Where in the World? There is a large gecko lizard living in this country and it is a very unusual reptile – it does not lay eggs. Instead, it gives live birth to its young, usually twins. The national bird is a large, shy, flightless creature with a long slender bill with nostrils at the tip. It is a good thing this bird only lays one egg because the egg is approximately one-third the female bird’s weight. No other bird lays such a large egg relative to body size. The bird is the kiwi, also a popular nickname for the people from this island nation off the coast of Australia.

Where on Earth are you? Can you find your place? New Zealand

Welcome to New Zealand

Consisting of two main islands and several smaller ones, New Zealand has magnificent mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, fjords, rivers, and spectacular coasts. Settled by Polynesians, now known as the Maoris, probably by 1000 A.D., it was sighted by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman in 1642 and visited by British explorer James Cook in 1769. Whalers and missionaries followed, and in 1840 native leaders ceded sovereignty to the British by signing the Treaty of Waitangi. The English and Maori versions of the treaty carried different meanings, and it wasn’t until 1975 that the New Zealand Parliament set up a tribunal to investigate Maori claims, many of which have now been met. New Zealand’s colonial status was formally terminated by Britain in 1907.

Before the Maoris arrived, what characteristics did all the mammals of New Zealand share? There were only mammals that could fly. In fact, the only native land mammal is the bat. It was the Maoris who brought with them dogs and rats. Sheep and cattle have been introduced, and today, New Zealand sells 90% of its dairy products for export.

In New Zealand, when water flows down a drain, it swirls counter clockwise. Contrast this to the Canada where the water swirls clockwise. WHY? The water is actually swirling in the same direction – it is all perception. Picture this: you are floating above the North Pole looking down on the Earth. The Earth appears to be turning counter clockwise. Now floating over the South Pole, and though the Earth is turning in the same direction, now it appears to be spinning clockwise. Try it with a globe.

Iceland, the United States, and New Zealand are the only three countries in the world with these. What are they? Geysers. New Zealand has a thermal region with a belt of geysers, boiling mud pools, and hot-water springs. New Zealand’s Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot springs in the world. At its deepest point, the water reaches a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. Ready for a swim?

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (1944) is one of the world’s greatest opera singers. What is an opera? An opera is a play in which all or most of the speeches are sung. An orchestra usually accompanies the singers.

What did tattoos mean to the Maoris? Tattoos were a ritualized art that was only performed by priestly experts. Each person’s tattoo was a form of identification and different from everyone else’s.

FAST FACTS – New Zealand The capital city of New Zealand is Wellington while the largest city is Auckland. Other major cities include Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin. The population of New Zealand was estimated to be around 4.5 million at the start of 2013. The official spoken languages of New Zealand are English and te reo Maori, with English being the most widely used. Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British and Maori, making New Zealand a colony of the British Empire. In 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world to give all women the right to vote.

A Few More Facts Due to its isolation, New Zealand has developed unique animal and plant life. The bird species of New Zealand are particularly diverse, including alpine parrots and ground dwelling Kiwis. The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in New Zealand. In New Zealand they drive on the left-hand side of the road. . Dairy products are New Zealand’s highest earning exports. Rugby is the most popular spectator sport in New Zealand but a variety of sports such as football (soccer), cricket, netball, golf and others are popular among participants.

Where in the World? It’s your turn: Complete your “Where in the World?” page. 1 – fill in the country and continent. 2 – write a paragraph about New Zealand with at least 5 interesting details (important details). 3 – colour in Australia on the world map.