New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Maori named New Zealand Aotearoa, which is usually translated into English as The Land of the Long White Cloud. 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 territorial claim in Antarctica).

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. During its long isolation New Zealand developed a distinctive fauna dominated by birds, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.

The population is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Maori being the largest minority. Asians and non-Maori Polynesians are also significant minorities, especially in the cities. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New Zealand, is the Head of State and, in her absence, is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. The Queen ‘reigns but does not rule.’ She has no real political influence, and her position is essentially symbolic. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government

New Zealand qualifications are recognized and highly valued by industry and community leaders all over the world. New Zealand has an excellent centrally-managed quality assurance system, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), which requires that all institutions enrolling international students be registered and ensures compliance with qualifications standards. A fresh outlook generates fresh ideas. A youthful nation, New Zealand has forged ahead in developing its own �kiwi� identity and innovative ways of thinking. New Zealanders who embody this innovative spirit include Ernest Rutherford and Alan MacDiarmid, both Nobel Prize winners for Chemistry, and Richard Taylor whose Weta Workshop created the stunning visual effects in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.