The vegetation of New Zealand. Animals and plants of New Zealand - the unique nature of the country

  • 23.09.2019

Nature of New Zealand

New Zealand (eng. NEW Zealand. Maori. Aotearoa. ) - a state in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, in Polynesia, located on two large islands (North Island and South Island) and large quantities (approximately 700) adjacent smaller islands. Country Country - City Wellington. The population of New Zealand is about 4,443,900 people (for 2012).

The primary stratifiers of New Zealand should consider immobally from East Polynesia, which began the development of these islands allegedly in the XI-XIV centuries. Several waves of relocation and consistent development in new territories created two although in many ways similar, but independently developing cultures and two people who received self-discharge maori and moriori . Moriori compactly lived on the Islands of the Chatham Archipelago, and Maori stood up the North and South Islands. It was from Maori that the first Europeans who fell on these land were met.


Military boats Maori. According to legends, such boats were used by the first migrants from Polynesia. Figure XIX century

The first European navigator who visited the coast of this country in 1642, the Dutchman Abel Tasman, called it " Staten Landt." This name was transformed with Dutch cardographs in Latin Nova Zeelandia In honor of one of the provinces of the Netherlands - Zealand (Notele. Zeeland..) And in the Dutch name Nieuw zeeland.. Later, the British navigator James Cook used the British version of this name, NEW Zealand. , in his records, and it was it that it became the official name of the country. One of the main features of New Zealand is geographic isolation. The closest neighbors of the country are - to the West Australia, separated by the Tasmann Sea (the shortest distance - about 1,700 km); To the north island territories - New Caledonia (about 1400 km), Tonga (about 1,800 km) and Fiji (about 1900 km).


New Zealand, view from space

In addition to the two main islands, New Zealand owns about 700 islands of a significantly smaller area, most of whom are desert. The largest of them are the island of Stuart, the island of antipodes, Auckland Island, Bounty Islands, Campbell Islands, Chatham Archipelago and Kermadek Islands. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 268,680 sq. Km. It makes it a little less in size than Italy or Japan, but a few more UK. Length coastline New Zealand is 15,134 kilometers. South Island - the largest island New Zealand and the 12th largest island on the planet, its area is 150,437 sq. Km.


Stuart island from a bird's eye view

The relief of New Zealand is mainly elevated and mountain. More than 75% of the country is at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. Most mountains North Islands do not exceed 1800 m. 19 peaks Southern Island above 3000 m. Coastal zones North Islands are represented by spacious valleys. On the west coast of the South Island are fjords.


Fiordland National Park is the largest New Zealand National Park.
Fjordland area of \u200b\u200bmore than 12,500 sq. Km mountain southwestern southern island

The climate of New Zealand varies from a warm subtropical in the north of the North Islands, to the cool moderate in the south and in the central regions of the southern island; In mountainous areas the harsh alpine climate prevails. The chain of the High Southern Alps shares the country in half and, blocking the path to the predominant Western winds, divides it into two different climatic zones. West Coast Southern Island - the most wet part of the country; The eastern part that is only 100 kilometers from her is the thinnest.


Mount Cook (Maori Aoraki) - Mountain in the New Zealand South Alps,
the highest (3754 m) point of New Zealand,
located in the western part of the southern island near the coast

The East Australian flow passing through the Tasmanovo Sea between Australia and New Zealand, makes the climate of the islands and the east coast of Australia with a more warm and wet, tropical instead of subtropical; Promotes the spread of tropical sea fauna in subtropical areas along the southeastern coast of Australia and New Zealand.


Picturesque river Wahikhhidden in lush subtropical vegetation in New Zealand

For the most part of New Zealand, the precipitation rate ranges from 600 to 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of a dry summer period.


Waterfall Bridal Weil ("Wedding curtain"). The path of falling water, he is surprisingly reminding the lungs of the bride. To the foot of the waterfall leads a staircase with three hundred steps. One of the most picturesque and majestic waterfalls of New Zealand, falling through the big amphitheater cliffs from a height of 55 meters

The average annual temperature is from +10 ° C in the south, to +16 ° C in the north. The coldest month is July, and the warmest months - January and February. In the north of New Zealand, the differences between winter and summer temperatures are not very significant, but in the south and in the foothill areas the difference reaches 14 ° C. In the highlands of the country with an increase in height, the temperature sharply decreases, about 0.7 ° C every 100 meters.


July in New Zealand

In Auckland the largest city Countries, the average annual temperature is + 15.1 ° C, with the highest fixed temperature amounted to +30.5 ° C, and the minimum -2.5 ° C. In the capital of the country, Wellington, the average annual temperature is +12.8 ° C, the maximum fixed temperature is +31.1 ° C, minimal -1.9 ° C. The lowest temperature in all Oceania was observed in New Zealand, as it is located furthest from the equator among the countries of Oceania (up to 47 parallels of southern latitude) in the city of Ranferli on July 18, 1903 and amounted to -25.6 degrees.


Wellington - the capital of New Zealand

The absolute maximum temperature in New Zealand was marked in the city Rancianequal to +42.4 degrees, in the north-east of the Southern Island, between 43 and 44 parallels, closer to 43. The absolute minimum and maximum temperature in the country was observed on the South Island, where the more continental climate than on the North Island. The temperature difference on the island is 68 degrees, and the average annual temperature over the surface of the southern island is +8.4 degrees.


On the streets rangy

amount sun hour The year is relatively high, especially in areas protected from Western winds. On average, it is at least 2000 hours. Solar radiation level is very high on most of the country.

Snowfalls are extremely rare in the coastal areas of the country's north and in the western part of the southern island. In the rest of the regions, minor and short snow sediments are possible during the winter months. Night frosts in winter can take place throughout the country.


Snowfall on the streets of Velington, August 2011

Active tectonic activity in the earth's crust of this region continues on the modern geological stage of the formation of our planet. And its results are noticeable even in a historically short period from the beginning of the development of the islands by Europeans. So, for example, as a result of the destructive earthquake of 1855, the coastal trait near Wellington rose more than one and a half meters, and in 1931, as a result of a strong earthquake near the city, the nipper on the water surface rose about 9 square meters of sushi.


Earthquake of magnitude in 6.3. The epicenter is registered in the region of the second largest city of the country - Christchurch, on the island of South.

