Interesting Facts about New Zealand

New Zealand means "Land of the long white cloud"

New Zealand is an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth.

A kiwi is New Zealand’s native flightless bird and a slang term for a New Zealander. Kiwis call the fruit “kiwifruit”

Another native bird of New Zealand, the Moa, was one of the largest birds in history – standing up to 3.6m (12 foot) tall and weighing 300kg.

New Zealand is the first country in the world to see each new day.

Wellington, the Capital City of New Zealand is the southernmost capital city in the world.

It was probably a New Zealander, Richard William Pearse, who took the world's first flight. On 31 March 1902 Pearse managed to fly his home-made aircraft 91 metres in a field near Timaru.

A New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953.

Baron Ernest Rutherford was the first person in the world to split the atom (in 1919). Rutherford was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work.

New Zealand is the birthplace of the meringue dessert known as the ‘Pavlova', named after the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova.

Tongariro National Park was the fourth national park to be established in the world and the first in New Zealand, in 1887.

The Hector's Dolphin, and the Hooker's sea lion are only found in New Zealand waters.

New Zealand is home to the world's only flightless parrot, the Kakapo, as well as the Kea - the only alpine parrot in the world.

The oldest living genus of reptile is the native New Zealand Tuatara.

New Zealand's highest point is Mount Cook (3,754 m or 12313 ft)

New Zealand's deepest lake is Lake Hauroko (462 m 1515 ft) It is also New Zealand's largest lake (606 km or 234 miles)

The longest river in New Zealand is Waikato River (425 km or 264 miles long)

New Zealand's largest glacier Is Tasman Glacier (29 km or 18 miles long)

New Zealand's deepest cave is Nettle bed, Mount Arthur (889 m or 2916 ft)

Hawke's Bay is the home to the town with the “Longest Place Name” in the World, according to The Guinness Book of World Records: Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu

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