New
Zealand
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
Maori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated
as The Land of the Long White Cloud.
The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands
and Niue (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,
a number of which became extinct after the arrival
of humans and the mammals they introduced.
The population is mostly of European descent, with
the indigenous Maori being the largest minority. Asians
and non-Maori Polynesians are also significant minorities,
especially in the urban areas. 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.
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.
New Zealand's open economy is known for being one
of the world's most free market capitalist economies.
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