[155] Fiordland's steep mountains and deep fiords record the extensive ice age glaciation of this southwestern corner of the South Island. The 3,000km track runs the length of NZ and normally takes 5 months to complete!We caught up with her to find out how she’s preparing to run 46km of gnarly terrain, every day. [179] The two main types of forest are those dominated by broadleaf trees with emergent podocarps, or by southern beech in cooler climates. [295] There are 13 school years and attending state (public) schools is free to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents from a person's 5th birthday to the end of the calendar year following their 19th birthday. The islands give it 15,134 km (9,404 mi) of coastlineand extensive marine resour… [193] Three species of bats (one since extinct) were the only sign of native land mammals in New Zealand until the 2006 discovery of bones from a unique, mouse-sized land mammal at least 16 million years old. A rupture along the full length of the fast-slipping Alpine Fault on New Zealand's South Island poses the largest potential seismic threat to the southern and central parts of the country. Your email address will not be published. [41] The resulting intertribal Musket Wars encompassed over 600 battles between 1801 and 1840, killing 30,000–40,000 Māori. Akl to Wellington is under 700 Km so lets say 7 days@ 100 kpday (without including Northland - 420 Km to Cape Reinga).. Picton to Invercargill is nearer to 900 km, so there's 9 days - however this assumes that you are camping at exacty the 100 km mark each day. [117] New Zealand's national defence needs are modest since a direct attack is unlikely. You’ll also want to stop regularly and make the most of the photo opportunities, so take your time when travelling across New Zealand! In this post, we are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on Google when it comes to the length of New Zealand. Book with tailor-made specialists NewZealandSky. [239][240], In 2015, renewable energy generated 40.1% of New Zealand's gross energy supply. [283], After the Second World War, Māori were discouraged from speaking their own language (te reo Māori) in schools and workplaces, and it existed as a community language only in a few remote areas. [378], Click on a coloured area to see an article about English in that country or region, Location of New Zealand, including outlying islands, its. [242][243], New Zealand's transport network comprises 94,000 kilometres (58,410 mi) of roads, including 199 kilometres (124 mi) of motorways,[244] and 4,128 kilometres (2,565 mi) of railway lines. The population formed different iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) which would sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete and sometimes fight against each other. Well, we’re a very long and narrow country so even at the widest point, it’s still not very far to cross from one side to the other. Remarkably, on the Tour Aotearoa Brevet website, they allow between 10-30 days to complete the cycle ride with 30 photo checkpoints along the way. [314][323], Māori cloaks are made of fine flax fibre and patterned with black, red and white triangles, diamonds and other geometric shapes. It is unknown whether Māori had a name for the whole country before the arrival of Europeans, with Aotearoa originally referring to just the North Island. [306], The largely rural life in early New Zealand led to the image of New Zealanders being rugged, industrious problem solvers. New Zealand is about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. It is hard for me to say whether this is OK without knowing how fit you are & how far you can ride in one day. As well as providing a wide range of super-helpful travel resources for anyone planning a trip around New Zealand, we also like to throw in the occasional posts packed full of useless facts! [347] New Zealand television primarily broadcasts American and British programming, along with many Australian and local shows. New Zealand is a very long and narrow country and as such, we enjoy an incredible amount of coastline. That’s a lot of facts right there so sit back and clear your mind – you’re about to fill it with lots of useless facts to dazzle your road trip buddies with. [135] The regional councils' role is to regulate "the natural environment with particular emphasis on resource management",[134] while territorial authorities are responsible for sewage, water, local roads, building consents, and other local matters. Every dollar makes a difference. [360] New Zealand is known for its extreme sports, adventure tourism[361] and strong mountaineering tradition, as seen in the success of notable New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary. It has contributed forces to several regional and global peacekeeping missions, such as those in Cyprus, Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sinai, Angola, Cambodia, the Iran–Iraq border, Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands. [222] Nearly one-quarter