Natural Attractions of New Zealand.

Natural Attractions of New Zealand

Calm and peaceful.

New Zealand has always remained a place so close to nature, its scenic beauty remain unpolluted, its air, earth and water as fresh as its time of creation. Its exquisite beaches, fjords, ice-clad mountains, pristine lakes, and even live volcanoes remain untouched by the criminal and protracted activities done in the name of development. There is no wonder that it remains as one of the hottest destination for eco-tourism; which is one of the major source of this island nation.

Places.

Napier Newzealand image courtsey: venueweb.co.nz

New Zealand has a history of a ‘freedom struggle’; when the native Maoris revolted against the migrant whites. As a result the British Government took control of the administration from the migrant occupants and reached an agreement with the Maoris assuring them fair deal. Waitangi is considered a very important place in New Zealand where this agreement was signed. This place has become a symbol of peaceful coexistence. Wellington is a modern city and the capital of New Zealand. In Otego we can see the relics of the gold rush that symbolizes the endless greed of man. Napier is marked for its rich architecture; this town was destroyed in a severe earth quake in 1931.

Unity in diversity.

Each building, statue that dot on the way, junctions, have a story to tell; and Zeal. Andeans are only happy to part with the stories behind these landmarks. Maori is the root of New Zealand’s culture, but due to migration; people from various parts of the world have come to live here adding varieties to the art, architecture as well as mythologies to the place of their origin. Now they all are in the process of amalgamation to form a unified culture; that is exclusive to New Zealand; a unity in diversity to be precise!

Strange names.

Doubtless Bay, Bay of Plenty, Secretary Island, Resolution Island, Doubtful Sd, Bluff, Kidnappers’ Cape; are all coined by the immigrants where as the native names are sweeter still. Putakuru, Raukumara, Opotiki, Ruapehu, Rangitata are just some of them.

Its beaches.

New Zealand has a coastline of about 15,200 kms, in the east is the Pacific Ocean with its coasts of pure white sands and offers very safe entertainments for families. That is not the case with the west coast where the Tasman Sea pounds heavily against the stubborn cliffs and hard and weathered rocks. The sand that stretches the coast is black. There are tour operators conducting tours parallel to the sea touching all beaches.

All Islands.

Great Barrier Reef image courtsey: eb.com

New Zealand is a nation of many islands, the Northern and Southern Islands are the main land masses which are separated by the Cook

Bay. Other islands also have many places of attraction. There are ferry services from Auckland to inhabited islands like Waiheke and Great Barrier. Waiheke has farmlands, vineyards, forests as well as a beautiful beach. Great Barrier is a bit rough terrain good for hikers. Rakiura (popularly called Stewart Island) is the biggest of them while Wellington, Tiritiri and Kapiti North are all with reserve forests with its flora and fauna well cared for.

Map of Great Barrier Reef courtsey: panda.org

They all have enough wildernesses to please any visitors who seek tranquility and enough hiking facilities for those who seek some adventures like hiking. Being rich in bird species those who are interested in watching them also get some thrill. There are boats for hire or join any chartered tour to find all the treasure islands scattered in the sea.

Strange bedfellows!

Geological phenomena of all types like tectonic plate movements, fault lines, live volcanoes, glaciers etc are available in these small islands. This area comes under the Pacific ring of fire, where the earth’s molten lava occasionally is so close to the surface that mud boils! Tectonic plates that -float on molten lava far below the grounds- support the landmass move and at times one forces the other causing fault lines, New Zealand is on such a fault line which occasionally shivers, the numerous fjords on its coastline are said to be formed of these occasional shivering! Here live volcanoes rub shoulders with glaciers.

Volcanic Lakes.

This region is rich in active volcanoes the craters formed due to their eruptions got filled with water in course of time these are the volcanic lakes. Taupo in the Northern Island is the biggest among crater lakes and rich in trout population. The North Island has more lakes like Manapauri, Wariake and Hawea.

