Time Zone |
America/Chicago |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-6 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-5 |
Time Zone |
Pacific/Auckland |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+12 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+13 |
Ames is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the capital city of Des Moines, and is one of the county seats of Boyd and Story counties, as well as the state's most important educational and livable city. As the home of Iowa State University (ISU), Ames has been deeply tied to the university since its founding in 1888, and the university is nationally renowned for its agricultural engineering, veterinary medicine, materials science and other disciplines, infusing the city with a strong academic and innovative atmosphere. With the university's resources, Ames has developed into a center for biotechnology, high-end manufacturing and aerospace research, with leading research institutions such as the National Advanced Driving Simulator Laboratory. With a population of approximately 66,000 (2020 data), the city has been repeatedly recognized as one of the safest and most livable areas in the nation, combining urban convenience with a small-town friendliness that attracts numerous academic conferences and tourists each year.
Manunui is a small settlement in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, located on the east bank of the Waikato River, close to the main transportation route between Auckland and Taupo. Characterized by its strong Maori cultural heritage, Manunui is the traditional home of the local Maori tribes and is surrounded by vast primeval forests and rivers, making it a great place to experience outdoor adventure and cultural discovery. As a historical node in the Waikato region, Manunui retains traces of early Maori and European colonial culture, and the surrounding trails and natural landscapes attract visitors seeking peace and quiet, making it a hidden gem of New Zealand's indigenous culture and nature.