New Zealand

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Discovery
- Early European settlement
- Annexation and further settlement
  - Responsible government
  - Ethnic conflict
- Development of the colony
  - Fluctuation of the economy
  - The Liberal era (1891–1912)
- New Zealand since 1900
  - Nationalism and war
  - World War II and the postwar decades
  - The late 20th and early 21st centuries
    - The David Lange government and Labour’s changing leadership (1984–90)
    - The James Bolger and Jennifer Shipley governments (1990–99)
    - The Helen Clark government (1999–2008)
    - John Key’s first term as prime minister (2008–11)
    - John Key’s second term as prime minister (2011–16)
    - The Bill English government (2016–17)
    - The Jacinda Ardern government (2017–23)
    - The Chris Hipkins government (2023– )
Prime ministers of New Zealand

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Map of New Zealand showing the North and South Islands with major cities, towns, and political boundaries labeled. The map includes Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other key locations, and features a locator inset highlighting New Zealand's position in the southwestern Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia.

Wellington Harbour

Waikato River, Hamilton, New Zealand

Map showing the location of New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia, with New Zealand highlighted and labeled along with its capital, Wellington. Nearby countries and territories, including Australia, Fiji, and New Caledonia (France), are also labeled.

Map of New Zealand showing major physical features, including the North Island and South Island, surrounding smaller islands, mountain ranges such as the Southern Alps, peaks like Mount Cook and Mount Ruapehu, major lakes, bays, and peninsulas. An inset locator map in the top left shows New Zealand's position relative to Australia and the Pacific region.

Panoramic view of Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, showing Lyttelton port and harbor below, surrounded by green hills and mountains under a clear sky.

How climate change affects New Zealand's glaciers

At a Glance

default image

New Zealand summary

Related Questions

New Zealand

country, Pacific Ocean

Also known as: Aotearoa, Dominion of New Zealand

Written by

Conrad Alexander BlythAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

New Zealand, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. New Zealand is a remote land—one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled—and lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises two main islands—the North and the South Island—and a number of small islands, some of them hundreds of miles from the main group. The capital city...

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