New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising the North and South Islands and numerous smaller islands. Its Māori name is Aotearoa.

North Island: The northernmost of New Zealand’s two main islands, home to its largest cities and much of its population. Its cities and volcanic landscapes anchor the country’s northern half.
Polynesian navigation: The wayfinding traditions that enabled Pacific peoples to travel and settle across vast ocean distances. These navigational skills enabled the first Polynesian settlement of New Zealand.
Auckland: New Zealand’s largest city, built around two harbors on the North Island. Its population and economic reach make it the country’s largest urban center.
Māori language revitalization: Efforts to strengthen the use and transmission of te reo Māori across New Zealand society. Language policy reflects wider efforts to renew Māori culture and address colonial harms.
South Island: The larger of New Zealand’s two main islands, known for the Southern Alps and extensive glaciated landscapes. Its mountains and fjords give the country much of its iconic scenery.
Māori migration to New Zealand: The settlement of New Zealand by Polynesian ancestors of Māori, traditionally dated to around the thirteenth century. It marks the beginning of sustained human settlement in the islands.
Wellington: New Zealand’s capital city, located at the southern end of the North Island. Parliament and central government institutions are based in the capital.
New Zealand nuclear-free zone: A policy established by law in 1987 that bars nuclear-powered ships and nuclear weapons from New Zealand territory. The policy reshaped relations with the United States and gave the country a distinct foreign-policy stance.
Māori: The Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, with distinct language, traditions, and political history. Māori communities and culture are foundational to the country’s identity and institutions.
James Cook: British naval officer and explorer who charted New Zealand’s coastline during voyages in the Pacific. His voyages helped bring the islands into European maps and imperial attention.

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