Why is 80% New Zealand Empty? Here's Why!

Hello, friend Summarized! Have you ever wondered why 80% of New Zealand is empty? Yes, you read that right. Most of the land area of this country is not inhabited by humans. In fact, New Zealand is famous for its extraordinary natural beauty, comfortable climate and rich culture. Then, what causes this country to be empty of people? Check out the following explanation!

A Brief History of New Zealand

Before we get into the reasons why 80% of New Zealand is empty, it’s helpful to know a little about the country’s history. New Zealand is a country in Oceania which consists of two main islands, namely the North Island and South Island, as well as several other small islands. The name New Zealand (New Zealand) was given by a Dutch cartographer in the 17th century, who was inspired by the name of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. The ethnic group that became the first settlers in New Zealand were the Maori people, who arrived between 950-1300 from East Polynesia. They form different tribes and cultures across the island. Europeans started coming to New Zealand in the 17th century, mainly from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. They brought their cultural, linguistic, religious and legal influences to this country. In 1840, representatives of the British Empire and Maori leaders signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which is considered the founding document of New Zealand. This agreement recognized British sovereignty over New Zealand, but also granted certain rights to the Maori people as indigenous people. However, this agreement also created a lot of conflict and inequality between the two groups. New Zealand became a British colony in 1841, and then a dominion in 1907. In 1947, New Zealand became a fully sovereign independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations. New Zealand has a parliamentary system of government with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and the prime minister as head of government.

The Reason Why 80% New Zealand Is Empty

Now that we’ve known New Zealand’s brief history, let’s return to our original question: why is 80% of New Zealand empty? There are several reasons that can explain this phenomenon, including:

Geographical

One of the main reasons why 80% of New Zealand is empty is because of its geographical conditions that are not conducive to human settlement. Most of New Zealand’s land area is mountainous and steep and difficult to access. In addition, there are also many active and earthquake-prone volcanoes in the country.

According to data from the CIA World Factbook, only about 5.3% of New Zealand’s land area is usable for agriculture, while the rest is forest, grassland, marshes, lakes, rivers, glaciers and snow. So it’s no surprise that the majority of New Zealanders live in the more fertile and accessible coastal or lowland areas.

Demographic

Another reason why 80% of New Zealand is empty is because of its relatively small population compared to its area. According to data from Worldometer, in 2021, New Zealand’s population is expected to be around 4.9 million people, with a population density of around 18 persons per km2. When compared to its neighbors in Oceania, such as Australia (3 people per km2) and Papua New Guinea (19 people per km2), New Zealand is still relatively dense. However, when compared to countries in Asia, such as Indonesia (147 people per km2) and India (464 people per km2), New Zealand looks very lonely. One of the factors that affect New Zealand’s population is the low birth and death rates. According to data from the CIA World Factbook, in 2020 New Zealand’s birth rate is 12.5 per 1000 population, while the death rate is 7 per 1000 population. This means that New Zealand’s population growth is very slow and insufficient to fill its large land area. In addition, there are also migration factors that have an effect. Many New Zealanders choose to move to other countries, especially Australia, in search of better job and educational opportunities. According to data from Statistics New Zealand, in 2019, there were around 53,000 New Zealanders who emigrated overseas permanently or long term, while there were only around 32,000 foreigners who migrated to New Zealand.

Economical

The third reason why 80% of New Zealand is empty is economics. Even though New Zealand is a developed country with a high per capita income, the cost of living in this country is also very expensive. According to data from Numbeo, the cost of living index in New Zealand in 2021 is 74.93, which means it is more expensive than the world average (50). One of the most expensive components of the cost of living in New Zealand is housing. According to data from the Global Property Guide, the average house price in New Zealand in 2020 was around NZD 725,000 (around Rp. 7 billion), while the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center was around NZD 1,800 (about Rp. 18 million). This high cost of living means that many New Zealanders are unable or unwilling to live in remote or rural areas far from public amenities and employment opportunities. They prefer to live in more modern and developed urban or suburban areas. According to data from the World Bank, in 2019, around 86% of New Zealand’s population lived in urban areas.

Conclusion and Closing

Of course, after understanding the reasons above, we can conclude that New Zealand has unfavorable geographic conditions for human settlement, a relatively small population compared to its area, and a high cost of living. All of these factors play a part in explaining why 80% of New Zealand is empty. Now you know! If you have questions, you can write directly in the comments column, I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks for reading this far! See you in another article 😀