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Bohemians, Moravians and Slovaks first began to come to New Zealand through Australia and Tahiti in the 1860s. The main flow of migration in recent years followed the suppression of "The Prague Spring" in 1968. While the Czech community in New Zealand is small, there have been a number of prominent individuals, notably the late Fred Turnovsky ONZ, OBE (1916-1994), a well-known Wellington businessman who was influential in the post-war development of music in New Zealand. There is also a small community of New Zealanders in the Czech Republic. A number of New Zealand soldiers who fell in World War Two are buried in Commonwealth War Graves in the Czech Republic.
Between the Czech Republic and New Zealand there is a strong record of cooperation in multilateral areas. As small countries, we each work through international bodies to ensure our voices are heard.
Generally, New Zealand has a positive, though low, profile among Czechs who know something about this country. Media coverage portrays beautiful, rural scenery - an impression reinforced by the popularity of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Many associate the kiwifruit with New Zealand, are aware of Maori as the tangata whenua but otherwise know little of New Zealand's history, politics or economy.
Land Area: 78,866 sq km
Population: 10.2 million (2007)
Capital City: Prague (Praha)
Language: Czech
Political system: Parliamentary Republic
National
government: Coalition government of Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Christian Democrats and the Greens
National legislature: Bicameral; Lower House Chamber
of Deputies - 200 members; The Senate - 81 members
Last election: February 2008
Next election
due: October 2009 (Chamber of Deputies), October 2010 (Senate), February 2013 (President)
Head of State: President Vaclav
Klaus (re-elected February 2008)
Head of Government: Interim Prime Minister Jan Fischer (appointed May 2009)
GDP: US$221.1 billion
Real
GDP growth: 4.2%
Exports: US$149.427 billion
Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, raw materials
and fuels
Imports: US$143.676 billion
Inflation: 6.6%
Unemployment:
5.6%
NZ Exports (FOB): NZ$ 12.7 million
Main
Exports: Wool, plants, milking machinery
NZ Imports (CIF): NZ$60.7 million
Main Imports: motor cars, tyres, tools, electrical apparatustop of page
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to the Czech Republic [external link].