General facts 3 land and recources 4

Fishing and Forestry

New Zealand’s rivers and lakes support more than 50 species of freshwater fish, and sport fishing is a popular tourist attraction. The country also has an important coastal fishing industry. Forestry products are another important source of income. The Monterey pine grows exceptionally well in New Zealand and is a major source of timber.

Power

To reduce its dependency on imported petroleum, New Zealand has dramatically increased its exportation for new energy sources and has begun to exploit existing energy sources more efficiently. Hydroelectronic power meets nearly 75% of national electricity needs, and coal reserves are abundant. New Zealand is also exploiting its natural-gas reserves; a pipeline carries natural gas from the offshore Kapuni field throughout the North Island. The country has also put into operation the world’s first synthetic-fuels plant, which converts natural gas to methanol and then to gasoline. This satisfies about 20% of the nation’s primary oil requirements. Exploration for petroleum continues, with a major find in 1988. Geothermal energy fields have also been successfully harnessed to produce heat and power.