At the present stage, the zone of increased tectonic activity and the part of the earthquakes conjugate with this is the west coast of the Southern Island and North east Coast North Island. The annual number of earthquakes in the country is up to 15,000, most of them are small and only about 250 each year can be attributed to the number of noticeable or strong. AT modern history The most powerful earthquake was recorded in 1855 near Wellington, about 8.2 points by force; The most destructive was the earthquake of 1931 in the area Nipirawho claimed 256 human lives.


Earthquake in Hox Bay, also known as an earthquake in the nepier, occurred on the North Island of New Zealand on February 3, 1931

Volcanic activity in modern New Zealand is also high, and 6 volcanic zones are active in the country, five of which are located on the North Island. In the area of \u200b\u200bLake Taupo Presumably in 186 to n. e. There was a documented volcanic eruption in the history of mankind. The effects of eruption are described in the historical chronicles of so remote places as China and Greece. At the site of the eruption is now located the largest in the Pacific region freshwater lake Taupo, its area comparable to Singapore.


Lake Lake Taupo 44 kilometers, area 33 square kilometers. This is the largest natural reservoir with fresh water throughout the southern Pacific

Due to the special geological and geographical conditions In New Zealand, many rivers and lakes. Most of the rivers are short (less than 50 km), originate in the mountains and quickly descend to the plains, where they slow down their current. Whicato - The largest river of the country with a length of 425 km. The country also flows 33 rivers with a length of more than 100 km and 6 rivers with a length of 51 to 95 km. The overall length of rivers and other inland waterways in the country is 425,000 km.


River Uaicato's mouth

In New Zealand, 3280 lakes with an area of \u200b\u200bwater mirrors more than 0.01 sq. Km, 229 lakes have a water mirror more than 0.5 sq. Cm and 40 - more than 10 sq. Km The largest lake countries - Taupo (area 623 sq. Cm), the most deep lake - Hauloko (Depth - 462 meters). Most of the lakes of the North Islands are formed as a result of volcanic activity, and most of the southern island lakes are formed by glacial activity.


Ozero Hauroko

New Zealand is one of the few countries of the southern hemisphere on its territory glaciers (Tasmansky, Fox, Franz Joseph and etc.). The Tasmansky Glacier forms a narrow Ice Language with a length of 27 km, in plates to 3 km wide; The total area of \u200b\u200bits 52 sq. Km. In some parts, it reaches the thickness of 610 m and is the largest Glacier of New Zealand.


In some parts, the Tasmansky glacier reaches a thickness of 610 meters and is the largest Glacier of New Zealand

New Zealand is isolated from other islands and continents with large marine distances. The sea-washing of its Western Coast, the Sea separates the country from Australia by 1,700 km. The Pacific Ocean ishes the east coast of the country and separates the country from the nearest neighbors - in the north, from New Caledonia, 1000 km; in the east, from Chile, 8700 km; And in the south of Antarctica by 2500 km. Long historical isolation and remoteness from other continents created a unique and in many ways unique natural world New Zealand Islands, distinguished by a large number of endemic plants and birds.


Parrot KEA - Endemic New Zealand

About 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent settlements of man on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exception was two types. bats and inhabitants in the coastal waters of whales, sea lions (PhoCarctos Hookeri) and sea seeds (Arctocephalus Forsteri).


Fur seal. Fjord Milford Sound. New Zealand

Simultaneously with the coming on these lands of the first permanent residents, Polynesians, small rats appeared on the islands (Rattus Exulans) and dogs. Later, the first European immigrants brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the XIX century has caused the emergence of new and new animal species in New Zealand.


The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (imported to the country for the development of hunting fishery), Gornostayev (brought to the country to control the population of rabbits). Tedted I. opossums For the development of the fur industry. When I had to release animals to the will, they began to climb on the poles with the wires and nibble them. As a result, the city remained without current, and animals died. I had to gather all the pillars with the tin, so that the opossums could not get up. People also mindlessly delivered black swans, Dyatlov, Canaries, Zhavorkov, geese (both wild and domestic) and many other species of birds. But as if it was not enough, a person was brought to New Zealand deer, pigs and other major mammals, whom he went to the will, believing that so the forests would look pretty. Without natural enemies in the surrounding nature, the population of these animals achieved such sizes that the natural representatives of the Flora and the fauna of New Zealand were under a serious threat. Only in recent years, the efforts of the Environmental Office of New Zealand, some coastal islands have been delivered from these animals, which made it possible to hope for the preservation of natural conditions there.


Opossum

From representatives of the fauna of New Zealand the most famous are birds Kiwi (ApteribiFormes), who became the national symbol of the country. Birds also need to be noted KEA (Nestor Notabilis) (or Nestor), Cacapo (Strigops Habroptilus) (or Sovic Parrot), such (notoronis HochStelteri).


Kiwi Bird - National Symbol of New Zealand

Only in New Zealand remained the remains of the giant non-flyers exterminated about 500 years ago birds of Mo. (Dinornis), reaching a height of 3.5 m. Slightly later, presumably only about 200 years ago, the largest of the famous types of Orlov - Eagle Haast, who had a scope of the wings to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg.


Thus looked gigantic unauthorizing birds Moa

Flora New Zealand has about 2,000 plant species. The forests of the country are divided into two main types - mixed subtropical and evergnosene. The forests are dominated in the forests (PodoCarpus). Preserved, although sharply decreased during the industrial development of forests, thickets agathis Novoveland (Agathis Australis) and cypress Dacridium (Dacrydium Cupressinum).


Dacridium cypressive

In artificial forests, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is in general about 2 million hectares, mainly grown Pine lady (Pinus Radiata) brought to New Zealand in the middle of the XIX century. Radiant pine planting in the Kaingaroa Forest area created the world's largest artificially grown forest. New Zealand has the largest amount of liver mosses in comparison with other countries. There are 606 of their species in the country, 50% of them are endemics.


Pine lady

The country's legislation defines about 60 types natural territoriesTo be protected and preserved, among them the largest and most significant forms are national parks (including maritime parks), natural, scientific, ecological and tourist reserves and reserves. The country has created 14 national parks, 4 maritime parks, 21 marine and coastal reserves and more than 3,000 reserves. The total area of \u200b\u200bnational parks, reserves and natural territories under protection is about 6.5 million hectares or about 25% of the country's total territory. The largest National Park of New Zealand and one of the most beautiful in the world is Fjordland National Park (Eng. Fiordland National Park).


