This New Zealand Life

Picture Factoids: Taupo, New Zealand

TAUPO is a small town in the centre of New Zealand's North Island on the rim of a vast caldera - a water filled volcano.

Picture Factoids: Wellington, New Zealand

WELLINGTON has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865 when the capital was moved from Auckland, supposedly to provide a more geographically-central government for settlers in the South Island.

Pictorial Factoids: New Zealand Housing Colonial Villa

Residential property values fell 9.2% in the 12 months to April 30, a slight improvement on 9.3% decline recorded in the year to March 31, according to QV Valuations.

The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) announced the median house sale price in February was NZ$330,000 and that 5,228 houses sold over the month. The median price was up NZ$5,000 from January and sales volumes rose from a 17 year low of 3,706.

New Zealand coastline pictorial factoids

IN OCTOBER 1769 English explorer James Cook makes his first visit to New Zealand on board HMS Endeavour and mapped the majority of the New Zealand coastline.