Australia and New Zealand
Wild · Green · Pacific
New Zealand is a country located in Australia and New Zealand. Its capital city is Wellington, with other major cities including Auckland and Christchurch. With a population of approximately 5.1M, the main languages spoken are English, Māori. The country covers an area of 268,838 km². The official currency is the New Zealand dollar ($). Traffic drives on the left side.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote, in 1893.
Wellington serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of New Zealand, positioned in Australia and New Zealand. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Auckland, Christchurch — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Wellington perches at the southern tip of the North Island, its steep hillside suburbs connected by the iconic red cable car — a city where the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa anchors a waterfront that punches far above its modest size.
With a population of approximately 5.1M, New Zealand is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The principal languages spoken are English, Māori, which reflect the country's cultural heritage and open doors to a wide international community. Internationally, New Zealand is reached via the dialling code +64. New Zealanders navigate identity through the Treaty of Waitangi, and the Māori concept of manaakitanga — hospitality and respect for others — genuinely shapes how strangers are treated, from rural marae to city streets.
New Zealand spans 268,838 km², in the Australia and New Zealand subregion of Oceania. Geographically centred around 41.0°S, 174.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the left-hand rule, in line with surrounding Oceania convention.
The official currency is the New Zealand dollar ($), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. New Zealand's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC-11:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
The emblematic dish of New Zealand is Hāngī. Food culture in New Zealand is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.
Rugby Union holds a special place in the heart of New Zealand's national identity. The All Blacks' haka, Ka Mate, performed before every test match, is not ceremonial theatre but a living war challenge rooted in the survival story of Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha, making rugby here an act of cultural declaration.
The highest point in New Zealand is Aoraki / Mount Cook, rising to 3,724 metres above sea level. The Southern Alps spine the South Island with 3,000-metre peaks, permanent glaciers like Franz Josef that descend into temperate rainforest, and a geological restlessness that reminds residents the land itself is still being made.