First Children Encyclopedia

What’s unusual about New Zealand’s kiwi birds?

Australia and the Pacific

54

Dunedin

Aoraki (Mt. Cook)

3,744 m (12,283 ft)

Rugby

New Zealand

and the Pacific

Extreme sports

New Zealand is the world capital for

extreme sports. Bungee jumping, sky diving,

and white-water rafting are all popular.

Maori war dance

Most people in New Zealand

are European, but about one in ten

are Maoris – New Zealand’s native

people. On special occasions, Maoris

paint their faces and perform a war

dance called a haka.

Moving house

Earthquakes are common in New

Zealand, so people live in wooden

houses for safety. When people

move home, they can carry their

house away on a lorry.

Hundreds of islands are scattered

across the Pacific Ocean. Two of

the biggest form the mountainous

country of New Zealand.

Queenstown

Bungee jumping

South Island

Takahe

Oysters

Royal albatross

Sheep shearing

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Christchurch

Sheep

Kiwi