of highly skilled workers live overseas, mostly in Australia and Britain, which is the largest proportion from any developed nation. [278] The United Kingdom remains the largest source of New Zealand's immigrant population, with around a quarter of all overseas-born New Zealanders born there; other major sources of New Zealand's overseas-born population are China, India, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and Samoa. It begins at Lake Taupo, while its mouth is located at Port Waikato. [279] The number of fee-paying international students increased sharply in the late 1990s, with more than 20,000 studying in public tertiary institutions in 2002. New Zealand - New Zealand - People: Contemporary New Zealand has a majority of people of European origin, a significant minority of Maori, and smaller numbers of people from Pacific islands and Asia. The country fought in both world wars, with notable campaigns in Gallipoli, Crete,[119] El Alamein,[120] and Cassino. They provide you with a first overview. [3] New Zealand English is similar to Australian English, and many speakers from the Northern Hemisphere are unable to tell the accents apart. Support the trust today so that you can enjoy the trail tomorrow, either one day at … Let’s tackle the biggie first. The narrow strip will take you from the Tamaki river on the east to Manukau on the west. For true fitness enthusiasts and outdoor lovers, the Te Araroa track (The Long Pathway) is the perfect way to get out and explore our beautiful country and coastline. [251] A large-scale rollout of gigabit-capable fibre to the premises, branded as Ultra-Fast Broadband, began in 2009 with a target of being available to 87% of the population by 2022. [60], In 1907, at the request of the New Zealand Parliament, King Edward VII proclaimed New Zealand a Dominion within the British Empire,[61] reflecting its self-governing status. [266] As of 2016[update], total expenditure on health care (including private sector spending) is 9.2% of GDP. The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, with a length of 425 kilometers. Driving distances below are... Read more » [43] The Māori population declined to around 40% of its pre-contact level during the 19th century; introduced diseases were the major factor. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free association with New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica. [268], While the demonym for a New Zealand citizen is New Zealander, the informal "Kiwi" is commonly used both internationally[269] and by locals. Regional authorities provide water abstraction, treatment and distribution infrastructure to most developed areas. [93] As at 2017[update], the country was ranked fourth in the strength of its democratic institutions[94] and first in government transparency and lack of corruption. [299] The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment ranks New Zealand's education system as the seventh-best in the world, with students performing exceptionally well in reading, mathematics and science. [337] Early settlers brought over their ethnic music, with brass bands and choral music being popular, and musicians began touring New Zealand in the 1860s. [64] The depression led to the election of the First Labour Government and the establishment of a comprehensive welfare state and a protectionist economy. Download a New Zealand map. [42] From the early 19th century, Christian missionaries began to settle New Zealand, eventually converting most of the Māori population. You can pick up a car rental from as little as $1 a day and the …, Car Rental Relocation Deals – save money! [196] Many seabirds breed in New Zealand, a third of them unique to the country. A person born on or after 1 January 2006 acquires New Zealand citizenship at birth only if at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. [82], A parliamentary general election must be called no later than three years after the previous election. [217] New Zealand has experienced a series of "brain drains" since the 1970s[221] that still continue today. The land size of 267,710 km (103,360 sq mi) makes it the sixth-largest island country. [376][372] A hāngi is a traditional Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven; still used for large groups on special occasions,[377] such as tangihanga. [223] In recent decades, however, a "brain gain" has brought in educated professionals from Europe and less developed countries. [109] Permanent migration is regulated under the 1970 Samoan Quota Scheme and the 2002 Pacific Access Category, which allow up to 1,100 Samoan nationals and up to 750 other Pacific Islanders respectively to become permanent New Zealand residents each year. For those wanting to ‘do it yourself’ but follow a set route that is cycle friendly, make sure you sign up to the Tour Aotearoa Brevet challenge which can be completed at any time once you have registered. [263] Life expectancy at birth is forecast to increase from 80 years to 85 years in 2050, and infant mortality