What Continent Is New Zealand? (A Detailed Guide)

Not sure about your geographical skills but I am a huge fan of the world map. In fact, I have whole drinks cabinet that looks like a globe (see picture below), only that it has an ancient map of the 16 hundreds printed on it and is full of alcoholic liquid once opened. I was also pretty good at naming countries and capitals when I was younger, it was almost a passion. In local pub quizzes, I usually get geographical questions right, so yeah, I can be a bit of talent in that regard. Here is a good quiz to test your knowledge. 

What continent New Zealand is on, however, is almost a trick question for a person of my (cough) knowledge. It’s, therefore, a good thing that my  friend and co-writer George is not writing this article as he is actually from New Zealand. So let’s get exploring it together in more detail and find out!

Key Points

• New Zealand is a relatively small island country. By square miles it is actually just a bit larger than the United Kingdom in comparison. The two-island country is found in the southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. 
• The main and largest distinguishable islands are the North Island and the South Island, while there are also approximately 600 smaller islands that belong to the country.
• New Zealand is situated around 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) directly east of Australia straight across the Tasman Sea. 
• The country has a  b of nearly 4.8 million people.
• There are quite few known models of how many continents there are on our planet but in all of them New Zealand features under the Australian or also called Oceanian continent

What is the history of New Zealand?

New Zealand is a relatively small island country located in the southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. The country has a population of nearly 4.8 million people.

New Zealand’s terrain is mostly mountainous with some coastal lowlands. The climate is moderate, with little extreme weather. The majority of the “kiwi nation” is from European descent. There is also a large representation of Māori and Pacific Islanders who make up the multicultural rich heritage of the country . English is the mostly spoken and used language on the islands, with Māori is also being an official language.

New Zealand is a so-called constitutional monarchy belonging to the Commonwealth under the British queen. It is, however, also a parliamentary democracy. The capital city is Wellington, while the most populated city is Auckland.

New Zealand’s economy is mostly based on agriculture, forestry, fishing, and tourism. The country is known for its natural beauty, and it is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing.

New Zealand is a relatively young country, having been colonized by the British in the 19th century. However, it has a rich history and culture, including the Māori people who are the indigenous Polynesian people of the island country.

What continent does New Zealand fall under?

Trick question and I knew it, as there are indeed various models or classifications. Generally, the term “continent” refers to a large, continuous, distinct mass of land, typically separated by water.

The number of continents varies depending on the definition used, but most models include 7 continents. The 7 continent model includes Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia (or Oceania), and Antarctica. 

An alternative 6 continent model groups North and South America together as “America” or “Americas. Another 6 continent model combines Europe and Asia together as “Eurasia”. Meanwhile, the 5 continent model, adopted by the Olympic Charter, excludes Antarctica and includes Africa, Eurasia, America, Oceania (or Australia), and Antarctica. Zealandia, a largely under-sea mass of continental crust, which has also been referred to as a continent. 

It is therefore fair to say that New Zealand belongs to the Australian or Oceoanian continent in either model of choice. 

Is NZ part of the Australian continent?

That answer certainly depends on who you ask. George would certainly give you a rather quick answer to this question, i.e. that it is part of Zealandia. 

Not so quick my friend. Oceania is a world region that counts New Zealand as part of it. Oceania is divided into its sub-regions which include Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanisia. New Zealand is in the sub-region of Oceania called Polynesia. While most areas of the world belong to specific continents, not all do. So, New Zealand belongs to the Oceania region also referred to as Polynesia. Australia, as a matter of fact, is actually the sole country that is also a continent and its name does sometimes get interchanged with Oceania as a continent. 

There is obviously good neighbourly rivalry and it is clear that New Zealanders do not want to be associated by name with their big neighbours. Imagine the US belonging to the Canadian continent. Although I do wonder how Canadians or Mexicans feel about belonging to the North American continent.

Does New Zealand belong to the continent of Asia?

New Zealand is a relatively small island nation. The two-island country is found in the southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. It is located southeast of Australia and forms part of Oceania. Although New Zealand is officially part of Oceania, many geographers place it in a separate category due to its physical and cultural differences from the rest of the continent. 

Some of the physical differences between New Zealand and the rest of Oceania include its distance from the continent, its climate, and its geology. New Zealand is located approximately 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) southeast of Australia. This means that its placed much further from the rest of the continent than any other country in Oceania. New Zealand also has a cooler climate than the rest of the continent, due to its location in the Southern Hemisphere. The country also has unique geology, as it consists of two main islands (the North Island and the South Island) and several smaller islands. 

Culturally, New Zealand is also quite different from the rest of Oceania. The country was populated by the indigenous Maori people for centuries before European colonization began in the late 19th century. As a result, Maori culture and language have meaningful presence in New Zealand. English is also spoken as a result of British colonization, and most New Zealanders are of British or Irish descent. In recent years, the country has become increasingly multicultural, with immigrants from all over the world coming to live in New Zealand. There is no formal definition of Oceania as a continent, but it is generally considered to include Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and various island groups in the Pacific Ocean.

Overall, New Zealand is a unique country that does not fit neatly into any one category. While it is officially part of Oceania, its physical and cultural differences set it apart from the rest of the continent. It certainly does not belong to the Asian continent for both geographical and cultural reasons. 

Is Oceania a continent?

Oceania is a continent that is often considered to include Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and various island groups in the Pacific Ocean. The continent is home to a wide variety of cultures, languages, and people. The continent is also home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Sandy Desert.

Conclusion

New Zealand is a relatively small island country. By square miles it is actually just a bit larger than the United Kingdom in comparison. The two-island country is found in the southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. 

The two-island country is about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea. The country has a population of nearly 4.8 million people.

Generally, the term “continent” refers to a large, continuous, distinct mass of land, typically separated by water. The number of continents varies depending on the definition used, but most models include 7 continents. The 7 continent model includes Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia (or Oceania), and Antarctica. 

An alternative 6 continent model groups North and South America together as “America” or “Americas. Another 6 continent model combines Europe and Asia together as “Eurasia”. The 5 continent model, adopted by the Olympic Charter, excludes Antarctica and includes Africa, Eurasia, America, Oceania (or Australia), and Antarctica.

 It is therefore fair to say that New Zealand belongs to the Australian or Oceoanian continent in either model of choice.

Overall, New Zealand is a unique country that I am still due to visit. The beautiful island nation does not fit neatly into any one category. While it is officially part of Oceania, its physical and cultural differences set it apart from the rest of the continent. It certainly does not belong to the Asian continent for both geographical and cultural reasons.