The world / New Zealand
New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
- Besides its two main islands, New Zealand has more than 700 smaller islands. The nearest continent, Australia, lies about 1,487 km away across the Tasman Sea.
- Wellington has been the capital since 1865, a status set by convention rather than by law. Parliament, the government and most public services are based there.
- Milford Sound averages about 6,412 mm of rain a year, and Mitre Peak rises 1,692 m above the water of the sound.
- A hangi heats stones in a pit, then baskets of food are covered with earth and steam for about 2 to 4 hours.