General facts 3 land and recources 4

Education and Health

Literacy (1991): virtually 100% of adult population

Universities (1989): 7

Hospital beds (1989): 29,352

Physicians (1987): 6,390

Life expectancy (1990): women – 78; men – 72

Infant morality (1991): 10.6 per 1,000 live births

The 1877 Education Act declared free, compulsory, and secular education for all. Preschool and kindergarten are provided before five years of compulsory elementary school begin at six. Recently, the government established Maori-language kindergartens (kohanga reo) for Maori children. Most children attend two years of intermediate school. During the first two years of secondary school, students follow a general curriculum; the later years are more specialized. All students who qualify for university studies receive government scholarship. In addition to its universities, New Zealand has numerous technical institutes, community colleges, and teacher-training colleges. The government also sponsors extensive continuing and adult education programs.

New Zealand is a social welfare state. Citizens are eligible for unemployment benefits, retirement at the age 60 with a person equaling as much as 80% of average pay, and essentially free medical care, including medicine and hospitalization.

The Arts

New Zealanders are very aware and proud of their two cultures. A major exhibit of Maori art, Te Maori, was assembled for showing in the United States in 1985. New Zealanders have made and continue to make contributions of international significance to literature, the visual arts, ballet, opera, and contemporary music. Authors such as Janet Frame, Katherine Mansfield, Sylvia Ashton-Warner, Ian Cross, Nagio Marsh, M.K.Joseph, and Teri Hulme and the soprano Kiri Te Kanawa have won international acclaim.