ZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [William
(Bill) English]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New
Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United New Zealand or UNZ
[Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue
partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, C, CCC, CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM
(guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
L. John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle
[1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Charles J. SWINDELLS embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon,
Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1,
FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000 FAX: [64] (4) 478-1701
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation

Economy New Zealand

Economy - overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major
economic restructuring, transforming New Zealand from an agrarian economy
dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized,
free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has
boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder),
broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial
sector, and contained inflationary pressures. While per capita incomes
have been rising, however, they remain below the level of the four largest
EU economies, and there is some government concern that New Zealand is not
closing the gap. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly
in agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by
the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus far
the New Zealand economy has been relatively resilient, achieving about
3% growth in 2001, but the New Zealand business cycle