government: parliamentary democracy (New Zealand Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

state of civil and political rights: Free

constitution: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective January 1, 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions; amended many times, last in 2020

legal system: common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

legislative system: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)

judicial system: Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals

religion: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.); some respondents identified with more than one religion

death row:

year of last executions: 0-0-0

death sentences: 0

executions: 0