This is a book to talk about New Zealand. I feel like that not enough information about this country is given in textbooks, and it is given not enough credit for what it does. I hope that this book educates you further more on the country of New Zealand, and this lesser-known country gains a bit more knowledge of its existence.

New Zealand

A small map of New Zealand.

New Zealand's Geography

New Zealand has a variety of wildlife, climates, and resources that cannot be found anywhere else on the entire planet.

This dolphin is a Hectors Dolphin. It is unique to New Zealand.

Physical Features

New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island.  The North Island is covered by long stretches of hills and coastal plains.  Some of it's many land forms are volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.  The South Island contains a long mountain range called the Southern Alps.  Some of it's features are the forests, deep lakes and even some glaciers!  The rest of the land is covered by fertile hills and rich plains.  There are many natural harbors along the coasts of both islands created by Fjords.  Fjords are narrow inlets of the sea.

One of the many geysers in New Zealand.

Climates

New Zealand has a wide variety of climates. The country of New Zealand is mild and wet, unlike its neighboring partner, Australia, which is dry with very little rain. The marine climate gives the country a bounty of rainfall and mild climate to most of the country. Different from most places, their coldest month is June and their warmest month is February. This is due to how close New Zealand is to the Equator. As you travel farther south, the temperatures tend to decrease.

This is a line graph showcasing New Zealand's average temperatures areound a certain span of years

Wildlife and resources

New Zealand contains a large amount of animal species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Some famous native animals of New Zealand are the kiwi, a small, flightless bird with a long beak, hectors dolphin, a very small species of dolphin, and the New Zealand sea lion. As the name suggests, this type of sea lion can only be found in New Zealand. New Zealand has many resources, but minerals are not one of them. The land in New Zealand is very fertile, making it excellent for farming and agriculture. Fun Fact: New Zealand has more sheep than people. They have a plethora of wool, timber, and gold.

New Zealand's native bird, the kiwi.

An example of New Zealand's farm

History

New Zealand were first inhabited by settlers from other parts of the Pacific. Later on, New Zealand was colonized by the British.

Early Settlers

The first settlers on New Zealand  came from other Pacific islands, approximately 1,200 years ago. The descendants of these settlers are called the Maori. They settled in New Zealand. The people of the Maori tribe fished and hunted. They also farmed to survive.

The Arrival of Europeans

Around the 1800s, large groups of the British began to arrive in New Zealand. In 1840, the British signed a treaty with the Maori. New Zealand then became part of the British Empire. Inevitably, tensions grew. This led to multiple wars over land.

A mask that belongs to a member of the Maori tribe.

 The Arrival of Europeans

New Zealand eventually earned freedom in the early 1900s. New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Before 1840, it was mostly whalers, sealers, and missionaries who came to New Zealand. They had quiet a bit of contact with the Maori, especially in coastal areas. Later on, they traded with the Europeans. Sometimes, the Europeans would decide to live with the Maori. They Europeans would trade guns with the Maori, leading to war between tribes. The Maori would sometimes catch European sickness, causing a major decline in the people of the Maori.

The people in this image are whalers fishing on an unknown coast in New Zealand.

New Zealand Today

New Zealand is a rich and well developed country, despite the fact of how isolated it is from all other countries. Their government, economies, and people make it one of the most successful countries in the world.

Government

New Zealand has a government much similar to Australia, due to the fact that they were former British colonies. British monarch is the head of state in New Zealand. New Zealand has a parliamentary democracy, which means  citizens can elect members to represent them in a parliament, much like in the United States. New Zealand also has a prime minister along the Parliament, who run the government. A Bill of Rights protect the citizens rights.

This is N

New Zealand's government building.

New Zealand's Economy

 New Zealand is a rich, well-developed country. A large factor of this is it's agriculture. New Zealand is the world's top wool producer. New Zealand also exports large amounts of meat and dairy products. Another one of New Zealand's important industries is banking, as well as processed food, clothing, paper products, insurance, and tourism.

New Zealand's GDP compared to other countries.