| Welcome to New Zealand, Aotearoa, land of the long | | | | occasion and the food is really good. |
| white cloud, and home to a whole lot of Kiwis. I | | | | So let's talk now about the variety of food to |
| know that the kiwi, whilst it is our national bird, is a | | | | expect when you get here. Barbeque food is one of |
| flightless ground dweller, but that says little about the | | | | the varieties, and it is definitely well worth trying. The |
| people who live in this beautiful country. Perhaps at | | | | meat can be cooked to perfection and you will be |
| this point I should say that the kiwi really is a | | | | amazed at some of the things that go on the barbie. |
| beautiful bird, and to see one in the wild, or even in | | | | Another well known kiwi favourite is fish 'n' chips. The |
| captivity, is an awe-inspiring event. | | | | chips are beautifully deep-fried and come either |
| Right so now I'm distracted by the kiwi. Where was | | | | yummy and crispy or hot and soggy, depending on |
| I? Right, Kiwis, the inhabitants of New Zealand, also | | | | where and what you like. The fish is battered and |
| known as the youngest country in the world. We | | | | deep-fried as well and the type is generally snapper, |
| really are an interesting bunch, and I say that in the | | | | shark, hoki, rig or blue cod, although the fish 'n' chip |
| best possible way, and to come to New Zealand is | | | | shop will have it clearly displayed. Other delicacies you |
| to not only enjoy the stunning scenery, but also to | | | | will find in your average fish 'n' chip shop are wedges, |
| meet some very cool people. | | | | spring rolls, donuts, kumara (sweet potato) chips and |
| So, let's dive right into it. What exactly is Kiwi culture, | | | | other yummy stuff. You may even find some |
| putting races and people groups aside, let's find out | | | | battered and deep-fried mars bars and bananas. The |
| what makes Kiwis tick. | | | | amount of fat that may be consumed is potentially |
| We have to start off with rugby, which was | | | | high, but it's a delicious meal to try and easily eaten |
| introduced to New Zealand in May 1870. The first | | | | anywhere. I need to mention here one of New |
| game of rugby was played in Nelson and since then | | | | Zealand's iconic soft drinks, L&P. This lemon drink is |
| rugby has been something that New Zealand has | | | | my personal favourite and has its home in Paeroa. |
| been quite good at, to say the least. For decades | | | | In New Zealand you will find all the usual fast food |
| Kiwis have been rugby mad, and it has been every | | | | outlets we have all become so used to, like them or |
| young boy's dream to grow up and become an All | | | | not, but you will also find a lot of places that |
| Black one day. The All Blacks are a national icon and if | | | | advertise and sell organic and amazing fresh food and |
| they lose a significant game the whole country will go | | | | produce, so don't be concerned that all you are going |
| into mourning. | | | | to get over there is barbeques and fish 'n' chips. The |
| Locally, you can expect pretty much every town and | | | | dining experience is of a high standard and you will |
| city to have at least one rugby club, and most | | | | find food from all influences here, from European to |
| Saturdays, if you go down to the local sports parks | | | | Mediterranean to Asian to Pacific. Perhaps none is |
| you will be treated to local rugby at its best; town | | | | more famous, however, than the New Zealand |
| against town, province against province and | | | | seafood experience. New Zealand boasts some world |
| sometimes even brother against brother. I can speak | | | | class seafood and you can taste and enjoy some of |
| from experience as I am currently the winger for a | | | | what the ocean has to offer in many places. Bluff |
| local 3rd division team which is truly a Kiwi thing to | | | | oysters and Marlborough Sounds mussels are |
| do. I am in it just for fun, but for a lot of locals rugby | | | | examples of iconic kiwi seafood and many other |
| is lived and breathed and a win on Saturday is a | | | | places sell fresh seafood for you to enjoy. |
| must, as is the after match get together filled with | | | | Many Kiwis will compliment their eating with a glass of |
| drinks and battle stories. | | | | wine or a beer, and with the amount of wineries and |
| Perhaps one of the most recognizable things about | | | | breweries around they are spoilt for choice. Beer did |
| rugby is the short shorts that the players wear. This | | | | used to be the drink of choice for Kiwis everywhere, |
| piece of clothing is called a stubby and it has filtered | | | | but wine is fast becoming the more popular drink and |
| into the dress code for Kiwis everywhere. It's not | | | | is generally the drink now to have with your meal, |
| uncommon to see, even in the dead of winter, a | | | | hence why when you are invited to dinner a bottle |
| good ole Kiwi bloke wearing a pair of stubbies, | | | | of wine is a common gift to bring. |
| seemingly oblivious to the cold. I can't say that I | | | | Unfortunately not all aspects of New Zealand culture |
| always support this symbol of Kiwi culture, but I | | | | are good. The Kiwi male used to be known to be |
| have been known to don a pair even when I'm not | | | | hard, tough and potentially violent, and this included |
| playing rugby. Perhaps it's good for working on that | | | | hard drinking. This still permeates into present culture, |
| leg tan, but your guess is as good as mine. It does | | | | although thankfully not as much. New Zealand is a |
| feel pretty freeing though. | | | | changing country and bad habits and mannerisms are |
| I guess while we are talking around sports it would | | | | starting to be frowned upon. The average Kiwi, |
| be fair to mention another growing sport in New | | | | however, is definitely not as liberal as their European |
| Zealand, which, whilst it¬ hasn't enjoyed the | | | | counterparts and private details and circumstances |
| national popularity of rugby yet, it is definitely | | | | will generally be kept that way. Kiwis will take |
| growing in popularity. The sport is football (or soccer | | | | everything with a grain of salt and are cautious of |
