Population: 4,035,461 (July 2005 est.)

Languages: English (official), Maori (official)

Religions: Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Timezone: GMT+12 (Daylight Saving Time from the first Sunday in October until the first Sunday on or after 15 March, when the time is GMT+13)

With a population of around four million, New Zealand is located about 1,250 miles (2,012 km) southeast of Australia and is formed by two main islands and a number of smaller islands around them. The two main islands are called the North Island and the South Island, separated by Cook Strait. The North Island (44,281 sq mi; 115,777 sq km) is 515 miles (829 km) long and volcanic in its south-central part. This area contains many hot springs and beautiful geysers. South Island (58,093 sq mi; 151,215 sq km) has the Southern Alps along its west coast, with Mount Cook (12,316 ft; 3754 m) at the highest point.

New Zealand's largest cities are Auckland and Wellington in the North Island, Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island. Wellington is the national capital and Queenstown in the South Island calls itself the Adventure Capital of the World. New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is 12 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). One hour of daylight saving, called New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT), 13 hours ahead of UTC, is observed from 2am (NZST) on the first Sunday in October until 2am (NZST) on the third Sunday in March. As a curiosity it is noted that time kept in the Chatham Islands is 45 minutes ahead of that kept in New Zealand. The form of government is a stable parliamentary democracy, and New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations under the Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II.

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