Fjord Milford Sound in Fjordland National Park

There are several zoos and botanical gardens in the country, the largest of which is open in 1922 and containing more than 170 species of animals on its territory Auckland Zoo. In addition, large zoos are open in the cities of Wellington and Auckland, and the only zoo with a free content of animals works in Christchurch. The unique park was created near the city of Fangarei, specializing in the preservation of animal subfamily of large cats.


Lemurs in the Oakland Zoo

Currently, tourism creates at least 10% of the country's GNP. Almost 18,000 enterprises operate in tourism, and they create about 10% of jobs in the country. In 2006, the country was visited by a record number of tourists in its entire history - 2,422,000 people. At the same time, on average, each tourist was in the country for 20 days, and they were summarized in New Zealand more than $ 6.5 billion. The main number of tourists make up residents of Australia. Recently, the number of tourists from the PRC has increased significantly, and they amounted to the second group of international tourists who visited the country in 2006. This is followed by tourists from the USA, Germany, South Korea, Japan.


Wi-O-Tapu - This is a volcanic zone called the "thermal miracle." Everything is bulitis there and transfers with incredible paints. On the territory of the reserve exist pedestrian routes Covering geasers, water temperature in which reaches 260 ° C


Fjordland National Park is the largest in the kingdom. The park is located national lakes with rich history, fjords and gorges, and the mountains on its territory, reach the height of more than 2,700 meters

Learn about New Zealand:


New Zealand is the edge of the green hills and the blatant miracle birds Kiwi. Here the trilogy "Lord of the Rings" was filmed, in the north warmer than in the south, and the sun comes to the sunset counterclockwise.

Hatched. Long historical isolation and remoteness from other continents created a unique and largely unique natural world of New Zealand Islands, characterized by a large number of endemic plants and birds.

Milford Sound - Fjord in the southwestern part of the New Zealand Island South. Named by Radyard Kipling "The Eighth Miracle of Light".

Cool cliffs reaching the height of 130 meters. Penguins live here.

Penguin-guard

Glowing worms that attract flying insects trapped from sticky threads.

In the limestone caves of the Waitomo New Zealand region, there is an amazing phenomenon called "temptation" of luminous worms. In fact, this is a kind of mushroom mosquito living only in several regions of New Zealand. On the walls and ceilings of the caves, these insects form whole galaxies of amazing beauty.

About 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent settlements of man on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exception was two types of volatile mice and whale living in the coastal waters, sea lions and sea seals.

Simultaneously with the arrival of the first permanent residents, Polynesians, small rats and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the first European immigrants brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the XIX century has caused the emergence of new and new animal species in New Zealand.

The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (brought to the country for the development of hunting fishery), as well as minority (imported to the country to control rabbit population).

Ermine

The relief of New Zealand is mainly elevated and mountain. More than 75% of the country is at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. Most of the North Islands Mountains do not exceed 1800 m. 19 of the southern island above 3000 m.

It is he! From representatives of the fauna of New Zealand, birds of Kiwi, who have become the national symbol of the country are the most famous.


Presumably, the ancestors of modern kiwi fell to New Zealand from Australia about 30 million years ago. These non-flying birds, the size of the ordinary chicken, are so different from other birds that Zoologist William Calder called them "honorable mammals".

New Zealand is located on two major islands (Northern and South) and large quantities (approximately 700) adjacent smaller islands. The population, according to the statistical administration of New Zealand for June 2015, is 4,596,700 people.

Another local resident. This is ghatteria. Dwells on a few not large Islandsx New Zealand. Gatteria is an extinct relic appearance and is subject to guard. Included in the Red Book of IUCN, now has a security status of a vulnerable species.

New Zealand is 129 geothermal zones. This hot spring of the "champagne pool" is located in the Geothermal region of Vahipapa on the North Island of New Zealand. The name "champagne pool" occurs due to the constant outflow of carbon dioxide, similar to the raising champagne in the glass. Bright colors of an amazing geothermal source come from rich precipitation of minerals and silicates. The age of the source is 900 years.

Local gray fanochwost. One of the smallest and most pressing birds of New Zealand.

New Zealand is one of the latest populated areas. Different kinds Analyzes make it possible to conclude that the first eastern Polynesians settled here in 1250-1300 after long journeys in the South Pacific Islands.

Sea lions in New Zealand belong to the most rare species.

Reflections of New Zealand Autumn.

Kakapo, or the owl parrot - a nightlive bird, which is the endemic of New Zealand. Perhaps one of the most ancient now living bird species.

These flowers are one of the highest living butterms in the world (the height of more than 1500 meters). Flower B. summer time. Flora New Zealand has about 2,000 species of plants.

Vegeta is a collective name of more than 100 species living in the territory of New Zealand. Specifically, this species has a size of 3.6 cm and very creatively saves from predators - jumps into the water and sits there up to 5 minutes, as long as the predator will lose interest to him.

Scary predator. Predatory and able to teach their prey in the forests, these snails feed on, mostly rainworms.

In New Zealand, 3280 lakes. This is one of the few countries of the southern hemisphere, having glaciers on its territory (Tasmansky, Fox, Franz Joseph, etc.).

Only in New Zealand, the remains of the gigantic non-flying birds of Moa, which reached the height of 3.5 m were preserved.

Despite the fact that moving films began in New Zealand in the 1920s, the active development of the film industry received only since the seventies of the same century. The trilogy "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit", the movies "Last samurai", "Chronicles of Narnia" received particularly fame.

Today it's all

the island state in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 1930 km south-east of Australia. It became an English colony in 1840, when the leaders of the Native tribes of Maori recognized the Supreme Power of the English Queen, while having received the rights of British subjects and retaining tribal autonomy to a certain extent. Currently, New Zealand is an independent state as part of the Commonwealth, headed by the United Kingdom, one of the founders of the UN.

Most of the immigrants in New Zealand over the past one and a half century were British, but after 1945 there are influx of immigrants from Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, from the islands of the Southern Pacific, and recently from Asia. Indigenous residents - Maori make up 14.5% of the population, and their cultural heritage Even more is approved as an integral part of the country's culture.

