The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800.

In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights.

In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement.

A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples.

The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.

New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s.

In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 4,115,771 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.8% (male 437,547/female 417,698) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,393,057/female 1,378,358) 65 years and over: 11.9% (male 214,189/female 274,922) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 34.2 years male: 33.5 years female: 35 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 0.95% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 13.61 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.048 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.011 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.779 male(s)/female total population: 0.987 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 5.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.96 years male: 75.97 years female: 82.08 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,400 (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

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Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

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Ethnic groups: European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

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Religions: Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

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Languages: English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive years and reached $26,000 in 2006 in purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years. Exports are equal to about 24% of GDP, down from 33 percent of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $106.9 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $98.39 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $26,200 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.3% industry: 26.9% services: 68.8% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 2.18 million (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 25% services: 65% (1995)

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Unemployment rate: 3.8% (2006 est.)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA (1991 est.)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 36.2 (1997)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.8% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 22% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $41.51 billion expenditures: $36.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

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Public debt: 19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish

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Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

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Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2006 est.)

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Electricity - production: 41.1 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 38.22 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 27,860 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 150,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: 15,720 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - imports: 140,900 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - proved reserves: 51.48 million bbl (1 January 2005)

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Natural gas - production: 4.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 4.349 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 33.36 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Current account balance: -$7.944 billion (2006 est.)

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Exports: $23.69 billion (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

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Exports - partners: Australia 20.5%, US 13.1%, Japan 10.3%, China 5.4%, UK 4.9% (2006)

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Imports: $25.23 billion (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

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Imports - partners: Australia 20.5%, China 12.3%, US 11.8%, Japan 9.2%, Germany 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $10 billion (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $47 billion (2006 est.)

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Economic aid - donor: ODA, NA (2006 est.)

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Currency (code): New Zealand dollar (NZD)

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Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes