FACTS

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Area (only Total) total: 268,680 sq km

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Population: 4,173,460

Main Language (only first): English

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Wellington

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+12

Independence: 26 September 1907

National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day1

January 2 Day after New Year's Day1

February 6 New Zealand & Waitangi Day

March 2 Children's Day

March 21 - 24 Good Friday - Easter Monday

April 25 ANZAC Day

May 1 Labour Day

May 11 Mother's Day

June 5 Queen's Birthday

November 2 All Soul's Day

December 25 Christmas Day1

December 26 Boxing Day1

1 New Year's Day and the day after are moved to the Monday (and Tuesday) following if they occur on a weekend. If Saturday or Sunday is New Year's Day, then Monday and Tuesday are holidays. If Friday is New Year's Day, then Monday is given in lieu of the 2nd day holiday.

The same rule applies to Christmas and Boxing Day.

Weekend: Saturday, Sunday