NEW ZEALAND, a dominion of the British empire, consisting of a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, two large islands, called North and South (or Middle) Islands, and a third of com paratively insignificant size, Stewart Is land; length of the group, N. to S., about 1,000 miles; area, 104,471 square miles. Pop. (1918) estimated 1,106,677, besides about 45,000 Maoris. Capital, Welling ton, in North Island; other chief cities: Dunedin, Auckland, Christchurch.
North Island, the N. one of the group, and separated from South Island by Cook's Strait, which, where narrowest, is about 23 miles wide, is very irregular in shape, and much broken by deep bays and projecting headlands. Its area is estimated at 44,468 square miles. The main body of the island, as well as its peninsulas, has for the most part an ex ceedingly rugged and mountainous sur face; and besides being traversed from S. to N. by chains of mountains reach ing a height of 6,000 feet, presents a number of lofty isolated volcanic peaks, among which the most conspicuous are Tongariro (6,500 feet) occasionally ac tive, and Ruapehu (9,195 feet), and Mount Egmont (8,300 feet), extinct vol canoes. The coast line of North Island contains many excellent natural harbors, especially those of Wellington on Cook's Strait, and of Auckland on the Isthmus of the N. projection. The chief indenta tions are Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty in the N. E.; Hawke's Bay in the E.; South Taranaki Bight in the S. W. The streams are extremely numer ous, but are mostly mere torrents, which bring down immense deposits of shingle. The largest of the rivers are the Wai kato (200 miles) and the Wanganui (about 120). Most of the streams have their sources in lakes embosomed among mountains covered with magnificent for ests. The largest of all the lakes is Taupo, situated near the center of the island, about 36 miles long by 25 miles broad. To the N. E. occur a number of lakes, familiarly known as the "Hot Lakes," there being here hot springs and other volcanic phenomena.
South Island is of a much more com pact and regular form; area, about 525 square miles. With exception of the N. coast, the S. W. coast, and a re markable spur on the E. coast called Bank's Peninsula, the coast line is very continuous. On the N. coast, from Cape Farewell to Cape Campbell, are numer ous good harbors; in the S. W. are a series of narrow fiords. South Island is traversed from N. to S. by a lofty central mountain chain, which has an average height of about 8,000 feet; while Mount Cook, near the W. coast, the cul minating point of New Zealand, is 13,200 feet high. Among these mountains are glaciers of great size, stretching down on the S. W. almost to the sea. Along the E. coast several extensive plains exist. The largest river is the Clutha.
which has a course of 150 miles, and enters the sea near the S. E. angle of the island. The largest lakes are Waka tipu and Te Anau, covering 114 and 132 square miles respectively.
Stewart Island is separated from South Island by Foveaux Strait, about 15 miles wide. It has an area of 665 square miles. A great number of small er islands belong to the New Zealand group. The Chatham Islands and Ker madec Islands are outlying dependen cies.
Minerals and Natural Productions.— New Zealand is rich in minerals. Coal is abundant; iron, tin, silver, and cop per are also found in various regions. Gold, discovered in 1861, is worked both in North and South Islands. The out put in 1917 was valued at £165,299. The climate is very varied, though remark ably healthful. In temperature it re sembles France and north Italy, but the humidity is considerably greater. Rapid changes are a notable feature of the weather. Among vegetable productions the most characteristic are the ferns (130 different species), which form al most the only vegetation over immense districts. Some of them are more than 30 feet high, and remarkable for the elegance of their forms. The flax plant furnishes an article of export. A num ber of the forest trees furnish valuable timber. Among others is the kauri or damar pine. Flowering plants are re markably scarce, and there are no in digenous fruits. The colony produces every English grain, grass, fruit, and vegetable. In animals New Zealand is singularly deficient, only a sort of dog (now extinct), a rat, and two species of bats being indigenous. Rabbits have been introduced and have multiplied so as to become a perfect pest; pigs now run wild, as well as cats. Pheasants, partridges, quails, and red and fallow deer have also been successfully intro duced. All the common European quad rupeds appear to be easily acclimatized. Pigeons and parrots are the most com mon native birds. Among others are the apteryx (a wingless bird), the hula or parson-bird, and the owl parrot. The gigantic moa is now extinct. The chief reptiles are a few lizards. The coast teems with fish, and seals are still nu merous in some parts. The original na tives of New Zealand, a people of Polynesian origin, are called Maoris. Their numbers have been so reduced by internecine feuds that they do not now exceed 40,000, all of whom, with the exception of a few hundreds, are located in the North Island. By missionary ef forts a great part of them have been converted to Christianity. They have acquired in many instances considerable property in stock, cultivated lands, etc., and in the neighborhood of the settle ments they are adopting European dress and habits.