New Zealand (in Maori is called Aotearoa (meaning Long White Cloudy Land); English: New Zealand, Latin: Nova Zeelandia) is an island nation in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean; about 1,500 kilometers southeast of Australia, across the Tasman Sea; and about 1,000 kilometers south of the Pacific island countries, namely New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country consists of two large islands (North Island and South Island) and several other smaller islands. Because of its remote location, New Zealand is the last island inhabited by humans.
During its long isolated period, different biodiversity has developed in New Zealand, both plants and animals. The most famous are a large number of unique bird species, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans, and the mammals that were supervised. With a moderate maritime climate, the mainland of New Zealand is mostly covered in forests. The country's topography varies, and its sharp mountain peaks are strongly influenced by soil tectonic protrusions, and volcanic eruptions caused by collisions of the Pacific plate and the Indo-Australian plate beneath the earth's surface.
During its long isolated period, different biodiversity has developed in New Zealand, both plants and animals. The most famous are a large number of unique bird species, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans, and the mammals that were supervised. With a moderate maritime climate, the mainland of New Zealand is mostly covered in forests. The country's topography varies, and its sharp mountain peaks are strongly influenced by soil tectonic protrusions, and volcanic eruptions caused by collisions of the Pacific plate and the Indo-Australian plate beneath the earth's surface.
The Polynesians inhabited New Zealand in 1250–1300 AD, and built different Māori cultures, and Europeans began pioneering relations with them in 1642 AD. The introduction of potatoes and rebel rifles has sparked upheaval among fellow Māori tribes at the beginning of the 19th century, which led to the inter-tribal rifle warfare. In 1840 Britain and Māori signed the Treaty of Waitangi which made New Zealand a colony of the British Empire. The number of immigrants rose sharply, and various conflicts led to the New Zealand War, which resulted in the taking over of Māori land in the middle of the North Island. Economic sluggishness was followed by several periods of political reform, with the giving of voice to women in the 1890s, and a welfare state developed since the 1930s. After World War II, New Zealand joined Australia, and the United States in the ANZUS security agreement, even though the United States, until 2010, suspended the agreement after New Zealand banned nuclear weapons. New Zealand is part of intelligence cooperation among English-speaking countries, the UKUSA Agreement. The New Zealanders enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the world in the 1950s, but experienced a profound fall in the 1970s, exacerbated by the oil crisis and the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community. The country then underwent major economic changes in the 1980s, turning it from a protectionist economy to a liberal free trade economy. The market for exports of agricultural products in New Zealand has been widely diversified since the 1970s, with the export of wool that once dominated dominated by livestock products, meat and wine.
The majority of New Zealanders are descended from nations from Europe; Māori natives were the largest minority, followed by Asians, and non-Māori Polynesians. English, Māori Language, and Sign Language New Zealand is official languages, with English dominating. Most of New Zealand's culture is derived from Māori, and early settlers from Britain. European art was initially dominated by natural landscapes, and also Māori portraits which were less potent. A new revival of Māori culture has caused their traditional arts in the form of carving / sculpture, weaving / weaving, and the art of tattoo to become more prominent. Many artists now combine Māori, and Western techniques to produce unique art forms. The country's culture has also been expanded through globalization, and has increased immigration figures from the Pacific Islands, and Asia. New Zealand's diverse natural landscape provides many opportunities for connoisseurs of the outdoors, and has provided a backdrop for a number of large-cost films.
New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy and a region of the British Commonwealth (Commonwealth Realm). New Zealand is divided into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for the purpose of regional government; this system has a lower level of autonomy than the provincial system which is no longer used. Nationally, executive political power is run by the cabinet, which is headed by the prime minister. Queen Elizabeth II was the head of state and because of her absence the queen was represented by the governor general. The queen of New Zealand's nature includes Tokelau (a dependency region); Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); and Ross Dependency, which is a regional claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of Cooperation
