New Zealand

South Pacific nation

New Zealand is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising two main islands and numerous smaller ones.

Known for dramatic landscapes—mountains, fjords, and coastline—it has a small population relative to its size.

New Zealand's indigenous Māori culture remains prominent alongside its British colonial heritage.

She spent a year backpacking through New Zealand.

wildlife

kiwi

Fuzzy brown-skinned fruit

tuataraLast rhynchocephalian species
kakapoFlightless New Zealand parrot
keaIntelligent antipodean parrot

weta · silver fern · manuka · fantail · moa · bellbird · flightless · endemic · conservation

Maori

mana

Supernatural indwelling power

whakapapaMāori ancestral lineage system
wakaMāori boat or verse form
tapuSacred restriction, Polynesian

Aotearoa · Treaty of Waitangi

geography

Wellington

Southernmost national capital globally

AucklandNew Zealand's main city
ChristchurchSouth Island metropolis
QueenstownNew Zealand adventure resort town

Rotorua · North Island · South Island · Tasman Sea · Hobbiton · geothermal

rugby

All Blacks

New Zealand rugby squad

scrumContested pack restart
tryMake an effort
tackleGear or takedown

lineout · maul · ruck · fly-half · fullback · black jersey · conversion · penalty kick

seismic

liquefaction

Conversion to liquid state

tremorsSlight shaking movements
aftershocksTremors following main earthquake
Ring of FirePacific tectonic boundary zone

tectonic · tsunami · seismic · magnitude · geothermal · volcanic · hot springs

Categories

countriesChina, Brazil, France, Germany, India
country of originChina, USA, Japan, Germany, France
islandsisland, isle, isles, islet, islets
NationsChina, France, Japan, Germany, Mexico
Australasiakangaroo, koala, Sydney, Melbourne, outback
OceaniaFiji, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

Opposites

geographic antipode

New ZealandSpain

Iberian Peninsula country

Portugal · Morocco · Western Sahara · Iberian Peninsula · Gibraltar

regional rivalry/contrast

New ZealandAustralia

Southern Hemisphere continent-country

old world vs new world

New ZealandZealand

Danish island, largest

Europe · ancient civilizations

Family

Zealand, New Zealanders

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G