CHAPTER 18 - AUSTRALIA

LESSON 1THE LANDS DOWN

UNDERAustralia and New Zealand are called the “lands down under”.

OUTBACKAustralia’s inland regionIt is dry and sparsely settled.

NEW ZEALANDNew Zealand is made up of two larger islands

and a handful of smaller islands.

The two largest islands are North Island and South Island.

ANIMALS AND PLANTSAustralia and New Zealand are home to many

unique animals and plants.

They were both separated from other continents for millions of years. Other animals and plants were never introduced to these countries.

MARSUPIALAn animal whose newly born young are

carried by the female in a pouch on the front of her body

STATIONThe name for a sheep or cattle ranch in

Australia

LESSON 2OUTPOSTS IN THE

PACIFIC

ABORIGINEThe name given to the original inhabitant of

an area, such as AustraliaAborigines entered Australia as early as

40,000 to 60,000 years ago.

DREAMTIMEAn ancient time, Australian Aborigines

believe, when spirits created that land and gave it to the people

NEW ZEALAND’S SETTLERSNew Zealand’s first settlers called

themselves Maori, also “local people”.They made tools and weapons from rocks and

wood.They turned timber from forests into villages,

canoes, and elaborate carvings.

PENAL COLONYA settlement for criminals

EUROPEANS ARRIVEIn 1840, the British took control of New

Zealand.

CULTURE TODAYToday, Australia and New Zealand are

multicultural nations. There are still Aborigines and Maori.

However, most of the people in both nations are of British descent.

LESSON 3AUSTRALIA AND NEW

ZEALAND TODAY

ECONOMY IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Australia leads the world in wool production.Manufacturing has been growing rapidly

since the 1980’s in Australia.About 75% of Australians work in service

industries like tourism.New Zealand is the world’s largest producer

of lamb.

GEOTHERMAL POWERA renewable energy source produced from

heat within Earth’s surfaceHowever, New Zealand mainly relies on

hydroelectric power.

AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNMENTAustralia is a parliamentary democracy

within the Commonwealth of Nations.Australia had a prime minister and cabinet

that is named from the majority party in parliament just like Britain.

Just as in the United States, the powers not given to the national government belong to the states.

Just as in in the United States, Australia also has a constitution.

NEW ZEALAND’S GOVERNMENTNew Zealand’s government follows a British

pattern.New Zealand does not have a written

constitution.The government is headed by the prime

minister and cabinet named from the majority party in the parliament.

MAKING PROGRESSThere have been struggles between the

governments of Australia/ New Zealand and the Aborigines/Maori. These native groups have been concerned about land rights.

Through negotiations, Australia had returned to Aborigines the guardianship of sacred territories.

In New Zealand, some land has been returned to the Maori. However, most compensation is paid with money.