Paper
The Geography of New Zealand
By Clayton Brown
Kirkpatrick
Period 7
February 25, 1996
The well-known country of New Zealand is a small, resourceful nation
located 1,000 miles off Australia’s south east coast. New Zealand has an
impressive economy that continues to grow, a physical landscape that attracts
people from around the globe, and although small, New Zealand is a respected
nation for its advanced civilization and stable government. The geography of
this prestigious nation can be described through five principal categories, the
physical geography, the cultural geography, the citizens’ standard of living,
the government, and the nation’s economy.
New Zealand is located in the southern hemisphere, with an absolute
location of 37 degrees south longitude to 48 degrees south longitude and 167
degrees east latitude to 177 degrees east latitude. It is composed of two major
islands named the North and South Islands, and the total land area of the nation,
approximately divided equally between the two islands, is 103,470 square miles.
Surprisingly, only 2 percent of the land area is arable. New Zealand has an
abundance of natural resources, explaining why the country is so wealthy
compared to other nations. These resources include fertile grazing land, oil
and gas, iron, coal, timber, and excellent fishing waters.
New Zealand’s climate is basically moderate year round because of the
nearby ocean that regulates the climate. New Zealand enjoys a marine west coast
climate, that on average produces sixty to eighty degree temperatures in January
and forty to sixty degree temperatures in July. Because it is surrounded by the
ocean, New Zealand receives immense quantities of precipitation on both islands.
The average annual precipitation on the North Island is thirty to forty inches
and on the South Island it is forty to fifty inches. This climate produces
mixed forests, mid-latitude deciduous forests, and temperate grassland
vegetation. The terrain is dominated by meadows, pastures, wood lands, and a
small chain of mountains called the Southern Alps. The land is blanketed with
small lakes and rivers that drain the highlands and empty into the ocean. The
extraordinary diversity of the physical geography found in the United States
seems to have been duplicated in this relatively small country, where the ski
slopes and the beaches may be only an hour apart.
The cultural geography of New Zealand is not as diverse as its physical
geography. Currently 3,547,983 people live in New Zealand, but 83.7 percent of
the population live in urbanized areas. The chief cities, each containing more
than one hundred thousand people, are Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Manukau,
and Wellington. The average population per square mile is only 34, but it is
growing due to a 0.8 percent natural growth rate. Keeping in mind that only 2
percent of the land is arable, the crop land per capita is a meager 0.125 acres
per person. Large portions of New Zealand are devoted to sheep stations, for
there are more sheep in New Zealand than people.
The official language of New Zealand is English, although a small
percentage of the people speak Maori, the native language. Somewhat
corresponding to the language groups, the religious make up is 52 percent
Christian, 15 percent Roman Catholic, and 33 percent unspecified or none. The
country takes pride in a 99.9 percent literacy rate by having an excellent
education system. The entire nation resides in a single time zone that would
report 6:00 A.M. if the time in Amarillo, Texas was noon. From the country’s
cultural geography, it could be predicted that the nation would enjoy a good
standard of living. In 1994 the gross national product of New Zealand was a
colossal 56.4 billion United State’s dollars, generating a per capita income of
$16,640. For every 3.2 people there is a television, and for every 2.2 people
there is a telephone, meaning there are over 2,600,000 televisions and
telephones in New Zealand. Fortunately, 99.8 percent of the people are able to
enjoy safe drinking water, including the natives who live in rural areas.
New Zealand has a superb health care industry that serves as a paragon
to the rest of the world. There are presently 11,335 physicians and 31,122
hospital beds in New Zealand, for an ample ratio of one physician per 313 people
and one hospital bed per 114 people. The population of New Zealand is provided
with plenty of food and a healthy diet, the average person receives
approximately 3,250 calories per day. New Zealand has one of the highest life
expectancies in the entire world, that being 74 for men, 80 for women, and 77
for any person. Unfortunately, AIDS is a growing problem in New Zealand that
continues to spread at a phenomenal rate. There have been 3,548 AIDS cases
reported, affecting one out of every 1,000 people with the syndrome, not to
mention the thousands more infected with the HIV virus.
New Zealand’s government has contributed to its impressive standard of
living. New Zealand achieved independence from the United Kingdom on September
26, 1907. The government was placed in Wellington, on the North Island, and
still remains there today as the capital. The government is a constitutional
monarchy that was designed to resemble the United Kingdom government. It
includes an executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, and a King
and Queen employed only as figureheads. The military is divided into three
branches, the New Zealand army, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the Royal New
Zealand Air Force. Presently there are 742,871 men fit for military service,
but only 10,500 active troops in service.
