1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
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)
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Exports
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
External Debt
$90,160,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
9
0
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Area
267,710 km sq
2,831 km sq
Coastline
15,134 km
403 km
Climate
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Rankings + Records