Square of New Zealand - 268,021 square meters. km, and the population is 3781.5 thousand people (1997). This country includes two large islands - the North (113,729 sq. Km. The tip of the south island, Chatham Islands (963 square meters) and a slightly more remote with a total area of \u200b\u200b1015 square meters. km; Of these, the only group of any significant size is O Auckland (567 square meters. km). The permanent population has only the islands of Kermadek and Campbell, which are located meteorological stations. To the jurisdiction of New Zealand also applies to Tokelau (a group of three small atolls in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean) and the Antarctic sector in the Ross Sea area (coastal land and nearby islands).

NATURE

Relief area. New Zealand is extended by more than 1600 km, its maximum width is 450 km. Mountain and hilly relief are dominated; More than 3/4 of the territory is located above 200 m above U.M. Plains occupy approx. 10% of the total area.

South Island. In the western part of the island, the chain rises folded mountains - Southern Alps. Here is a covered with a snow cap Mount Cook, the highest point of New Zealand (3754 m). At least 233 other peaks rise above 2300 m. There are 360 \u200b\u200bglaciers in the mountains; The largest of them are Tasman, Franz Joseph and Fox. In the Pleistocene glacial era, the glaciers had a greater power and repeatedly descended to the Canterbury Plain on the east coast and occupied a significant part of the modern province of Otago in the south. For these areas, deep U-shaped valleys are characterized, strongly dissected relief and cold lakes of an elongated form - Te-Anau, Manapoury, Wakatipa and Javea.

The Canterbury Plain is the most extensive lowland length on New Zealand. 320 km and 64 km width - is located in the east of the island. It is composed of powerful peccles, overlapped by a layer of fine-grained sands and clays with a thickness of up to 3 m. Here are wide valleys of the ice nutrition rivers - Uaimakariri, Rakai and rankitata, the water of which are usually only partially filled with pebble-lined. The longest river of the Southern Island and the most fulfillment within New Zealand is clubs (322 km), draining the plateau of Otago.

North Island. Mining system The southern island, interrupting the narrow strait of Cook, continues on the northern island of Tararua ridges, Ruakhin, Kaimanava and Huiarau. To the north and west of the Kaimanava Ridge stretches the plateau coated with volcanic ash, lava and pepperous sediments. Three volcanic peaks are elevated above it (2797 m above U.m.), Tongaririro (1968 m above U.m.) and NGAurukhoe (2290 m above U.M.). To the west of the plateau, the symmetric mountain Egmont rises (2518 m above U.m.), which dominates this part of the country. In general, the mountainous and hilly relief occupies 63% of the North Island Square. The most extensive areas of the lowlands are located at the foot of the Mount Egmont, in the area of \u200b\u200bPalmerston-North (Manavatu - Hyphenua), at Oz. Wairarapa, Cities Hamilton and Morrinsville (Whiikato - Hauraki), as well as around Auckland. Small plain sites are also located in Norteland on the shores of captivity bays and Hawk. In the center of the North Islands there is the largest lake - Taupo in New Zealand (area of \u200b\u200b606 square meters. Km, the depth is approx. 159 m). It follows the longest river of the country - Whicato (425 km). Hot springs, geysers and mud "boilers" are around Rotorua and Wirakei. In Wirakei, geothermal steam is used to receive electricity. On the far North Islands are extensive fields sand dunes. Places along the west coast on the beaches there are exits of ferrous sands.

Earthquake. Compared to other countries located within the Pacific seismic belt, the level of seismic activity in New Zealand is low. Although in some areas of earthquakes and weak shoes occur quite often, they only occasionally lead to destruction. Thicks in 7 points on the Richter scale occur on average no more than once every 10 years.

The greatest seismic activity is observed on the North Island approximately east and south of the imaginary line between Fakatahanta and the Havaura, as well as on the South Island north of the line connecting Cape Faulinda with the Banx peninsula. The most destructive earthquake is registered in the vicinity of the nepier in 1931.

Climate. The climate of New Zealand is even and wet. The difference in seasonal temperatures is small, drops a lot of rains, but the lack of sunny days is also not felt. However, climatic conditions vary from one district of the country to another. This is partly due to a significant long-term length of New Zealand, leading to the fact that in the extreme north the climate is warm and wet, without frosts, and in the extreme south in the inside of the island - cold and dry. Also play the ridges located in the west and in the center of the islands and protect the eastern coast from the west of the winds. In general, on the Southern Island, the climate is severe than in the North, due to the remoteness from the equator, proximity to the cold seas and large absolute heights. Especially cold and strong winds blow a significant part of the year in the highlands of both islands, where the main amount of precipitation falls in the form of snow. Accumulating, it forms glaciers. Almost all the population of the country lives in the territories below 600 m above U.m., so the eternal snow does not cause him any concern. On the west coast of the southern island, the climate is very wet, the annual rate of precipitation exceeds 2000 mm. The berterbury plains are much landed and at times are blurred with hot and dry northwescal winds of a hair dryer, then cold, carrier rains with southern winds. On the entire Northern Island, except inland mountain areas, and the summer and winter are soft, moderate or abundant sediments fall throughout its territory.

Vegetable world. Over 100 years after 1850, New Zealand was turned from a wooded country in a huge pasture. Now the forests are employed only by 29% of its territory (7.9 million hectares), of which 6.4 million hectares occupy natural preserved forests and another 1.5 million hectares - artificial plantations (mainly pine Pinus Radiata.). From hundreds with excessive growing trees growing here, only a few have economic importance, including four types of coniferous - Dacridium cypress, NO NO Nogoplodniki Totar, Bakery and Dacridiyevoid, - and one broader view - Notofagus (South Beech). The famous and once widespread forests from Agathis New Zealand are now preserved only in reserves in the north of the North Island.

At the time of the country's development, Europeans extensive squares in New Zealand, especially on the South Island, were occupied by highly unrunner cellars. To date, they have been preserved only in the mountains, and on the plains is replaced by pastures from the introduced European cereals (spurla, hedgehogs, oatmeal) and clover. In the east of the North Islands, communities of the local creek of Dantonia are still quite widespread.

Soil. In general, the soils of New Zealand are poor humus and lowland. Everywhere, with the exception of periodically flooded floods and flooded areas overlapping, it requires a large number of fertilizers to preserve productive pastures.

