* New Zealand

New Zealand, or “land of the long white cloud” as named by the indigenous Maori people, is an island country of the southern Pacific. It consists of two main land masses which are separated by the Cook Strait. These in turn are separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea. The climate there is mild maritime. New Zealand has three official languages: English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language. Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State. This country’s government is best described as a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. Of its 4.4 million inhabitants, 72% live in urban settings. (Wikipedia)

New Zealand is determined to anchor itself in the modern world, and is swiftly moving away from its agrarian reputation. Industrialization and market awareness are considered to be of greater importance than in the past, and because of its raw beauty, New Zealand’s popularity as a major tourist destination increases annually. (University of Hawaii’s UHERO Undergraduate Student Research Report)

New Zealand relies heavily on the other APEC countries for trade and tourism. APEC members account for 71% of all trade; Australia, America and China lead the pack. (University of Hawaii’s UHERO Undergraduate Student Research Report)

This country has a rich history of supporting technological advancement, especially in the field of communications. Today, mobile telephone coverage is available to 97% of the population while 99% of the residents have access to fixed line connections. New Zealand communicates with the rest of the world through satellite transmissions and submarine fiber optic lines. (Wikipedia)

By the year 2000, there were 36 internet service providers, and by 2002, 2.11 million internet users. (Wikipedia)

These statistics lead one to believe that New Zealand is committed to the democratization of information. Modern times call for fashionable appearances; countries must stay up to date for fear of falling behind, and thence, “out of the know”. Smaller, free democracies are especially susceptible to trepidations of losing ground. Citizens of these aforementioned countries strive to remain informed. (PC World)

And what of the younger citizens? New Zealand sounds like the ideal spot to interact. Every secondary school in the country and 98% of primary schools has access to the internet. (Wikipedia)

Let us not forget that English is the official language. English is by far the most widely spoken language in the world, so doesn’t this fact work to the advantage of the New Zealanders? Of course it does.

All evidence clearly indicates New Zealand is cyber sensitive. It has grabbed fast to all major technological advancements where communications are concerned. Perhaps smaller populations and smaller land masses facilitate easier manageability. If so, then New Zealand is ripe for whatever advancements come along, and thus, New Zealanders can expect to remain firmly rooted in the “now”. (New242)

By Michael Handy

For recent economic information see:

UHERO APEC Project

http://www.uhero.hawaii.edu/74/apec-project

For news items see:

Pacific Islands Report, Pacific Islands Development Program, East West Center

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/graphics.shtml

For flag, map, pictures and information see:

World Factbook, The

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html

For further information see:

Ridgell, Riley. Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. 4th edition. Honolulu. Bess Press. 2006.