is expected to decline. [128], The early European settlers divided New Zealand into provinces, which had a degree of autonomy. [353], Most of the major sporting codes played in New Zealand have British origins. [175][176] About 82% of New Zealand's indigenous vascular plants are endemic, covering 1,944 species across 65 genera. The word Pākehā today is increasingly used to refer to all non-Polynesian New Zealanders. [294], Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority attending from the age of 5. [198], Since human arrival, almost half of the country's vertebrate species have become extinct, including at least fifty-one birds, three frogs, three lizards, one freshwater fish, and one bat. The southern and southwestern parts of the South Island have a cooler and cloudier climate, with around 1,400–1,600 hours; the northern and northeastern parts of the South Island are the sunniest areas of the country and receive about 2,400–2,500 hours. Welcome to our New Zealand Travel Blog! Distances are in kilometres – 1 kms = 0.62 mile. At an average of 25kms a day, the trail takes 120 days to walk – the equivalent of four months. ", "Education Statistics of New Zealand: 2009", "Education Act 1989 No 80 (as at 01 February 2011), Public Act. [165], New Zealand's climate is predominantly temperate maritime (Köppen: Cfb), with mean annual temperatures ranging from 10 °C (50 °F) in the south to 16 °C (61 °F) in the north. New Zealand Touring Map [PDF 2.6MB] [264] In 2008 the leading cause of premature death was cancer, at 29.8%, followed by ischaemic heart disease, 19.7%, and then cerebrovascular disease, 9.2%. A large proportion of New Zealand's aid goes to these countries, and many Pacific people migrate to New Zealand for employment. [3] As of January 2021, the total population has risen to an estimated 5,109,600. [104][105] Despite the United States' suspension of ANZUS obligations, the treaty remained in effect between New Zealand and Australia, whose foreign policy has followed a similar historical trend. [20] Early European maps labelled the islands North (North Island), Middle (South Island) and South (Stewart Island / Rakiura). That means that you are still never more than 225 kms from the coast no matter where you find yourself in New Zealand which is pretty awesome. Trewick SA, Morgan-Richards M. 2014. I decided to run the trail and donate all proceeds to both Starship and New Hope." These buildings were originally designed to be constantly rebuilt, changing and adapting to different whims or needs. [257] The total gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) as a proportion of GDP rose to 1.37% in 2018, up from 1.23% in 2015. Food products made up 55% of the value of all the country's exports in 2014; wood was the second largest earner (7%). The approximate length of the New Zealand coastline is: Taking the coastal route around New Zealand and assuming a similar average driving speed as you would achieve driving the most direct route (approx. Elsewhere the plate boundary involves the subduction of one plate under the other, producing the Puysegur Trench to the south, the Hikurangi Trench east of the North Island, and the Kermadec and Tonga Trenches[162] further north. [132], Since 1876, various councils have administered local areas under legislation determined by the central government. [338][339] Pipe bands became widespread during the early 20th century. [277] In the 2018 census, 27.4% of people counted were not born in New Zealand, up from 25.2% in the 2013 census. [292][293] In the 2018 census, 44.7% of respondents identified with one or more religions, including 37.0% identifying as Christians. [289], As recorded in the 2018 census,[3] Samoan is the most widely spoken non-official language (2.2%), followed by "Northern Chinese" (including Mandarin, 2.0%), Hindi (1.5%), and French (1.2%). [22] For each island, either its English or Māori name can be used, or both can be used together. Many roads are steep and winding, which means that you won’t be able to travel at motorway speed. Here's a short highlights video of our walk across New Zealand on the Te Araroa. Railways run the length of the country, although most lines now carry freight rather than passengers. Fun Fact #1 – What’s the length of New Zealand? Your email address will not be published. [79] The supremacy of parliament over the Crown and other government institutions was established in England by the Bill of Rights 1689 and has been ratified as law in New Zealand. [236] In the year to June 2018, dairy products accounted for 17.7% ($14.1 billion) of total exports,[230] and the country's largest company, Fonterra, controls almost one-third of the international dairy trade. 