[2018年最新整理]Unit1GeneralIntroductiontoNewZealand.doc

New Zealand Location New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, lying between 34 and 46 degrees of latitude south in the Pacific Ocean. This puts it at about the same distance from the equator as Spain or California. The nearest large neighbor is Australia which is 1500Km (930 miles) to the west. New Zealand consists of two large islands, North Island and South Island, plus several smaller ones of which Stewart Island is the largest and often referred to as our third island. North and South Islands are separated by the 32km / 20mile wide Cook Strait. GeographyThe total land area is 270,535 sq km / 104,453 sq miles, about the size of Italy, the United Kingdom or the US state of Colorado. North Island is volcanically active with a central plateau. South Island has the high snow covered mountain peaks and glaciers of the Southern Alps, a range running almost 500Km / 300miles along the Island. Map of the Country The National Flag A General Introduction New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you. And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other! History of New Zealand, the Youngest Country New Zealand is the youngest country on earth - the last major landmass to be discovered. It has a rich and fascinating history, reflecting both our Maori and European heritage. Amazing Maori historic sites and taonga (treasures), some dating back almost a thousand years, are a contrast to many beautiful colonial buildings. A walk around any New Zealand city today shows what a culturally diverse and fascinating country we have become. Treaty of Waitangi An 1840 treaty between Maori and the British Crown is New Zealand’s founding document. Today,