New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island—and around 600 smaller islands.
New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans.
During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions.
New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.
New Zealand underwent major economic changes during the 1980s, which transformed it from a protectionist to a liberalised free-trade economy. A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom.
Take a look at these fascinating black and white photos from Archives New Zealand to see the beautiful life of this country in the early 1970s.
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| A shop in the Strand Arcade, Auckland, December 1970 |
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| Arikikapakapa Golf Course, January 1970 |
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| Arrowtown, High Street, Otago, January 1970 |
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| Auckland School for Dental Nurses, Mt Eden, Auckland, October 1970 |
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| Car Ferry ‘Opua’, Opua-Russell, Bay of Islands, Northland, January 1970 |
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