What to Know Before Visiting New Zealand?
Country Facts:
New Zealanders love their cars! 2.5 million cars for 4 million people (including the
kids) makes New Zealand’s car ownership rate one of the highest in the world.
In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote.
The world’s first commercial bungee jump was a 43-meter leap off the Kawarau
Bridge in Queenstown in 1988.
Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953, was a New
Zealander.
Baron Ernest Rutherford, the first person in the world to split the atom in 1919,
was also a New Zealander.
New Zealand won the first ever Rugby World Cup, held in 1987.
New Zealand has won more Olympic gold medals per capita, than any other
country.
he Hector’s Dolphin, the world’s smallest marine dolphin, which grows to a
maximum length of 1.5 meters, is found nowhere else in the world but in New
Zealand waters.
In New Zealand – there are no snakes in the country!
There are also no nuclear power stations in New Zealand.
The Maori name for New Zealand is ‘Aotearoa’. It means “the land of the long
white cloud”.
Source:https://www.sableinternational.com/blog/20-interesting-facts-about-new-zealand
Country Flag:
Capital: Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.
Government: The system of government NZ is a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system of government. This means that our head of state is a sovereign
(currently Queen Elizabeth II). This means government can only be made up of
Ministers who are first elected members of the House of Representatives.
Source:https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/government-in-new-
zealand/
Prime Minister: Jacinda Kate Laurel Ardern is Prime Minister of New Zealand since 26
October 2017.
Economy: The economy of New Zealand is a highly developed free-market economy. It
is the 51st-largest national economy in the world when measured by nominal gross
domestic product (GDP) and the 67th-largest in the world when measured by
purchasing power parity (PPP). New Zealand has a large GDP for its size and
population. For the 2018 estimate, GDP per capita in New Zealand will be $208.744
billion in PPP per capita and $203.127 billion in nominal per capita.
Population: The population of New Zealand was estimated to be 4.886 million in 2018.
Religion by Percentage: Despite a significant decrease, Christianity remains the most
common religion; 37% of the population at the 2018 census identified as Christian.
Hinduism is the second-most popular religion, claiming 2.6% of the population, and
Sikhism is the fastest-growing faith.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_New_Zealand
Top New Zealand Foods: Trying the local cuisine is part of the parcel that is travelling!
Everyone has got to eat, so why not try some of the famous New Zealand food. New
Zealand is world-famous for its culinary delights, but there are certainly some meals,
snacks, desserts and even drinks that Kiwi are extremely proud to claim as their own.
As a country with around 15,000km of coastline, it comes as no surprise that seafood is
especially a favourite among Kiwis with a wealth of shellfish and fish. Food, or “kai”, has
been a significant part of the Maori culture for thousands of years so it’s a must to try a
traditional Maori dish, whether it’s hangi, fried bread or kawakawa tea. Some other
foods are mentioned below:
Hangi: Let’s start with the traditional Maori hangi! This involves meat and
vegetables slow cooked in an underground oven. Although it is a common
cooking method for thousands of years in New Zealand, today a hangi is saved
for more special occasions (mainly because it takes all day to prepare!) Prepare
to be overfed but extremely satisfied at hangi meals as part of Maori cultural
experiences.
Cray fish: rayfish, also known as lobster, is a Kiwi favourite mostly because it
something many fishermen and divers’ pride on catching themselves. Known to
cost NZ$80 for a full crayfish, it’s not exactly the most affordable food, but it’s
worth a try when the opportunity presents itself.
Hockey pokey ice cream: Kiwis prefer Hokey Pokey ice cream (that’s
caramelised honeycomb) over pretty much anything. If there’s only one ice
cream flavour you’re going to try in New Zealand, make it Hokey Pokey!
Kina: Kina is the local name for a type of sea urchin with a hard-spiky outer shell
and thin fleshy (and edible) insides. It has been a New Zealand delicacy for
centuries! The best place to try kina is out on a boating trip in the Bay of Islands.
Kiwi Burger: What makes a “Kiwi burger” Kiwi is the fact it has beetroot and a
fried egg along with standard burger patties and whatever else between two
burger buns.
Jaffas: Rolling onto the sweet stuff, Jaffas are a confectionery favourite among
New Zealanders. So much so that they race them! Jaffas are small sugar-coated
chocolate balls with an orange flavour to them.
Pavlova: pavlova is a much-loved dessert in New Zealand made with meringue,
whipped cream and fruit.
L & P: L&P stands for “Lemon & Paeroa” named after the North Island town it is
invented in. It is as common as any soft drink in New Zealand, tasting a bit
lemonier and sweeter than Sprite.
Whitebait Fritters: It’s considered a sin in New Zealand! Whitebait is a collective
term for immature fish, usually around one to two inches long. Heaps of keen
“whitebaiters” setting up temporary shacks and jetties along the river mouths of
the West Coast, catching fish for the local eateries to make whitebait fritters.
Think of them as a fishy omelette.
Manuka Honey: A highly sought-after honey on the international markets,
manuka honey is acclaimed for its medicinal purposes. The purer the manuka
component of the honey is, the healthy (and more expensive) it is. There are
plenty of opportunities to try this sweet treat around New Zealand, from
supermarkets to dedicated honey shops.
