Geography (New Zealand)

Chapter 27

CONTENTSCONTENTS

Section I The LandSection II The PeopleSection III Maori and Maori

Culture

I. The land

1. The Name of the Country2. Location and Size3. Landforms4. Climate5. Unique Fauna and Flora6. The North Island7. The South Island8. Steward Island9. Natural Resources10.Forestry11.Fishery

I . The land

1. The name of the country given by the Dutch explorers Staten Land by Abel Tasman Nieuw Zeeland by later explorers: The new land is similar to Zeeland (a province in

Holland)

2. Location and size 1) the largest island of Polynesia 2) in the south Pacific Ocean, 34-470 s. 3) the third largest country in Oceania 4) total area: 270,534 Km2

–Japan, California, British Isles 5) a country of islands a. two main islands: North and South islands b. Steward Island: 3rd largest c. many small scattered islands d. just west of the International Date Line --the first major country to get the new day

3. Landforms

Diversity of physical geographya. wide variation in landscape glaciers, fiords, mountains, plains, hillsides, forests, plateau, beaches b. Mountains: 1/5 of North Island & 2/3 of South Island volcanoes: Ruapehu the highest Mount Egmont (west) Mount Cook (the highest mountain)

c. Coastline 15,000 Km-longa) North Island Sandy beaches:

the Far North and most of the East Coast Dark sandy beaches:

the West Coastb) South Island beautiful sandy beaches: the north wild and rugged beaches: the restd. Southern Alps accessible to mountaineers and hikers

a) Tasman glacier (the largest)b) Franz Josef and Fox (the West Coast of South Is.)

The Map of N

ew Zealand

4. Climate

Maritime dominated by two geographical features

1) the mountains 2) the sea mild temperature moderate rainfall abundant sunshine

4. Climate

Seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere

1) Spring (Sep-Nov): from cold and frosty to warm and hot

2) Summer (Dec–Feb): high temperatures and sunshine

3) Autumn (Mar-May): cool 4) Winter (June-Aug): cold and more rain

5. Unique Fauna and Flora Native birds and plants

Long time isolation has helped the evolution of the unique fauna and flora.

, Birds don’t fly.

- National bird: KiwiFamous birds: moa (wingless), kakapo (the rarest

and heaviest parrot), tuatara (living fossil, the only beak-headed reptile), kea (native parrot), weka, takahe, tui, and morepork owl

Rainfall and Sunshine

A large number of native trees

The most famous tree: a kauri called Tane Mahuta 1) named after the Maori god of the forests 2) 51 meters tall, 13 meters in girth, and 2,000 years old

A great variety of ferns

The Silver Fern: one of New Zealand’s official symbols

6. The North Island

A. Size114,500 Km2, smaller than the South

B. Population distributionvastly populated,temperate, sub-tropical climate

C. Landscapea. volcanoes, b. forests peaks lakesc. vineyards d. harborse. beaches

6. The North Island

D. Tongariro National Parkthe oldest N.P. and mountainous (three volcanoes)

Tongariro Ruapehu (the highest peak) Ngauruhoe(for Mt. Doom in Lord of the Ring)

E. Rivers and lakes 1) Waikato: the longest 425 Km 2) Lake Taupo: the largest lake

6. The North Island

Distinctive features: 1) geothermal power in the central and northern parts of the North 2) Rotorua-Taupo: the largest one , 3) hot springs and geysers, 4) electricity station: Waitakei

Nine provincial districts 1) Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay,

Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, Gisbone 2) Auckland: the largest city (the City of Sails) 3) Wellington: the national capital

Lake

River

Auckland—the City of Sails

7. South IslandA. Size

150 000 square km, Known as Te Wai Pounamu (Water of Greenstone)

B. Landforms peaks, glaciers, lakes rivers, limestone

landscapes, rainforest, coastline, Mount Cook ( 3,754 m): the highest peak Glacial activities: Ten Anau, Wakatipu

resulted in the formation of lakes C. Residence : 967,900 (2006), not densely populated D. Seven districtsE. The largest city:

Christchurch (Garden City)

Mountains

8. Steward Island

1) Insulated by remoteness 2) a haven for tranquility and adventure 3) Rakiura National park 4) the western coast: a. cliffs b. beaches 5) the eastern coast:: a. sheltered inlets b. Paterson Inlet:

the largest

9. Natural resourcesMain resources:

coal, gold, natural gas, iron ore, silver, petroleum, aggregate, limestone and clay Coal and gold are the most important.

