NZD to HKD Live Rate

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

41 00 S, 174 00 E

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Oceania

Southeast Asia

total: 268,838 sq km

land: 264,537 sq km

water: 4,301 sq km

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

country comparison to the world: 77

total: 1,108 sq km

land: 1,073 sq km

water: 35 sq km

country comparison to the world: 184

0 km

total: 33 km

regional border(s) (1): China 33 km

15,134 km

733 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

territorial sea: 12 nm

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

mean elevation: 388 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,724 m

mean elevation: NA

elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

agricultural land: 43.2%

arable land 1.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 41.1%

forest: 31.4%

other: 25.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 5%

arable land 3.2%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 0.9%

forest: 0%

other: 95% (2011 est.)

7,210 sq km (2012)

10 sq km (2012)

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

population fairly evenly distributed

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island

occasional typhoons

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism; almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and more than 200 islands

six times the size of Washington, DC

4,510,327 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

7,191,503 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

noun: New Zealander(s)

adjective: New Zealand

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

European 71.2%, Maori 14.1%, Asian 11.3%, Pacific peoples 7.6%, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African 1.1%, other 1.6%, not stated or unidentified 5.4%

note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group (2013 est.)

Chinese 92%, Filipino 2.5%, Indonesian 2.1%, other 3.4% (2016 est.)

English (de facto official) 89.8%, Maori (de jure official) 3.5%, Samoan 2%, Hindi 1.6%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1%, other or not stated 20.5%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official)

note: shares sum to 120.8% due to multiple responses on census (2013 est.)

Cantonese (official) 88.9%, English (official) 4.3%, Mandarin (official) 1.9%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 1.9% (2016 est.)

Christian 44.3% (Catholic 11.6%, Anglican 10.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 7.8%, Methodist, 2.4%, Pentecostal 1.8%, other 9.9%), Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, objected to answering 4.1%

note: based on the 2013 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion (2013 est.)

Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3%

note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation (2016 est.)

total dependency ratio: 52.9

youth dependency ratio: 30.5

elderly dependency ratio: 22.4

potential support ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 35.9

youth dependency ratio: 15.2

elderly dependency ratio: 20.7

potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)

total: 37.9 years

male: 37.1 years

female: 38.8 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

total: 44.4 years

male: 43.5 years

female: 45 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

0.79% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

0.32% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

13.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

8.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 208

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

population fairly evenly distributed

urban population: 86.4% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 100% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.64% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Auckland 1.344 million; WELLINGTON (capital) 383,000 (2015)

Hong Kong 7.26 million (2014)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.74 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

27.8 years

note: median age at first birth (2009 est.)

29.8 years (2008 est.)

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

total: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 216

total population: 81.3 years

male: 79.1 years

female: 83.5 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 27

total population: 83 years

male: 80.4 years

female: 85.9 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

2.02 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

1.19 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 221

11% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 14

3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

1.91 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)

5.33 beds/1,000 population (2016)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

30.8% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 22

6.3% of GDP (2015)

country comparison to the world: 16

3.3% of GDP (2017)

country comparison to the world: 124

total: 19 years

male: 18 years

female: 20 years (2014)

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2014)

total: 13.2%

male: 13.1%

female: 13.4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

total: 9.9%

male: 10.9%

female: 8.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

74.8% (2012)

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: New Zealand

abbreviation: NZ

etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form: Hong Kong

local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu (Hanyu Pinyin)

local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang (Hanyu Pinyin)

abbreviation: HK

etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"

parliamentary democracy (New Zealand Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

name: Wellington

geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

note: New Zealand has two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

none (special administrative region of China)

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions

amendments: proposed as "bills” by Parliament or by referenda called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an “act” normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent to by the governor-general; passage of amendments to “reserved” constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75 percent of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2014 (2018)

history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law

amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two-thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

see China

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age in direct elections for half of the Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and a 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016)

head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 26 October 2017)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with support from the Green Party

chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

head of government: Chief Executive Carrie LAM (since 1 July 2017)

cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5-17 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2018); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: Carrie LAM elected chief executive; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM 777, John TSANG 365, WOO Kwok-hing 21, invalid 23

note: the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the Election Committee to 1,200 members

description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies, including 7 Maori constituencies, by simple majority vote and 50 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

elections: last held on 23 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2020)

