NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is an island next to Australia famous for its landscapes and its rugby national team.
It was part of the British Empire so in culture it is very similar to Australia.
The native inhabitants of the islands are called Maori. They were isolated when the British arrived in the eighteenth century. However, they  are  now trying to define its tradition and to integrate it in the modern New Zealand. One example of this is the Maori dance the rugby national team perform before the matches. The purpose of this dance was to intimidate the enemies and it really works!
Nature in New Zealand is extraordinary. It is very varied and with a lot of different species of plants and animals.
The most famous bird is the kiwi and the people of the island call themselves with this name.
Mountains, rivers, one volcano and tropical forests make New Zealand one of the most fascinating places in the world. That is why Peter Jackson chose the island as a location for his trilogy : "Lord of the rings". I am sure Tolkien would have been very satisfied of seeing his adventures in this land.