New Zealand

New Zealand is to be found south-east of Australia. It consists of two large islands, the North Island and the South Island. New Zealand is mainly mountainous. The North Island is predominancy famous for its volcanic area. It also has many small lakes. The climate is very pleasant all the year round in New Zealand.

The first inhabitants of New Zealand were the Maoris of Polynesian origin. Today they represent about 9 per cent of the population. The oficial language is English. Its area is 268,812 sq km and the population is 3,389,000. More than 80 per cent of the population live in towns.

New Zealand is divided into counties. Its capital is Wellington. Other large cities are Auckland, Christchurch, and Hamilton.

The flag of New Zealand consists of the Union Jack and four red stars in the constellation of the Southern Cross.

New Zealand´s prosperity is founded on dairy farming. The pleasant climate allows cattle and sheep to stay outside even in winter. Grass grows faster in New Zealand than in most countries and is called "the green gold" there.