As stated in the previous lesson, way back in November, we'll be looking at more countries and their Ministry of Magic's this month. First, I want to thank everyone for their patience in waiting for me to get this lesson up.

Australia and New Zealand
Canada
Germany

Just like in the muggle world, each country (as defined by muggle standards) has it's own wizarding government. Some governments (not all) have a place on the international wizarding board. It works sort of like the muggle world's United Nations, but with more emphasis on hiding wizards from muggles, like each country's ministry of magic.

Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand are two completely different countries. Australia is a country on it's own continent and New Zealand is a separate island that is not part of the country Australia. The only reason these two are located together is their proximity to each other, not because they share governments.

Australia started out with indigenous Australians and was claimed by the British as a penal colony in 1770 and more self-governing colonies were established during the 19th century. Due to Australia being an island, the local wizards before the British came did not have a magical form of government established. Once the British came, a government was established with those travellers who came over to settle from Britain. To this day, there is still a small separation in the magical government between the indigenous people and the current form of government.

The Australian Ministry of Magic functions almost exactly like the British Ministry of Magic, as Australia's was built off of Britains. There are some small differences, given the size and population but for the most part it runs almost the same.

Austrlia itself has it's own international department in the ministry, and hosts a variety of quidditch teams such as the Thundelarra Thunderers and the Woollongong Warriors. Though neither quidditch team has ever made it to the finals, both participate proudly in the international circuit, though their most ferocious games are against each other.

New Zealand
New Zealand also runs in a similar system for their Ministry of Magic as Australia and Britain. They do have international status and attend all the conventions, even though their ministry is much smaller compared to Australia's. About a total of 50 people work within their ministry of magic. The most important department in their ministry is the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. This is due to New Zealand being home to the dragon the Antipodean Opaleye.

New Zealand also has it's own quidditch team, the Moutohora Macaws, who play within the Australian Quidditch League. New Zealand itself is too small to have enough quidditch teams to make it's own league. Quidditch was introduced to New Zealand by a group of English wizards who came to study magical plants and bottany in the 17th century.

Canada
Canada's first Ministry of Magic came before the muggle French and British crossed the ocean and started settling in Canada (much like with the United States). These peoples were the Inuit, Indians and the Metis. Though Canada is large in land mass, it does not have many people given the space of the country. The Ministry of Magic in Canada is based out of Toronto Ontario Canada due to it's being the largest city in the country. It makes easier access to those from foreign ministries and gives easy apparition coordinates to those unfamiliar with the country. It would be difficult to have the Ministry of Magic in less populated areas, as you should be familiar with the place that you are apparating to. Canada's Ministry of Magic also participates in the international wizarding board and has good relations with almost every country they deal with. They also have the highest immigration rate in the world.

Though Canada may not have nearly as large a population as other countries, they do have 3 international quidditch teams. These teams are Moose Jaw Meteorites (located near Saskatchewan) who are famous for sparks flying from their brooms after victories, Haileybury Hammers (located near the Quebec border), and the Stonewall Stormers (located near Manitoba) who have one of the most accomplished quidditch teams in the world.

Germany
Germany's Ministry of Magic was established in 102 ad and is located in Berlin. The Ministry of Magic itself is one of the larger ministries in the world and they are on the international wizarding board. Besides dealing with their own citizens, the German Ministry of Magic is also charged with controlling deadly creatures, such as the Erkling and werewolves (which originated in Germany). The largest department in the Ministry of Magic in Germany is The Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The second largest department is International Magical Cooperation, followed by Magical Law Enforcement.

Germany has one international quidditch team, which is the Heidelberg Harriers (located near Frankfurt), who have received tremendous international attention. Also, the game Stichstock was invented in germany, but it died out 2 centuries after it was created in 1105.