Diversifying Economy

New Zealand Has Been Diversifying Economy

New Zealand, biggest island group in the South Pacific, traditionally one of the world’s biggest primary producers, e industries represented in the New Zealand Trade Mission the Pacific are an important recent development which at ipts to diversify an economy still mainly dependent on Uoral production.

NTIFIC farming is coupled th a temperate climate to give »hest productivity per worker in 'orld. In 1960, meat, wool, and cheese were worth £252 i of a total export income of million. By-products such as and skins brought £l3 million ss is the basis of prosperity, ing 47 million sheep and six i cattle with grazing. A third : country is too mountainous rming, another third marginal i a population of 2.5 million Zealand is developing rapidly pe with a population which reach 3 million by 1974. ghout the land new roads and facilities open the way to new y, new land, greater produc- Higher returns are vital if liv andards are to be maintained country is heavily dependent )ort-import trade, t New Zealanders trace British t, 161,000 are Polynesians but equal citizens enjoy the same responsibilities, duties and

privileges. Government follows closely the British system of demo cracy. Universal suffrage decides the Government and a Governor-General represents Her Majesty Elizabeth 11, Queen of New Zealand as well as Head of the British Commonwealth, New Zealanders are perhaps most

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Mr. K. W. Davies, New Zealand Trade Com missioner to the Pacific, and a member of the Trade Mission.

proud of their equality and demo cratic institutions, free education to University level and social security system covering sickness, old age, dis ability and widows benefits. The 40hour five-day week is universal.

Though an agricultural country only a sixth of the working popula tion are farming. Two-thirds of Nev Zealanders live in the North Islam and 55 per cent, in cities of mon than 20,000 people. Auckland, thi main manufacturing centre, has thi greatest population (423,000), thi administrative capital, Wellington has 241,000 and the main Soutl Island city, Christchurch, is a farm ing, industry and manufacturinj centre of 215,000. Dunedin, also ii the South Island, has 104,000.

Despite its long dependence oi Britain for its main market, Nev Zealand has always been a Pacifii nation. Though temperate rather thai tropical, and more than 1,000 mile from its nearest Pacific neighbours New Zealand shares many of th problems and concerns of Pacifi states.

Administrative links with th Cooks, Tokelaus, and Niue, goo transport links by sea and aii common defence arrangements, an a growing two-way trade, all under line Pacific connections.

New Zealand, steadily developin a more active place in Pacific life can do much to stimulate for othe Pacific communities the increase! prosperity that follows an increasei interchange of trade.