© Lenka Lexová Introduction it's an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean it consists of two main islands: the North Island (active volcanoes) and the South Island (caves, deep glacial lakes, amazing fjords, and long sandy beaches) it has got a population of over 4 million people the native people are called Māori and the majority of population is of British origin the capital is Wellington, the biggest city is Auckland there are two official languages: English and Māori in Māori language the name for New Zealand is The Land of the Long White Cloud the currency is the New Zealand dollar

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Geography New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, it is situated 2,000 km southeast of Australia Cook Strait, 20 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, separates the North and South Islands the South Island is divided along by the Southern Alps, the highest peak is Mount Cook (3754 m) the North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism (Rotorua National Park) the climate is mild thanks to the surrounding ocean dramatic and varied landscape of New Zealand has made it a popular location for television programmes and films

© Lenka Lexová New Zealand from space. The snow- covered Southern Alps dominate the South Island, while the North Island's Northland Peninsula stretches towards the subtropics.

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Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand Abel Tasman National Park in the South Island

© Lenka Lexová Rotorua National Park in the North Island a tourist place thanks to geothermal activities (geysers, hot mud pools)

© Lenka Lexová Political system New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy British Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and is titled Queen of New Zealand the Governor-General represents the Queen and chairs the Executive Council the Prime Minister is the leader of the Parliament and the head of Government the highest court in New Zealand is the Supreme Court of New Zealand

© Lenka Lexová New Zealand government "Beehive" and the Parliament Buildings, in Wellington

© Lenka Lexová History the first known settlers were Eastern Polynesians who arrived by canoe in about AD 1250–1300 these settlers developed into a distinct culture now known as Māori the first European on New Zealand was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 Māori killed several of the crew and no Europeans returned to New Zealand until British explorer James Cook's voyage of 1768–71 the islands became a British colony in 1840 New Zealand became a formally independent dominion in 1907, it is still a member of the Commonwealth

© Lenka Lexová Economy New Zealand has a modern, prosperous, developed economy the service sector is the largest sector in the economy followed by manufacturing and construction and farming and raw materials extraction the main export industries are agriculture, fishing and forestry dairy products, meat, wood, wool (2 nd largest exporter after Australia), fruit, wine and sheep are important agricultural products tourism plays a significant role in New Zealand's economy

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Culture New Zealand culture is derived from British roots which include the English language it is also influenced by American, Australian, Polynesian, Asian and Māori cultures

© Lenka Lexová New Zealanders love doing sport they especially like extreme sports

© Lenka Lexová the Kiwi bird