Here we are with another blog on the series “KNOW OUR WORLD”. In this blog, we will talk about an island country which is famous for a variety of things like sheep, wine, kiwi (both fruit and bird), Rugby and Haka dance, i.e., New Zealand.
New Zealand has diverse terrain. It has active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, valleys, fjords, beaches, and the breathtaking snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the South Island. It got formal independence from Great Britain in 1947 and it’s a part of the Commonwealth.
Table of Contents
Major Statistics:
Let’s discuss some important aspects of this country first.
Official Name: New Zealand, named after the Dutch province of Zeeland, or Aotearoa in Maori, meaning: (land of the long white cloud).
Capital city: Wellington.
Religion: Majority Christians.
National Anthem: God Defend New Zealand and God Save the Queen.
Language: English, Maori.
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZ$).
National Flower: Silver fern.
National Bird: kiwi.
National Flag :
The New Zealand flag is the symbol of the realm, government and people of New Zealand. Its royal blue background is derived from the ensign of the Blue Squadron of the Royal Navy. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasise this country’s location in the South Pacific Ocean.
National Day: 6 February.
Geography:
New Zealand is a country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania. New Zealand consists of two main islands: North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu). The islands are separated by the waters of the Cook Strait. New Zealand is surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean and lies to the Southeast of Australia. New Zealand lies on the Ring of Fire and there are numerous volcanoes on North Island.
Largest city: Auckland.
Highest mountain: Mount Cook
Largest volcano: Ruapehu
Polity:
Prime Minister : Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern.
First Prime Minister: Henry Sewell.
Some interesting facts:
The highest mountain of New Zealand is Aoraki, previously referred to as Mount Cook.
New Zealand’s largest and longest glacier is the Tasman glacier in the Southern Alps.
Lake Taupo is the biggest lake of New Zealand.
New Zealand was the world’s first country to grant women the right to vote.
New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first mountaineers to climb the world’s highest summit Mount Everest in 1953.
World’s first commercial bungee jump took off in New Zealand.
It has the world’s largest car ownership rate with 2.5 million cars for 4 million people.
New Zealand has won more Olympic gold medals per capita, than any other country.
So, this is all for this blog. We’ll keep updating you with such interesting blogs in future as well so that you don’t face any difficulty while appearing for competitive exams such as SSC CHSL, NET JRF, etc.
In the next blog, we would be discussing some interesting facts and trivia about the country Brazil. Click here to Know Country – ‘Brazil’.
