The Diplomat Country Snapshots provide a quick and easy resource for key economic, social and political data for the countries of the Asia-Pacific.
New Zealand
- Official Name:
- New Zealand
- Area:
- 267,710 sq km
- Population:
- 4.2 million (July 2009 est.) World Rank: 125
- Life Expectancy:
- Total population: 80 years Male: 78 years Female: 82 years (2009 est.)
- Nationality:
- New Zealander
- Language:
- English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
- Capital:
- Wellington
- Government Type:
- Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
- Leadership:
- Head of state: Prime minister John Key
- GDP:
- $116.7 billion (2008 est.) World Rank: 61
- Military:
- 1% of GDP (2005 est.) Total troops (inc. reserves): 11,974
- Military Expenditure (USD):
- 1.1 billion World Rank: 56
- Major Exports:
- Wool, food and dairy products, wood and paper products
- Current Environmental Issues:
- deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
- Internet Users:
- 3.36 million (2007) World Rank: 54
- Human Development Index:
- 20/182 High Human Development (UNDP, 2009)
- Embassies in New Zealand:
- Visit The Diplomat Embassy Finder
- Upcoming Events in New Zealand:
- Visit The Diplomat Event Calendar
- Synopsis:
New Zealand’s geographic isolation and its strength in agriculture previously had the effect of limiting its interest in world affairs. However, in the past few decades, the country has moved from a predominantly agricultural economy with heavy reliance on Britain to one that is significantly more industrial and open market. This transition has boosted financial growth, and in particular broadened the nation’s technological capabilities.
New Zealand’s economy has further been helped by its strong economic ties to Australia. New Zealand’s top 6 trading partners as of 2008 included Australia, the United States, China, Japan, Singapore and Germany with Australia continuing to be New Zealand’s principal export market. The country’s primary exports include dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish and machinery.
But despite the overall progress, the economy fell into recession with the global financial crisis and the government is currently working on trying to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure for recovery.
New Zealand’s overall economic development has also created a large wealth gap in its population. In recent years, the government has sought to address the longstanding injusticeｓ of its Maori minority population. The government is also focused on environmental issues including biodiversity, climate change, desertification, hazardous wastes and marine dumping through involvement in such initiatives as the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty and Kyoto Protocol
New Zealand’s economic involvement with Asia has been increasingly important for its expanding trade. New Zealand is a “dialogue partner” with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and an active participant in APEC. In 2008 New Zealand was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China.
Nearly 85 per cent of New Zealand’s population lives in urban areas, where the service and manufacturing industries are growing rapidly. New Zealanders refer to themselves as ‘Kiwis,’ after their national native bird.
