Map of New Zealand and Flag | New Zealand Cities, Outline and Wine Regions Map
It is time to not just get out of the house but definitely out of the country as well. Get fresh air in a whole new nation and unwind like never before. Vacations feel completely different when taken after a while and especially after living through a historical event, the pandemic. New Zealand is not a country that you haven’t heard of with its world-famous rugby team and Manuka honey which has its unique characteristics and is known to have incredible healing properties. A place where more sheep live than humans, you are in for a fun ride. Discover New Zealand with us, its map, its history, the beautiful beaches, flag details, population and much more.
Map of New Zealand
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When did the first European arrive in New Zealand?
The British were not the first people to land their eyes on this beautiful island by their infamous Captain Cook but in fact, the Dutch were the first to find this island and they mistook it for Antarctica. Abel Tasman was the explorer who was the first European to arrive on the island in 1642.
The inhabitants of the island, Maori people called the island Aotearoa which meant the land of the long white cloud. Abel Tasman and his fellow explorers were convinced that this land was a part of Argentina.
The mapmaker named the now called New Zealand, Nieuw Zeeland. After a whole century, Captain Cook came to the island and soon after New Zealand became one of the several colonized countries in Oceania by either the British, the French or by Germans. New Zealand was colonized by the British under the leadership of Edward G. Wakefield.
How many islands are in New Zealand?
If you were expecting just a typical island vacation where you stick to the same scenery everywhere, you are in for a treat. New Zealand has a total of 600 islands! The South Island of New Zealand is considered to be its largest island and it ranks at number 12th in the world rankings. So, you will not just get a change of scenery but also an opportunity to experience all the good things that nature has to offer with every island having unique characteristics from its forests to glaciers. The South Island consists of mountains whereas the North Island has forests and volcanic peaks.
Is it ok to call a New Zealander a Kiwi?
Usage of Kiwi to refer to a New Zealander is not considered offensive. New Zealanders use the word Kiwi themselves as well to refer to their people. For New Zealanders, it is a symbol of pride and endearment. The name comes from New Zealand’s native flightless bird which is also used as an international symbol of New Zealand.
The bird is greatly valued in New Zealand and its feathers are used to make ‘Kahu Kiwi’ which are precious cloaks that tribal chiefs wear. Before the First World War, Kiwi was just used as a mere representation of the country by the bird but by 1917 New Zealanders were often called by other nicknames like Enzedder.
One of those nicknames were Kiwi which just stuck to the people. The Kiwi bird was first described as the most remarkable and curious bird. In the 1900s several cartoonists were using the bird to represent New Zealand in their illustrations but it was not limited to just them, Kangaroos were used to represent Australia and so on.
After the Second World War, Kiwi became widely known to the world and the New Zealanders got used to it by then and now they often refer to themselves with the nickname as well.
Where is New Zealand Located on the world map?
New Zealand can easily be mistaken for a European country because of its people. New Zealand is inhabited by people originating from various ethnicities. The main inhabitants of New Zealand are the Maoris who have been there for the longest. However after its discovery by the Europeans and further colonization led to a large number of Europeans settling in this beautiful island.
New Zealand is situated in the south-west of the Pacific Ocean. Towards the East of New Zealand lies Australia, 1200 miles away. A lot of countries in Oceania are mistaken for being a part of Europe due to past colonization of these countries by several European countries.
New Zealand and US relationship
Post Second World War, to assist the countries in Oceania in getting back on their feet due to the economic recession and after-effects of the World War these countries were provided financial aid and defense by the US. A lot of these countries were used as a battleground during the world war while many others were used as a passage for the soldiers. Such countries were provided with aid, under a UN Trust.
Many countries in Oceania are therefore now regarded as US territories. New Zealand and the US both have been colonized in the past by the British with natives suffering and barred from their own lands. New Zealand is not a US territory but they share a very good relationship with the US. Not to mention New Zealand is a major non-NATO ally of the US and the countries work closely together on several issues.
The two countries also share common ancestry and history and with three other English-speaking (Anglophone) countries they form the Five Eyes alliance.
New Zealand Flag Facts
A country’s flag always bears a lot more than just the mere representation of the country or a mere symbol, flags are fascinating because they encompass a lot more in a very minimalistic manner. The current flag of New Zealand has not always been their official flag but it was in common use since 1862 and was officially adopted in 1902 during the South African War.
