$NA
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Electricity - production:
1.825 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - consumption:
1.697 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - exports:
645.3 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - imports:
14,430 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Exports:
$1.341 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 145
Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
France 18.9%, Japan 18.3%, Spain 7.3%, China 6.5%, Belgium 5.4%,
Australia 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$1.998 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 149
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 36.6%, Singapore 17.7%, Australia 11.5%, NZ 4.7% (2008)
Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Communications ::New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
63,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 157
Telephones - mobile cellular:
196,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 172
Telephone system:
general assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 25 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.nc
Internet hosts:
22,448 (2009) country comparison to the world: 101
Internet users:
85,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 159
Transportation ::New Caledonia
Airports:
25 (2009) country comparison to the world: 130
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2009)
Heliports:
8 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 5,622 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 151
Merchant marine:
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 146 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Noumea
Military ::New Caledonia
Military branches:
no regular military forces; French police and gendarmerie (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 57,738 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 48,288
females age 16-49: 48,959 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,160
female: 2,087 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::New Caledonia
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
page last updated on November 10, 2009
======================================================================
@New Zealand (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::New Zealand
Background:
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography ::New Zealand
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 267,710 sq km country comparison to the world: 75 land: 267,710 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
397 cu km (1995)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)
per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world
People ::New Zealand
Population:
4,213,418 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 447,174/female 424,522)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,404,143/female 1,399,530)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 244,986/female 293,063) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 37.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.935% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Birth rate:
13.94 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Death rate:
7.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Net migration rate:
2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 192 male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.36 years country comparison to the world: 18 male: 78.43 years
female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.1 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 19 years
male: 19 years
female: 20 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 38
Government ::New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)
Administrative divisions:
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,
Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Constitution:
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later than 27 November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NP 44.9%, NZLP 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 58, NZLP 43, Green Party 9, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1
note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Pita SHARPLES]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August
1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,
CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: New York, Santa Monica
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
Government - note:
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand
Economy ::New Zealand
Economy - overview:
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for nine consecutive years and reached $27,900 in 2008 in purchasing power parity terms. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current account deficit. The economy fell into recession in 2008. In line with global peers, the central bank has cut interest rates aggressively; the new government is responding with plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$116.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $116.6 billion (2007 est.)
$113 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$128.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 3.2% (2007 est.)
1.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $28,200 (2007 est.)
$27,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 25.7%
services: 69.9% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.25 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 3.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%: %NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (1997) country comparison to the world: 83
Investment (gross fixed):
22.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Budget:
revenues: $54.41 billion
expenditures: $55.93 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 22.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 2.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 51 8.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 64 12.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$13.7 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $17.85 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$99.91 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $117.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$164.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $200.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 57 $47.45 billion (31 December 2007)
$44.94 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - production:
42.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - consumption:
39.24 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
65,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - consumption:
154,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - exports:
34,260 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - imports:
147,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - proved reserves:
60 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - production:
4.275 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption:
4.276 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - proved reserves:
33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Current account balance:
-$11.34 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -$10.63 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$31.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $27.29 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 23.1%, US 10.1%, Japan 8.4%, China 5.8% (2008)
Imports:
$32.76 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $29.05 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 18.1%, China 13.2%, US 9.5%, Japan 8.3%, Singapore 4.7%,
Malaysia 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$72.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $70.94 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: