From the city of volcanoes to one of the world’s biggest exporters of dairy, these are the most interesting facts about New Zealand.
Fast facts
Official name: New Zealand
Population: 5,161,211 (2024 est.)
Area: 268,838 sq km
Capital city: Wellington
Major languages: 95.4% English (de facto official), 4% Maori (de jure official)
Major religions: 37.3% Christianity, 48.6% no religion
Time zone: UTC+12:00 (New Zealand Standard Time)
Interesting facts about New Zealand
1. New Zealand is an isolated island nation in Oceania, on the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Australia.
2. New Zealand is the seventh largest island country in the world. It is slightly bigger than the UK.
3. While slightly bigger than the UK, the population difference is stark— 63.3 million more people live in the United Kingdom.
4. The Māori, a group of Polynesian people, were the first to settle in New Zealand (ca. 1250)
5. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first to discover New Zealand in 1642, while British explorer James Cook was the first to arrive on the lands almost 130 years later.
6. New Zealand was colonized by Great Britain in 1840 and didn’t become independent until 1947.
7. New Zealand, along with the United Kingdom, are among the few countries that do not have an official constitution. However, parts of their unwritten constitution can be found in various legal documents and pieces of legislation.
8. New Zealand is one of the largest exporters of dairy. In 2022, New Zealand was the world’s biggest exporter of concentrated milk, milk protein (casein), butter, honey and rough wood.
9. New Zealand’s flag features a dark blue field with the Union Jack in the upper left corner, symbolizing the country’s historical ties to the United Kingdom. To the right of the Union Jack are four red stars with white borders, representing the constellation Crux, also known as the Southern Cross. This constellation is significant as it signifies New Zealand’s location in the South Pacific.
10. There is a strong tradition of pipe bands in New Zealand, thanks to the Scottish population that emigrated there in the 18th-20th century.
11. The kiwi, a celebrated national symbol, is recognized as endemic in New Zealand. There are about 70,000 kiwis left, but they are losing about 2% of the population per year.
12. The kiwi was a treasure to the Maori people. People with higher ranking wear their feathers. The people have a strong cultural and spiritual identity with the kiwi.
13. Unlike its slithering neighbor, Australia, New Zealand is free from snakes. Snakes are found within the sea surrounding it but not in the country itself. Located near the South Pole, it is too far for the snakes to reach. However, beachgoers have spotted water snakes in recent years.
14. Auckland, the capital city, is known as the “City of Volcanoes” as it is positioned on an active volcano field. The most recent eruption was 600 years ago.
15. New Zealand is no stranger to volcanic activity. In December 2019, the White Island, or Whakaari, volcano erupted, which led to the deaths of 22 people, mostly tourists. The court ordered the tour operators and island managers to pay $10 m NZD for failing to ensure the safety of its visitors.
16. The All Blacks, New Zealand’s rugby team, are hugely successful, having been number one on the World Rugby Rankings more than any other team.
17. The Kermadecs and Auckland Islands offshore marine reserves comprise 97 percent of New Zealand’s total protected marine reserve area within its territorial sea.
18. Milford Sound, which is a fjord, is the wettest place in New Zealand and one of the wettest places in the world. It rains over 182 days annually with an average rainfall of 6,813mm.
19. Milford Sound is part of the larger UNESCO-listed Te Wahipounamu. Te Wahipounamu covers 10% of New Zealand’s landmass and is located on the great Alpine fault where the Indo-Australian and Pacific continental plates meet.
20. New Zealand is the third least corrupt country in the world, according to the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
21. New Zealand is home to the native māui dolphin, one of the smallest and rarest dolphins in the world (1.5 m in length), and the native hector dolphin, which is about the same size. Māui dolphins are found off the coast of North Island, while hector dolphins are found off the coast of South Island.
22. Yellow-eyed penguins are another one of New Zealand’s remarkable native species. Like the māui dolphin, they are found nowhere else in the world.
23. Women won the right to vote in New Zealand in 1893, the first self-governing country in the world to enable this. Elizabeth McCombs made headlines in 1933 as the first female member of parliament.
24. Following that point, New Zealand is the most gender-equal country in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks fourth in the world for gender equality.
25. New Zealand has over 8.6 million hectares of protected areas, approximately one-third of the land mass, which preserves its natural and cultural resources.
26. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has peaks over 3,000 meters. Mount Cook is New Zealand’s tallest mountain.
27. Ninety Mile Beach in North Island, New Zealand, stretches 55 mi (88 km) in length.
28. The second longest placename in the world is located in New Zealand. It’s 85-character long name is: “TaumatawhakatangihangakoauauoTamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.” It literally translates as: “the summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who traveled about, played his nose flute to his loved one.” There is another version of the name that is less commonly used, but unfortunately, it doesn’t provide us any relief at 105 letters.
29. New Zealand has three properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands, Te Wahipounamu—South West New Zealand, and Tongariro National Park. These areas are notable for their unique wildlife and beautiful terrain.
30. New Zealand honey producers tried to trademark the term “manuka honey” to ensure only New Zealand producers would be allowed to name it as such. However, after a long-running dispute, they lost the case as the plant also grows natively in parts of Australia.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about New Zealand using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.