New Zealand, 2nd Day of Research
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Power & Taboo: Sacred objects from the Pacific. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/power-&-taboo-maori-art-feature/power-&-taboo-sacred-objects-from-the-pacific.cfm
Fifteen of the 82 artefacts on show at the British Museum's 'Power & Taboo: Sacred objects from the Pacific' exhibition are from New Zealand.
Exploring the power of the gods in the Polynesian Islands of the eastern Pacific, the exhibition runs from 28 September 2006 to 7 January 2007.
New Zealand's Tangata Whenua
(people of the land)
Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1,000
years ago.
Today, Māori make up over 15 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Māori arts
Totara, a native softwood, is used for decorative carvings - click for more.
A moment of focussed attention as a Maori carver applies the finishing touches.
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Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country.
Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre,
and hip-hop.
Power & Taboo: Sacred objects from the Pacific
Displaying part of the British Museum's early collections from the Pacific region, and illustrated with images made in the early part of European settlement (1760-1860), Power & Taboo investigates Polynesian ideas about the gods and how to manage their power.
The English word 'taboo' is derived from Polynesian languages and was introduced into our lexicon via Captain Cook’s journals. We use the word to mean ‘forbidden’ but the original Polynesian terms - such as 'tapu' in Māori - have a more complex meaning. They refer to actions and constraints by which the power of the gods is restricted to certain people, objects and places.
Rare examples of feathered cloaks and valuable ornaments of jade and ivory from New Zealand, as well as Easter Island and Hawaii, are featured in the exhibition. Many of these objects had a lasting influence on 20th century artists such as Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events which complement the themes of Power & Taboo.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). New Zealand's Tangata Whenua (People of the Land). Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/maori-culture/index.cfm
New Zealand's indigenous people came from tropical Polynesia more than 1000 years ago. Learning to live in New Zealand shaped their thinking and their beliefs until they became Te Māori, a race clearly distinct from other Polynesian cultures.
Māori oral history names Kupe as the first explorer to discover New Zealand. He and his companion, Ngahue, captained two sea-going waka (canoes), Matahorua and Tawiri-rangi, and sailed south from Hawaiki to see what lay beyond the horizon.
The first sign of a major land mass was a build up of white cloud in the distance. Kupe's wife, Hine-te-aparangi, called out "He ao he ao! He aotea! He aotearoa" ("A cloud, a cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!), and so the land was named Aotearoa - 'Land of the long white cloud'. After circumnavigating the North and South Islands of Aotearoa, Kupe and his crew returned to Hawaiki with treasures such as preserved moa flesh and pounamu (greenstone).
The story of Kupe's remarkable voyage, and other such endeavours, were passed on from one generation to the next through storytelling and song [ The Story of Kupe and Te Wheke] . When disputes and warfare disrupted life in Hawaiki, several groups decided to leave their homeland and travel south to occupy the land discovered by their ancestor Kupe. A Massey University study of DNA taken from modern Māori confirms this account.
Today Māori people live throughout New Zealand, and many are actively involved with keeping their culture and language alive. Within any Māori community, the marae provides a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life. The term marae describes a communal 'plaza' area that includes a wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai (dining room).
Māori people define themselves by their iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe), maunga (mountain) and awa (river). Whanau is the name given to family - the term embraces immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood ties.
In recent years, the introduction of Māori language nests (kohanga reo) has revived the Māori language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encouraged to speak in Māori. Primary and secondary schools build on this early immersion by including Māori in the curriculum.
The tradition of oral history - the telling of ancient stories, myths and legends - continues today. On many marae, elders teach tribal lore, etiquette and genealogy. They also retell the stories that form the basis of Māori beliefs, including the story of how Maui fished up the North Island [ The Story of He Ika A Maui] and how the saddleback got it's name [ The Story of Maui and Tieke] .
Traditional carvers also help to keep Māori culture alive by creating intricate works that pay respect to the past. Every piece carved tells a story, which can be read by those who know how. The shape of the heads, position of the body as well as the surface patterns work together to record and remember events.
The ancient beliefs of Māori culture are recognised and respected by New Zealand's leaders today. Recently, a North Island roading project was modified to avoid disturbing a taniwha (water monster). In its original form, the roading project would have encroached on a swamp which is the home of a one-eyed taniwha, Karutahi. The local tribe, Ngati Naho, believes the taniwha spends half the year in the swamp. It has a second home in the Waikato River, to which it swims during floods. To ensure that the swamp is undisturbed, Transit New Zealand has altered its plans so that this historic site is preserved.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Powhiri: New Zealand’s welcoming spirit. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/powhiri/powhiri-introduction.cfm
Through this feature, we invite you to take part in a powhiri, a Maori ceremony of welcome. We hope that this will be one of many cultural experiences that you will discover and enjoy during your visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Haere mai! Haere mai! Haere mai!
