15 Facts You May Not Know About New Zealand:
1. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of whale strandings in the world. While the exact reason is not fully understood, it's believed to be due to the country's unique coastline and underwater topography.
2. Punakaiki, on the West Coast of the South Island, is home to the Pancake Rocks, a unique rock formation that looks like stacks of pancakes due to millions of years of erosion.
3. Slope Point, located in the Catlins region of the South Island, is the southernmost point of the South Island and one of the southernmost points of New Zealand's mainland.
4. New Zealand's North Island is home to the majestic kauri trees, some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. Tāne Mahuta, the largest kauri tree, is estimated to be around 2,500 years old.
5. The Tasman River, which flows from the Tasman Glacier in the Southern Alps, is one of the few rivers in the world that is sourced from a glacier and flows into a lake (Lake Pukaki).
6. Hector's dolphin is the world's smallest and rarest marine dolphin species, found only in New Zealand waters.
7. In 2011, a rare white kiwi chick named Manukura hatched at the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, making headlines worldwide.
8. Waitomo, on the North Island, is famous for its glowworm caves. These caves are home to thousands of bioluminescent glowworms that create a stunning natural light display.
9. New Zealand is home to over 200 species of ferns, many of which are endemic to the country and found nowhere else in the world.
10. Despite its relatively small population, New Zealand has one of the most successful rugby teams in the world, the All Blacks, who have won the Rugby World Cup multiple times and consistently rank among the top teams globally.
11. In 2014, New Zealand established the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, covering 620,000 square kilometers (239,383 square miles) of ocean habitat.
12. New Zealand is home to the giant earthworm (Rhagolaimus antarcticus), which can grow up to 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) long and is one of the largest earthworm species in the world.
13. Te Reo Māori, the language of the indigenous Māori people, has only 15 letters in its alphabet: A, E, H, I, K, M, N, O, P, R, T, U, W, and Wh.
14. New Zealand has a diverse range of geological features, including fjords, geysers, volcanic craters, and limestone formations, showcasing its turbulent geological history.
15. While perhaps not widely known, New Zealand has one of the highest per capita sheep populations in the world, although it has declined in recent years due to changes in the agricultural industry.