The most common zonal soil types in New Zealand are brown-gray, yellow-gray and yellow-brown. The first is characteristic of dry intergurny kotlovin about. Southern with cereal vegetation, receiving less than 500 mm of precipitation. The areas engaged in them are mainly used as sheepish pastures and only occasionally for agriculture. In more wet areas transition from cereal steppes to mixed forests, and yellow-gray soils are common in the lower part of the eastern slopes of the mountains. They are more fertile and are used for intensive farming (for example, on a benterbury plain) and as pastures. For more wet areas, a strongly leached poor yellow-brown soil are characterized for more wet areas with dismembered hilly relief and forest vegetation. In places in such areas on the clay weathering crust of weathering, guery-podzolic soils are developed ("Pakiy"), such as in Westland on the South Island, or subtropical clay soils, common under the forests of Pine Kauri in Norteland. In the profile of such soils at a small depth, a dense waterproof horizon that impede drainage and plowing.

About 6 million hectares occupy a variety of esconsal and intrazonal soils whose properties are determined by the mother breed. Such are fertile soils, developed on volcanic ash in the central part of the North Islands, peat soils of the Waicato Valley, alluvial soils of river valleys, as well as the soil of the desired sectors of the sea coast.

Almost half of the area of \u200b\u200bthe country (13 million hectares) occupy mountain soils, usually low-power and underdeveloped, often scrubly. About 1.6 million hectares of them accounted for the upper belt of the mountains, practically deprived of vegetation. The soils on the slopes are susceptible to erosion, so burning and cutting of the covers of their forests and unrunner grasslates in many places led to the deplorable results.

Animal world. Animal world New Zealand is similar to the fauna of some other areas of the southern hemisphere, there are endemic species and even childbirth and, except for two types of bats, there are no placental mammals. The most interesting birds. Only here we found the remnants of extinct Moa, or dinornis, the giant non-flying feathers, some species of which reached 3.6 m of heights. They were completely exterminated, probably ok. 500 years ago. In the forests still inhabit the non-flying kiwi, which are depicted on the country's emblem. Another unauthorizing bird is a New Zultanka, or Taka, - was considered extinct, but in 1948 was again discovered.

- Country developed and modern, but for residents of many other countries, it still remains a "white spot" - in Russia they also know a little. We know that this country is located on the farther south - more precisely, in the south-west of the Pacific Ocean, and consists of a group of islands. The major islands are only two - the north and southern: they are about the same in the area - the difference is 36 thousand square meters. km. In addition to them, there are many small islands and archipelagoes, but not all of them are suitable for life - New Zealand has even Antarctic possessions.

Distant country New Zealand

The population density in New Zealand is low: the area of \u200b\u200bits territories exceeds the overall territory of Great Britain, and only 4 million people live on it - it is not surprising that lovers of tranquility and extensive spaces, tired of life in big cities.

Very attractive tourists from around the world Extreme entertainment - in New Zealand, the whole industry of such entertainment. This is riding on mountain rivers in high-speed boats, riding with steep mountains with the help of special shells, all sorts of tarzanka, alloy through underground rivers; Heliling - Snowboarding with the participation of the helicopter; rafting, steaming on parachute; Air surfing - flight in the air on small boats equipped with parachute; Flights in the "air kayak" between hills, zorbing - descent from the mountain in huge inflatable balls, and others. Very extreme entertainment can be called descent to crater extinct volcanoes: They act in boiling water geasers, and you can even go down in a thermally insulated capsule into a rapid magma.

From Russia, New Zealand is far from Russia - in the sense that there are even direct flights there, and you have to fly through Korea and Japan - with a transplant. In total, to get to the destination, you have to stay in the air about 24 hours - it is quite serious.

History and climate in New Zealand

The islands on which is located, were settled about 1000 years ago, and the Europeans learned about them in the XVII-XVIII centuries. England managed to quickly "take to the hands" new lands, and so far New Zealand is a monarchy and a member of the British Commonwealth, although membership is rather formal. Queen Elizabeth II is also a formal head of state: it reigns, and manages the country of parliament, as in the UK itself.


Tourists going to visit this distant country, it is interesting to know about her climate and weather conditions. New Zealand climate can be called soft: winter there happens when we have summer, and the air temperature is rarely lowered below 10 ° C; In the summer, it is rarely rarely rising above 30 ° C - we have an annual temperature scatter more tangible. But a sharp change of weather here is frequent phenomenon: heat can change cold rain, and on the contrary - this is because it is very quickly moving warm and cold air masses. Residents of Russia are advised to come here from November to March - January and February are considered the warmest months.

Pristine Nature of New Zealand

New Zealand quite a few amazing attractionsAlthough the country with a rich cultural and historical past - by the standards of Europeans - it is impossible to be called it. a lack of historical monuments It is estimated for a unique and beautifully surrendered nature: no vain New Zealand is considered one of the cleanest countries in the world in the sense of ecology. Local landscapes are really natural - they are intact, and their state carefully protects, considering their main heritage. At the relatively small territory of the country there are 12 national parks, and marine parks including.


The largest and most luxurious is a fjordland, which occupies the territory of about 12.5 thousand square meters. km and enabled UNESCO World Heritage - However, like many other New Zealand Parks. Every year there are thousands of tourists from all over the world here, and it seems to them that the territory of this park has not yet argued with a person's foot ": there are many clean and transparent mountain lakes; Ancient forests grow - southern trees are dominated in them, but they coexist with glaciers, no less than ancient - the spectacle is more than amazing. Animals Here, what no longer have anywhere on Earth - New Zealand is well known, but here are large predators, poisonous snakes and insects can not be afraid.

Auckland - the country's largest city

Wellington is the capital of the country, but the largest city is Auckland. It is huge, but almost all buildings in it are one-story, but this does not prevent him from being an economic, cultural and industrial center. Historic attractions are a bit, but they are: first of all, this is the University of Auckland, founded in 1883; Several beautiful Victorian mansions; Monument to the first minister of the country - Michael Savidu; Fort "Victoria", built in 1885. The history of its construction is interesting: they say that the fort decided to build after Russia strengthened its position in the Pacific Ocean - the British feared that the Russians could attack their colony.


