New Zealand - interesting facts. 50 most interesting facts about New Zealand Interesting facts about new zealand for kids

30.07.202027.05.2017

1. Capital of New Zealand

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city. It is home to more than 1/4 of the country's population. But oddly enough, it is Wellington that is the official capital. Wellington has been the capital since the 1800s when the Houses of Parliament were moved to a more central location in the center of New Zealand!

2. The coolest street

Baldwin Street is located in the second largest city in New Zealand's South Island, Dunedin. The length of the street is 359 meters. Baldwin Street is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the steepest residential street in the world. In its length, it rises to a height of almost 80 meters. The steepest section is 161.2 meters, and the level of elevation on it is 47.22 meters, which corresponds to a slope of 19 degrees.

3. The first to give women the right to vote

In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote. Kate Sheppard (pictured on the NZ$10 note) has led her own campaign to give women the right to vote. Since then, New Zealand has become a leader in women's suffrage movements.

4. The Official Wizard of Christchurch

In 1982, the New Zealand government appointed an official "Wizard of Christchurch". His duties include the expulsion of evil spirits and uplifting the mood of the population. This is such a tourist attraction of the city. Previously, the wizard could be found on the main square of Christchurch near the cathedral. If you did not have time to meet the wizard in person, then visit the official website, which outlines his main ideas.

5. Tolkien's Middle Earth

This is the fictional universe of the writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, where the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fully unfold. Over 150 New Zealand natural locations have been filmed by Peter Jackson for the film trilogy, and Hobbiton Village is one of the country's top attractions.

6. Small but mighty

New Zealand and the UK are very similar in terms of land area. However, about 63 million people live in the UK compared to New Zealand's 4.5 million.

7. Amazing Kiwis

Kiwi, that's what the New Zealanders call themselves. In the warm season in New Zealand, many kiwis walk barefoot on the street. You can see barefoot people anywhere from supermarkets to cafes.

8. The cleanest water and UNESCO World Heritage

Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park has received the official seal of the cleanest water in the world. The nature of New Zealand is amazing. Do not forget that the country has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Tongariro National Park;
The southwestern coast of the South Island (Te Wāhipounamu), which includes several national parks: Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, Westland;
New Zealand subantarctic islands.

9. Longest title

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimauis the longest Maori name for a hill located in the Hawke's Bay (North Island) region. This name is often shortened by locals to Taumata (Maori Taumata) for ease of communication.

Situated somewhere between Australia and Antarctica, New Zealand often gets left out when it comes to travel planning. In general, this country the size of Japan and a population of 4.5 million people is the most sparsely populated territory. And its indigenous inhabitants - the Maori - began to settle in the islands only in 1250 AD. But maybe we just underestimate this country?

Bigpiccha brings you 25 amazing facts about New Zealand - it's time to visit this mysterious land of kiwis and Lord of the Rings!

(Total 25 photos)

1. First, in New Zealand, the word "kiwi" never refers to a fruit. Kiwi is called either a species of local flightless bird, or the inhabitants of the islands themselves. And by the way, calling a resident of New Zealand "kiwi" is not at all offensive! But the same fruit is called "kiwi fruit".

2. New Zealand was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch sailor Abel Tasman. He left this country after several members of his team were killed by the Maori, the country's indigenous people. Until 1769, Europeans did not visit these islands. It wasn't until 1769 that Captain James Cook arrived and mapped the islands. By the way, until the Europeans appeared on the territory of New Zealand, the indigenous Maori people did not know money, but used a barter exchange.

3. Although the country boasts the most amazing topography in the world, any part of it is closer than 130 km from the ocean. At the same time, the islands of New Zealand are only 7% of the submerged continent known as Zealand.

4. Residents of New Zealand are the first in the world to see the dawn of a new day.

5. Wellington is the capital and second largest city of New Zealand. The city has an excellent tourist infrastructure and unusual sights. Wellington is also the southernmost capital of the world, which makes it even more interesting for tourists.

6. Obesity can be a reason for denial of a residence permit in New Zealand.

7. New Zealand ranks second in the list of the most non-corrupt countries in the world, behind Denmark.

9. Although the kiwi is a flightless bird, it is the logo of the New Zealand Air Force.

10. The New Zealand government did establish the position of Minister for The Lord of the Rings in order to make as much money as possible on the theme of this movie saga.

11. Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of New Zealand. Her responsibilities include the ratification of laws approved by Parliament.

12. There are more vending machines in Japan than there are people in New Zealand (about 4.5 million).

13. Sir Edmund Hillary - the first person to climb Mount Everest - was a kiwi (in the sense of a native of New Zealand, not a bird).

14. A favorite tourist destination in New Zealand is Lake Taupo. It was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption about 27,000 years ago. This eruption is still considered the strongest in the last 100,000 years.

15. There are nine sheep for every person in New Zealand.

16. The water in Blue Lake, which is located in the Nelson Lakes National Park, is considered the most transparent in the world.

17. There are no snakes on the New Zealand islands.

18. New Zealand has the most penguin species in the world.

19. Auckland is called one of the most convenient and safe cities in the world.

20. About a third of the land area of the country is a protected area.23. New Zealand stretches from the subtropics in the north to colder regions in the south. As a result, the country has the most variable geography and climate in the world. The North Island has volcanoes, deserts and tropical beaches, while the South Island has plains, glaciers and alpine peaks.

24. It is in New Zealand that there is a small mountain with the longest (82 letters) geographical name in the world - Taumatauakatangiangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokanuenuakitanatahu. This name is in the Maori language - the indigenous people of New Zealand. The translation goes something like this: "The top of the hill where Tamatea, a man with big knees who rolled, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as an earth-eater, played his flute for his beloved."

25. Powelliphanta is a huge snail found only in New Zealand. By the way, she is carnivorous.

Interesting facts about New Zealand you can collect more than a dozen - this country is so unique and unusual. Located on the edge of the world, it attracts attention and does not disappoint lovers to discover the amazing corners of the planet.

The state is located in two time zones and several climatic zones; out of 700 islands, only 60 are inhabited and suitable for human life. The mountains of Zeeland are called the Southern Alps, but they are much higher than the European ones - 19 mountain peaks exceed 3000 meters. Almost all the lakes of the North Island of the country are of volcanic origin, and the reservoirs of the South Island are mostly the result of melting glaciers.
There were no mammals on the islands of New Zealand before humans appeared., except for whales, fur seals and bats. Until now, there are no snakes on the islands. But in national parks, reserves and reserves, which occupy 25% of the country's area, rare species of birds, fish, mammals and marsupials live, which are not found anywhere else in the world.
The unofficial symbol of New Zealand is the kiwi bird.. Her image is used in the creation of local logos, her name has become the name of the local currency and the nickname of the New Zealanders. In the 50s of the XX century, the fruits of Actinidia sinensis, exported from the country, also began to be called kiwi.
opened New Zealand Dutch navigator Abel Tasman named the islands "Staten Landt", but cartographers transformed the name into Nieuw Zeeland, in honor of the island province of the Netherlands - Zeeland. The English version "New Zealand" was used by James Cook and is still in use today.
Presumably in the XI-XIII centuries, Zeeland was settled by Polynesian settlers.. They called the islands "Land of the White Long Cloud". The descendants of the Polynesians met with Europeans in the middle of the 17th century, when Dutch ships appeared here. Already in 1769, the islands became part of the British Empire under a treaty between James Cook and the Maori. The country regained independence in 1907, and separated from Australia even earlier - in 1901.
Representatives of the ruling dynasty of Great Britain are the monarchs of New Zealand to this day and have the right to approve the decisions of the parliament of the former colony, and the queen's birthday is the national holiday of the country.
There are three official languages in the country - English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language., the two hymns "God Save the Queen" and "God Defend New Zealand" are also used. The Union Jack is placed on the national flag as a tribute to history.
New Zealanders participating in Olympic Games, have won the largest percentage of top awards per capita . The most popular sports here are rugby, golf, cricket, football.
The population of the country is about 4.5 million people, 2/3 of which are the descendants of Europeans who have come here since the 18th century, the rest of the peoples are Maori and immigrants from Polynesia and Asian countries.
New Zealand is considered the most environmentally friendly country - there are no nuclear power plants, geothermal and hydroelectric power plants are used instead. Thanks to ecology, New Zealand agricultural products are recognized as the best in the world.
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Many official events in the country begin with the traditional art of Maori dance and singing - kapa haka. Haka gained popularity thanks to the New Zealand national rugby team, which performs a dance at the beginning of matches, but army units, navies, universities and various organizations have their own rituals. There are several types of hack, and not all of them are designed to intimidate the enemy, usually the idea is a story about yourself, about your intentions.
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A third of the world's inhabitants would like to visit New Zealand or move here to live.
Citizens of the country are allowed to drive from the age of 15, and foreigners only from the age of 21 and it is obligatory in the presence of the rights of the international sample, the passport of the visa. The rights can be used no more than three months from the time of entry into the country.
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The most famous New Zealanders are director, screenwriter and producer Peter Jackson, actors Russell Crowe, Anthony Curtis, Lucy Lawless, Nobel laureate in physics Ernest Rutherford, Formula 1 pilot Bruce McLaren, Olympic athletes Hamish Carter, Craig Watson, Bevan Docherty, Mark James Todd and others.
New Zealand is on the list of the most peaceful countries, according to the level of anti-corruption attitude on the second after Denmark.
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A selection of interesting facts about New Zealand will tell you about some events from the history of this country located in the Southern Hemisphere, about geography, climate, inhabitants, entertaining and amazing incidents, as well as nature and animals.

