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Model United Nations Assembly Program
Country Data Sheet
NOTE: THIS FORM IS NOT SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM STAFF
BUT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO PREAPRE ALL DELEGATES
The following is a form designed to guide your research about your
country. This form by no means covers every single aspect of your
country that you will need or want to know. The questions should be
answered in a few short sentences.
GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY: New Zealand
Location: Oceania: South Pacific, SE of Australia
Population: 3,993,817 (July 2004 est)
Capital City: Wellington
Official Language: English and Maori
Other Languages Spoken: NA
Youth Ambassador to General Assembly: Kareem Karara
Other Student Delegates: Brianna Davis-Kleppinger (Security Council), Stephanie Kubala (EnviroTech), Eric Lella (SEATO)
ECONOMY
-Discuss the economic status of your country. Include facts such as its
industrialized status, gross national product, per capita income, and
economic status in comparison to neighboring countries.
Over the last 20 years New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian
society to a more industrialized free market. Per capita is now $21,600
(2003 est), or 80%, a number which is on the same level as the four
largest EU economies.
-What is your situation with world
trade? (Include major import/export products, who your trading partners
are and whether you have a trade surplus or deficit.)
New
Zealand is heavily dependent on trade. Its biggest exports are dairy
products, fish, machinery, meat, and wood. Its greatest imports are
aircrafts, electronics, machinery, petroleum, plastics, textiles, and
vehicles. Its biggest trading partners are Australia, China, Germany,
Japan, the US and the UK. New Zealand currently has a trade deficit.
GOVERNMENT
-Who is the leader of your country?
The Chief of State is Queen Elizabeth II. She is represented by
Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright. The Head of Government is
Prime Minister Helen Clark, leader of the New Zealand Labor Party.
-What form of government does your country have?
A parliamentary democracy
-Describe how this government took
power and how stable it is. Discuss any internal uprisings or possible
rebellions against the government.
The monarchy is
hereditary. Elections are held for the legislative branch. The leader
of the majority party is appointed prime minister by the governor
general. Currently the New Zealand Labor Party has the majority. The
government is very stable.
-What is your current military
capability? Please evaluate the strength of the military and whether
you have nuclear capabilities.
There are three branches of
New Zealand's military: the New Zealand Army, The Royal New Zealand
Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. New Zealand's military is
very proficient. New Zealand has no nuclear capabilities because it
strongly opposes the use of nuclear power.
-What are the world organizations and/or blocs your country is a member of?
(e.g. SEATO, G-77 and OPEC)
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP,
EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
(guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
and the WTrO.
CULTURE
-What are the major religions of your country and how do they relate to each other?
Twenty-four percent of New Zealand's population is Anglican, eighteen
percent is Presbyterian, fifteen percent is Roman Catholic, five
percent is Methodist, two percent is Baptist, another three percent is
unspecified Protestant, and the remaining thirty-tree is unspecified or
has no religion. There is relatively no religious conflict.
-Discuss the educational system. What is the literacy rate? Is the education secular or sectarian?
Ninety-nine percent of New Zealanders age 15 and older are literate.
Schooling is compulsory from ages six to sixteen. The school years runs
from the end of January to mid-December-there are four terms. All
public schools are secular.
-What is the population growth rate in your country? Please provide birth and death rate statistics.
New Zealand has an annual population growth rate of 1.05% (2004 est.).
There are 14.04 births per 1,000 population and 7.54 deaths per 1,000
population (2004 est.). The infant mortality rate is 5.96 deaths per
1,000 live births. With regards to gender, there are .99 males to every
1 female (2004 est.). Life expectancy of males is 75.5 years and
females is 81.61 years (2004 est.)
SOURCE(S) USED
CIA World Factbook- http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/nz.html.
New Zealand Ministry of Education. "The New Zealand Education System: An Overview." http://www.minedu.govt.nz
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