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Profiles and Statistics

Geography

According to the New Zealand Official Yearbook 2000, New Zealand lies in the south-west Pacific Ocean and comprises two main and a number of smaller islands. Their combined area of 270,500 sq km is similar to the size of Japan or the British Isles.

The main islands, the North and South Islands, are separated by Cook Strait which at its narrowest point is 20 km wide. The administrative boundaries of New Zealand extend from 33° to 53° south latitude, and from 160° east to 173° west longitude.

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