Since such a number of different animals, as in New Zealand, there is no more anywhere, the Oakland zoo is recognized as one of the best in the world - it has many different awards, and international, including. The zoo is divided into zones so that animals are comfortable to live there, and people are convenient to watch them. About 180 species of animals live on a not very large area - only about 20 hectares, but they, and visitors feel in the zoo very comfortable - local residents Love come here on the weekend with the whole family.



In Auckland there is a unique aquarium. Of course, there are dozens of grand aquariums in the world, but almost all of them are the same type: visitors are watching the life of aquatic animals through glass, standing outside - the Auckland Aquarium works in a different way. According to his bottom, a tunnel of glass passes, and people, hitting it, turn out to be like on the seabed: the marine inhabitants are floating not just near, behind the glass, but also right above the head, and the sun seems to be a distant luminous spot - an unforgettable impression.

Of course, in Auckland many entertainment and cultural institutions, a lot of interesting museums and parks, and from the vertices of extinct volcanoes, located within the city, offers a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. The beaches on the coast of New Zealand - comfortable and "wild" - about 15 thousand km - it is surprising if we consider that the country's territory is not so great. They go one to another but western beaches They differ sharply from the eastern: on some sands are gold, and on others - coal-black, volcanic. Sports facilities built a great set - lovers active rest It will not be boring, and surfers from all over the world come here every summer: there are no such waves anywhere else - they are very different, so professionals can both ride and beginners.

To tell briefly about what is worth seeing in modern New Zealand, it is impossible - you need to go there, but it's not for everyone to pocket: the tours are very expensive, and with flights it turns out more expensive. It is more profitable to go to this country with groups, or combine a trip with a visit to Australia - Distance to New Zealand from southern continent Total 2000 km.

New Zealand is located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean in the Polynesian triangle in the central area of \u200b\u200bthe hemisphere of water. The main territory of the country is two islands, having the appropriate names - the island of South and the island of North. South Islands and North are divided by the Strait of Cook. In addition to the two main islands of New Zealand, about 700 islands have a significantly less square, most of whom are desert.

The largest of them are the island of Stuart, the island of antipodes, the island of Auckland, the island of Bounty, Campbell Islands, Archipelago Chatham and Kermadek Island. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 268,680 km2. It makes it a little less in size than Italy or Japan, but a few more UK. The length of the coastline of New Zealand is 15,134 kilometers.

Southern Island is the largest island of New Zealand, its area is 151,125 km2. Approximately one fourth part of the country's population lives on the island. Along the islands from the north to south, the ridge of the folded mountains of the Southern Alps stretches, the highest peak of which is Mount Cook, another official name - Aooraki) 3754 meters high. In addition to it, on the southern island there are another 18 vertices with a height of more than 3000 m. The eastern part of the island is more flat and almost completely occupied by agricultural land. The west coast of the island is populated much less tight. Significant arrays have been preserved here untouched nature with virgin floral and animal world. The western part of the famous is also numerous national Parks, fjords and glaciers descending from the southern Alps slopes right in Tasmanovo Sea. Most big Lake Islands - Te Anau (second in the area of \u200b\u200bLake New Zealand).

North Island, an area of \u200b\u200b115,777 km2, significantly less mountainous than southern, and more convenient to create settlements and seaports, which is why most of the population lives on him and here are the largest cities of the country. The highest point of the North Island is active volcano Rupeju height is 2797 meters. The North Island is characterized by high volcanic activity: from six volcanic zones of the country, five are located on it. In the very center of the North Island, Lake Taupo is located, the largest lake in New Zealand. From it takes his beginning the River Oakato, the length of which is 425 kilometers, which makes it the most long River in New Zealand.

New Zealand is isolated from other islands and continents with large marine distances. The sea-washing of its Western Coast, the Sea separates the country from Australia by 1,700 km. The Pacific Ocean ishes the east coast of the country and separates the country from the nearest neighbors - in the north, from the new calendonia, by 1,000 km; in the east, from Chile, 8700 km; And in the south of Antarctica by 2500 km.

The length of the coastal band of New Zealand is 15 134 km. Territorial waters - 12 nautical miles. Exceptional economic zone - up to 200 nautical miles. The area of \u200b\u200bthe marine exclusive economic zone is approximately 4,300,000 km2, which is 15 times greater than the area of \u200b\u200bthe country's earth's surface. In the coastal waters of the country there are up to 700 small islands, most of them are located up to 50 km from the main islands. Of the total number only approximately 60 are suitable for accommodation or populated at present.

The relief of New Zealand is mainly elevated and mountain. More than 75% of the country is at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. Most of the North Islands Mountains do not exceed 1800 m 19 of 19 of the peaks of the southern island above 3000 m. The coastal zones of the North Islands are represented by spacious valleys. Fiorids are located on the west coast of the Southern Island.

Geological structure of New Zealand

The islands forming new Zealand are located in the Cenozoic geosiclinal area between the two lithospheric plates - Pacific and Australian. For long historical periods, the place of fault between the two plates was subjected to complex geological processes that constantly change the structure and shape of the earth's crust. That is why, unlike most islands Pacific Ocean, New Zealand Islands are formed not only as a result volcanic activity, but also as a result of discharges and are composed of geological rocks of various composition and different ages.

Active tectonic activity in the earth's crust of this region continues on the modern geological stage of the formation of our planet. And its results are noticeable even in a historically short period from the beginning of the development of the islands by Europeans. For example, as a result of the destructive earthquake of 1855, the coastal trait near Wellington rose more than one and a half meters, and in 1931, as a result of a strong earthquake near the city, about 9 km2 sushi rose on the water surface.

The location of New Zealand is historically connected with active volcanic activities on its territory. Researchers suggest its beginning during the early Miocene period, and the period of the formation of modern zones of increased volcanic activity was completed in the period of Late Plyocene. The largest volcanic eruptions, presumably, had a place in the period of late Pliocene - early Pleistocene, when approximately 5 million cubic kilometers of rocks could spew on the surface of the Earth.

At the present stage, the zone of increased tectonic activity and the high-end earthquake conjugated with this is the west coast of the southern island and the northeast coast of the North Island. The annual number of earthquakes in the country is up to 15,000, most of them are small and only about 250 each year can be attributed to the number of noticeable or strong. In modern history, the most powerful earthquake was recorded in 1855 near Wellington, about 8.2 points by force, the most destructive was the earthquake of 1931 in the nepier area, which killed 256 human lives.

