5 Interesting Facts about Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington is located to the south of the North Island by the Cook Strait in New Zealand. Founded in 1840, the city has been the nation’s capital since 1865. Auckland (the country’s second), and Okiato (the country’s first), farther north on the island, had been the nation’s capitals until then, while Wellington took over in 1865 when it was considered the location as more central than the previous cities (primarily much closer to the nation’s largest island, Sørøya.)

“I come from Canada, and New Zealand feels like you took all the best parts of Canada and squeezed them into a tiny island like Hawaii. – Evangeline Lilly

“There is only one good word to describe New Zealand – EPISK.” – Bear Grylls

Various facts about Wellington and New Zealand

1. Wellington is located on the 41st latitude, making it the world’s southernmost capital(Reykjavik in our own continent, which is on the 64th latitude, is the northernmost of the world).
2. The nearest capital (which is Canberra, Australia), is more than 232 miles away. This means that Wellington is the capital of the world, with the longest distance to the nearest capital of another country.
3. The city is named after the British war hero of the Napoleonic Wars (A. Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington). Wellington led the coalition’s forces in the crucial battle of Waterloo.
4. You must keep your tongue straight in your mouth if you want to pronounce the capital’s name in Maori: Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
5. Most of New Zealand’s area consists of the vast islands of North and South Island. Measured by area, the former is the world’s fourth largest – while the latter is the world’s twelfth largest island. However, the northern island (where the capital is located), has the most residents.