| depending on where you come from) and the recent | | | | anyone who sticks out or is in a position of authority. |
| success of the New Zealand All Whites and | | | | In saying all that, however, Kiwis really are for the |
| Wellington Phoenix really has boosted it in the nation's | | | | most part a great bunch to be around, and are |
| eyes. Bring on the Football World Cup and the future | | | | fiercely proud of their nation. I have to say that we |
| of football in New Zealand. Football really is a | | | | have good reason to be proud of this piece of |
| fantastic sport and for the younger generation is just | | | | paradise as well. Here you will find some beautiful |
| as popular to play on the weekend as is rugby, so | | | | beaches, loads of sunshine and scenery that will blow |
| don't be surprised to see a rugby match being played | | | | you away. Kiwis are well aware of what is here as |
| alongside a football match when you visit that local | | | | well and that reflects in the activities that many |
| sports park. | | | | enjoy participating in and the holiday destinations for |
| Kiwis are definitely not limited to rugby and soccer, | | | | families and individuals alike. In rural New Zealand |
| however. We excel in sailing, cycling, endurance races, | | | | hunting is a common past time and there is plenty of |
| golf, basketball, kayaking, horse racing, growing, | | | | opportunity and game out here. Fishing is also a very |
| cricket and netball. These sports can be found all | | | | common activity and there are loads of family |
| over New Zealand in some degree and this all goes | | | | friendly places to cast a line or launch a boat to hit |
| to show that Kiwis are not only rugby mad, but | | | | the waters for a leisurely day of fishing. Kiwis are |
| sports mad in general. Other sports that can be | | | | very outdoor orientated and just love being on a |
| found are tennis, table tennis, bowls, boule, | | | | beach or anywhere in the sunshine. I fondly |
| badminton, volleyball, squash, and athletics, not to | | | | remember the days when I was younger heading |
| mention all the self defence schools around. | | | | down to the local river and just lazing around in the |
| Okay, so maybe everything is not centred on sports. | | | | sunshine. |
| We are a fun-loving country, but our work ethic is | | | | A common Kiwi past time worth mentioning is |
| very high and internationally recognized. Most Kiwis | | | | market shopping. A lot of towns and cities will, over |
| believe that if a job is worth doing, then it is worth | | | | the weekend, hold a market with loads of things to |
| doing well. Perhaps you have heard of Kiwi ingenuity, | | | | see and items to shop for. There are famer's |
| also known as No. 8 wire mentality? We are a nation | | | | markets, art and craft markets, seafood markets |
| that believes in just getting in and doing it, no matter | | | | and general township markets and here you can |
| what the obstacles. If, however, there are obstacles | | | | expect to see, try and buy some iconic Kiwi food, |
| then expect your average Kiwi to successfully and | | | | art and gear. Most towns will also annually hold what |
| speedily come up with a solution or some ingenious | | | | is called an A&P show. This is normally held over a |
| way of getting around the problem using | | | | weekend or a day and will showcase the best of |
| unconventional means and whatever is available at | | | | rural New Zealand. Expect to see farm animals, iconic |
| the time. It will generally be to a high standard and | | | | wood chopping, horses, antique tractors, Ferris |
| achieve what is required. | | | | Wheels, cotton candy, farm dog trials and a whole |
| One attitude of kiwis that you will most likely come | | | | host of different stalls, food and activities. |
| across is the "She'll be right!" attitude, which is | | | | Writing about Kiwi culture would not be complete |
| generally reflected in individuals rather than companies | | | | without a mention of our common rivals. Other |
| or public operations and is very much linked to Kiwi | | | | nations have their rivalries; i.e. USA versus Canada, |
| ingenuity. I should mention at this stage, however, | | | | England versus France and Sweden versus Norway, |
| that New Zealand does have very high health and | | | | and we felt we needed one so we picked Australia. |
| safety standards which make it a very safe place to | | | | So there is a bit of a size difference there, but we |
| visit and enjoy participating in the attractions and | | | | Kiwis like a challenge. We secretly like each other but |
| activities it is known for. Whilst the "She'll be right!" | | | | nevertheless love to take the mickey out of each |
| attitude is possibly not the best attitude to have, it in | | | | other. Rugby union and league, cricket, basketball and |
| some ways reflects what to expect of the people | | | | football are where you will currently find most of the |
| when coming to New Zealand. We are a very laid | | | | rivalries played out, however, it is a very generalised |
| back society and love to just relax and enjoy other's | | | | feeling and one that is happily played out on either |
| company, food and good times. | | | | side of the Tasman with both assuming superiority |
| One of the coolest ways to relax is to have a real | | | | but happy to admit defeat, sometimes. |
| kiwi barbeque. If you are invited to one the | | | | There really is a lot more I could say about Kiwi |
| expectation is to bring something along to share with | | | | culture, but I am going to draw to a conclusion here |
| the group, perhaps something to slap on the barbie | | | | and leave you wanting to come to New Zealand to |
| or a drink or salad for the group. The males at the | | | | find out more. We love having visitors over and are |
| barbeque will generally be found surrounding or near | | | | proud to show off out nation to anyone willing to |
| the barbeque eyeing up the food with a beverage in | | | | see, use and respect it. Good old fashioned Kiwi |
| hand, and the females will either be conversing | | | | hospitality is everywhere and needs to be |
| elsewhere or in the kitchen catching up and preparing | | | | experienced by all. So book your flights, pack your |
| the rest of the food. A barbeque is a very social | | | | bags and come on over! |