New Zealand

Tommy: Where am I? Why are the houses so tiny like in the village of the little hobbits?

Hey, sir? Could you tell me what this place is?

Gandalf: You’re in God’s own country, my friend – the best place to live in.

Tommy: God’s own country? Hmmm... This is how New Zealand is called!

Gandalf: Bingo! Take this book, my friend. Your journey through New Zealand: Home of Middle earth begins here in Hobbiton.

Tommy: Thanks, sir. But ... what’s your name? Oh, he’s gone (vanished)...

Wow! The Middle-Earth isn’t a fantasy and Hobbiton exists in reality!!! That’s unbelievable!

Look at these smoking chimneys, flowers, and charming cottages. Aren’t they amazing?

Oh, the book! I’ve forgotten about it! Let’s see! What is inside?

It’s all about New Zealand.

New Zealand is an island country with a total area of 268, 700 sq km.

New Zealand lies between the Equator and the South Pole in the southern Pacific Ocean, about 1,600km south east of Australia. These two countries are separated from each other by the Tasman Sea.

New Zealand is made up of two main islands – the North Island and the South Island. The islands are separated by the Cook Strait.

There are also such smaller offshore islands as Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, the Campbell Islands, the Antipode Islands, the Bounty Islands and the Auckland Islands.

The name “New Zealand” came from Dutch cartographers, who called the islands “Nova Zeelandia”, after the Dutch province of Zeeland. British explorer James Cook adapted the name to the English language and the name became New Zealand.

Australians often call NZ «The Shaky Isles» because of frequent seismic activity. Earthquakes are frequent here though they are not so damaging.

With a population of nearly 4.5 million in a country larger than the United Kingdom, many areas are sparsely settled.

Almost 75 per cent of the population is people of European background. And about 15 per cent is the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous inhabitants or Aborigines.

10% - Pacific Islanders and Asians.

The Maori originate from a Polynesian people from south-east Asia. The exact date of Polynesian settlement on islands of New Zealand is unknown.

The Maori tribes had lived on the islands of New Zealand for hundreds of years before the white people came there. They are often called “Vikings of Sunrise”.

Abel Tasman was the first European explorer who saw New Zealand in 1642. But captain James Cook, an Englishman, was the first who set foot on New Zealand’s soil in 1769.

Before Europeans came to the island, the tribes of Maori did not have the name for themselves. They adopted the name “Maori” meaning “normal” to distinguish themselves from Europeans.

In the 19th century there was a struggle between the Maori people and the British colonies. It was a series of the Maori Wars. Many of the Maori were killed and English settlers took their lands.

The symbol of New Zealand is the kiwi – a flightless bird, native to this country.

Kiwi has no tail, almost no wings and is about the size of a large hen.

No other bird lays eggs so large in proportion to its size: the egg is about one fifth of its own weigh. It is rare and very much protected.

Kiwifruit, was once known as Chinese gooseberry, but the fact that it was imported from New Zealand made world call this fruit – kiwifruit.

Today, New Zealanders overseas (and at home) are called “Kiwis”.

They often call small children “Kiwis”. In elementary school there are such posters with the words: “Be a tidy kiwi!”

The bird is now used in the coat of arms, crests and badges of many New Zealand cities, clubs and organisations.

There is a cultural phenomenon in New Zealand known as “kiwiana”. Now their “kiwi” sense of humor, “kiwi” view of life, make up “Kiwiana”, which is all the special things and details that show their national identity, their “kiwi nationhood”.

There are two national anthems of New Zealand and both have equal status. These are “God defend New Zealand” and “God Save the Queen”. The first one is always used on sports occasions. New Zealanders are great sport lovers.

It’s interesting to know that the All Blacks Team (rugby) performs the Haka before every match.

The official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English predominant, though the Maori language is now coming back.

New Zealand is an independent state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.

This country is a constitutional monarchy. The British Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State.

The Governor-General - Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae, represents the Queen.

The Prime Minister - John Key is the leader of the party in power.

The filming of the Lord of the Rings movies pumped about $200,000,000 into the country’s economy. The New Zealand government even created a Minister for Lord of the Rings, to ensure the most money could be made from the films.

Being so remote, New Zealand has very unique plants. One of the most impressive is the giant kauri tree.

The beautiful pohutukawa tree is famous for its bright red flowers bloom in December, giving it the title of New Zealand's Christmas tree.

New Zealand has abundant and diverse marine life. The small Hector's dolphin is the world's rarest dolphin and only found in New Zealand waters. Seals, penguins and a whole host of fish and shellfish also thrive in New Zealand's fertile marine environment.

Before Europeans came to New Zealand there were no predatory animals at all. Therefore, without enemies, some birds lost their ability to fly, and some insects became gigantic. All wild mammals living in New Zealand at present were imported.

Unfortunately, many of New Zealand's most unique animals are endangered and can only really be seen in captivity.

This includes: the kiwi, a common national symbol, the flightless takahe, and weka.

Kakapo - the world’s largest flightless parrot.

The playful kea is one of the most intelligent birds in the world and will happily attack a car in order to steal a windscreen wiper or other bits of rubber!

The tuatara (a small lizard-like reptile believed to have existed at the time of the dinosaurs.

Gandalf: My dear friend, the ring on your finger will bring you to the most striking places in the Middle-earth. Just touch it.

1. Waitomo Caves!

What a majesty!

Those luminescent «stars» you're marveling at right now are, in actual fact, millions of Glowworms working their magic.

But beware of goblins lurking in the dark corners of tunnels and caves.

2. Do you know what the capital of New Zealand is?

Wellington.

Wellington lies at the bottom of the North Island of NZ. Wellington’s region is known for its picturesque wineyards, many regional parks and forests and Mount Victoria, which was used to film the Outer Shire.

3. Rotorua region is part of the Volcanic Zone. It has a huge (almost the size of the Singapore island) Lake Taupo which was formed in a massive volcanic explosion thousands of years ago. Beyond Lake Taupo are three active volcanoes. Ruapehu last erupted in 2007.

4. The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

Am I in the ice age? This is not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of an island in the South Pacific.

5. Lake Tekapo is one of the best stargazing sites in the world.

The heavens are not so far off this place!!!

6. Welcome to The Southern Alps!

Look at these snowy mountains and beautiful peaks and valleys! Here is the country's highest peak, Mount Cook (3724m).

7. Fiordland is one of the most enchanting places in New Zealand, where steep, densely forested mountains rise from the sea. And possibly most beautiful spot is Milford Sound.

8.

Oh, my God! What’s going on?

- You are in Queenstown, my friend – the adventurous capital of the world – for all adrenaline enthusiasts.

- I wanna go home!!!

Tommy: Phew, it was just a dream!

Mum! Can you believe it? I took a bungee jump and had a journey with Gandalf through New Zealand in my dream!!!

Mum: Tommy, leave that book and do your homework. By the way, where did you take that ring on your finger from?