For a few years between 1834 to 1840, the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand was recognized as the official flag chosen by Maori chiefs. The flag represented the recognition of New Zealand as a separate and independent nation. In 2016, New Zealand conducted a poll which allowed the people to vote on the flag of their choice out of two. 57% of the people voted on the current flag.
New Zealand Flag Colors
The colors used on New Zealand’s flag are greatly similar to that of the United Kingdom’s flag. New Zealand’s flag uses the same colors in the same shade as that of the UK i.e. blue, red and white. Other than the colors themselves being similar, New Zealand’s flag itself contains the United Kingdom’s flag on its top left corner.
There are also a total of 4 stars with one at the top followed by the second towards the right, third relatively bigger star towards the lower left and finally, the fourth star which is also the biggest one of all at the bottom aligned with the first.
New Zealand Flag Meaning
The flag contains several elements displaying not just New Zealand as a whole but also its past, a significant part of their history. This is why the flag incorporates the use of the Union flag to represent the past relations that New Zealand has had with Britain including their colonization in 1840.
The blue background of the flag represents the Pacific Ocean and the sky. The stars are accurately placed that represent the Southern Cross that is only visible in the Southern Hemisphere. The flag bears great resemblance to the Aussie flag.
Population of New Zealand
The ethnic people of New Zealand are called Maori. They are Polynesians who came from eastern Polynesia but unlike the other indigenous people of eastern Polynesia, the culture of Maoris greatly differs from them and not just that but also the language, mythology and the arts differ too.
Europeans came to New Zealand in the 17th century and with themselves, they brought great changes to the culture and the lifestyle of Maori people. At first, the two cultures merely coexisted but gradually they merged into one culture. However, now New Zealand greatly follows the mainstream culture inspired by Europeans while the US has a great influence on the culture too.
In today’s age, a huge number of Asians mainly Indians and Chinese have migrated to this island and make up a significant percentage of the population.
Language of New Zealand
New Zealand is a diverse country now with people migrating from all over the world to this beautiful island. There are a total of three official languages of New Zealand starting from English which is spoken by almost the entire country followed by Te Reo Maori.
This is the indigenous language of the Maori people but over the years after its colonization and the formation of a unified culture inspired from globalization, the speakers of Te Reo Maori have decreased drastically. With further immigrants from all over the world, the speakers of the indigenous language are merely 4 percent now.
Interesting Facts about New Zealand
Full of culture, art, architecture, loving people and history. What is there not to love about New Zealand? We are going to give you more facts about the place that will not only make your trip a lot better by knowing about the place itself but it will further make you fall in love with the country. Here are some of the interesting facts about New Zealand:
- It is one of the least populated countries with just 4 million people but geographically, it is almost the size of Japan.
- New Zealand was the first country which gave women the right to vote in 1893.
- The very first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary was a New Zealander.
- New Zealand has the crown with having the greatest number of golf courses per capita and Auckland has the largest number of boats per capita in the world.
- New Zealand has won the most Olympic medals per capita in the world.
- The Hector’s dolphin is exclusive to the waters of New Zealand and it is not found anywhere else.
Places to Visit in New Zealand
Get the best of both worlds with nature like no other and modernization at the same time offering you luxury wherever you go. Whether you are on a budget or you don’t have a budget at all, New Zealand offers activities at all price points for everyone. Here are a few of them
- Mountain Huts – Willing to go an extra mile for the perfect view? Literally. New Zealand offers multiple mountain huts with a breathtaking view. The trek is multiple days and it is ideal for adventure seekers. Kiwis call this activity tramping.
- Dolphins – Get to witness the smallest dolphin in the world for yourself by swimming with them! The town of Kaikoura in the South Island is home to Dusky Dolphins. These dolphins are playful and can often be seen doing flips out of the water.
- Fergburger – People who have been to New Zealand rave about this burger. The burger is everything you want a burger to be and more but the line for this is long because of how famous and rightfully hyped it is.
- Bungee Jumping – You are at the home of this sport. Bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand. It would be unfair to not try it on such a perfect occasion. The country offers several places that cater to a wide variety of people whether you are an adrenaline junkie or just someone who wants to do it for the experience, they have it all covered.
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