History of discovery and settlement

The history of human settlement in New Zealand is only 1 thousand years old, when the first people sailed here from Polynesia - representatives of the Maori tribe. They began to engage in hunting and agriculture.

In accordance with the historical facts about New Zealand, the first inhabitant from Europe to set foot on this land and see its beauty was the traveler Abel Tasman from Holland. In 1642 he went here on the instructions of the governor of the Dutch Indies.

However, Tasman's acquaintance with the local population of the island ended tragically: the New Zealanders killed 4 sailors from his ship, and this affected the future reluctance of the settlers to come here. And the Maori in these years quietly engaged in ordinary affairs.

More than 100 years passed until the ships of J. Cook (1769) again sailed here, who began to survey the coast and was able to determine the presence of not one, but two islands at once, the strait between which was later named after him. Cook devoted 3 months to exploring New Zealand, cruising between the islands and marking the coastline.

Only after the expedition of Cook began to arrive here settlers from Europe, as well as missionaries and whalers.

By the beginning of the 19th century. the population of the islands consisted of only 2 thousand Europeans, and the number of Maori was much larger (about 100 thousand). As interesting facts about the country testify, in New Zealand these 2 groups of residents coexisted quite peacefully. To offend or humiliate local natives among Europeans was considered an unworthy deed. Newcomers believed that they had come here to bring ideas of enlightenment and progressive innovations to a backward people.

gaining independence

In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was concluded with the Maori, guaranteeing the protection of their property and civil rights, which were granted by Britain in exchange for establishing its power. During these years, the number of Europeans arriving in New Zealand increased dramatically, and convicts (as in Australia) were not brought here.

In the 1860s and 1870s, there were small colonial conflicts between the local population and Europeans, mainly over land ownership. Gradually, the number of Maori declined due to massive diseases that were introduced by the arriving colonialists. In 1902, the process of assimilation was successfully completed, the number of mixed marriages increased, many of them began to cooperate.

Since 1947, New Zealand has become an independent dominion, and since 1986 this has been reflected in the State Constitution.

Historical facts

Modern New Zealand is a rich country and one of the most comfortable in the world for the life of the population.

Interesting facts from the history of New Zealand:

the islands became the last large land mass to be inhabited by humans;
the mapping of New Zealand was the last fact of its kind, which occurred only when previously unknown large areas of land were discovered;
New Zealander Edmund Hillary was the first person to summit Mount Everest.

Geography and location

New Zealand is located almost at the end of the world. The nearest land is 1.7 thousand km away - this is Australia, which is separated from it by the Tasman Sea. The nature and climate here are unpredictable and very diverse. The islands have several active volcanoes, which at any time can change the surrounding landscape or landscape.

The islands are dominated by a varied terrain, ranging from mountains and hills to sandy beaches. 75% of the territory is located at an altitude of 200 m above sea level. Interesting facts about New Zealand, its climate and geographical features will be given below.

South and North Islands

The southern island is crossed by the famous mountain range called the Southern Alps. Here is the highest point - Mount Cook, around which there are 18 more peaks, the height of which exceeds 3 km. Through the slopes of the Southern Alps, glaciers descend to the coast of the Tasman Sea. Here you can admire the beautiful and impressive fjords.

IN western regions The islands have preserved large areas of ancient forests, which are protected by the state, because they are unique, and nowhere else on the planet are there. Therefore, several national parks have been set up here to protect them. This is evidenced by one of the interesting facts about New Zealand, that 1/3 of the country's territory is National Parks, which are under the protection of the state.

The eastern regions of the island represent a more flat surface, the lands of which have been developed by man for agricultural purposes.

Most of the country's population lives on the North Island. There is a flatter terrain, fewer mountains, but there is high volcanic activity.

Curious facts about New Zealand

Country covers area islands that are located in several climatic zones at once, ranging from the subtropics to the cold southern regions. That is why New Zealand is considered the most diverse country in the world in terms of geography and climate.
The North Island is volcanoes, deserts and sandy tropical beaches, while the South Island is plains, mountains and glaciers.
The capital of the state, the city of Wellington, is the southernmost capital of the state on the planet.
Although the islands have an unusual topography, none of them extend beyond 128 km.
One of the most beautiful New Zealand lakes - Taupo was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano as a result of a powerful eruption 70 thousand years ago.
75% of the population lives in the North Island and 25% in Auckland ( South Island);
For every New Zealander, there are 9 sheep, i.e., their total number exceeds the country's population many times over.
The famous Blue Lake is considered to be the most transparent in terms of the water it contains.
Auckland is one of the most livable cities in the world.
called 145 km long, actually extends only 90 km.
Baldwin is the steepest street in the world in Dunedin, with an angle of 38°.

State and local authorities

The most interesting fact about New Zealand is the unitary structure of this state, that is, its management is based on the principles of a constitutional monarchy (the country is nominally ruled by the Queen of Great Britain) and parliamentary democracy. Officially, the Kingdom is not a state, and therefore is not internationally recognized.

The country is divided into 17 regions (councils), each of which has local self-government. Each council is responsible for many areas: the transport system, environmental issues, etc.

In addition, there are 74 departments in the territory responsible for communications in the region, providing life support systems, supervising construction, etc.

Capital

The capital of New Zealand is the city of Wellington, where more than 400 thousand people live. Its name is given by the name of Arthur Wesley, Duke of Wellington, who was the famous English commander who won the Battle of Waterloo, as well as the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The perpetuation of his name happened as a gratitude for the support and implementation of successful principles for the colonization of the country, which were developed by the founder of the city, W. Wakefield.

Wellington has several other nicknames:

Wellywood (formed from the merger of the words Wellington and Hollywood);
bay capital;
City of winds.

The capital of New Zealand is located in the south-west of the North Island, in the place formed after the volcanic eruption of the bay, and is included in the seismic zone. The bay is part of the Cook Strait, which separates the 2 islands. The climate is subtropical maritime.

Facts about government

However, the list of interesting facts about New Zealand is not yet exhausted.

New Zealand is the most sparsely populated country on the planet (about 4 million inhabitants).
The country has 2 anthems at once: its own and the national anthem of Great Britain, since Queen Elizabeth 2nd is formally considered the ruler, her duty is to approve the documents that the local parliament adopts.
There are 2 official languages in the country - English and Maori, which is spoken by representatives of the Polynesian natives.
Sign language is one of the official languages here.
The state of New Zealand is one of the calmest and safest in the world, there is practically no corruption here.
Back in 1987, the country opposed the use and use of nuclear energy by man, so in the 21st century there are absolutely no nuclear power plants here, and ships using atomic energy or having nuclear weapons on board are not allowed to enter its waters.
The liberality of politics in New Zealand can be assessed by the fact that in 1893 here, for the first time in the world, the state gave the right to vote to the weak half of humanity (women).

Animals and birds

Perhaps one of the most interesting facts about New Zealand is information about the representatives of its animal world.

