Although I enjoy traveling and exploring the world, New Zealand is my home country. Here are some facts about New Zealand:
1. We are an island country – North Island, South Island and Stewart Island – in the south western Pacific Ocean.
2. Our capital is Wellington. It is the southernmost capital city in the world.
3. Our population is around 4.5 million.
4. Our temperatures, on the whole, are mild and we get a lot of rain. There’s a reason for all that clean green!
5. We love our sport. Golf is very popular as is rugby, netball, cricket, fishing and soccer.
6. We have the longest place name (still in use) in the world. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamatesturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwenuakitanatahu. This is a hill in the Hawkes Bay region and it means the place where Tamatea, known as Landeater, who was also a man with big knees, slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, and played his flute to his loved one!
7. No part of New Zealand is more than 128 kilometers from the sea.
8. The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, which means land of the long white cloud. That rain again!
9. New Zealand does not have any dangerous or poisonous animals or insects, but we have a lot of interesting birds including our flightless kiwi. See K is for kiwi.
10. We are a member of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II is our Queen. The Governor General represents her here in New Zealand.
We have a great country – come and visit!
Holy mother of *%ç& that name is humongous! Can you even read it without gasping?
LOL Impressive, no? I can pronounce it but it’s a bit at the time.
No dangerous or poisonous animals or insects? Wow, maybe I should think about moving. lol
There is the katipo spider, but I’ve never seen one. I think they’re an urban myth!
Have to correct you (although you are very seldom wrong) NZ has the katipo spider. Related to the Australian redback and USA blackwidow spiders. Extremely rare, mainly inhabiting sand dunes. No one has died from a bite since the 19th century. A bit of useless trivia!
I think they’re an urban myth :)
I would love to visit New Zealand! Although I won’t be golfing. I’ll probably spend most of my tmie getting tutored on how to pronounce that bazillion-letter location! :O)
LuAnn Braley
AJ’s Hooligans @AtoZChallenge
Back Porchervations
LOL – it’s a tongue twister for sure!
I so do want to visit one day! Does anyone actually pronounce the name for number 6?? I don’t think I could wrap my tongue around that. Holy cow.
Some of the normal length words are tricky enough for overseas visitors!