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NEW CALEDONIA (Continued) Government leader: Claude CHARBONNIAUD, French High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government

Suffrage: universal

Elections: Assembly elections every five years, last in September 1977

Political parties: Rassemblement pour la Caledonie—Conservative; Union Caledonienne—eventual independence; Union Multiraciale and Palika—independence parties Voting strength (1977 election): Rassemblement pour la Caledonie, 12 seats; Union Caledonienne, 9 seats; Palika, 2 seats; 8 other parties divide up remaining 12 seats

Communists: number unknown; Union Caledonienne strongly leftist; some politically active Communists were deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese

Other political parties and pressure groups: several lesser parties

Member of: EIB (associate)

ECONOMY
GNP: $569 million (1977), $4,000 per capita; -1.0% growth (1977)

Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; major products—coffee and vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef; must import grains and vegetables

Industry: mining of nickel

Electric power: 365,000 kW capacity (1981); 1.606 billion kWh produced (1981), 11,723 kWh per capita

Exports: $363.3 million (f.o.b., 1977); 95% nickel, coffee

Imports: $340 million (c.i.f., 1977); 26% mineral fuel imports, 21% machinery, transport equipment, food

Major trade partners: (1976) exports—49% France, 29% Japan, 16% US; imports— 39% France, 13% Australia, 11% rest of EC

Monetary conversion rate: 75 CFP francs=US$1 (1978/79)

COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: none

Highways: 5,448 km total (1977); 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: none

Ports: 1 major (Noumea), 21 minor

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airfields: 31 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 23,000 telephones (17.0 per 100 popl.); 5 AM, no FM, and 7 TV stations; 1 earth satellite station  

LAND
268,276 km$2$; 3% cultivated, 50% pasture, 10% parks and reserves, 1% urban, 16% forested, and 20% waste, water, or other; 4 principal islands, 2 minor inhabited islands, several minor uninhabited islands

WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)

Coastline: about 15,134 km

PEOPLE
Population: 3,120,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 0.1%

Nationality: noun—New Zealander(s); adjective—New Zealand

Ethnic divisions: 87% European, 9% Maori, 2% Pacific Islanders, 2% other

Religion: 81% Christian, 1% Hindu, Confucian, and other, 18% none or unspecified

Literacy: 98%

Labor force: 1,316,000 (1979); 13% agriculture, 33% manufacturing, mining, and construction, 9% transportation and communications, 24% commerce and finance, 21% administrative and professional; unemployment 4.3% (December 1978)

Organized labor: 46% of labor force

GOVERNMENT
Official name: New Zealand

Type: independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state

Capital: Wellington

Political subdivisions: 239 territorial units (boroughs, counties, town and district councils); 657 special-purpose bodies

Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; constitution consists of  171