| Maori AOTEAROA an island nation in the South Pacific.
A remote land, it lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) southeast
of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises two main
islands--the North and South islands--and a number of small islands,
some of them hundreds of miles from the main group. New Zealand is
about 1,000 miles long (north-south) and about 280 miles across at
its widest point. The land area is approximately 100,000 square miles
(268,000 square kilometres)--slightly smaller than the state of Colorado
and a little larger than the United Kingdom. About two-thirds of the
land is economically useful, the remainder being mountainous. Because
of its numerous harbours and fjords, the country has an extremely
long coastline relative to its area. The capital city is Wellington,
and the largest urban area is Auckland, both located on the North
Island. New Zealand administers the South Pacific island group of
Tokelau and claims a section of the Antarctic continent. Niue and
the Cook Islands are self-governing states in free association with
New Zealand.
 New
Zealand was the largest country in Polynesia before it was annexed
by the British in 1840. Thereafter it was, successively, a crown
colony, a self-governing colony (1856), and a dominion (1907). By
the 1920s it controlled almost all of its internal and external
policies, although it did not become fully independent until 1947,
when it adopted the Statute of Westminster. It is a member of the
Commonwealth.
The country's isolation has played an important part in its development.
Nevertheless, in the 20th century New Zealand has been involved
in international affairs, being an active member of both the League
of Nations and the United Nations. It has also participated in several
wars, including World Wars I and II. Economically, the country has
been dependent on the export of agricultural products, especially
to Great Britain, for much of the 20th century. The entry of Britain
into the European Economic Community (EEC) in the early 1970s, however,
forced New Zealand to expand its trade relations with other nations.
It also has begun to develop a much more extensive and varied industrial
sector.
WHY NEW ZEALAND IS A MEMBER OF APEC
In 1989 New Zealand joined APEC, along with Australia, Brunei Darussalam,
Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, the
Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States. More recently,
the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan),
Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, and Viet Nam have
joined.
 Comprising
Australia, North America, as well as much of Pacific Asia, the APEC
region dominates New Zealand's trade. APEC economies provide the
destination for approximately 70% of New Zealand's exports and are
the source of 73% of our imports. 8 of our top 10 export destinations
are in APEC, with Australia (20%), Japan (14%) and the US (12%)
the most important.
Given that the Asia-Pacific region is the source of so much of
New Zealand's trade, it was important that New Zealand became a
founder member of APEC. Membership enables New Zealand to participate
actively in a forum dedicated to that goal of free and open trade
and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by year 2020.
Through APEC we are able to encourage regional colleagues to follow
the type of reforms undertaken in New Zealand. Membership of APEC
also allows New Zealand to consolidate relationships with other
countries and economies in the region, boost its profile and further
ideas for the future development of our region.
NEW ZEALAND'S ROLE IN APEC
New Zealand actively participates in the work of APEC and is represented
on all APEC bodies. In 1999, New Zealand is hosting the entire APEC
process. For more information, please visit www.apec.govt.nz
|
