NZ Citizenship Test flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Kupe

Legendary Polynesian navigator credited in many Māori traditions with first discovering Aotearoa; his voyages are remembered in tribal narratives as the earliest exploration of the islands.

Abel Tasman

Dutch explorer who sighted the South Island in December 1642, named it Staten Landt, and did not land after a fatal clash with Māori at Golden Bay.

James Cook

British navigator who reached New Zealand in October 1769 at Poverty Bay, circumnavigated and charted the islands, and returned on later voyages that opened trading contact.

Treaty of Waitangi

Agreement signed on 6 February 1840 between the British Crown and over 500 Māori rangatira at about 50 locations; its Māori and English texts differ in meaning.

Waitangi Tribunal

Standing commission established in 1975 to hear claims that the Crown has breached the Treaty of Waitangi; it makes findings and recommendations, not binding court judgments.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The Māori-language version of the Treaty, which grants the Crown kāwanatanga (governance) while affirming Māori rangatiratanga (chieftainship) over lands, villages and taonga.

MMP electoral system

Mixed Member Proportional voting introduced in 1996: each voter casts an electorate vote and a party vote, and party votes determine each party's share of seats in Parliament.

Governor-General

The monarch's representative in New Zealand, appointed on the Prime Minister's advice; performs constitutional duties such as assenting to bills and dissolving Parliament.

Supreme Court of New Zealand

Established in 2004 as the final court of appeal, replacing appeals to the Privy Council in London; it sits in Wellington and is headed by the Chief Justice.

Aotearoa

The most common Māori name for New Zealand, usually translated as 'land of the long white cloud'; it appears increasingly alongside 'New Zealand' in official usage.

Aoraki/Mount Cook

New Zealand's highest mountain at 3,724 metres, located in the Southern Alps in the South Island; its name combines the Ngāi Tahu name Aoraki with Captain Cook's name.

Lake Taupō

New Zealand's largest lake by area, sitting in a volcanic caldera in the central North Island; it is a major source of hydroelectric power and a recreation destination.

Waikato River

New Zealand's longest river, flowing from Lake Taupō through the central North Island to the Tasman Sea at Port Waikato; it is central to Tainui history.

Alpine Fault

A major geological fault running along the South Island's spine, marking the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates and capable of very large earthquakes.

Kiwi

A flightless nocturnal native bird, national symbol of New Zealand, with several species; the term is also used informally for New Zealanders themselves.

Tuatara

A native reptile unique to New Zealand and the last surviving member of an ancient order; it lives on predator-free offshore islands and has a very slow breeding rate.

Predator Free 2050

A national programme aiming to eradicate introduced predators such as possums, stoats and rats from New Zealand by 2050 to protect native wildlife.

New Zealand flag

A blue flag bearing the Union Jack in the canton and four red, white-edged stars of the Southern Cross; a 2015–16 referendum retained it.

God Defend New Zealand

New Zealand's national anthem, with Māori and English verses; it has official status alongside 'God Save the King' as the royal anthem.

Silver fern

A native tree fern whose white underside of the frond is a widely used national emblem, appearing on sports uniforms and on the coat of arms.

Te reo Māori

The Māori language, an official language of New Zealand since 1987; it is taught in schools and used in broadcasting and public services.

New Zealand Sign Language

An official language of New Zealand since 2006, used by the Deaf community and supported in courts, schools and some public services.

ACC

The Accident Compensation Corporation provides no-fault cover for injuries from accidents, funded by levies; it covers treatment, rehabilitation and earnings compensation in place of suing.

GST

Goods and Services Tax, a 15% tax on most goods and services in New Zealand, introduced in 1986 and included in displayed retail prices.

Voting eligibility

Citizens and permanent residents aged 18 or over who have lived continuously in New Zealand for at least one year may enrol and vote in general elections.

111

The telephone number for New Zealand's police, fire and ambulance emergency services; calls are free and should be used only for genuine emergencies.

Human Rights Act 1993

A New Zealand law making discrimination unlawful on grounds including sex, race, age, disability, religion and sexual orientation in employment, housing and services.

Bill of Rights Act 1990

A New Zealand statute affirming rights including freedom of expression, religion and movement, and the right to a fair trial; it is not entrenched and can be overridden.

Kate Sheppard

Leader of the New Zealand women's suffrage campaign whose petition helped secure the 1893 Electoral Act, giving women the vote; her portrait appears on the $10 note.

New Zealand Wars

Conflicts between the Crown and Māori from the 1840s to the 1870s, including the Northern, Taranaki and Waikato campaigns, followed by land confiscation (raupatu).

Anzac Day

Commemorated on 25 April, marking the 1915 Gallipoli landings; it honours New Zealanders who served and died in wars, with dawn services and poppies.

Hōne Heke

Ngāpuhi chief who cut down the British flagstaff at Kororāreka four times, sparking the Northern War of 1845–46 and the battle at Ruapekapeka pā.