New Zealand is a remote, mountainous group of islands in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean.

The
two main islands, North and South Islands, are separated by the Cook Strait. Australia is the
nearest neighbor. The capital city is Wellington but the largest city is Auckland.
New Zealand has more than 50 volcanoes, some of which are still active today. Sharp snowy
peaks, rocky shores, and pastures create a majestic landscape. The most important mountain
ranges are the Southern Alps and the Kaikoura Ranges. The South Island is home to the highest
mountain peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook.
The most important rivers are: the Waikato, the Clurtha, the Rangitaiki, the Wanganui,
Manawatu, the Buller, the Rakaia, the Waitaki, the Waiau.
Most people in New Zealand speak English but the Maori language is also spoken there by about
4% of the population. After the Second World War Maori were discouraged to speak their
language but in 1987 their language was declared an official language too. Many places now
have dual Maori and English names, Maori were the first people who came to New Zealand from
Polynesia. New Zealand was first discovered by Europeans in 1642.
New Zealand's government is based on parliamentary democracy based on the system used in
Britain. Queen Elizabeth II is officially Queen of New Zealand. She is represented in New
Zealand by a Governor General. New Zealand is a country that has two official anthems: "God
save the Queen" and "God defend New Zealand".
Because of its remote location, New Zealand is rich in unusual wildlife not seen anywhere else in
the world. Nearly all the land animals are birds and many of these species have lost the ability to
fly. The oldest living kind of reptile is the native New Zealand Tuatara. Tuataras can live up to
300 years.
New Zealand's national symbol is a nocturnal flightless bird that is called the kiwi. The term
'Kiwi' is also used as a nickname for a New Zealander. New Zealanders, or "Kiwis" as they are
called, have been shaped by their isolation. Today, most Kiwis are no longer farmers, with 86%
of the population living in cities. More people live in the city of Auckland on North Island.
Tourism is the main industry in New Zealand with over two million visitors a year. The main
exports are lamb, butter, kiwifruit, and wine.
Rugby is the favorite sport and nearly everyone cheers on the national team, the All Blacks.
Many Kiwis also enjoy cricket. The New Zealand rugby team usually performs "haka" before a
game begins. The "haka" is a traditional genre of Maori dance, a "war dance", a dance performed
distinctively with hand gestures and foot stamping, originally performed by warriors before a
battle, proclaiming their strength. Now it is regularly performed at various cultural festivals and
events.
Tourist Attractions in New Zealand
Nature crafted New Zealand with the surreal beauty of a movie set. Snow-capped peaks,
sparkling coves, coastal glaciers, rainforests and fish-filled rivers are some of the treasures
travelers can explore. New Zealand's capital, Wellington is called the world's "coolest little
capital”. Wellington is surprisingly compact. The central area of New Zealand's capital is just
2km across. Wellington City is wedged between steep hills and the sea.
The capital is home to many cultural and artistic treasures, galleries, theaters, shops, restaurants,
bars and cafes. The “Te Papa Tongarewa” is the national museum and art gallery of New
Zealand located in Wellington. "Te Papa Tongarewa" means "the place of treasures of this land"
The national museum of New Zealand is fun, very interactive and full of delightful surprises.
The History Collection includes many dresses and textiles, the oldest of which date back to the
16th century. The History Collection also includes the New Zealand Post Archive with around
20,000 stamps and related objects and the Pacific Collection with about 13,000 historic and
contemporary items from the Pacific Islands. There are significant collections of fossils, New
Zealand birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The museum has the world's largest specimen
of the rare colossal squid captured by New Zealand fisherman in the Ross Sea of Antarctica.
On the tumultuous Pacific Ring of Fire, Rotorua is one of the most active geothermal regions in
the world. This is a land where the earth speaks. Here you can see boiling mud pools, hissing
geysers, volcanic craters, and steaming thermal springs. Rotorua is home to one of the most
unique tourism sites in the world. Aside from the breathtaking scenery of this volcanic-shaped
wonderland, the 17 beautiful lakes in the region and the abundant native flora, Rotorua is a
paradise and a cultural heartland.
The Rotorua Museum of Art and History is housed in the large Tudor-style Bath House building.
The museum impresses with its extensive Maori heritage collections.

1. Answer the questions according to the text.

1. Where is New Zealand situated? What is its capital?
2. What languages are spoken in New Zealand?
3. Who were the first people in New Zealand?
4. Who is the head of the country?
5. What sports are played in New Zealand?
6. What is "haka"?

2. Identify if the sentences are true or false. Correct the false ones.
1. Wellington is called the world's hottest capital.
2. The Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand.
3. The museum holds a rare specimen of a dinosaur.
4. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History has a small Maori heritage collection.
5. Rortorua is one of the most passive geothermal regions in the world.

3. Complete the table:

Place of interest Location Characteristics Its importance for the

country
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.