Kiwiana - "Anything and Everything New Zealand"

"Before coming to New Zealand, I tried to paint a picture in my mind of what New Zealand would be like, and for me those first impressions were totally different from that I had imagined........................ "

New Zealand or as the early Polynesian settlers called the country "Aotearoa", meaning Land of the Long White Cloud - is very much a have a go society and is made up of a high number of small self-owned business operators and many entreupaneurs. The kiwis are well known for their kiwi inginuity.
Click here to view a Kiwiana and New Zealand culture website.

When we think of New Zealand there are some things that come instantly to mind; clean green living, the Kiwi bird, click to find out more about this indiginous flightless bird, Kiwi fruit, the Pahutakawa (the New Zealand Christmas tree), rugby -The All Blacks and the famous haka. Click to check it out. New Zealand also has a great Netball following (The Silver Ferns respresent New Zealand), which seemed rather strange to us as we had always associated netball as a school sport, so we were really surprised when we found it a popular sport with a very large number of kiwis.

Bunjy jumping is also big in New Zealand. I haven't tried this sport but Paul has and said it was a very exciting experience;  although he has never volunteered to do it again.

Sheep instantly comes to mind and there are more sheep than people here in New Zealand.

Kumera potatoes (sweet potoatoes) are something that you will see widely sold in the greengrocers and they taste really good mashed or roasted.  There are many places in New Zealand where you can buy a take-away roast.  They are very good value, and you can always guarantee that there will be a choice of lamb, beef, pork or chicken, together with roasted kumera, potatoes, pumpkin and peas with lashings of gravey. It beats slaving over a kitchen stove on a Sunday!

When looking for a home, you will find that plots of land are called sections (a plot in New Zealand is where you are buried) You will find that the houses are constructed from wooden frames and the internal plaster boards come in sheets. One of the things that we found really strange was that if you decided to move a plug point, it could be quite easily done by cutting a hole through the plasterboard with a sharp knife?

There is a chance of earthquakes and volcanoes, but this does not seem to concern people.  The houses are constructed from wooden frames and are earthquake proof, so I guess that gives confidence.

One of the first things you notice is that there are so many barefooted children in the primary schools, especially in the North Island and some people actually go shopping barefoot.  There are many people wearing jandals (in UK known as flip flops).

The young children are made aware of the hole above New Zealand "the ozone layer" and are educated from an early age to use sun block and wear hats and are not allowed out to play during school playtime if they do not have a hat on.

Fishing is a real kiwi past-time and there are many fishing boat and yacht owners in New Zealand, especially in Auckland which is commonly referred to as the City of Sails.You do not need a licence to fish the seas although there are very strict regulations and you have to throw a snapper back if it does not meet a certain length. This is strictly adhered to and MAF will regulary check the boats coming back to make sure that they have not over stepped their quota.

You will find many a sausage sizzle on the road sides.  People selling a sausage wrapped in a slice of bread together with onions and lashings of mustand and tomotoe ketchup for $1 with proceeds normally going to some good cause or club event.

If you go out into the country side you will also find many stalls outside of peoples homes filled with their latest produce, with an honesty box to deposit your payment.

One of the things that I really hated that I came across very early on was the Tree Weta Click to find out more about the Weta   Now the Weta is the most ugliest and scariest looking creature I have ever come across, but I am told they are quite harmless. We lived in a bush area and unfortunately had a tree outside that the Weta lived in. Unfortunately they were regular visitors to our hourse. There are some trees that are protected and after they reach a certain height you are not able to cut them down.  Luckily enough this tree was not one of them and it cut just had to go.

Another regular visitor to our house was a Praying Mantis.  This is also not too attractive, but again quite harmless. Click here to see photo and is also a common sight in summer.

Another New Zealand insect is the Cicada.  Now the Cicada is known as the singing insect.  You know when the summer is here, the cicada starts to sing.  They sing all night and for some its an annoyance, but for me it is such a relaxing sound. You will go to bed one night and feel that something is missing and then you realise, it must be heading into autumn, the Cicadas have stopped singing. Find out more about the cicada

Most of the kiwi terminology is similar to that in UK, but you will find some unfamiliar terminology.
Click here to learn some kiwi slang When we first came here we kept hearing the word Pakeha. It took some time before we realised that we were the Pakehas that they were referring to us - white europeans. .Find out more or there is an interesting book you can buy. "The Godzone Dictionary" by MAX CRYER

New Zealand Travel & Living in New Zealand
on DVD (2 Discs)

We have a range of New Zealand DVDs that you may be interested in and they make a great travel source if you are thinking of coming to New Zealand or a great gift or keepsake for you to take home with you after your holiday of a lifetime.

Travel Down Under - Destination New Zealand DVD
Living A New Zealand Lifestyle DVD
New Zealand Living Down Under DVD

The New Zealand Living Down Under DVD is a great Australia/New Zealand comparison source when bought in conjunction with the Australia Living Down Under DVD

View DVD List

An Impression of the South Island Mountain Scenery
Created by Kay Evison

This unusual piece of art includes photos taken from Canterbury, Akaroa, Milford Sounds, Queenstown, Kaikora, and Arthurs Pass.  It makes a great souvenir to take home with you when you leave New Zealand leaving you with a vivid impression of the beautiful South Island mountain scenery.