NEW ZEALAND

About the size of Colorado, New Zealand is a mountainous island nation. 72% of its’ 4.04 million people are considered New Zealand European and preserve British traditions. The remaining 28% are either Maori or Asian. Ancestors of the Maori were Polynesian, originating from Southeast Asia. They have their own language. Today immigration numbers from oriental countries, especially from China and Hong Kong, are sharply increasing.

New Zealand is very nominally Christian—Anglican (17%), Presbyterian (12%), Roman Catholic (12%), Methodist (3.2%), Baptist (1.4%). It is stated that only about 3% of the population attend any church regularly and that about one percent of the population will be in church on any given Sunday. Among the Maori, Mormonism has had a considerable impact.