New Zealand

Partners situated in New Zealand

None.

New Zealand in a nutshell

Location map for the New Zealand

Topographic map of New Zealand with islands and main population centres labelled

New Zealand (Maori: Aotearoa) is an geographically isolated island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island), and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

The population of New Zealand is around 4.1 million according to the CIA Factbook. This makes it rather similar in size to several European countries, rather larger than Lithuania, slightly smaller than Ireland and rather smaller than Norway. In UK terms, it is slightly smaller than Scotland (5.0 million) and slightly larger than Wales (3.0 million). Thus population-wise as well as politically and economically it is a good match to these countries/regions.

The indigenous Māori being the largest minority, the population is mostly of European descent. Also significant minorities are Asians and non-Māori Polynesians, especially in the urban areas. As a Commonwealth country with strong historic links with the UK in general and Scotland in particular, Elizabeth II is the Head of State. In her absence, she is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. Actually the position of Queen Elizabeth II is essentially symbolic, and she has no real political influence. Political power is rather held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

New Zealand education policy

This is centralised. (More details needed.)

Higher education

Universities in New Zealand

New Zealand has nine universities. Most used to be constituent colleges of the federal University of New Zealand but this was dissolved in 1961.

Universities

Table 1

Name	Location	Foundation

University of Otago	Dunedin	1869
University Canterbury	Christchurch	1873
University of Auckland	Auckland	1883
Victoria- University Wellington	Wellington	1897
Massey-University	Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington	1927
University of Waikato	Hamilton	1964
Unitec	Auckland	1976
Lincoln University	Lincoln, Canterbury	1990
Auckland University of Technology	Auckland	2000

Polytechnics in New Zealand

There are also 23 polytechnics or institutes of technology in New Zealand. A useful NZQA observes:

Polytechnics have traditionally specialised in vocational training, but that role has expanded over the last decade to meet the needs of learners and the economy. Many are involved in research activities, particularly in applied and technological areas and other degrees.

(Also say about Maori institutions.)

Higher education reform

The Bologna Process

(Not known. Relevant?)

Administration and finance

Centralised, similar to England.

Quality assurance

NZQA.

New Zealand HEIs in the information society

Information society strategy

Benchmarking e-learning

New Zealand is the home of the eMM methodology, developed by Dr Stephen Marshall at the University of Wellington. He is a consultant to the UK Higher Education Academy Benchmarking Exercise. After a large amount of government-funded activity (see the 9 MB report) in 2004-2005, where nine institutions were benchmarked (six universities and three polytechnics), recently (up to summer 2007) there does not seem to be an externally funded benchmarking programme oriented to New Zealand tertiary institutions - but this situation may soon change.

References

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See also Australia.
> Countries