New Zealand

New Zealand, otherwise known as Aotearoa by the indigenous Maori population, is comprised of two main island masses, the North island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South island (Te Waipounamu) as well as numerous smaller islands. It is located 900 miles from the east coast of Australia across the Tasman Sea. The islands are located on the edge of a tectonic plate, lending them a rugged mountainous landscape, active volcanoes, and a tendency for earthquakes.