election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 46%, Labor Party 35.9%, NZ First 7.5%, Green Party 5.9%, ACT Party .5%; seats by party - National Party 56, Labor Party 46, NZ First 9, Green Party 8, ACT Party 1

description: unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (70 seats; 35 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; 30 members indirectly elected by the approximately 220,000 members of various functional constituencies based on a variety of methods; five at large “super-seat” members directly elected by all of Hong Kong’s eligible voters who do not participate in a functional constituency; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 4 September 2016; (next to be held in September 2020); note - by-election to be held on 11 March 2018 to fill 4 seats left vacant after 4 legislators were removed from office

election results: percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 36.0%; pro-Beijing 40.2%, localist 19.0%, other 4.8%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 40 (DAB 12, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 9); pro-democracy 23 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 6, PP-LSD 2, Professional Commons 2, Labor 1, NWSC 1, PTU 1, other democrats 3), localists 6 (ALLin HK 2, CP-PPI-HKRO 1, Demosisto 1, Democracy Groundwork 1, other localist 1), non-aligned independent 1; note - 2 localists were barred from taking office in November 2016 and 4 pro-democracy legislators were removed in July 2017

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the attorney-general; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, Maori lands, and military

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice and 3 permanent judges and 1 non-permanent judge

judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges appointed until normal retirement at age 65, but can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit

subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]

Green Party [James SHAW]

Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party)

Maori Party [Marama FOX]

New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]

New Zealand Labor Party [Jacinda ARDERN]

New Zealand National Party [Simon BRIDGES]

United Future New Zealand [Damian LIGHT]

parties:

ALLinHK (alliance of 6 localist groups)

Business and Professional Alliance or BPA [LO Wai-kwok]

Civic Party [Alvin YEUNG]

Civic Passion or CP [CHENG Chung-tai] (part of Civic Passion-Proletariat Political Institute-Hong Kong Resurgence Order alliance or CP-PPI-HKRO that dissolved after the 2016 election)

Democracy Groundwork [LAU Siu-lai]

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [Starry LEE Wai-king]

Democratic Party [WU Chi-wai]

Demosisto [Nathan LAW]

Federation of Trade Unions or FTU [Stanley NG Chau-pei]

Labor Party [Steven Kwok Wing-kin]

League of Social Democrats or LSD [Avery NG Man-yuen]

Liberal Party [Felix CHUNG Kwok-pan]

Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yui-chung]

New People's Party or NPP [Regina IP Lau Su-yee]

People Power or PP [Raymond CHAN]

Youngspiration [Sixtus "Baggio" LEUNG Chung-hang]

others:

Professional Commons (think tank) [Charles Peter MOK]

Professional Teachers Union or PTU

note: political blocks include: pro-democracy - Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, LSD, NWSC, PP, Professional Commons, PTU; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, NPP, BPA; localist - ALLinHK, CP, Democracy Groundwork, Demosisto; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL

other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China)

Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong

Civic Act-up (pro-democracy)

Federation of Hong Kong Industries

Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Albert HO] (pro-China)

Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council or HKTUC (pro-democracy)

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce or HKGCC

Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union or HKPTU [FUNG Wai-wah]

ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy John GROSER (since 28 January 2016)

chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227[1] (202) 667-5227

consulate(s) general: Honolulu (HI), Los Angeles, New York

none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities

commissioner: Clement C.M. LEUNG

office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] 202 331-8947

FAX: [1] 202 331-8958

HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott P. BROWN (since 27 June 2017) note - also accredited to Samoa

embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034

telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000

FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490

consulate(s) general: Auckland

chief of mission: Consul General Kurt W. TONG (since 27 August 2016); note - also accredited to Macau

consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address: Unit 8000, Box 1, DPO AP 96521-0006

telephone: [852] 2523-9011

FAX: [852] 2845-1598

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)

orchid tree flower; national colors: red, white

name: "God Defend New Zealand"

lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS

note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the Queen" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.

Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.

Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners.

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

Excess liquidity, low interest rates and a tight housing supply have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly. The lower and middle-income segments of the population increasingly find housing unaffordable.

Hong Kong's open economy has left it exposed to the global economic situation. Its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment makes it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy.

The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 47.3 million in 2014, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. After peaking in 2014, overall tourist arrivals dropped 2.5% in 2015 and 4.5% in 2016. The tourism sector rebounded in 2017, with visitor arrivals rising 3.2% to 58.47 million. Travelers from Mainland China totaled 44.45 million, accounting for 76% of the total.

