| − | '''New Zealand''' ([[Maori]]: '''Aotearoa''' - usually translated as ''Land of the Long White Cloud'') is an independent country in the southern [[Pacific Ocean]] comprising two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably [[Stewart Island]] and the Chatham Islands. It is named after [[Zeeland]], a province of the Netherlands. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing, but in 'free association'; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's Antarctic territorial claim). New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea, approximately 2000 kilometers (1250 miles) across. Its closest neighbours to the north are [[New Caledonia]], [[Fiji]], and [[Tonga]]. [[Wellington]] is the capital of New Zealand and second largest city; [[Auckland]] is the largest city with Christchurch the third largest and largest in the South Island. | + | '''New Zealand''' ([[Maori]]: '''Aotearoa''' - usually translated as ''Land of the Long White Cloud'') is an independent country in the southern [[Pacific Ocean]] comprising two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably [[Stewart Island]] and the Chatham Islands. It is named after [[Zeeland]], a province of the Netherlands. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing, but in 'free association'; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's Antarctic territorial claim). New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea, approximately 2000 kilometers (1250 miles) across. Its closest neighbors to the north are [[New Caledonia]], [[Fiji]], and [[Tonga]]. [[Wellington]] is the capital of New Zealand and second largest city; [[Auckland]] is the largest city with Christchurch the third largest and largest in the South Island. |