New Zealand flag

New Zealand

History

Treaty of Waitangi set new terms for sovereignty or administration.
New Zealand gained wider self-government.
New Zealand became a dominion, expanding self-government within the British imperial system.
The Balfour Declaration recognised New Zealand as autonomous within the Commonwealth.
New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster and took full legislative independence.
The Constitution Act removed the last British legislative power over New Zealand.
Oceania thumbnailPart ofOceaniaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalWellington
Population5.3M
Area268,021 km2
CurrencyNew Zealand dollar

Short facts

RegionOceania / Polynesia
LanguageEnglish, Maori
Time zoneNZST (UTC+12)
Drives onLeft

Worth seeing

  • Fiordland: Dramatic glacially carved fiords including Milford Sound in the world's wettest inhabited place.
  • Rotorua: Geothermal wonderland of geysers, mud pools, and Maori culture.
  • Queenstown: Adventure capital of the world: bungee jumping, skydiving, and skiing.

Find a city in New Zealand

Showing all cities

Auckland thumbnailAucklandCityQueenstown thumbnailQueenstownCityWellington thumbnailWellingtonCity

Planning questions

What is New Zealand known for?Fiordland, Rotorua, Queenstown.
What is the capital?Wellington.
Which language is useful?English, Maori.
When is the national day?6 February.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Bledisloe Cup thumbnailBledisloe CupAug-Sep 2026 · New ZealandQueenstown Winter Festival thumbnailQueenstown Winter FestivalJun-Jul 2026 · New Zealand

Use Wellington as the first planning anchor for New Zealand, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

FiordlandRotoruaQueenstownWellingtonStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Oceania thumbnailOceania outdoorsLandscapes, routes, seasons and protected nature.