#Kiwi,#Maori,#Hobbit,#Haka

What are your 5?





I am sorry for the delays of this article and probably 2-3 more but I was really sick the last days so could't write. Hope you will enjoy them altough they are late.

Special thanks to Spud of Doom!



Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!



Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 36/74!






P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !