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New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you.

And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other!

Geography

• It is a compact country and visitors can experience a lot in a short time and within a relatively short distance, due to the diversity of landscape and activities.
• New Zealand is made up of two main islands - the North Island and the South Island, plus Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands.
• 2000-3000 metre high Southern Alps run down the west coast of the South Island creating numerous fiords and glaciers.

Climate

The north of New Zealand is subtropical whilst the south is more temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coolest June, July and August.

In summer, the average maximum day time temperatures range between 20-30ºC and in winter between 10-15ºC. You can check on weather conditions in New Zealand on the New Zealand Met Service website.

Unique Culture / Heritage

Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is believed that Māori first arrived in New Zealand more than 1000 years ago. Kupe, a legendary Māori navigator, sailed thousands of miles from his homeland of Hawaiiki in his waka (canoe).

Kupe’s wife Hine is attributed as having named New Zealand ‘Aotearoa’ - the Land of the Long White Cloud. A tribal people, Maori trace their families back through their whakapapa (genealogy), to the waka (canoe) that their ancestors sailed across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Māori have a rich and dynamic culture, encompassing their age old connection with the spiritual and natural worlds. Through their whakapapa they continue to identify with this connection by way of their mihi (greeting). They will name their maunga (mountain), their awa (river), their marae (meeting place), their waka, their iwi (tribe) and their tipuna (special ancestors) within the mihi.

Although English is predominantly spoken, Māori is an official language in New Zealand and has a unique and melodic sound.

About 15% of New Zealand’s population of just over 4 million are of Māori descent and are affiliated to a recognised tribal area. Like many indigenous cultures, Māori lost much of their land through European colonisation. Today, although many Māori live in urban areas, away from their tribal regions their marae remains an integral part of their life.

Any visit to New Zealand is bound to provide an encounter with New Zealand’s unique Māori culture, an encounter that will allow visitors to experience a culture rich in traditions passed on from generation to generation.