Besides rugby and proximity to Australia, Americans don’t know a ton about New Zealand. These 10 numbers will make you sound like a pro (by American standards).
5.1 million
The estimated population of New Zealand, less than that of 23 US states. Auckland is the largest city and Wellington is the capital (the southernmost capital in world). New Zealanders, affectionately known as Kiwis, take great pride in their country’s natural beauty and biodiversity, the latter manifesting as a national obsession with birds.
2
The number of major islands—the North Island and the South Island—that make up the country. There are also hundreds of minor islands. The North Island contains about 75 percent of the country’s population, including the aforementioned Auckland and Wellington. The South Island is home to the Southern Alps, with the largest city being Christchurch, sadly known outside the country for a 2011 earthquake and a 2019 racially-motivated mass shooting.
Here’s a map.
1250 CE (or so)
The year the Māori people began arriving from other parts of Polynesia, making New Zealand (or Aotearoa as it’s known in the the Māori language) the last major land mass settled by humans.
1840
The year the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between British settlers and the Māori people. The exact terms remain controversial. Regardless, New Zealand was established as a colony of Britain, first as an extension of New South Wales in Australia and then as its own entity.
Throw in the New Zealand Wars, i.e. Māori resistance to British rule, and the stage was set for the country as we know it—a blend of two cultures, with one clearly having the upper hand.
1907
The year New Zealand gained dominion status within the British Empire, allowing for a large degree of self-governance.
1947
The year the Kiwis gained full independence, maintaining the British monarch in the figurehead role of head of state.
3
The number of official languages in New Zealand—English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language.
21
New Zealand’s position on a list of countries by per-capita nominal GDP. Given the need to import a lot, New Zealand has gained a reputation for being expensive, explaining why this ranking falls to 33 when adjusted for purchasing power parity.
Beyond the usual players, agriculture (think dairy farming and sheep) and tourism (think rich people being outdoorsy, eating seafood and savory pies, and downing local wine) have an outsized role in the economy.
3 (Again)
The number of times New Zealand has won the Rugby World Cup. The national team—known as the All Blacks—is known for performing the haka, a traditional Māori war dance, before matches. Have a look.
2 (Again)
The number of Grammys won by Lorde, one of the most famous New Zealanders, known for her quirky (weird?) dancing.
Other big names with local ties include Russell Crowe, Keith Urban, Edmund Hillary (the first dude to conquer Mount Everest), Ernest Rutherford (the father of nuclear physics), and Peter Jackson (the dude who directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy—in his native New Zealand, of course).
Interested? It’s a mere 18-hour flight from New York City.