The Hong Kong Government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the preferred business hub for renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts, RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, RMB trade settlement is allowed, and investment schemes such as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) Program was first launched in Hong Kong. Offshore RMB activities experienced a setback, however, after the People’s Bank of China changed the way it set the central parity rate in August 2015. RMB deposits in Hong Kong fell from 1.0 trillion RMB at the end of 2014 to 559 billion RMB at the end of 2017, while RMB trade settlement handled by banks in Hong Kong also shrank from 6.8 trillion RMB in 2015 to 3.9 trillion RMB in 2017.

Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2015, mainland Chinese companies constituted about 50% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 66% of the exchange's market capitalization.

During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. In 2014, Hong Kong and China signed a new agreement on achieving basic liberalization of trade in services in Guangdong Province under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, which took effect in March 2015, cover a negative list and a most-favored treatment provision. On the basis of the Guangdong Agreement, the Agreement on Trade in Services signed in November 2015 further enhanced liberalization, including extending the implementation of the majority of Guangdong pilot liberalization measures to the whole Mainland, reducing the restrictive measures in the negative list, and adding measures in the positive lists for cross-border services as well as cultural and telecommunications services. In June 2017, the Investment Agreement and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation (Ecotech Agreement) were signed under the framework of CEPA.

Hong Kong’s economic integration with the mainland continues to be most evident in the banking and finance sector. Initiatives like the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect, the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Stock Connect the Mutual Recognition of Funds, and the Bond Connect scheme are all important steps towards opening up the Mainland’s capital markets and have reinforced Hong Kong’s role as China’s leading offshore RMB market. Additional connect schemes such as ETF Connect (for exchange-traded fund products) are also under exploration by Hong Kong authorities. In 2017, Chief Executive Carrie LAM announced plans to increase government spending on research and development, education, and technological innovation with the aim of spurring continued economic growth through greater sector diversification.

$185.7 billion (2017 est.)

$179.5 billion (2016 est.)

$173.3 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 70

$453 billion (2017 est.)

$437.5 billion (2016 est.)

$428.8 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 44

$200.8 billion (2017 est.)

$334.1 billion (2017 est.)

3.5% (2017 est.)

3.6% (2016 est.)

3.2% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

3.5% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

$38,500 (2017 est.)

$37,800 (2016 est.)

$37,300 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 47

$61,000 (2017 est.)

$59,400 (2016 est.)

$58,700 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 18

21.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

20.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

24.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

26.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

24.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

household consumption: 57.1%

government consumption: 18.4%

investment in fixed capital: 23.2%

investment in inventories: 0.3%

exports of goods and services: 27.4%

imports of goods and services: -26.4% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 66.6%

government consumption: 10%

investment in fixed capital: 22.3%

investment in inventories: 0.7%

exports of goods and services: 191.9%

imports of goods and services: -191.3% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 3.9%

industry: 26.2%

services: 69.9% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 0.1%

industry: 7.2%

services: 92.7% (2017 est.)

dairy products, sheep, beef, poultry, fruit, vegetables, wine, seafood, wheat and barley

fresh vegetables and fruit; poultry, pork; fish

agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches

2.5% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

3% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

2.655 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

3.965 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

agriculture: 7%

industry: 19%

services: 74% (2006 est.)

manufacturing: 3.8%

construction: 2.8%

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 53.3%

financing, insurance, and real estate: 12.5%

transport and communications: 10.1%

community and social services: 17.1%

note: above data exclude public sector (2013 est.)

4.9% (2017 est.)

5.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 66

2.6% (2017 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

NA%

19.6% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

36.2 (1997 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

53.7 (2011 est.)

53.3 (2007 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

revenues: $73.2 billion

expenditures: $71.9 billion (2017 est.)

revenues: $66.19 billion

expenditures: $62.86 billion (2017 est.)

36.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

19.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

0.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

1% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

32% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 159

43.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

44.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

1 April - 31 March

note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

1 April - 31 March

2.2% (2017 est.)

0.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 106

2% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

2.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

5% (31 December 2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

0.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

0.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

4.9% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.02% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

5.1% (31 December 2017 est.)

5% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

$44.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$42.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

$310.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$285.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

$199.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$190 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

$1.736 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.613 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

$300.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$284.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

$719.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$676.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

$74.35 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$74.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$65.96 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

$3.185 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.233 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.101 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$-7.17 billion (2017 est.)

$-5.013 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

$10.06 billion (2017 est.)

$14.88 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

$37.35 billion (2017 est.)

$33.61 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

$540 billion (2017 est.)

$502.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

dairy products, meat and edible offal, logs and wood articles, fruit, crude oil, wine

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, watches and clocks, toys, "jewelry, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares, and other articles of precious or semi-precious materials"; Hong Kong plays an important role as entrep?t to the Chinese mainland; in 2017, 58% of Hong Kong’s re-exports originated in mainland China, and 54% were destined for the Chinese mainland

China 19.4%, Australia 17.1%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.2% (2016)

China 54.3%, US 8.5%, India 4.1% (2016)

$38.74 billion (2017 est.)

$35.53 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

$561.4 billion (2017 est.)

$520.1 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

petroleum and products, mechanical machinery, vehicles and parts, electrical machinery, textiles

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is reexported)

China 19.9%, Australia 12.6%, US 11.3%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 4.8%, Thailand 4.5%, South Korea 4.2% (2016)

China 45.5%, Taiwan 9.8%, South Korea 6.7%, Japan 6.3%, US 4.4% (2016)

$18.32 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

$398.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$386.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

$88.08 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$84.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

$494.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$505.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$78.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$77.31 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

$1.901 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.786 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$59.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

$1.806 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.723 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.42 (2017 est.)

1.43 (2016 est.)

1.43 (2015 est.)

1.43 (2014 est.)

1.2 (2013 est.)

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -

7.8 (2017 est.)

7.76 (2016 est.)

7.76 (2015 est.)

7.75 (2014 est.)

7.75 (2013 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

42.77 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

35.75 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

39.93 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

41.74 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

1.205 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 184

11.62 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

9.454 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

12.63 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

24% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 191

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

56.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

19.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

34,730 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

30,560 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

109,200 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 139

56.9 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

117,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

167,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

388,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

3,863 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 102

9,625 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

54,750 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

332,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

4.954 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

9.08 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

4.49 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

3.243 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

35.88 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

37 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

90 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

total subscriptions: 1.76 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

total subscriptions: 4,318,346

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

total: 5.8 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

total: 17,584,969

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 245 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 170 per 100 persons

international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2016)

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2015)

state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services, as are a range of streaming services (2018)

4 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters of terrestrial radio, one of which is government funded, operate about 12 radio stations; note - 4 digital radio broadcasters operated in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017, but all digital radio services were terminated in September 2017 due to weak market demand (2018)

.nz

.hk

total: 3,958,642

percent of population: 88.5% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

total: 6.066 million

percent of population: 85% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

number of registered air carriers: 6

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 123

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 15,304,409

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 999,384,961 mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 7 (registered in China)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 253 (registered in China)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 41,867,157

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.294 billion mt-km (2015)

ZK (2016)

B-H (2016)

123 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 48

2 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 201

total: 39

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 23

under 914 m: 1 (2017)

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

total: 84

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 48 (2013)

condensate 331 km; gas 2,500 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2018)

total: 4,128 km

narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2018)

country comparison to the world: 44

total: 94,000 km

paved: 61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways)

unpaved: 32,400 km (2017)

country comparison to the world: 52

total: 2,100 km

paved: 2,100 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 174

total: 103

by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 4, other 83 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 83

total: 2,576

by type: bulk carrier 1,142, container ship 471, general cargo 226, oil tanker 346, other 391 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 9

major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington

major seaport(s): Hong Kong

9 (2013)

1.1% of GDP (2017)

1.13% of GDP (2016)

1.11% of GDP (2015)

1.13% of GDP (2014)

1.12% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 106

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force) (2018)

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Command (2016)

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription; 3 years of secondary education required; must be a citizen of NZ, the UK, Australia, Canada, or the US, and resident of NZ for the previous 5 years (2018)

defense is the responsibility of China

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Hong Kong plans to reduce its 2,800-hectare Frontier Closed Area (FCA) to 400 hectares by 2015; the FCA was established in 1951 as a buffer zone between Hong Kong and mainland China to prevent illegal migration from and the smuggling of goods

significant consumer of amphetamines

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people