Love New Zealand

Awesome New Zealand Facts

Here are some fun facts about New Zealand that you probably didn't know!

New Zealand has more flightless bird species than any other place on earth.

The Moa - a now extinct, native New Zealand bird - was one of the largest birds in history. The Moa stood up to 3.6 metres tall and weighed 300 kilograms!

The two main islands of New Zealand are called the North Island and the South Island.

Covering much of Stewart Island, Rakiura National Park is the newest national park in New Zealand.

New Zealand has three official languages: English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

The first organised commercial bungee jumping first began in New Zealand and was created by AJ Hackett.

Aotearoa is the Māori name for New Zealand. It means ‘land of the long white cloud’.

The longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a hill in Hawkes Bay.

Baldwin Street, in Dunedin, is the world’s steepest street. The road has a gradient of 1 in 2.86 at its steepest section, a 38 per cent grade.

The World's Steepest Street - located in Dunedin. Copyright: Hayes Photography
Baldwin Street, Dunedin. Copyright: Hayes Photography.

New Zealand is home to the the heaviest insect in the world - the giant weta. This insect is heavier than a sparrow and looks like a giant cockroach.

In 2013, New Zealand legalised same-sex marriage.

The Kiwi is New Zealand's national icon. It is a small flightless bird with nostrils at the tip of its beak.

The kiwi - New Zealand native bird. Copyright: Tourism New Zealand (www.newzealand.com)
Kiwi. Copyright: Tourism New Zealand (www.newzealand.com).