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Christchurch Cathedral: The
principal city of Canterbury, a region in the east of
the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch was primarily
settled by English immigrants from the 1850s onward.
Pictured is the city’s Anglican cathedral situated
in the centre of Christchurch in a plaza area known as “the
Square”.
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| Te Papa Tongarewa: The
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which opened
in Wellington in 1998, explores the nation’s cultural
identity and natural environment. Noted for its stunning
architecture and cutting-edge exhibits, the national
museum attracts more than 1 million visitors every year. |
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Beehive, Wellington:
The “Beehive” is the newest of New Zealand’s
parliamentary buildings. Opened in 1977, it is situated
next to the Old Parliament Buildings (1922, not pictured),
which contain the legislation chamber. In the early 1990s,
while the older building was being renovated and made
earthquake-secure, many parliamentary offices and the
chamber were moved to a temporary location in Bowen House
(far left). Here, the Treasury stands between Bowen House
and the Beehive. The General Assembly Library (1897)
and the old wooden Government Buildings (1876) complete
the parliament buildings complex.
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Tokoroa:
A logging truck in Kaingoroa Forest, one of the world’s
largest forest plantations. The forest is found near
Tokoroa, in the east of the Waikato region in the North
Island, New Zealand.
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Mount Taranaki: Mount
Taranaki, also called Mount Egmont, is a solitary peak
rising in the extreme west of North Island, New Zealand.
The extinct volcano stands 2,518 m (8,260 ft) high and
is one of a number of volcanoes on the island. New Zealand’s
mountainous territory has more than 220 peaks exceeding
2,286 m (7,500 ft) in height.
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Mount Cook in the
Southern Alps: The Southern Alps run virtually
the entire length of South Island, New Zealand. Seventeen
peaks in the mountain range exceed 3,048 m (10,000
ft); Mount Cook, centre, rises the highest at 3,754
m (12,316 ft). Most of the rivers on South Island flow
from the Southern Alps.
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Mitre Peak:
New Zealand is a mountainous country with more than 220
named mountains exceeding 2,286 m (7,500 ft) in height.
Here, Mitre Peak rises above a tranquil Milford Sound
on South Island in Fiordland National Park.
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| Canterbury Plains: The
Canterbury Plains on the eastern coast of the South Island
of New Zealand are bordered on the west by the Southern
Alps and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The plains
provide much fertile land for cereal and fodder crops,
and sheep, dairy, and beef farming. The plains can experience
a variety of climate extremes, with prolonged dry periods,
high temperatures, strong winds, severe flooding, and
heavy snowfalls. |
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| Robbie Burns Statue,
Dunedin: The city of Dunedin in the south
of the South Island of New Zealand maintains strong
links with its Scottish heritage. This statue of the
Scottish poet Robbie Burns is located in the “Octagon” in
the centre of Dunedin. In the background is the Anglican
St Paul’s Cathedral (1915), which is made of
local Oamaru stone.
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Mount Cook:
The snow-covered peak of Mount Cook, New Zealand's
highest mountain, stands above the Tasman Ranges in the
Southern Alps.
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Fiordland National
Park: Sutherland Falls, 580 m (1,904 ft) high,
is one of the major attractions within Fiordland National
Park. Other acclaimed sites in the park include Dusky
Sound, Mitre Peak, Lake Te Anau, and the Milford Track.
Fiordland is the largest national park in New Zealand
and one of the largest in the world; it occupies 12,116
sq km (4,678 sq mi).
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Mission Vineyards: Historically
the Hawke’s Bay Region was the site of New Zealand’s
earliest winemaking, and the Mission Estate Winery is
the oldest in the region. The fertile soils of the Hertaunga
Plains, the warm climate, and the high number of sunshine
hours provide ideal grape-growing conditions—the
region produces a range of high-quality white wines and
is well known for its Merlots. Originally a Catholic
mission, the vineyard is also a popular location for
outdoor concerts.
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| White Island: The
volcano White Island lies in the Bay of Plenty, offshore
of the town of Whakatane. White Island (in Maori, Whakaari)
is the northernmost point of the Taupo Volcanic Zone
and last erupted in 1992. The island has steam and gas
vents, sulphur deposits, and boiling pools and always
lies under a haze of white steam. Low level eruptive
activity is common. |
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| Statue of Wairaka,
Whakatane Harbour: The
Wairaka statue stands on top of a sea stack, overlooking
the entrance to Whakatane Harbour on the Bay of Plenty.
According to local tradition, a group of Polynesian
migrants arrived in the region in the 14th century.
As the males went ashore to explore the new land, the
women waited in the canoe. However, the canoe began
to drift out to sea, and as the paddles of large canoes
were considered tapu (taboo or sacred) to women, they
were unable to prevent themselves from floating further
from the shore. In desperation the captain’s
daughter, Wairaka, seized a paddle and cried, "Kia
Whakatane au i ahau" ("I will act as a man").
Following her example, the other women did the same
and safely paddled the canoe back to shore. In recognition
of Wairaka’s courage, the area was named Whakatane
(to be manly). |
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