The symbol of the country is the non-flying kiwi bird, which is also featured on the logo of the country's air force.
There are no snakes in New Zealand at all, but there are many lizards living at an altitude of almost 2 km (geckos and skinks).
Before the settlement of the islands by people, the only endemic mammals here were 3 species of bats: long- and short-tailed bats, as well as case-winged ones, the latter catching prey on the surface of the earth, moving along the grass in the forest with the help of folded wings.
Another species of endemic animals is frogs, which have not changed much over the past 70 million years.
Now lives here maximum amount species of penguins that no longer exist, but seals and whales were almost completely exterminated in the 19th century.
The islands are home to the giant predatory snail Powelliphanta, which feeds on earthworms.

The above facts about New Zealand allow us to rightfully call this state, its structure, inhabitants, climate and nature unique and extraordinary.

Most people have heard about New Zealand only in geography classes, and a couple of times in their lives, in passing. It is rarely talked about in the news, this state is not very popular with tourists and is located almost on the other side of the world. This country is isolated from the other world and was formed relatively recently.

However, New Zealand has over 4.7 million people and is a rapidly developing country. She has interesting story, which began long before the arrival of Europeans in these lands.

What else can you tell about this distant country? This compilation contains 25 fascinating facts about New Zealand!

New Zealand, despite its size, is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Its territory is 268 thousand square meters. km., and the population density is 18 people per sq. km. kilometer.
The state of New Zealand consists of two large islands and approximately 700 small plots of land.
About 1000 years ago, that is, before humans appeared on these islands, there were practically no mammals here, except for fur seals, bats and whales. First, people brought rats and dogs with them, and then other animals.
There are no snakes in New Zealand, and only one species of spider is poisonous. This good news for tourists! But in this country there are 40 various kinds ants...
The indigenous people of New Zealand who lived here before the Europeans, the Maori, had their own name for the area. They named the islands Aotearoa, which means "Land of the Long White Cloud".

The first Europeans visited these lands in 1642, but were negatively received by the local people. The next landing took place in 1769 under the leadership of James Cook.
No part of this country is further than 128 kilometers from the ocean. This makes New Zealand the perfect country for surfing and beach holidays!
New Zealand's main city, Wellington, is the southernmost capital in the world. The Maori name of the capital is Te Fanawi-a-Tara.
Only 5-7% of the number of all living beings on the islands of New Zealand are people. All the rest are animals, many species live only on the islands.
New Zealand has three official languages - English, New Zealand Sign Language and Maori.
New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893. In most other countries, women were able to vote only after the First World War.

About 15% of the country's population is made up of the indigenous population, the Maori. They managed to withstand the confrontation and military conflicts with the Europeans and win back their freedom and the right to live in their native land.
Filming of the film trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" took place in New Zealand, the birthplace of director Peter Jackson. All three films brought in more than $200 million to the country's treasury, and the government even appointed special ministerial officials who oversaw the filming process.
New Zealand is the only country in the world where all key leadership positions are held by women. The head of the kingdom of New Zealand is Queen Elizabeth II, and the prime minister, governor general, chief judge, speaker of the House of Representatives are also women.
There are no nuclear power plants in New Zealand.
Among the people who sit in the prisons of this country, 94% are men.
New Zealand was once part of Australia, and in 1901 New Zealanders were invited to become one of the Australian states. New Zealand refused and has since had no ties with Australia other than those accepted in the Commonwealth of Nations.

New Zealand is one of only three countries to have two anthems of equal importance. One is "God Save the Queen" in English and the other is "God Save New Zealand" in New Zealand.
The first person to reach the summit of Everest was a New Zealander named Sir Edmund Hillary.
The famous Waitomo Karst Caves, filled with luminous fireflies, are located in New Zealand.
Nelson's Blue Lake is the cleanest lake in the world; on a favorable day, visibility in the water reaches 70-80 meters.
In New Zealand, it is illegal to name a child Lucifer, Messiah, or Jesus Christ.
Often New Zealanders are called by the nickname "kiwi", and this bird is national symbol countries. The kiwi bird is a species endemic to New Zealand that does not have wings and therefore does not fly.

This country has a reputation for a highly developed agricultural industry, in particular in such areas as animal husbandry, winemaking, forestry, and horticulture.
New Zealand is one of the most liberal countries in the world. Same-sex marriages, keeping brothels, driving from the age of 15 and drinking alcohol from the age of 18 are officially legal here.

New Zealand is an amazing country in which everything is unique - from population to geography and climate. Despite the remoteness, it is developed on a par with European countries and keeps pace with the times.

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