My World Factbook
(Learn more about the new, improved World Factbook)
Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Area: 
total: 267,710 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
75
land: 267,710 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
about the size of Colorado
0 km
15,134 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Current Weather
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)
2,850 sq km (2003)
397 cu km (1995)
total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)
per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
volcanism: New Zealand experiences significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (elev. 2,797 m, 9,177 ft), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
