Unit2NewZealandPoliticalsystem,EducationandEconomyGovernment•Itisanindependentstate,governedbyademocraticallyelectedparliament.•Formofgovernment:•Parliamentarydemocracy•Headofstate:•Governor-general•Headofgovernment:•Primeminister•Parliament:•HouseofRepresentativesQueenElizabethII•ThetwomainpartiesintheHouseofRepresentativeshavebeentheNationalParty(centre-right)andtheLabourParty(centre-left)•TheCabinet:TheyareknownasMinister,andtakeresponsibilityformakinggovernmentpolicy.•Thegovernmenthasalsowithdrawnformactivitieswhichcanbecarriedoutmoreeffectivelybytheprivatesector.•TheRaceRelationCommissionispartoftheHthenumanRightCommissionangworkstostrengthenracerelationsinNewZealand.LocalGovernment•Localauthoritiesareresponsibletotheirelections,andcouncilelectionsareheldeverythreeyears.Therearethreelevelsoflocalgovernment•Regionalcouncilshaveanenvironmentaloverviewandareresponsibleforresourcemanagement•TerritorialauthoritiesareCityCouncilsandtheChathamIslandsCountyCouncil.•CommunityboardspromotelocalcommunityinterestsandmayhaveotherpowersthatthelocalCouncilgivesthem.Education•EducationinNewZealandiscompulsorybetweentheagesof6and16,andtuitioninstateschoolsisfreetoNewZealandresident•Primaryschoolandsecondaryschools•Primaryschooleducationiscompulsoryforchildrenfromsixyearsofage•Secondaryschooleducationisforstudentswhoatabouttheageof12-13.•TheCorrespondenceSchool•ItisthelargestschoolinNewZealand,providesdistanceeducationforstudentsfromearlychildhoodupwards.•TherearenineuniversitiesinNewZealand:Auckland,AucklanduniversityofTechnology,Canterbury(Christchurch),Lincoln,Massey,Otago,Victoria,waikato,TeWanangaoAotearoa.Economy•TheeconomyofNewZealandlargelyreliesonoverseastradebecauseitlacksmanymineralresourcesandhasonlydiscoveredsmallreservesofoilAgricultureAgricultureandhorticulture,forestry,fisheries,energyandmineralsaretheprimarynaturalresourcesofNewZealand.NewZealandisoneoftheworld’slargestexportersofmeat,dairyproductsandwool.ForestryandFishing•Forestryandfishingconstitutenewnaturalresource-basedindustrieswithexcitingpotentialforfurtherdevelopment.Energy•NewZealandislargelyself-sufficientinenergy.OverseasTradeTheeconomyofNewZealandisamarketeconomy.Ithasonlysmallmanufacturingandhigh-techsectorsNewZealandissometimescalledtheworld'sbiggestfarm.•NewZealandhasaparticularinterestinbringingdowntointernationaltradeandinvestment.