Dune Lakes are depressions on earth’s surface (between sand dunes) filled with water. They generally have banks and bottom of crystal clear white sand. There are three such lakes in Kai Iwi in North Island there are three dune lakes and at Levin on the West Coast of North Island there is the most beautiful dune lake ‘Papai Tonga’ with clean white shores and clear water. This lake is also rich in bird varieties.

Dune Lakes image courtsey: nwhi.org

A dinner on trout.

These lakes are good destination for rest and unwind and can also be used as a point of rest while traveling between distant locations. There is a plus point as trout fish is in abundance in these lakes, some happy time can be spent catching fish. The Southern Island is also rich in these types of lakes, of which Lake Te Anau is the largest which is 344 sq km is area and there are 34 islands in this giant lake.

Appareled in a celestial bliss!

Not just wild locations; there are good viewings of the urban panorama from hills like Mount Eden at the Eden Island and the other the One Tree Hill at Auckland. Mount Victoria at Wellington also is such a location which enables the viewer the scenic beauty of the Wellington city. In wherever you go or look there are unusual sights as far as New Zealand is concerned; there are unbelievably strange looking boulders in Moera Ki at the Otego Coast that can be seen while travel.

One Tree Hill

A commendable job.

There are altogether 14 National Parks in these small groups of islands that means a good potion of the land mass is allotted to these parks. No doubt the low density of population can be a factor behind this largesse; but the determination of the authority to protect and conserve its natural wealth and its plants and animals is remarkable. But for these measures whole New Zealand would have turned desert due to extensive sheep farming which is still playing a prominent role in this nation’s economy.

Related Reading

• Newzealand

New Zealand

New Zealand - Oceania.

New Zealand Flag image courtsey: nz.com

A Part of the Greater Oceania

Oceania denotes the mid-south part of the Pacific Ocean with numerous scattered islands. There are about 25,000 islands in this area including Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand is a ‘small’ and ‘young’ nation- small as it has only a combined area of about 268680 Sq. K M- comparable to Britain, and ‘young’ as it has only a short history of about 700 years of human inhabitation. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, Oak Land, Hamilton, Christ Church are the main cities. Though small in size the nation’s principled stand on ecology, non-proliferation of atomic weapons, and international as well as domestic affairs makes New Zealand a leader as well as model for all peace loving, and ecology-friendly people of the world.

Bold women and model men.

In gender equality New Zealand leads other nations by leaps and bounds; it has already implemented reforms several ‘advanced’ nations can’t even think of. It is the first nation in the world which granted equal voting rights to women. The British Queen - even though ceremoniously- is the head of this New Zealand. Its Governor General (Sylvia Cartright), Prime Minister (Helen Clark), Speaker (Margaret Wilson) and Chief Justice (Sean Alias) like these there are no center of power not accessible to its women and they have creditably managed these posts; inviting accolades from all parts of the world. These are reforms even the most ‘advanced’ nations can’t even dream of.

No pretensions.

New Zealand Map courtsey: earlham.edu

New Zealand has no pretensions to pronounce about its sovereignty and it still shows its lenience to the British Crown. To understand the frank and no-nonsense approach to sovereignty that should be read with the hypocrisy of the so called big and ‘sovereign’ nations who claim to be sovereign letting its own people to starve. New Zealand by God’s grace is not led by propagandists; matured political decisions and foreign policies has been the norm for this tiny nation of islands.

A country of long white clouds!

New Zealand is comprised of two large and several small islands in the Oceana Region at the southern part of Australia. The Tasman Sea divides the two nations; there is a distance of about 2000 KM between these two countries. The indigenous people of New Zealand call their land ‘Aotearoa’ (ao = cloud + tea = white + roa = long) meaning long white cloud. No one is sure how such a beautiful name came to be called. Maoris the original inhabitants forms a miniscule minority (they constitute less than 15% of the present day population) owing to the influx of Europeans, but their culture and welfare are well cared after.

A paradise almost lost!