Volcanic activity in modern New Zealand is still high and on the territory of the country are active 6 volcanic zones, five of which are located on the North Island. In the area of \u200b\u200bLake Taupo, presumably in 186 BC, the largest documented volcanic eruption occurred in the history of mankind. The effects of eruption are described in the historical chronicles of so remote places as China and Greece. At the site of the eruption, the largest freshwater lake in the Pacific region is now located, with its area comparable to Singapore.

Minerals of New Zealand

New Zealand is located on the border of the Indo-Australian and Pacific Seismic Rings. The processes of their interaction, including the rapid raising of mountain arrays and active volcanic activities within two million years, have determined the geology of the islands of the islands.

Despite the variety of natural fossils, only gas, oil, gold, silver, glazed sandstone and stone coal are developed industrially developed. In addition to the above, there are extensive reserves of limestone and clay (including bentonite clay). Aluminum, Titiled Zheleznyak, antimony, chrome, copper, zinc, manganese, mercury, tungsten, platinum, heavy spat and a number of other minerals are often found, but their explored industrial reserves are small.

It should be especially noted that all deposits and all mining nephrite since 1997 are given to the management of Maori, due to the important historical role that jade products (Maori Pounamu) are played in the culture of this nation. The confirmed gold reserves in New Zealand are 372 tons. In 2002, gold mining amounted to a little less than 10 tons. Confirmed silver reserves in New Zealand are 308 tons. In 2002, silver mining amounted to almost 29 tons. The confirmed stocks of ferrous sandstone are 874 million tons. Its industrial mining has begun in the 60s of the XX century. In 2002, production amounted to about 2.4 million tons.

Confirmed natural gas reserves in New Zealand are 68 billion m3. Industrial gas production has begun in 1970. In 2005, natural gas production in the country was approximately 50 million m3. Oil reserves are approximately 14 million tons, industrial production has begun in 1935. Oil production in the country is noticeably reduced in recent years. In 2005, oil mining in the country amounted to a little more than 7 million barrels. Coal mining volumes have steadily rising many decades, stabilized in the first decade of the XXI century due to programs aimed at reducing hard fuel consumption. About a third of the extracted coal goes to export. Currently, 60 coal mines continue to operate in the country.

Climate of New Zealand

The climate of New Zealand is changing from a warm subtropical in the north of the North Island, to the cool moderate in the south of the South; In mountainous areas the harsh alpine climate prevails. The chain of the High Southern Alps shares the country in half and, blocking the path to the predominant Western winds, divides it into two different climatic zones. The west coast of the South Island is the most wet part of the country; The eastern part that is only 100 kilometers from her is the thinnest.

For the most part of New Zealand, the precipitation rate ranges from 600 to 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of a dry summer.

The average annual temperature is from +10 ° C in the south, to +16 ° C in the north. The coldest month is July, and the warmest months - January and February. In the north of New Zealand, the differences between the winter and summer temperatures are not very significant, but in the south and in the foothill areas the difference reaches 14 ° C. In the highlands of the country with an increase in height, the temperature sharply decreases, about 0.7 ° C every 100 meters. In Auckland, the largest city of the country, the average annual temperature is + 15.1 ° C, with the highest fixed temperature amounted to +30.5 ° C, and the minimum -2.5 ° C. In the capital of the country, Wellington, the average annual temperature is +12.8 ° C, the maximum fixed temperature is +31.1 ° C, minimal -1.9 ° C.

The number of sun hours a year is relatively high, especially in areas protected from Western winds. On average, it is at least 2000 hours. Solar radiation level is very high on most of the country.

Snowfalls are extremely rare in the coastal areas of the North of the country and in the western part of the southern island, but in the east and south this island is susceptible to snowfall during the winter months. As a rule, such snowfall is insignificant and short. Night frosts in winter can take place throughout the country.

New Zealand River and Lakes

Due to the special geological and geographical conditions in New Zealand, many rivers and lakes. Most of the rivers are short (less than 50 km), originate in the mountains and quickly descend to the plains, where they slow down their current. Oakato - the largest river of the country with a length of 425 km. The country also flows 33 rivers with a length of more than 100 km and 6 rivers with a length of 51 to 95 km.

In New Zealand, 3,280 lakes with a water mirror area of \u200b\u200bmore than 0.001 km2, 229 lakes have a water mirror more than 0.5 km2 and 40 - more than 10 km2. The largest lake of the country - Taupo (area 616 km2), the most profound lake - Uaicaremian (depth - 256 meters) Most of the lakes of the Northern Islands are formed as a result of volcanic activities, and most of the southern island lakes are formed by glacial activity.

The average annual volume of renewable water resources on statistical data of 1977-2001 in New Zealand is estimated at 327 km3, which is about 85 m3 / year per capita. In 2001, river flow resources and lakes amounted to about 320 km3, glacier resources about 70 km3, atmospheric resources of about 400 km3 and the resources of groundwater were estimated at approximately 613 km3.

Protection and management water resources and the water supply system of the population and the objects of the economy in New Zealand is under the jurisdiction of local governments. The cost of the main production facilities of the water complex is estimated by more than 1 billion New Zealand dollars. Centralized water supply systems provide drinking water about 85% of the country's population. About 77% of freshwater consumed in the country is used in irrigation systems.

Soils of New Zealand

In general, the soils of the country relatively little fertile and are not rich in humus. The most common types of soils are: Mountain types of soils - constituting about half of the country's territory (of which vegetation is deprived of 10%). Buo-gray types of soils - mainly found in the neutral plains of the southern island (unproductive for productive farming, are used mainly as pastures). The yellow-gray types of soils are characteristic of steppe areas and mixed forests and used for active agriculture. Yellow-brown soil types are characteristic of hilly terrain.

Animal World of New Zealand

Long-term historical isolation and remoteness from other continents created a unique and largely unique natural world of New Zealand Islands, distinguished by a large number of endemic plants and birds. About 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent settlements of man on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exception was two types of volatile mice and inhabitants in the coastal waters of whales, sea lions (Phocarctos Hookeri) and sea cats (Arctocephalus Forsteri).

Simultaneously with the arrival of the first permanent residents, Polynesians, Polynesian rats and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the first European immigrants brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the nineteenth century caused new and new animal species in New Zealand.

