Drahokoupil Jakub

 island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean  the North Island, or Te Ika-a-M ā ui and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu  one of the last lands to be settled by humans  The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue and the Ross Dependency

 First inhabitants - Polynesians in 1250– 1300 CE and developed a distinctive M ā ori culture  First europeans - Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, in 1642 CE  during the 19th century, inter- tribal Musket Wars  In 1840 the British Crown and M ā ori signed the Treaty of Waitangi, making New Zealand a British colony

 Majority of population are European descent  Maori are the biggest minority

 legislative authority is vested in a Parliament  executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister  queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General.

 two main islands  The South Island is the largest landmass of New Zealand  Devided with Southern alps  The north island is marked by volcanism  Lake Taupo, nestled in the caldera of one of the world's most active supervolcanoes

 Isolated for 80 million years  unique species of animals, fungi and plants  evolved fromGondwanan wildlife  Kiwi, tuataras, half the world's cetaceans population

 The population is approximately 4.5 million  53 percent od population is living in the four largest cities of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton  New Zealand is heavily dependent on international trade, particularly in agricultural products