New Zealand: The Long White Cloud - The Wise World Traveler: Becoming a Part of All that You Meet - page 304

New Zealand received complete independence from Britain in 1947. Before then it had
become a dominion in 1907, which is celebrated as a national holiday on September 26.
It remains a constitutional monarchy, with the Queen as Head of State, represented by a
Governor General.
New Zealand has one of the world's most enviable literacy rates, 99 percent, along
with an equally enviable life expectancy, 80.3 years, both indicators of a high standard of
living. The country is also noted for its history of social legislation: It was the first coun-
try to give women the vote (1893), the first country to introduce compulsory arbitration in
labor disputes (1894), and the first country to provide old-age pensions (1898). Like the
mother country, New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy, but with a difference. Its gov-
ernment has no upper house, no Senate, and no House of Lords. A single, elected chamber,
working with its chosen Prime Minister, makes and unmakes New Zealand's law.
HOW DO CITIES COMPARE?
As an island nation, New Zealand has ports aplenty. Most are renowned for bays and har-
bors of great beauty. Cruise-ship passengers crowd the railings to capture the views on sail-
in and sail-away.