New Zealand has a flourishing economy that is based on three main
economic activities, livestock raising, farming, and foreign trade. The economy
is almost completely dependent on the export of goods, which include wool, lamb,
mutton, beef, fish, and forestry products. Twenty percent of the exports go to
Australia, 15 percent to Japan, 12 percent to the U.S., 6 percent to the U.K.,
and 47 percent to other countries. New Zealand’s monetary unit is the New
Zealand dollar, and the exchange rate is 1.46 N.Z. dollars equals 1 U.S. dollar.
With a 6.2 percent economic growth rate, New Zealand could soon have one of the
top five economies in the world.
New Zealand is among the world’s finest countries, because of its
exquisite landscape and first-rate economy. With an excellent standard of
living, perfect climate, and majestic terrain, New Zealand for many people is an
ideal place to live. Every year hundreds of thousands of people tour New
Zealand just to catch a glimpse of what many proclaim to be paradise, and after
researching this report, I intend to someday be one of those tourists.
Works Cited
Baerwald, Thomas, and Celeste Fraser. World Geography: A World Perspective.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1995.
“New Zealand.” World Fact Book (1995). Site:
odci.gov/cia/publications/ 95fact/nz.html.
Compton’s Learning Company. Compton’s Living Encyclopedia. New York: Soft Key,
1997.
Famighetti, Robert. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1997. United States:
World Almanac Books, 1997.
Novosad, Charles. The Nystrom Desk Atlas. Chicago: Division of Hereff Jones,
Inc, 1994.
Другие работы по теме:
English Speaking Countries
Why English language so the expanded language in the world. The English countries of conversation are located in various parts of the world and differ in the different ways. Each country has own customs of history, tradition, and own national holidays.
Reasons For Undertaking A Project On Land
Essay, Research Paper The reason that I decided to undertake this particular project was that I live on a farm and with doing so I had a rather broad spectrum of things I could do on the land, but nothing else interested me as
Rutherford Essay Research Paper Ernest Rutherford 18711937Ernest
Rutherford Essay, Research Paper Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) Ernest Rutherford was born in Nelson, New Zealand. Rutherford demonstrated his abilities as a scientist early on while working on his B.Sc. at the University of New Zealand in 1894. He showed that the magnetization can be removed from a magnetized iron needle by dissolving the surface layer of the metal in acid.
Poland Essay Research Paper Geography Of PolandPoland
Poland Essay, Research Paper Geography Of Poland Poland is one of the largest countries in Central Europe.Poland can be divided broadly into three regions the lowland, the highlands, and the mountains. Poland was formed by the of Ice Age glaciers.Its land area total 312, 677 sqaure miles. The distance from the east to the west is 680 km.
Environmental Archaeology Essay Research Paper IF
Environmental Archaeology Essay, Research Paper IF we want to know how humans functioned we must know what their world was like ? thus environmental reconstruction Geomorphical and biological processes occurring
Maori Essay Research Paper MAORIMaori are the
Maori Essay, Research Paper MAORI Maori are the host people of Aotearoa – New Zealand (land of the white cloud). Maori actually means natural, normal or local. The Maori call themselves Tangata Whenua, meaning people of the land. According to the 1996 census, Maori population is well over 500,000, which is around 15 percent of the population of New Zealand.
Страны, говорящие на английском языке
The United kingdom of Gr. Britain is a capitalist country. England, Wales, Scotland are made in Gr. Britain. Peoples in countries outside the British Isles often call the inhabitants of United kingdom English. There are four main nationalities: English, Wales and Irish.
Greek Geography Essay Research Paper The geography
Greek Geography Essay, Research Paper The geography in Ancient Greece did affect the way the Greeks lived their day-to-day lives. Greek?s geography prevented most kinds of agriculture the opportunity to grow. Also, it forced most of the Greek city-states to develop their own customs and government. Being on the seafront of the Mediterranean Sea gave them many opportunities to make an empire.
What Is Geography Essay Research Paper What
What Is Geography Essay, Research Paper What is Geography In the article ?La geografia: construccion social de una disciplina.? We are shown the standing of geography in modern society. As a discipline the world does not see the use or the actual function that geographers have. It tells a story of a geographer who is presented with the question ?What does a geographer do?? He (the geographer) goes on to say that it is sad that geographers don?t have a short, simple and precise way of explaining what a geographer does.
