New Zealand

American  

[zee-luhnd] / ˈzi lənd /

noun

1. a country in the South Pacific, southeast of Australia, consisting of North Island, South Island, and adjacent small islands: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations: 103,416 sq. mi. (267,845 sq. km). Wellington.

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New Zealand British  

/ ˈziːlənd /

noun

1. an independent dominion within the Commonwealth, occupying two main islands (the North Island and the South Island), Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and a number of minor islands in the SE Pacific: original Māori inhabitants ceded sovereignty to the British government in 1840; became a dominion in 1907; a major world exporter of dairy products, wool, and meat. Official languages: English and Māori. Religion: Christian majority, nonreligious and Māori minorities. Currency: New Zealand dollar. Capital: Wellington. Pop: 4 365 113 (2013 est). Area: 270 534 sq km (104 454 sq miles)

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New Zealand Cultural  

1. Nation in the southern Pacific Ocean containing two principal islands — North Island and South Island — and several small outlying islands. Its capital is Wellington, and its largest city is Auckland.

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Discover More

New Zealand is known for its sheep industry and spectacular scenery.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• New Zealander
  noun

Example Sentences

On Instagram, the band called performing with LaPread the “highlight” of their shows in Australia and New Zealand.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

In an era when even New Zealand is looking to increase defense spending, calling on Pacific partners to take on more of the defense burden is pushing on an open door.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

And 44-year-old McCullum, who played 101 Tests for New Zealand, said his team must use their latest Ashes failure as a "lesson" for the challenges ahead.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

England will hand a debut to opener Emilio Gay in the first Test against New Zealand, with the Durham man coming in for the discarded Zak Crawley.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Two books published since then have increased our understanding of that chaotic period of New Zealand history, placed it in a broader historical context, and made its relevance to GGS even clearer.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond