New Zealand Islands

1 2.3

A group of islands that includes New Zealand's North and South Islands and nearby smaller islands

proper noun

: islas de Nueva Zelanda

The unique wildlife of the New Zealand Islands has evolved in isolation over millions of years.

Examples

Tourists from around the world visit the New Zealand Islands for their stunning natural beauty.
Earthquakes occasionally affect the New Zealand Islands, especially in the central regions.
The New Zealand Islands are known for their stunning landscapes.
Have you ever visited the New Zealand Islands?
The unique wildlife of the New Zealand Islands has evolved in isolation over millions of years.
Tourists from around the world visit the New Zealand Islands for their stunning natural beauty.
Earthquakes occasionally affect the New Zealand Islands, especially in the central regions.

Synonyms

New Zealand

vsNew Zealand Islands

134 1.0

A country of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean known for its beautiful scenery and special wildlife

focuses on the principal landmasses themselves rather than the political country

Surface Forms

New Zealand Islands main

Morphology

New + Zealand + island

The meaning is directly compositional: it combines the place name 'New Zealand' with 'islands' to denote the islands belonging to that country, so a B1 learner who recognizes the country name and the noun 'island' will readily infer the meaning. This is a common nominal compound/possessive pattern found cross-linguistically, making the expression transparent.

Etymology

New Zealand Islands is a name given by early Dutch sailors. One popular story says a Dutch explorer called the land 'Nieuw Zeeland' after a region in the Netherlands, and English speakers later used 'New Zealand', so New Zealand Islands means the North Island, the South Island, and the nearby smaller islands.