New Zealand

About New Zealand

Let Down Under Answers help you create your personalized dream vacation. Click on Map of New Zealand for regions to explore, enter our Themed Vacation Ideas pages, or visit our Specials for red hot deals.

If you think you’ll love the scenery, wait until you meet the people! New Zealanders, or Kiwis, as they call themselves, are among the friendliest people on earth.

Imagine a culture that draws you to the very heart of the Maori people. Where you’ll witness a deep connection to their ancestry. Where you will experience a Powhiri, or Maori welcome, and you’ll be intrigued to know more about this powerful culture.
Where the wine is internationally acclaimed and the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is rated throughout the world as the definitive benchmark style.
Where you can tee off to your hearts content with average green fee prices at under $50USD and some of the most celebrated golfers have designed courses upon clifftops and oceans.
And then there’s the water. Whether you prefer to shoot class 4 rapids, or to kayak slowly across a tranquil bay accompanied by a pod of dolphins, New Zealand has the right place to dip your paddle.
Wait until you sit down for dinner! With the abundance of organic produce, export quality meat and the freshest of seafood available from local suppliers, even a simple meal is a culinary epiphany.
New Zealand...you can be here by morning!
See what the world has to say about living in Auckland!

Size
New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island that together, are roughly the size of Colorado with a population of 4 million. The indigenous Maori represent about 15 percent of the population.

Language
English is the most common language in New Zealand, however Maori is also an official language.

Maori History
Maori, who are Polynesians, were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, who are thought to have arrived more than 1,000 years ago in double-hulled waka (canoe), from islands in Eastern Polynesia (Hawaiki). Maori settled on both main islands of New Zealand and named the country Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud). Today, most live in urban areas, away from their marae (tribal ground). However, many Maori gather at their marae for important occasions.

European Settlement
Dutch Navigator Abel Tasman, the first European discoverer, arrived in 1642 and named the islands New Zealand. He didn’t stay, and it wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived over a century later that the area was colonized. Late in the 18th century, European missionaries and whalers settled New Zealand. In 1840, Maori signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British Crown, which gave the British Government sovereignty over New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi is now regarded as New Zealand’s founding document. The site of the Treaty signing, Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, is a national reserve of historic significance.

Climate
Usually quite pleasant, similar to California in range. In New Zealand temperature is noted in Celsius.

In summer the weather is warm and mostly sunny, however rain is not uncommon at any time so it is best to be prepared with rain gear. Winter brings the possibility of snow, particularly if you intend travel in the South Island, and to the Southern Alps.

Seasons in New Zealand are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere:

Spring: September-November Summer: December-February Fall: March-May Winter: June-August

Geography
New Zealand is predominantly mountainous with some large coastal plains. The high point is Mount Cook at about 12,000 feet. The New Zealand archipelago includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands.

Time Zones
There is one time zone in New Zealand. Daylight savings time is from October through March. End of October through end of March: 21 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. End of March through first of April: 20 hours ahead of PST. Early April through first of October: 19 hours ahead of PST. Month of October: 20 hours ahead of PST.

Currency
New Zealand Dollar.