Location:

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

Area:

268,680 sq km

Climate:

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain:

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Population:

3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)

Religions:

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Languages:

English (official), Maori

Capital:

Wellington