New Zealand image courtsey: rental-car-in-new-zealand.com

The Maori culture is the basis of New Zealand’s heritage; their ancestors were Polynesians who brought along with them a unique and beautiful life-style when migrated to this uninhabited land as fishermen and hunters. The early history of New Zealand is marred by blatant exploitation of the innocent tribes. The Maoris loved art and they decorate their boats, tools, weapons and houses with beautiful images, they decorate their own body lavishly with heavy ornaments. Incessant migration of Europeans worked havoc in a society; their land was looted, their culture was adulterated and they were driven out from their villages many perished in newly introduced diseases while many died in confrontation with the migrants who had guns.

The Empire interferes.

In1839 the British Government took charge of the New Zealand administration and ever since much of the wrongs committed have been corrected. An agreement signed between Britain and Maori chieftains (Waitangi agreement; to commemorate this event every 6the of February is celebrated here as Waitangi Day) gave supreme power to the British Crown over New Zealand and brought an end to the repression of the tribals by unscrupulous migrants. The present day government is sensitive not only of the rights of the tribals but the whole ecology of the nation as well.

A tourists’ paradise.

New Zealand image courtsey: wayfaring.info

Government’s stringent measures have made New Zealand one of the most unpolluted places on the earth. New Zealand Nuclear Free, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987 is a model act for every nations. This act bans entry of nuclear powered ships or nuclear arms in that nation’s sea limit. With size comparable to Great Britain and with just 4 million it is one of the least crowded place on earth, giving tourists with enough privacy and leisure. Its vast meadows, scenic mountain chains and steaming volcanoes all are fit not for thrill seekers who demand nothing but sheer pleasure. There are much more for those who seek rest and recuperation as well as. Its sweeping coastlines and well identified fjords have been ideal for honeymooners.

An Eden Garden.

Before human migration 75% of the land of the present day New Zealand was pristine forests there were no beings of the mammalian groups excluding bats. The isolated geography of New Zealand made it a haven numerous endemic species of animals, insects and birds (much of them like Moa became extinct due to human interference) kiwi, kakapo, taka he (all flightless birds), many types of frogs, spiders, weta (deinacrida rugosa - largest insect in the world belonging to the grass-hopper group about six inches in length) they too are facing extinction. Katipo a poisonous spider is also peculiar to New Zealand.

The economy.

Since 1990 New Zealand has opted for a free market and the bureaucratic impediments that bound the nation backwards have been unshackled now it has matured in to a modern economy still it continues to be heavily dependent on agriculture, horticulture and fishing as well as lumbering. Telecommunications, railway and even radio have been privatized for increased efficiency. In Human Development Index New Zealand stands 19^th among world nations. About 65% of its GDP comes from services sector while that of industry is less than 28%. The strange thing remains that New Zealand although a strong ally of the west remains the first nation which signed a free trade agreement with China (2004).

Mineral resources.

New Zealand image courtsey: lloydi.com

Only 5% of the land is used for agriculture and 30% of the land area remains as forest, these forests are virtual gold mines as rich timber is available in abundance, the government is against over exploitation of the forest and they are well protected for. New Zealand is rich in mineral resources like natural gas, iron ore, coal, river-sand, gold, lime-stone, silver etc. It has proven deposits of oil also making it a safe bet in any sort of energy crisis; its rivers give abundance of hydel power.

Sports and games.

People of New Zealand are a game loving lot; rugby remains as the prime attraction, but cricket is also a very prominent game (New Zealand cricket team is a power to reckon with), foot ball, bowling, golf, kayaking, cycling all are very popular games played here. It would be worthwhile to remember that it was New Zealand which hosted the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. New Zealand’s National Rugby Team ‘The All Blacks’ is a world winner.

Its people.

New Zealand’s total population is about 4 million; of which 80% are of European origin (the Maoris call them Pakohas and they are comprised of the British, Irish, German, and Italian ancestry). Christianity is the main religion but other religions like Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism etc also exist. The Maoris constitute the biggest group among the minorities (about 15% of the total population, they enjoy special privileges under the law framed exclusively for their protection and well being). There are schools to educate Maori culture and Maori TV is engaged in protecting and educating this culture. Among various minorities there are people of Asian ancestry most of them are Buddhists but there are people who follow Hindu trait also. It is a pleasant thing to note that they all live in very cordial atmosphere. Of all the good aspects of this nation this truly secular government approach seems to be the most notable.