Geography Essay Research Paper GeographyGeography is a
Geography Essay, Research Paper Geography Geography is a topic that we have covered in class on several occasions. It has also been a focus of some of our assigned readings. Geography is one of the most important sections of Social Studies. Geography is simply defined as the study of earth and its features.
Five Themes Of Geography Essay Research Paper
In geography there was traditions. Later on a newer and better way of geography came along called the themes of geography. The traditions are as follows.1.The special tradition includes:the art of mapping or cartography, the importance of position and layout, including records of sailing distance, coastlines and landmarks.2.Area studies and tradition:Based on literary standards and an almost omnivorous appetite for information, self-conscious companionship with history.3.Man-Land Tradition:intellectual legacy is Hippocratic, a Greek Physician of 5th century B.C. who wrote On Airs, Waters and Places on effects of water, drinking and air on the health and character of man.
THE TREATY OF WAITANGI Essay Research Paper
Her Majesty Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland regarding with Her Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property and to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order has deemed it necessary in consequence of the great number of Her Majesty’s Subjects who have already settled in New Zealand and the rapid extension of Emigration both from Europe and Australia which is still in progress to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorised to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her Majesty’s sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those islands – Her Majesty therefore being desirous to establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions
The Maori Of New Zealand Essay Research
Paper The Maori of New Zealand The Maori people, the natives of New Zealand, have played a strong part in the development and success of the small island nation. Their ferocity
Economy Of New Zealand Essay Research Paper
The United States and New Zealand established close ties in 1942, when the U.S. provided security for New Zealand during World War II, and have remained close ever since. However, in 1984, the Labour party came into power in New Zealand, with intentions to bar nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from New Zealand ports.
Darkness Be My Friend
– Review Essay, Research Paper Darkness, Be My Friend is the fourth book in John Marsden’s series consisting of Tomorrow, When the War Began, In the Dead of the Night and The Third Day, The Frost, in which seven young people are thrown into the middle of a violent war zone. Ellie, Fi, Kevin, Lee, Homer, Robyn and Corrie set out on a camping trip to a remote part of their district.
Religious Edu Essay Research Paper Teacher
Religious Edu Essay, Research Paper Teacher: Raymen E. Grade Level: 6th Date: 08/26/00 Lesson Plan Book One ? Exploring and Discovering. Topic One ? Mapping the world.
Jerusalem Essay Research Paper These words could
Jerusalem Essay, Research Paper These words could have come out of the mouth of a Christian, Muslim, or a Jew because Jerusalem is the center of all three of the religion. This piece of land is sacred to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. There is a lot of violence going on between Israel and Palestine over this land.
Environment Friendly Essay Research Paper Environment FriendlyThe
Environment Friendly Essay, Research Paper Environment Friendly The Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is a unique environmental organization. It just doesn?t talk about whales and dolphins, it actually studies and protects them first-hand. Their research efforts helped create marine sanctuaries in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States; save dolphins from deadly fishing practices in South America; and establish whalewatching as a replacement for whale killing.
Atlantis Essay Research Paper Atlantis was known
Atlantis Essay, Research Paper Atlantis was known as the lost continent. It was said to be the size of Europe. Many people said that Atlantis existed during the time of the Stone Age, which was about nine thousand years ago. Plato, a popular Greek philosopher wrote a lot about Atlantis, it s inhabitants, it s geography, and it s theories on its destruction.
Blue Winds Dancing Essay Research Paper BLUE
Blue Winds Dancing Essay, Research Paper BLUE WINDS DANCING The author is an Indian, he is describing the geography of different states one by one, as he passes by each one of them. He lives in Wisconsin and he describes that city as not too bad, he said it was beautiful. He faces the conflict of walking a very long distance to go back home.
Georgaphy And Geographic Information Systems Essay Research
Paper Since the beginning of humankind, the study of geography has captured the imagination of the people. In ancient times, geography books extolled tales of distant lands and dreamed of treasures. The ancient Greeks created the word “geography” from the roots “ge” for earth and “grapho” for “to write.” These people experienced many adventures and needed a way to explain and communicate the differences between various lands.
The English Language Essay Research Paper This
The English Language Essay, Research Paper This House affirms that the British Empire was a great success whose effects are still beneficial to the world. The world distribution of English users is divided into three categories : English as a native language; for example, UK, USA, Australia, English as a second language; for example, India, Singapore, Ghana, Philippines, and English as a foreign language; for example, France, Japan, Thailand.There are 72 countries with Englishs as an official language and 9 countries with English as a first language:Australia, Great- Britain, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourgh, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the USA.