New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses, commonly called the North Island and the South Island. The South Island is the largest land mass of New Zealand, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps, the highest peak of which is Aoraki/Mount Cook at 3754 meters. There are 18 peaks over 3000 meters in the South Island. The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism. The highest North Island mountain is Mount Ruapehu, an active cone volcano. The dramatic and varied landscape of
New Zealand has made it a popular location for the production of television programs and films, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Last Samurai.
