New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, renowned for its dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and geographic isolation. It consists primarily of two large landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—along with more than 600 smaller islands scattered across surrounding seas. Despite its relatively modest population, New Zealand is the sixth-largest island country in the world by area, stretching over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from north to south.

New Zealand lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. This remote location has played a crucial role in shaping both its natural environment and its biodiversity. For millions of years, New Zealand evolved in isolation, resulting in a high number of endemic species—plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. Birds such as the kiwi and kea, along with ancient plant species like kauri trees, are iconic examples of this unique ecological legacy.