 New Zealand
New Zealand is the Land of the Extreme – at least when it comes to the different kinds of extreme sports. There is almost no other country where you can get your adrenaline level to the maximum. From Bungee jumping to wild water rafting or mountain climbing –everything is possible. Adventurous people can really enjoy themselves here!
But New Zealand has also a different side to it: striking mountains, beautiful beaches and impressive volcanoes but also interesting and exciting cities where there is always something new to see and discover. New Zealand offers something for everyone!
Did you know that:
- New Zealand was the first country in the world to accept sign language as an official language
- The highest mountain of New Zealand is Mount Cook with 3,754 metres.
- The word "kiwi" has three different meanings: it can either mean the fruit or a bird or be the name of the inhabitants of the two islands.
- New Zealand is still ruled by Queen Elizabeth II but a prime minister is being voted for democratically
- In contrary to Australia there are not really any poisonous or dangerous animals on the two islands
- The indigenous inhabitants, the Maori, gave New Zealand the name Aotearoa, which is commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud.
New Zealand in overview:
| Continent |
Australia (in parts)
|
| Official language |
English, Maori, NZ Sign Language |
| Capital |
Wellington |
| Area |
268,680 qkm |
| Population |
approx. 4,280,000 |
| Ethnic groups |
78% European/Other, 14.6% Maori, 9.2% Asian, 6.9% Pacific peoples |
| Government |
Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Curreny |
New Zealand Dollar |
| Time Zone |
UTC+12 (Apr.-Sep.) und UTC+13 (Okt.-March) |
| Calling Code |
+64 |
| Voltage |
230 Volt, 50 Hertz, Adapter recommended |
National Holiday
|
6th February (1840), Waitangi Day |
| Famous sights |
Auckland (Harbour, Mount Eden, Sky Tower, Aotea Centre),Wellington (Mount Victoria, Te Papa Museum, Oriental Bay),Waitomo Caves, Tongariro national park, Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Hawke’s Bay |
| Famous Kiwis |
Sir Edmund Hillary, Ernest Rutherford, Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Russell Crowe, Lucy Lawless |
Useful websites:
Websites of the New Zealand Embassy for the UK & Ireland:
http://newzealand.embassyhomepage.com/
http://www.nzembassy.com/home.cfm?c=14
Website of the New Zealand government:
http://newzealand.govt.nz/
Website of New Zealand Tourism:
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/UK-Ireland/
|
Programme Information 