Coal a. the largest energy resource, b. 8.6 billion tons recoverable c. mainly in South Island

Gold in Otago, South Island

II. The people 1. Population and Nations： 1) 2006 census :4.14 million, 2) 75% the North( 86% in cities), 3) 80% Pakeha (the European white) 2. Language Spoken 1) English (common and everyday language) 2) Maori (50,000 Maoris) 3) Other languages (immigrants)3. Religion: a Christian country 1) Christian (Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Roman

Catholic, other protestants): more than half 2) Buddhist, Moslems, Maori Church (Ratana and

Ringatu )

4. Principal Cities

1. Wellington 2. Auckland 3. Christchurch 4. Dunedin 5. Queenstown 6. Rotorua

Wellington: the Capital

Auckland: the Largest City

1.2 million population Among the best in the world:

harbor, islands, Polynesian culture and modern city environment

Christchurch: Garden City

1) Population: 481,4002) The largest city in the south Island

Dunedin: the best preserved

1) The capital city of Otago 2) Otago University: the oldest of New Zealand

Queenstown

1) Population: 20,000 2) the most famous travel destination3) Magnificent scenery, adventure opportunities

and luxury lifestyle

Rotorua

1) Population: 68,000 2) The center of Maori culture in North Island3) Geothermal activities, volcanic landscape, living

Maori culture and hot springs

5. New Zealander’s LivesA.Families and Householdsa. Proportion of families (2001):

35% one child, 17.7% three children, more and more single-parent families

b. Marriage declining, and divorce rate risingc. 2/3 of New Zealanders own houses

80% of private dwellings: detached, single-family, larger

Some have a second or more houses.

B. Health care a. Improved since 1950s b. Life expectancy (2006): 78 male & 82 femalec. Restrictions on smoking in many public places

imposed in 1990. d. Local medical centerse. Public and private hospitalsf. Doctors: private practitionersg. Most prescription medicines:

partly charged,

C. Education a. Start school (public or private) at 5b. Free primary and secondary education:

from Age 5 to 19; Compulsory from Age 6 to 16.

c. Tertiary education: polytechnics, colleges, and universities

d. Education based on Maori culture & values.

D. Welfare a. 1st cradle-to-grave welfare state

by Labor Party in the 1930sb. Universal welfare scrapped

by Labor Party in 1984c. New Zealanders still enjoy

high level of social welfare.

III. Maori and Maori Culture1. Indigenous people of New Zealand 1) First arrival by voyaging canoes

from Hawaiki over 1,000 years ago, 2) 9% of the total population 3) a major impact 2. Maori culture:

Rich and variedwith a tradition of mythology and oral history

3. Unique protocol: marae, ceremonial touching of noses4. Born dancers:

The famous haka and poi

ExercisesExercises

I. Choose the correct answer and circle the letter before it

II. Questions for discussion

III. Explain the following in English

ExercisesI. Choose the correct answer and write the related

letter on the blanks.1. The climate in New Zealand is ____, dominated by two

main geographical features—mountain and sea.A. maritime B. continental C. tropical D. temperate

2. Spring in New Zealand lasts from __ to __.A. Jan., Mar B. Sep., Nov. C. Feb., May D. Oct., Dec

3.One distinctive feature of Northern Island is its ____.A. highland B. lowland C. geothermal power D. plain

4. The largest city in the South Island is ____, known as Garden City.

A. Christchurch B. Dunedin C. Queenstown D. Rotorua5. __ and __ are the most important natural resources in

New Zealand.A. Water, gas B. Gas, coal C. Coal, gold D. Iron, copper

Exercises6. ____ are the indigenous people of New Zealand.

A. The Maori B. American Indians C. Anglo-Saxons D. The British

7. Both ___ and ____ are official languages.A. English, French B. English, Chinese C. English, Spanish D. English, Mauri

8.There are two main islands in New Zealand which are separated by ___ Channel.A. Cook B. English C. Dover D. Suez

9.The largest city in New Zealand is _____.A. Wellington B. Christchurch C. Auckland D. Queenstown

10. Education in state primary and secondary schools is free from Age __ to __.A. 5,15 B. 6, 18 C. 6,19 D. 5,19

Exercises

II. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.1. What are the two most important factors

that dominate the climate of New Zealand?2. What natural resources is New Zealand

blessed with?3. Who were Maoris? Where did they come

from?4. What is the state examination in New

Zealand?5. What is the difference between the private

and the public schools?

III. Explain the following in English.

1. Cook Strait 2. The kiwi3. International Date Line4. Maori

Thank you!