How is nz formed

Birds and insects, such as the weta, evolved to fill the gap of mammals on the islands. The giant weta, at 2. It is a relative of crickets and is considered one of the world's heaviest insects. Pilot and humpback whales visit the islands on their way to breed, and orcas come to feed on dolphins. New Zealand's government is based on the parliamentary democracy based on the system used in Britain. There are seats in the House of Representatives and each is elected for a three-year term.

Seven seats are reserved for the Maori and they are chosen by Maori voters. There are two main parties, National and Labour. The party with the most elected representatives forms the government. The leader of the party is the Prime Minister. Tourism is the main industry in New Zealand with over two million visitors a year.

The main exports are lamb, butter, kiwifruit, and wine. The Maori people arrived by canoe from islands in Polynesia near Tahiti around 1, A. In the s, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited the islands, but his party left after being attacked. New Zealand was named Nieuw Zeeland after a region in the Netherlands. In , Captain James Cook came to the islands. The British established settlements and signed a treaty with the Maori in The Maori protested the treaty after their lands were seized, and in the s, they began a year war against the British for control of North Island.

Piopio, Waikato. By Tourism NZ. How it began New Zealand's oldest rocks are over million years old, and were once part of Gondwanaland. Pohutu Geyser in Te Puia, Rotorua. By Shaun Jeffers Photography. Geothermal areas and hot springs This subterranean activity blesses New Zealand with some spectacular geothermal areas and relaxing hot springs, as well as providing electricity and heating in some areas.

Wharariki Beach, Nelson Tasman. By Nelson Tasman. Gentle, sandy beaches to wild, rugged coastlines New Zealand has over 15, kilometres of beautiful and varied coastline. Hot air ballooning over Canterbury, Christchurch - Canterbury. By Ballooning Canterbury.

Mountain ranges to fertile farmland About a fifth of the North Island and two-thirds of the South Island are mountains. Fox Glacier, New Zealand. By Fox Glacier Guiding. Fiordland National Park, Fiordland. By Fiordland Tourism. Sunken Mountains Over thousands of years, the process of subduction has seen parts of the New Zealand landscape become submerged.

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