New Zealand Coat of Arms Ceramic Ornament

New Zealand (/njuːˈziːlənd/; Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses – that of the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu – and numerous smaller islands.New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life; most notable are the large number of unique bird species. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland. Polynesians settled New Zealand in 1250–1300 CE and developed a distinctive Māori culture. Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to sight New Zealand in 1642 CE.[12] In 1840, the British Crown and Māori signed the Treaty of Waitangi, making New Zealand a British colony. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote. Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 4.5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. The official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English predominant. Much of New Zealand's culture is derived from Māori and early British settlers, although it has also been broadened recently by increased immigrationfrom the Pacific Islands and Asia. New Zealand's diverse landscape provides many opportunities for outdoor pursuits. The country's exports were historically dominated by wool, but dairy products, meat, and wine are more significant today. New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, who is currently John Key. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General. TheRealm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau (a dependent territory); the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing states in free associationwith New Zealand); and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of theUnited Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Pacific Islands Forum andAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.