About NZ
Where NZ is and Who we are
On this page is a map showing the "triple star" that comprises NZ, situated in the South Pacific Ocean. Being on the 180th meridian, we are among the first countries in the world to see the sun and the 45th parallel runs through the lower third of our South Island. Quoted words are from our national anthem and poetically refer to our three main islands, North, South and Stewart.
Our country is famous for its meat (lamb, beef), fish & shellfish (tuna, Bluff Oysters and paua - abilone) exported world-wide (fresh and frozen), the home of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, Mt Everest conquerer, a leading Rugby playing nation, peaceful multi-culturalism, efforts to play an exemplary part and even lead in the "green" movement, its skiing fields, its fishing scene, its scenery and tourist attractions, its inovativeness (NZ was the first in the world to have electronic banking, EFTPOS, Teletext etc.), its culture (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Donald McIntyre, its choirs winning world competitions, its violinists featuring in and one of them winning the Michael Hill international violin competition, Queenstown, Colin Horsely, who became Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music), its sporting prowess at the Olympics, John Walker, at one time the world's fastest miler, Alison Roe, world champion Marathon runner, world famous left-handed golfer, Sir Bob Charles), and in the sciences Sir Ernest Rutherford lauded for his work on atoms, and heroes, Sir Charles Upham, VC and bar, and Marshall of the RAF during the Second World War was a NZer.
Sometimes people from NZ are referred to as Kiwis, a flightless, shy, nocturnal bird; it became the country's main emblem alongside the fern (made famous by the All Blacks, NZ's national Rugby team).