Government -- Festivals -- Public Holidays
Economy -- Demographics -- Foreign Relations
Government |
- New Zealand is a modern country and the government is based on the British parlimentary system.
- They have long been a sovereign nation in their own right with only tenuous ties to Britain through the membership of the British Commonwealth.
- Helen Clark is the Prime Minister of New Zealand, she was elected on the 27th November 1999 after thirty years of involvement with the Labour Party.
- The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II and the General Governer is Anand Satyanand.
- There are eight parlimentary parties' in total which are: National Party, Labour Party, Green Party, United Future, NZ First, Maori Party, ACT New Zealand and Progressive.
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Festivals |
Sport
- New Zealand International Sevens - 2nd - 3rd Feb 2007
- World Title Wood Chopping Carnival - 11th Feb 2007
- Ninety Mile Beach Lion Red Snapper Classic - 13th - 17th Feb 2007
- Festival of Speed - 23th - 25th Feb 2007
- New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Series - 10th March 2007
Food and Wine
- Brightstone Blues, Brews and BBQs - 11th Jan 2007
- The Malborough Wine Festival - 10th Feb 2007
- Waipara Wine and Food Festival - 25 Mar 2007
- Oyster Bay Bluff Oyster & Southland Seafood Festival - 21st - 22 Apr 2007
- Scallop Festival - 25th Aug 2007
Music
- New Years Eve Mardi Gras - 31st Dec
- Rhythm and Vines - 31st Dec - 1st Jan
- New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards - 1st May 2007
- Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival - 11th - 13th May 2007
Arts and Culture
- TSB Bank Festival of Lights - 17th Dec 2006 to 11th Feb 2007
- Waitangi Day Celebrations - 6th Feb 2007
- Shakespeare in the Park - 15th - 18th Feb 2007
- AmeriCARna - 22nd - 25th Feb 2007
- Festival of Colour - 24th - 29th April 2007
Nature and Outdoors
- Maze Opens - 26th Dec 2006 - 29th April 2007
- Sea, Sky and Bush Walk - 3rd - 5th March 2007
- Mangawhai Walking Weekend - 31st Mar - 1st April 2007
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Public Holidays |
Public Holidays:-
- Waitangi Day - Monday 6th February
- ANZAC Day - Tuesday 25th April
- Labour Day - Monday 23rd October
Province Anniversary Days:-
- Auckland - Monday 30th January
- Taranaki - Monday 13th March
- Hawkes' Bay - Friday 20th October
- Wellington - Monday 23rd January
- Marlborough - Monday 30th October
- Nelson - Monday 30th January
- Canterbury - Friday 17th November (Monday 25th September in the South)
- Westland - Monday 4th December
- Otago - Monday 20th March
- Southland - Monday 16th January
- Chatham Islands - Monday 27th November
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Economy |
- The currency of New Zealand is the NZ Dollar, £1 in English money equals to $2.83!
- New Zealand is a country heavily dependent on trade, especially agricultural products, as almost 20% of the country's output is exported.
- The current New Zealand government's economic policies are centered on free-trade agreements and building a knowledgeable economy.
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Demographics |
- The total population of New Zealand from the 13th January 2005 is currently estimated at 4,086,153.
- At least 75% of the population are New Zealand European (meaning that they may have European ancestry), and 14% of the population are of Maori ethnicity.
- More than half of the population affiliate with a Christian religion, this being a mix of Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian being the largest denominations.
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Foreign Relations |
- New Zealand is a member of the following geo-political organisations: APEC, East Asia Summit, Commonwealth of Nations, OECD and the United Nations.
- They like to maintain a strong profile, particularly in agriculture on environmental protection, human rights and free trade.
- There are three branches for the New Zealand Military: New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
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