70 kmph), it would take you around 214 hours to drive around the whole coastline which is truly an epic road trip! [83] Almost all general elections between 1853 and 1993 were held under the first-past-the-post voting system. Radiocarbon dating, evidence of deforestation[26] and mitochondrial DNA variability within Māori populations[27] suggest that Eastern Polynesians first settled the New Zealand archipelago between 1250 and 1300,[20][28] although newer archaeological and genetic research points to a date no earlier than about 1280, with at least the main settlement period between about 1320 and 1350,[29][30] consistent with evidence based on genealogical traditions. Experience the rush of speed as you sandboard down glistening white sand dunes at Te Paki Stream. Got any fun facts of your own to share with us? [3] The Auckland Region exhibited the greatest religious diversity. [79] It also included an upper house, the Legislative Council, until this was abolished in 1950. The first European visitor to New Zealand, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, named the islands Staten Land, believing they were part of the Staten Landt that Jacob Le Maire had sighted off the southern end of South America. In 1893 New Zealand was the first nation in the world to grant all women the right to vote[58] and in 1894 pioneered the adoption of compulsory arbitration between employers and unions. To ride the length of a country. [205], Historically, extractive industries have contributed strongly to New Zealand's economy, focussing at different times on sealing, whaling, flax, gold, kauri gum, and native timber. [254], Early indigenous contribution to science in New Zealand was by Māori tohunga accumulating knowledge of agricultural practice and the effects of herbal remedies in the treatment of illness and disease. Length of local roads and state highways in New Zealand regions By region and type, June 2019, kilometres Over half (52.4%) of New Zealand's overseas-born population lives in the Auckland Region. [325] Europeans brought English fashion etiquette to New Zealand, and until the 1950s most people dressed up for social occasions. Located at the top of the South Island, the track hugs this dramatic coastline, leaving hikers to navigate a 15-foot tidal range, one of the biggest in New Zealand. [116], New Zealand's military services—the Defence Force—comprise the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Navy. [157] The highly active Taupo Volcanic Zone has formed a large volcanic plateau, punctuated by the North Island's highest mountain, Mount Ruapehu (2,797 metres (9,177 ft)). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Car Rental Relocation Deals – save money! [345] A state-owned television service began in 1960. [151] In 2018 the median age of the New Zealand population was 38.1 years. Its exclusive economic zone is one of the largest in the world, covering more than 15 times its land area. Keep this one under your hats. A seasonal workers scheme for temporary migration was introduced in 2007, and in 2009 about 8,000 Pacific Islanders were employed under it. A Great Walk with fine … The cycle route differs from the driving route once you hit the South Island and instead of hugging the east coast, you will instead head over to the west coast which offers up some truly stunning scenery (as well as some truly challenging mountain passes!). [187][188], Other indigenous animals are represented by reptiles (tuatara, skinks and geckos), frogs,[189] spiders,[190] insects (wētā)[191] and snails. She completed the challenge on February 4 after setting off on January 1 — a period of 36 days which smashed the previous record by 16 days. [134] The 249 municipalities[134] that existed in 1975 have now been consolidated into 67 territorial authorities and 11 regional councils. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. [307] Modesty was expected and enforced through the "tall poppy syndrome", where high achievers received harsh criticism. [107] In 2013[update] there were about 650,000 New Zealand citizens living in Australia, which is equivalent to 15% of the population of New Zealand. Geothermal power is also a significant generator of electricity, with several large stations located across the Taupo Volcanic Zone in the North Island. [137] The territorial authorities consist of 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council. [230] On 7 April 2008, New Zealand and China signed the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement, the first such agreement China has signed with a developed country. As you head to the South, you can go over a week in the wilderness and that’s when it’s important to be organised and plan out your stays in some of the amazing backcountry huts. You pretty centrally down the North Island is the country 's monarch and is represented by a,! Houses ( wharenui ) decorated with symbolic carvings and illustrations in 2018 the median age the... Of radio and television stations Island country in the Bay of islands on 6 February...., whom she appoints on the advice of the water hemisphere the number New. Width of New Zealand into provinces, which means that you won ’ t able! Regular sailing success in the world 's most length of new zealand and well-governed states largest the. 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