New Zealand

New Zealand's two main components are the North Island and the South Island, separated by Cook Strait. The North Island (44,281 sq mi; 115,777 sq km) is 515 mi (829 km) long and volcanic in its south-central part. Other inhabited islands include Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and Great Barrier Island. The largest of the uninhabited outlying islands are the Auckland Islands (234 sq mi; 606 sq km), Campbell Island (44 sq mi; 114 sq km), the Antipodes Islands (24 sq mi; 62 sq km), and the Kermadec Islands (13 sq mi; 34 sq km).

Maoris were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving on the islands in about 1000. British captain James Cook made three voyages to the islands, beginning in 1769. Britain formally annexed the islands in 1840.

New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North and South Islands, Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu respectively in Māori, and a number of smaller islands, located near the centre of the water hemisphere. The main North and South Islands are separated by the Cook Strait, 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide at its narrowest point. The five largest inhabited islands behind the North and South Island are Stewart Island/Rakiura, the Chatham Islands (named Rēkohu by Moriori), Great Barrier Island (in the Hauraki Gulf), d'Urville Island (in the Marlborough Sounds) and Waiheke Island (about 17.7 km (11.0 mi) from Auckland and the most populated). The South Island is the largest land mass of New Zealand, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps.[134] There are 18 peaks over 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) the highest of which is Aoraki/Mount Cook at 3,754 metres (12,316 ft).[135] The top of South Island contains areas of forest in Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and other national parks.[136] Fiordland, in the south-western corner of the South Island, is an area of high mountains cut through with steep fjords.[137]The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism.[138] The highly active Taupo volcanic zone has formed a large volcanic plateau. The North Island's highest mountain, Mount Ruapehu 2,797 metres (9,177 ft), and the country's largest lake, Lake Taupo, are found on this plateau.[139] The island's north is a flatter area, once covered by huge kauri trees.[140]

Elsewhere the plate boundary involves the subduction of one plate under the other, producing the Puysegur Trench to the south, the Hikurangi Trench east of the North Island, and the Kermadec and Tonga Trenches further north.

New Zealand's geographic isolation for 80 million years and island biogeography is responsible for the countries unique species of flora and fauna. Three species of bats (one since extinct) were the only sign of native land mammals in New Zealand until the 2006 discovery of bones from a unique, mouse-sized land mammal. New Zealand conservationist's pioneered the use of island restoration as a means to protect these threatened wildlife and 220 islands larger than 5 hectares were designated as sanctuaries by 2009.

Photos of new zealand