HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

POPULATION

The population of New Zealand in 1996 was 3.6 million, giving the country an overall population density of about 35 per square mile. Nearly three-quarters of the population (including more than 95 percent of the Maori) reside on North Island. About 84 percent of the people live in urban areas, and about half of these in the four largest cities and their environs.

The earliest cultural tradition in New Zealand was that of the Maori. The literature consisted of history, tales, poems, and myths handed down by oral tradition. The indigenous art of New Zealand is also Maori. European settlers, particularly the English, brought with them their own traditions, which came to dominate the cultural life of the country. Since the 1950s, significant numbers of Pacific Islanders, particularly Polynesians, have contributed to a growing ethnic diversity in New Zealand. More recently, greater diversity has been fostered by increased immigration from Asia since the mid-1980s.

English and Maori are the official languages, although the country is predominantly English-speaking. Almost all of the Maori speak English, and only about 15 percent are considered fluent Maori speakers. Other Polynesian and European languages are spoken by a small percentage of the population.

Modern methods and machinery are used extensively on New Zealand farms, and the productivity of the country is consequently among the highest in the world. The land is suited for dairy farming and for raising sheep and beef cattle because winter housing for livestock is unnecessary and grass grows nearly year round. The livestock of New Zealand includes sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs. New Zealand ranks second only to Australia in wool production.

Executive action nominally is taken on behalf of the governor-general, who is appointed by the British monarch. The governor-general usually works in concert with the Executive Council, which is composed of the governor-general, the prime minister, the ministers heading the various governmental departments, and ministers without departmental responsibility. The principal administrative body in New Zealand is the cabinet, which consists of the prime minister and the ministers in charge of departments.

A majority of the New Zealand population is Christian. The primary denominations are Anglican, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Methodist, Baptist, and other Protestant denominations are also represented. Most of the Maori are members of the Ratana and Ringatu Christian sects. Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists constitute small minorities.

The islands remained isolated from the Western world until the arrival of the Dutch sea captain Abel Tasman in 1642. He arrived at the northern end of the South Island, but stayed only a short time because of the violent reception given to his men by the Maoris.

The British explorer Captain James Cook visited the islands in 1769 and took possession of them for Great Britain. The establishment of the close links with Great Britain that have shaped New Zealand life and culture dates from Captain Cook's day. Widespread organized European settlement began in 1840, the date of the official declaration of British sovereignty.

The Treaty of Waitangi is seen as the founding document of the nation of New Zealand. It was signed in 1840 by the British government's representative, Capt. William Hobson, and by Maori chiefs at the Bay of Islands. This treaty is still regarded as the cornerstone of relations between the Maori and the pakeha (the Maori term for the white man), despite a continuous history of dispute over some aspects of the relationship - chiefly the ownership of land.

For more information about the treaty, click here: http://www.govt.nz/nz_info/treaty.shtml

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