Danielle Cormack acts and is from the country New Zealand.
New Zealand -LSB- njuːˈziːlənd -RSB- -LRB- Aotearoa -LSB- aɔˈtɛaɾɔa -RSB- -RRB- is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean .. Aotearoa. Aotearoa. island nation. island country. Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses -- the North Island -LRB- or Te Ika-a-Maui -RRB- , and the South Island -LRB- or Te Waipounamu -RRB- -- and around 600 smaller islands .. North Island. North Island. South Island. South Island. smaller islands. List of islands of New Zealand. New Zealand is situated some 1500 km east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1000 km south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia , Fiji , and Tonga .. Australia. Australia. Tasman Sea. Tasman Sea. Pacific island areas. Pacific Islands. New Caledonia. New Caledonia. Fiji. Fiji. Tonga. Tonga. Because of its remoteness , it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans .. During its long period of isolation , New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal , fungal and plant life .. biodiversity. Biodiversity of New Zealand. The country 's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks , such as the Southern Alps , owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions .. Southern Alps. Southern Alps. tectonic uplift. tectonic uplift. New Zealand 's capital city is Wellington , while its most populous city is Auckland .. Wellington. Wellington. Auckland. Auckland. capital city. Capital of New Zealand. Sometime between 1250 and 1300 CE , Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Maori culture .. Maori. Maori language. Polynesians. Polynesians. Maori culture. Maori culture. In 1642 , Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand .. European. European New Zealanders. Abel Tasman. Abel Tasman. In 1840 , representatives of Britain and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi , which declared British sovereignty over the islands .. Maori. Maori language. Treaty of Waitangi. Treaty of Waitangi. In 1841 , New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a Dominion .. Dominion. Dominion of New Zealand. became a colony. Colony of New Zealand. British Empire. British Empire. became a Dominion. Dominion of New Zealand. Today , the majority of New Zealand 's population of 4.7 million is of European descent ; the indigenous Maori are the largest minority , followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders .. Maori. Maori language. European. European New Zealanders. European descent. European New Zealanders. Reflecting this , New Zealand 's culture is mainly derived from Maori and early British settlers , with recent broadening arising from increased immigration .. Maori. Maori language. immigration. Immigration to New Zealand. The official languages are English , Maori and New Zealand Sign Language , with English predominant .. English. English language. Maori. Maori language. New Zealand Sign Language. New Zealand Sign Language. New Zealand is a developed country and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance , such as health , education , economic freedom and quality of life .. developed country. developed country. ranks highly. international rankings of New Zealand. Since the 1980s , New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian , regulated economy to a market economy .. agrarian. agriculture in New Zealand. market economy. economy of New Zealand. Nationally , legislative authority is vested in an elected , unicameral Parliament , while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet , led by the Prime Minister , who is currently Bill English .. English. English language. Prime Minister. Prime Minister of New Zealand. Bill English. Bill English. Parliament. New Zealand Parliament. unicameral. Unicameralism. Cabinet. Cabinet of New Zealand. Queen Elizabeth II is the country 's head of state and is represented by a governor-general , currently Dame Patsy Reddy .. Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II. Dame Patsy Reddy. Dame Patsy Reddy. Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II. head of state. head of state. governor-general. Governor-General of New Zealand. In addition , New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes .. regional councils. Regions of New Zealand. territorial authorities. Territorial authorities of New Zealand. The Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau -LRB- a dependent territory -RRB- ; the Cook Islands and Niue -LRB- self-governing states in free association with New Zealand -RRB- ; and the Ross Dependency , which is New Zealand 's territorial claim in Antarctica .. Realm of New Zealand. Realm of New Zealand. Tokelau. Tokelau. dependent territory. dependent territory. Cook Islands. Cook Islands. Niue. Niue. free association. Associated state. Ross Dependency. Ross Dependency. territorial claim in Antarctica. territorial claims in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations , Commonwealth of Nations , ANZUS , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , Pacific Islands Forum , and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation .. United Nations. United Nations. Commonwealth of Nations. Commonwealth of Nations. ANZUS. ANZUS. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Pacific Islands Forum. Pacific Islands Forum. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation