New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific ocean, between latitude 34'S and 47'S. The country runs rougly north-south with mountain ranges down much of its length. Its two main islands cover 266,200 sq km(103,735sq miles), about the size of Japan or California and slightly larger than Great Britain.
The North of New Zealand is sub-tropical and the South temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximun temperature ranges between 20-30'C and in winter between 10-15'C.New Zealand is famous for its clean air and pleasant year-round climate.
New Zealand is an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth. It has a diverse multi-cultural population of around 3.8 million people. The majority of New Zealands are of British descent, and the largest minority is New Zealand's indigenous Maori who make up around 14 percent of the population.
English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand. You may also hear other languages spoken, including Maori, which is also an official language of New Zealand.