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Explore New Zealand s Diverse Culture
he diverse culture of New Meaning New Zealand can claim
Zealand carries much over four million km2 or more
tradition and history built than 15 times its land area for
on the customs of the indigenous exploration and use of marine
people known as the Maori. Legend resources.
holds that the Maori traveled by
canoe from their mythical The climate is mild, mostly cool
ancestral island of Hawaiki over temperate to warm temperate, with
1,000 years ago. These Polynesian temperatures rarely falling below
settlers traveled in open boats 0°C (32°F) or rising above 30°C
(or in canoes) that are not too (86°F). The South Island is the
different from the traditional largest mass, mountainous, wet
crafts found in Polynesia today. and cold. It is divided
length-wise by the Southern Alps.
New Zealand is a country The North Island, dry and
comprised of two large islands continental, is marked by
and many smaller islands in the volcanism. The tallest mountain
southwestern Pacific Ocean and is on the North Island Mount Ruapehu
noted for its geographic (9,176-ft) is an active cone
isolation. The Tasman Sea volcano. Although the island
separates Australia to the landscapes are impressive, they
northwest; to north are Fiji and became a lot more popular when
Tonga. The total area of New the production the Lord of the
Zealand is 268670 sq. km, which Rings trilogy called them home.
is slightly less than Japan but a
little more than the United New Zealand has a population of
Kingdom. The country has about 4.1 million people mostly
extensive marine resources and of European descent with Maori
the fifth largest Exclusive being the largest minority.
Economic Zone in the world. Non-Maori Polynesian and Asian
peoples are also significant diverse, has influences from
minorities, especially in the British, Irish, and Maori
nation's cities. Officially, cultures. New Zealand is one of
Elizabeth II is the Queen of New the most recently settled major
Zealand and is represented in the landmasses. Polynesian settlers
country by a non-political arrived in their waka some time
governor-general; however, the between 800 and 600 years ago to
Queen has no real political establish the indigenous Maori
influence. Political power is culture. Among the British
held by the Prime Minister settlers, many people were from
(currently Helen Clark) who is Scotland giving New Zealand more
leader of the Government in the bagpipe bands than in Scotland!
democratically elected Parliament
of New Zealand. What exactly is a Kiwi?
A Kiwi to a New Zealander is not
Since 1984 the government has be the green fuzzy fruit most
restructuring the economy to lean Americans relate to. It is in
more towards an industrialized truth a flightless nocturnal
free market and less of an native bird with a long beak with
agrarian economy that was nostrils on the end. Most
dependant on the British market. important however, it is the
Leading agricultural exports national bird of New Zealand.
include meat, dairy products, Over the years, Kiwi has been
forest products, fruit and applied to and adopted by New
vegetables, fish, and wool. Zealanders as a nickname for
themselves and as an adjective
The culture, contemporary and for their culture.
About the Author:
For more information on New Zealand please visit the site at http://www.new-zealand-vacations.info/ . This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box and url links remain intact.
Source: www.isnare.com |
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