Once! Twice! Thrice! Welcome.
The powhiri is a ceremony of welcome extended to visitors by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Here we invite you to follow the sequence of a powhiri, which we hope you will experience as part of your visit to our country.
The traditions and protocol of the powhiri provide an insight into the unique and spiritual world of the Maori, which is as important today as in the past. The various elements of the powhiri serve to ward off evil spirits and unite both visitor and host in an environment of friendship and peace.
The word powhiri encapsulates two important concepts to Maori. According to Waitangi kaumatua (elder), Wiremu Williams, of the Nga Puhi iwi (tribe), the word Po can be translated as a venture into the "unknown" or a new experience, while Whiri is derived from the term Whiriwhiri meaning the act or experience of exchanging information and knowledge.
This presentation features images and recordings of the people of Waitangi, a small settlement in the Bay of Islands (on the east coast of the Northland peninsula), renowned for its historical significance, scenic beauty and great fishing.
In 1840, Waitangi became the first location for the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori, and New Zealand's founding document.
Each year on the 6th February (a national holiday), visitors to the Waitangi National Trust estate may be able to experience a formal powhiri celebrating the Treaty of Waitangi.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Arts, culture, and heritage. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/activities/arts-culture-heritage/arts-culture-and-heritage-home.cfm
Stunning scenery might be your first reason for visiting New Zealand, but the chance to explore our history and creativity probably comes a close second.
Otago Museum, Dunedin - click for more.
Otago Museum won three awards at the 2005 Tourism Awards
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Our unique culture has grown from a fusion of diverse ethnic groups - Maori, English, Scottish, Irish, Central European, Polynesian and Asian, to name but a few. In every town and city, there are opportunities to dig into the past or be entertained by the local creative community.
You can watch kapa haka performances, to appreciate Maori performance art traditions; you can catch a band or check out a theatrical production; you can follow an art trail to visit painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists. And wherever you go in the country, our colourful history is explained by a multitude of museums.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Creative New Zealand. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/arts-and-culture-feature/creative-new-zealand.cfm
New Zealanders have a passion for dreaming things up, playing with ideas and interpreting the world in unexpected ways. The sheer amount of creativity that goes on in the country makes you think there must be something in the water.
Amazing landscapes might be your first reason for visiting New Zealand, but the chance to explore local culture comes a close second.
New Zealand's unique brand of creativity has grown from a fusion of diverse societies - Maori, English, Scottish, Irish, Polynesian and Asian, to name but a few. When the controlled discipline of western culture meets the emotive mysticism of the Pacific Rim region, all kinds of interesting things happen.
The Boulevard Gallery at Te Papa - click for more.
The Boulevard Gallery was designed to make full use of natural light.
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Artists everywhere
Galleries and museums provide a perennial glimpse of artistic endeavours. Wellington's Te Papa is the newest and most ground-breaking of New Zealand's museums; the World of WearableArt complex in Nelson is one of the most creative, with its unique blend of wearable art exhibits and collectable motor vehicles.
In artists’ studios it’s possible to meet some of the people who make New Zealand creative. Hot spots for home-grown art include Kerikeri, Waiheke Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Nelson and Hokitika. Armed with an art trail map, you can visit painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists. Sometimes you’re offered the chance to create your own piece of New Zealand art - maybe a bone carving or a traditional Maori flax basket.
Art isn’t always tucked away in galleries and studios. Christchurch-based sculptor Neil Dawson has won international acclaim for his atmospheric outdoor works. Dawson's beautiful metal globes have decorated air space in Canberra, Paris and Kuala Lumpur, and his work 'Ferns' is currently hovering above Civic Square in Wellington.
Film and music
New Zealand has become a popular filming destination for the global cinema industry, built on the legacy of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Indigenous film projects have also been hugely successful. Following in the footsteps of The Whale Rider is In My Father’s Den, an intricately layered, character-driven mystery that has been a favourite in international film festivals.
Another success story is the short film Two Cars, One Night from writer/director Taika Waititi, which was nominated for a 2005 Academy Award™ in the Short Film Live Action category.
FAST FACT:
When you are shopping for Maori arts and crafts, it’s a good idea to look for the Toi iho mark. Toi iho means 'Maori made'. The mark tells you that the artwork you are considering was designed and crafted by a Maori artist, it is not a mass produced item. Buying artwork that carries the Toi iho mark is a way to ensure that you are getting something of real value, not just sentimental value. The creation of the mark was facilitated by Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, in consultation with Maori artists.
www.toiiho.com
Ever since the soaring tones of soprano Kiri Te Kanawa first charmed the world, New Zealand’s music artists have been finding audiences beyond their home patch. Brothers Tim and Neil Finn, originally from Split Enz, continue to produce new songs and play regular live gigs. Chinese-Maori singer Bic Runga is responsible for ‘Drive’, the biggest selling local artist album in New Zealand music history. Her songs are hauntingly beautiful.