The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (imported to the country for the development of hunting fishery), Gornostayev (brought to the country to control the population of rabbits), opossums (brought to the country for the development of the fur industry). Without natural enemies in the surrounding nature, the population of these animals reached the size of the threat to agriculture, the health of the population, and put on the edge of the extinction of natural representatives of the Flora and the fauna of New Zealand. Only in recent years, the efforts of the Environmental Office of New Zealand, some coastal islands have been delivered from these animals, which made it possible to hope for the preservation of natural conditions there.

From representatives of New Zealand fauna, birds are the most famous are Kiwi (Apteygiformes), who have become a national symbol of the country. Among the birds should also be noted Kea (Nestor Notabilis) (or Nestor), Cacapo (Strigops Habroptilus) (or Sovic Parrot), Taki (Notoronis Hochstelteri) (or Outless Sultanka). Only in New Zealand, the remains of the Giant Laminating Birds of the Moa (Dinornis), which reached a height of 3.5 m, were preserved in New Yearly 5 years ago, allegedly only about 200 years ago, the largest of the famous types of Orlov - Eagle Haast - had a scope Wings up to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg. Among the reptiles found in New Zealand, you can note Gatteria (SPHENODON PUNCTIUS) and SCINCIDAE.

The only representative of the insectivorous, brought to the country and adapted to free habitat in it is the European Eugean (Erinaceus Europaeus). In New Zealand there is no snake, and from the spiders of poisonous only Katipo (Latrodectus Katipo).

In fresh reservoirs, the country lives 29 species of fish, 8 of which are on the verge of extinction. In the coastal seas, up to 3000 species of fish and other inhabitants of the sea live.

Plant World of New Zealand

The subtropical forest of New Zealand of New Zealand has about 2,000 species of plants, while endemics make up at least 70% of this number. The forests of the country are divided into two main types - mixed subtropical and evergnosene. In the forests dominate multiplelines (PodoCarpus). Preserved, although they dramatically decreased during the industrial development of forests, thickets of Agathis New Zealand (Agathis Australis) and Dacrydum Cupressinum (Dacrydium Cupressinum).

In artificial forests, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is in general about 2 million hectares, mainly pine (Pinus Radiata) is grown, brought to New Zealand in the middle of the XIX century. Radiant pine planting in the Kaingaroa Forest area created the world's largest artificially grown forest.

New Zealand has the largest amount of liver mosses in comparison with other countries. There are 606 of their varieties in the country, 50% of them are endemics. Mai, currently in New Zealand known 523 of their varieties.

Among about 70 scientific species known in nature (Myosotis), about 30 are endemics of New Zealand. Unlike forget-me-not in other parts of the planet, only two types of these plants in New Zealand have blue - Myosotis Antarctica and Myosotis Capitata. Of the 187 varieties of herbs historically found in New Zealand, 157 are endemics.

In New Zealand, the number of ferns is unusually large for this climate. Cyathea Silver (Cyathea Dealbata) (also known in the country as a silver fern) is one of the generally accepted national symbols.

Population of New Zealand

According to February 2010, the population of New Zealand is about 4.353 million people. The main part of the country's population is the new Zealanders of European origin, mainly the descendants of immigrants from the UK. According to the 2006 census, the total proportion of the population of European origin is approximately 67.6% of the country's total population. Representatives of the indigenous people, Maori, account for about 14.6% of the population. The two of the following largest ethnic groups - representatives of the Asian and Polynesian peoples account for 9.2% and 6.5% of the country's population, respectively.

The average age of residents of the country is about 36 years. In 2006, more than 500 people over the age of 100 lived in the country. In the same year, the share of the population under the age of 15 amounted to 21.5%.

The population growth in 2007 amounted to 0.95%. The total fertility rate in the same year amounted to 13.61 births per 1000 population, and the total mortality rate - 7.54 deaths per 1000 people.

Most of the New Zealanders are constantly (or for a long time) live outside the country. The largest New Zealand diaspora lives in Australia (in 2000, the number of New Zealanders living in Australia amounted to about 375,000 people) and in the UK (in 2001 about 50,000 people, and about 17% of New Zealand residents have either British citizenship or the right to his Getting). Traditionally, New Zealanders living outside the country support close contacts from their homeland, and many of them deservedly entered the number of outstanding representatives of their country.

According to the 2006 census, most of the population, about 56%, profess Christianity (in 2001 there were 60% such). The most common denominations of Christianity in the country are Anglicism, Latin Catholicism, Presbyterism and Methodism. The followers of Sichisms, Hinduism and Islam are the following largest religious communities of New Zealand. About 35% of the population of the country during the census did not associate themselves with religion (in 2001 there were 30% such).

The total number of Maori is 565 329 people. For 15 years (1991-2006), the number of this people in the country rose by almost 30%. About 47% of their numbers are descendants of mixed marriages (mostly with Europeans). 51% of Maori - Men living in New Zealand - men, 49% - women. Of these, 35% are children under 15 years old. The average age of Maori living in New Zealand is about 23 years old. At the same time, the average age of women is a little more than 24 years old, and the average age of the male population is a little more than 21 years.

About 87% of Maori live on the North Isle and about 25% live in the city of Auckland or in his suburb. The greatest concentration of representatives of this people is observed on Chatham Island. 23% can communicate freely in Maori. About 25% do not own them at all. About 4% of Maori have a university education (or higher). About 39% of the general population of Maori have a permanent job in full-time mode.

English, Maori language and New Zealand gesturing language are official languages country. English is the main language of communication, and 96% of the country's population use it as such. Most books, newspapers and magazines are published on it, it also prevails in broadcasting radio and television. Maori language is second state language. In 2006, the deafness language (New Zealand Sign Language) received the status of the third state language.

New Zealand dialect in English Close to Australian, but retained a much greater influence of the English language of the southern regions of England. At the same time, he acquired some characteristic features of the Scottish and Irish accent. A certain influence on pronunciation was provided by the language of Maori and some words of this language entered the daily communication of the country's multinational community.

In addition, representatives of another 171 language groups live in the country. The most consumable languages \u200b\u200bafter English and Maori - Samanevy, French, Hindi and Chinese. The Russian language and other Slavic languages \u200b\u200bare minorly consuming due to the small population, for which these languages \u200b\u200bare relatives.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/