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.

Capital cities
Having an approximate population of 179,446, Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.

Religion
Christianity is the predominant religion of the nation.

Surface
The total land area covered by New Zealand is 268,021 sq km.

Population
The population of the country is about 4,115,771 (July 2007), comprising Europeans, Maori, Asians, Pacific Islanders and others.

System of government
New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy

Official Language
English and Maori are the official languages.

Government
New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy.

Climate
New Zealand experiences a temperate climate, having sharp regional contrast.

Units of measure and electricity
New Zealand uses the metric system and the electricity unit is 230 V, 50 Hz.

Time Zone
Local standard time is GMT + 12 (Day Light Saving Time is GMT + 13).

Currency
New Zealand Dollar (1 € = 1.77 NZD).

Travel documents required
Apart from Americans, Canadians, South Africans, Australians, and the Irish, all other nationals require a valid passport and visa.

Economy
New Zealand has a prosperous and well-developed economy with a very high standard of living. The economy is heavily dependent on trade. New Zealand’s key export products include agriculture, horticulture, fishing and forestry. The principal export partners are Australia, the US, China, Japan and the UK.