The graduates from New Zealand's universities who tend to earn the highest salaries are those qualified in sciences, engineering and management & commerce. Creative arts, food, hospitality and personal services graduates tended to have lower salaries.
The highest rainfall in a year in New Zealand was a drenching 18.4 metres (60 feet) in 1997-1998 at Cropp River on the west of the South Island. By contrast, the lowest rainfall was a miserly 167 mm (6.6 inches) in 1963-1964 at Alexandra, Central Otago.
Christmas in New Zealand follows soon after midsummer's day. Many northern hemisphere traditions prevail in NZ, including tinsel-covered pine trees and christmas cards portraying snow & reindeer. The pohutukawa tree comes into peak-bloom in late December and is known as New Zealand's Christmas tree.
94% of those in jail in NZ are males.
50% are Maori.
36% are European.
12% are Pacific People
30% of New Zealand's land is forested. Forestry accounts for 12% of New Zealand's exports. This is expected to increase as more plantations mature.
It's a fact: at 41.2o South, Wellington is the most southerly capital city on the planet. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere are Barcelona, Istanbul and Chicago
The world's first commercial bungy (or bungee) jump took place in Queenstown, NZ in 1988.
With 2.5 million cars for four million people, including children, New Zealand's car ownership rate is one of the world's highest.
>> New Zealanders make only about 2% of their journeys by bus and fewer than 1% by rail.