New Zealand lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea off the northwest coast of Australia. It is made up of two large islands, the North and the South, and also several smaller islands including Stewart Island/Rakiera and the Chatham Islands.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. Its government is a democracy run by the Parliament of New Zealand and the Prime Minister.
Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand. She “reigns but does not rule,” which means she does not have any real political power and currently serves as a symbolic Head of State for sixteen countries, including England, Australia, and Canada. Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926 and has reigned for 55 years, making her the third longest reigning sovereign in the history of the United Kingdom. Throughout her life, she has been the monarch of 32 different nations because of Britain’s history as a great empire.
Whangarei is a city of 48,300 at the very top of New Zealand’s North Island. In the native Maori language, Whangarei means “Bountiful Land”. The area is famous for its fishing at the Tutukaka beach.District Health Boards in New Zealand are responsible for managing health care. They answer to the Ministry of Health. Specifically, the Northland District Health Board provides public health services for more than 150,000 people in Northern New Zealand. Mental health services are also available at the main hospital in Whangarei, which is one of the poorest districts in New Zealand. The people of Whangarei suffer from high unemployment, high levels of drugs and alcohol, and low education rates. The Northland District Health Board is working with the community to improve the quality of life.
New Zealand Profile
Population: 4,177,000
Capital: Wellington
Head of State: Prime Minister Helen Clark
Languages: English, Maori
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Ethnic Groups: European 88%, Maori 9%, Pacific Islander 2%, Other 1%
People Who can Read and Write (Literacy): 99%