{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand sometime between A.D. 1250 and 1300. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Great Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. 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." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "41 00 S, 174 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Oceania" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "268,838 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "264,537 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "4,301 sq km" }, "note": "

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

" }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "15,134 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate with sharp regional contrasts" }, "Terrain": { "text": "predominately mountainous with large coastal plains" }, "Elevation": { "mean elevation": { "text": "388 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m" }, "highest point": { "text": "Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "43.2% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.8% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 41.1% (2011 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "31.4% (2011 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "25.4% (2011 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "7,210 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under \"Geography - note\"

" }, "Environment - current issues": { "text": "water quality and availability; rapid urbanisation; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species; negative effects of climate change" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation" } }, "Geography - note": { "text": "

note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism

note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire

note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "4,991,442 (July 2021 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "New Zealander(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "New Zealand" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)", "note": "

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group

" }, "Languages": { "text": "English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) .5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)", "note": "

note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census

" }, "Religions": { "text": "Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Mormon 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)", "note": "

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "19.63% (male 496,802/female 469,853)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "12.92% (male 328,327/female 308,132)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "39.98% (male 996,857/female 972,566)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "11.93% (male 285,989/female 301,692)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "15.54% (male 358,228/female 407,031) (2020 est.)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "55.8" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "30.3" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "25.5" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "3.9 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "37.2 years" }, "male": { "text": "36.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "37.9 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.28% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "12.83 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "6.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "86.7% of total population (2020)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.01% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.607 million Auckland, 415,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.07 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.88 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "27.8 years (2009 est.)", "note": "

note: median age at first birth

" }, "Maternal mortality rate": { "text": "9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "3.5 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "3.69 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "3.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "82.33 years" }, "male": { "text": "80.57 years" }, "female": { "text": "84.19 years (2021 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.87 children born/woman (2021 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "79.9% (2014/15)", "note": "

note: percent of women aged 18-45" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "9.2% (2017)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2017)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "<.1% (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "3,500 (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "<100 (2019 est.)" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "30.8% (2016)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "6.3% of GDP (2017)" }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "19 years" }, "male": { "text": "18 years" }, "female": { "text": "20 years (2018)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "11.5%" }, "male": { "text": "12.3%" }, "female": { "text": "10.7% (2018 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "none" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "New Zealand" }, "abbreviation": { "text": "NZ" }, "etymology": { "text": "Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Wellington" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "41 18 S, 174 47 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April" }, "note": "

note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)

etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo

" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast" }, "Dependent areas": { "text": "Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau" }, "Independence": { "text": "26 September 1907 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or \"acts of Parliament,\" the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2014" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "3 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Grant ROBERTSON (since 2 November 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister " }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with confidence and supply support from the Green Party" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats for 2020-23 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 48 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 17 October 2020 (next scheduled for 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - Labor Party 49.1%, National Party 26.8%, ACT Party 8%, Green Party 6.3%, Maori Party 1%; seats by party - Labor Party 64, National Party 35, Green Party 10, ACT Party 10, Maori Party 1; composition - men 63, women 57, percent of women 47.5%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]
Green Party [James SHAW]
Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party)
Maori Party [Che WILSON and Kaapua SMITH]
New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
New Zealand Labor Party [Jacinda ARDERN]
New Zealand National Party [Judith COLLINS]
United Future New Zealand [Damian LIGHT]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 328-4800" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 667-5227" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Honolulu (HI), Los Angeles, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Scott P. BROWN (since 27 June 2017) note - also accredited to Samoa" }, "telephone": { "text": "[64] (4) 462-6000" }, "embassy": { "text": "29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034" }, "FAX": { "text": "[64] (4) 499-0490" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Auckland" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "God Defend New Zealand" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS" }, "note": "

note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to \"God Defend New Zealand,\" \"God Save the Queen\" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); \"God Save the Queen\" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, \"God Defend New Zealand\" is played

" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

Over the past 40 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 some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.

Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.

Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.22% (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2018": { "text": "3.22% (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "3.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "1.6% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "1.5% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "1.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "AA (2011)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Aaa (2002)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "AA (2011)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$210.877 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$205.112 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$198.913 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$205.202 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$42,888 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$42,370 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$41,493 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "21% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "21.5% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2015": { "text": "20.2% of GDP (2015 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "5.7% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "21.5% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "72.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "57.2% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "18.2% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "23.4% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.3% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "27% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-26.1% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall Ease of Doing Business score 2020": { "text": "100.0 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots" }, "Industries": { "text": "agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "1.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.709 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "6.6%" }, "industry": { "text": "20.7%" }, "services": { "text": "72.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "4.13% (2019 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2018": { "text": "4.32% (2018 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1997": { "text": "36.2 (1997)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "74.11 billion (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "70.97 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "36.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "31.7% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "33.5% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "1 April - 31 March", "note": "

note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$6.962 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2018": { "text": "-$8.742 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2019": { "text": "$56.219 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Exports 2018": { "text": "$54.977 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$53.457 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 22.4%, Australia 16.4%, US 9.9%, Japan 6.1% (2017)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "dairy products, meat and edible offal, logs and wood articles, fruit, crude oil, wine" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2019": { "text": "$63.622 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Imports 2018": { "text": "$62.276 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$58.494 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 19%, Australia 12.1%, US 10.5%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Thailand 4.6% (2017)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "petroleum and products, mechanical machinery, vehicles and parts, electrical machinery, textiles" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$20.68 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$91.62 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$84.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "1.41794 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "1.52334 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "1.45709 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "1.4279 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "1.2039 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "42.53 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "39.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "9.301 million kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "23% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "58% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "24,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "26,440 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "108,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "51.8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "169,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "1,782 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "56,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "5.097 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "5.182 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "33.7 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": { "text": "37.75 million Mt (2017 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1,801,645" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "37.11 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "6,550,687" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "134.93 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "excellent domestic and international systems; mobile and P2P services soar; LTE rates some of the fastest in the world; growth in mobile broadband and fiber sectors; roll out of 5G; investment and development of infrastructure enable network capabilities to propel the digital economy, digital media sector along with e-government, e-commerce across the country; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 135 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019)" }, "note": "

note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".nz" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "4,340,672" }, "percent of population": { "text": "90.81% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "1.647 million" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "34 (2018 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "15 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "199" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "17,249,049 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "1,349,300,000 mt-km (2018)" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "ZK (2016)" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "123 (2013)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "39 (2017)" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "2 (2017)" }, "2,438 to 3,047 m": { "text": "1 (2017)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "12 (2017)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "23 (2017)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "1 (2017)" } }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "total": { "text": "84 (2013)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "3 (2013)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "33 (2013)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "48 (2013)" } }, "Pipelines": { "text": "331 km condensate, 2500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "4,128 km (2018)" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2018)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "94,000 km (2017)" }, "paved": { "text": "61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways) (2017)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "32,400 km (2017)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "114" }, "by type": { "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 97 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2020)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has about 9,600 active duty troops (4,700 Army; 2,300 Navy; 2,600 Air Force) (2020)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "NZDF is equipped mostly with imported weapons and equipment from Western suppliers; Australia, France, and the US are the leading suppliers since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2019)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "significant consumer of amphetamines" } } }