Kumara: Kumara isn’t just a sweet potato; it is an epic sweet potato. Kumara
was brought to New Zealand by the early Maori settlers and still remain a
favourite vegetable in New Zealand. The best way to try kumara is in a hangi.
Paua: paua is the local name for a large sea snail. Alternatively, paua shells are
often used in New Zealand jewellery and other decorative souvenirs.
Language: English is the predominant language and a de facto official language of
New Zealand. Almost the entire population speak it either as native speakers or
proficiently as a second language.
Dress for Men and Women: In general, New Zealanders are very casual dressers. In
summer men tend to wear shorts with a T Shirt. Women tend to wear short shorts (you
may know them as daisy dukes.) and some type of top. The females are usually seen
wearing tops woven from wool, in the traditional black, red and white patterns, and flax
skirts. All this wouldn't be possible without the greenstone necklace too – a piece of the
Earth. The Casual New Zealander dress style incorporates black into almost every
outfit.
Holidays: There are several national holidays in New Zealand such as:
New Year’s Day
Waitangi Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Anzac Day
Queen’s Birthday
Labor Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Travel Tips:
It’s hard not to fall in love with New Zealand. A popular travel destination for solo
explorers and adventurous troupes alike, the country knows how to charm its
visitors with the right amount of friendliness.
Compared to many places in the world, New Zealand is incredibly safe. But that
doesn’t mean the general rules don’t apply. Make sure to learn about which
places are best left unexplored. In case of emergencies, dial 111 to get
connected to ambulance services, the fire department or the police.
The summer months are perfect for exploring the coastlines and greenery.
Winter will greatly serve those who want to get a glimpse of the country’s best
skiing destinations (Mount Ruapehu in the North; Mount Cook/Aoraki in the
South) and breathtaking glaciers. The fall offers a remarkable showcase of
colorful foliage and tends to be quite temperate too.
Avoid the spring months. That’s the time when the weather is at its windiest and
most unstable.
Remember, New Zealand is a very popular tourist destination. Whether for
visiting Waiheke Island in summer, or chilling out at an eco-resort destination in
winter, Couchsurfing is also an option in some of the main tourist areas, like
Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Airbnb in New Zealand is a bit of a mixed
bag – while there are plenty of rentals available, they can get as expensive as a
hotel room.
New Zealand has special agreements with various countries that enable travelers
under the age of 30 to grab a Working Holiday Visa.
Intercity buses travel through every possible place. Other options of the same
kind include Mana Bus and the Naked Bus. For head to the South Island, a ferry
regularly departs from Wellington too.
Take note of travel times – in a country where winding roads are the norm, Also,
get plenty of rest before departing, and take extra care on those unfamiliar
highways.
Trails like the Tongariro Crossing are notorious for packing all four seasons into a
single day. This will also be true for alpine locations, and native bush. Pack for all
types of weather, making sure to bring plenty of water and food, and don’t forget
to bring a first aid kit, just in case.
This is as much a legal matter as it is a safety concern. Cyclists aren’t allowed on
the motorways, and it’s generally not recommended to bike along the busiest
roads. Also, remember that wearing a helmet is mandatory and, just like drivers.
Qualmark is the local authority when it comes to all thing’s tourism. They assess
the quality of hotels, experiences, transport rentals, visitor services, and guided
tours – awarding them the proper accreditation if they meet the right criteria.
Sustainability is taken into account as much as professionalism and ethics. The
symbol is usually silver with the quintessential New Zealand fern attached.
Top 10 Attractions and places to visit:
1. Milford Sound
2. Aoraki
3. Bay of Island
4. Waitomo
5. Lake Tekapo
6. Abel Tasman National Park
7. Waiheke Island
8. Sky Tower
9. Waitomo Glowworm Caves
10. Queen’s Town
New Zealand Boys Name:
Oliver
Jack
William
Benjamin
Liam
Mason
Hunter
Top 10 Universities in New Zealand:
1. University of Auckland
2. University of Otago
3. University of Canterbury
4. Auckland University of Technology
5. University of Waikato
6. Victoria University of Wellington
7. Lincoln University
8. Massey University
9. The University of Auckland Business School Executive Education
Top 10 Websites:
1. Google.com
2. Youtube.com
3. Facebook.com
4. Trademe.co.nz
5. Netflix.com
6. Reddit.com
7. Stuff.co.nz
8. Wikipedia.org
9. Nzherald.co.nz
10. Zoom.us
Top 3 Search engines used:
1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo
Top exports:
Meat
Wood
Fruits
Fish
Machinery including computers
Top 5 Cars:
Top cars in New Zealand includes:
1. Ford Ranger
2. Toyota Hilux
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Mitsubishi Triton
5. Mazda CX-5
Natural Disasters:
Many types of natural disasters occur in New Zealand such as:
Earthquake
Floods
Landslides
Tsunami
Volcanic Eruption
Wildfires
Home Designs / Architecture:
Building materials are different, and central heating is very, very rare. Existing houses
are usually under 100 years old and frequently built after the 1950s. Most existing
houses are built of either timber (weatherboards) or brick cladding with timber framing.
There are also some stucco and concrete block homes.
Deaths and Mortality:
In 2019, death rate for New Zealand was 7 per 1,000 people. Death rate of New
Zealand fell gradually from 8.4 per 1,000 people in 1970 to 7 per 1,000 people in 2019.
Source: https://knoema.com/atlas/New-Zealand/Death-rate
