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From the US CIA May, 2006: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has risen for six consecutive years and was more than $24,000 in 2005 in purchasing power parity terms. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth. Exports are equal to about 22% of GDP. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output.

Border: 0 km, Coastline 15,134 km. The Waikato River, the longest in New Zealand, is located in the central North Island. From Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park as the Tongariro River, it flows north through Lake Taupo and, issuing from the lake's northeastern corner, tumbles over Huka Falls and flows northwest to enter the Tasman Sea south of Auckland. The river is 264 miles (425 km) long.

Councils are divided into either regional or territorial authorities. Each type of authority has different functions and responsibilities. The role of a regional council is to manage the natural resources, environmental planning and all regulations administered at a regional level. The functions of the territorial authorities is to provide local services such as water, rubbish collection and disposal, sewage treatment, parks, reserves, street lighting, roads and libraries. They process building and environmental consents and administer other regulatory tasks. New Zealand has 12 regional councils and 74 territorial authorities including 16 city councils and 58 district councils. For a list see Councils by Region Four of the territorial authorities are known as "unitary authorities" because they have responsibilities of both territorial and regional councils; these are Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Marlborough District Council and Gisborne District Council.

New Zealand

New Zealand Regions

Auckland Regional Council New Zealand

Auckland New Zealand

Bay of Plenty Regional District

Bay of Plenty Cities

Tauranga New Zealand

Canterbury Regional District

Christchurch is the capital of Canterbury

Canterbury District Cities

City of Christchurch New Zealand

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, sited on the Canterbury Plains between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean. The city occupies flood plain, sand dunes, wetlands, river banks, tidal estuary and part of a volcanic crater rim known as the Port Hills. The soils vary from river gravel through fertile silts to sand and peat. Vegetation patterns change according to soil type and local climate.

Early writing by Christchurch's European settlers refers to the drab vegetation, the poorly drained land, the lack of amenities and even the lack of the basic essentials of living. The early decision makers were, however, people of vision. In the 1850s an area of 161 hectares (500 acres) was set aside for a vast central park known as Hagley Park, and the first trees were planted there in 1863. The inner city was defined by four avenues where deciduous trees such as oak, lime and chestnut were planted.

The legacy of this early planning forms the framework of Christchurch today. The scale is large and links are strong and orderly. Beautiful old buildings and majestic trees provide some of the attractive features of the city now extending far beyond the original boundaries.

The city of Christchurch has expanded to cover 46,000 hectares, and the population of over 310,000 enjoys a high proportion of land to each person. The main streets are laid out on a geometric grid system, through which the natural spring-fed waters of the Avon and Heathcote Rivers make their way to the Estuary and the sea.

Timaru New Zealand

Named Te Maru, "place of shelter", Timaru was originally a haven for weary Maori travellers canoeing along the otherwise shelterless coastline. Briefly settled as a whaling station about 1838 by the Sydney-based Weller Brothers, Timaru's first resident was whaler Samuel Williams. A large part in the area's pastoral and commercial development was played by George and Robert Rhodes, brothers born Yorkshire, England. They set up the area's first sheep run and freeholded 50 hectares of land on which Timaru's commercial heart is based. Timaru was sparsely populated until 1859 when the English ship, Strathallan, arrived with 120 immigrants. The townships of Rhodestown and Government town (Proposed by the Government, situated south of North Street) competed until the areas were Incorporated as a borough in 1868. Development of an artificial harbour was begun in 1877, but ships continued to be wrecked in the bay into the next decade. As moles were extended from the landing service, sand began to fill the rocky beach to the north, making it a popular summer resort. In 1876 the first steam train rolled into Timaru's railway station.

Chatham Islands Council

Chatham Islands consist of a group of ten islands of which only two islands are inhabited, the total population being 700-750 people. The main settlements are Waitangi, Kaingaroa, Te One, Port Hutt, Owenga and Pitt Island.

The Islands are served by Ports at Waitangi, and Flower Pot. Shipping links are from Timaru, Napier and Auckland, with direct air service links to Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

The Chatham Islands Council is a Unitary Council, this unique situation created by the Islands isolation, small population and small rating base, having both regional council and territorial authority responsibilities, will ensure that council will perform all of its statutory responsibilities to a level of compliance.

Gisborne Regional District

The Maori name for the district is Tairawhiti which means "The coast upon which the sun shines across the water". Kaiti Beach, near the city, was where the Maori immigrational waka, Horouta, landed; and is also the first European landing place in New Zealand.

Captain Cook first set foot here in 1769. European settlement was established in 1831 and the town which developed was named after Hon. William Gisborne, the Colonial Secretary, in 1870.

Prior to this the settlement was known as Turanga but confusion with Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, led to the name change. To the early Maori the Poverty Bay area was known as Turanganui-a-Kiwa, "The stopping place of Kiwa". Gisborne became a borough in 1877 and a city in 1955.

Gisborne, the first city in the world to see the sun each day, is located on the sunny East Coast of the North Island.

Unitary Authority required to carry out the functions of both a territorial authority and a regional council.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Hawke's Bay District & City Councils

Northland Regional Council

Northland District Councils

Southland Regional Council and Chamber of Commerce

Southland Districts, City Councils, and Chamber of Commerce

Invercargill New Zealand

Wellington Regional District

Wellington District Cities

Wellington New Zealand

The Capital of New Zealand

New Zealand Road Conditions

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