Hayley Westenra is another New Zealand singing sensation. Although she's only eighteen, Hayley's classical vocal skills have been rated alongside Bryn Terfel and Andrea Boccelli. Her CD 'Pure' was launched globally and quickly became one of the fastest-selling Classical/Crossover debut albums ever.
Engaging events
When creativity is focused around an event, it becomes accessible to everyone. The World of WearableArt Awards combines textile art, fashion design, sculpture and storytelling into one magnificent live show. Another event that showcases creativity is Auckland’s Pasifika Festival, where traditional Polynesian music and dancing is juxtaposed with locally produced funk, soul and rap music.
For a fascinating glimpse of New Zealand clothing design you can time your visit to coincide with New Zealand Fashion Week, which is held in Auckland every October. Public events during the week include an exhibition and a ‘Best of Fashion Week’ show. Dunedin’s Fashion Week, which is held every March in the historic railway station, is an eye-opener for anyone with a passion for innovative apparel.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Maori arts meets America. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/events-calendar/toi-maori/toi-maori.cfm
Maori Art meets America; New Zealand's contemporary native art
In August 2005, Maori art and artisans from New Zealand made a ground-breaking journey to San Francisco. While the event is now over, part of the exhibition continues to tour the US.
Maori Art Meets America
On August 4th the Ohlone tribe of California welcomed the fully-manned waka (canoe) Te Ika a Maui on the beach at San Francisco's Maritime Park. The ceremony marked the arrival of Maori Art in America.
New Zealand’s Maori culture emerged from Polynesian migrations that began in the 13th century. During the 1800s missionaries and traders began to arrive, paving the way for European settlement. Most of the settlers who landed in New Zealand between 1840 and 1900 were English or Scottish, with some Irish and Welsh thrown in for good measure.
More recently, New Zealand has received immigrants from Holland and Central Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Cultural attraction. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/activities/arts-culture-heritage/cultural-attraction.cfm
Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori ArtThe rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Read more ›
It all adds up to a fascinating culture that you can explore in a variety of ways. There are many authentic Maori cultural activities available throughout the country. These range from walking tours of the world’s largest kauri forest to traditional kapa haka performances followed by a hangi (earth oven) feast.
Other elements of Kiwi culture are also represented. In Dunedin, a city with strong links to Scotland, you can take part in a haggis ceremony; Southland can offer you the unforgettable satisfaction of shearing a sheep; and in Kerikeri you can relive the days of steam driven sea travel.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Key facts introduction. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/new-zealand-key-facts-home.cfm
New Zealand's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.
Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain, Colorado or Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries. It is a haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it an ideal year-round holiday destination.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-entertainment.cfm
Food and Wine
New Zealand's 'Pacific Rim' cuisine style takes its inspiration from regions and countries such as Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Polynesia, Japan and Vietnam. This unique blend of influences has created a mouth-watering range of flavours and food available from cafes and restaurants nationwide.
For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style look out for lamb, pork and venison; salmon, crayfish, Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and scallops; kumara (sweet potato); kiwifruit and tamarillo; and pavlova, our national dessert, made from meringue and lashings of fresh whipped cream topped with fresh fruit or berries.
While the main centres support a few elegant, silver-service restaurants, the trend is towards more relaxed cafe-bar dining. There is a wide variety of international food available including Japanese, Indian, Halal, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Malaysian, and Thai. There are more than 900 Asian restaurants throughout New Zealand.
Allan Scott Winery in Marlborough - click for more.
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Lombardi Vineyard, Hawke's Bay - click for more.
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While you are here, take the opportunity to discover more about New Zealand wines . Our whites wines, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, have achieved an international reputation for excellence - and the reds are catching-up fast!
Feature Presentation
THE GOURMET'S GARDEN
The Gourmet's Garden Take a tour with three expert guides and discover the fantastic flavours of New Zealand. Explore food, wine and fauna. From Auckland's fresh cuisine to the vineyards of Marlborough and Queenstown's stunning scenery...
Read more ›
Vurtigo Bar, Courtenay Place, Wellington - click for more.
Vurtigo Bar, in the centre of Wellington’s café and nightlife scene – Courtenay Place.
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Alcohol
Most night-spots, restaurants and cafes serve liquor seven days a week. You can purchase alcohol from liquor outlets (beer, wine and spirits) and supermarkets (beer and wine only) seven days a week. Legally you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol or consume it in a public place, and you may be asked for a photo-ID.
Night Life in New Zealand
Lively DJ and band scenes, particularly in the larger cities, have given New Zealand's night life a renewed vibrancy. You will find a variety of night-clubs, cabarets, pubs, concerts and live performances to choose from, and there are also four casinos, in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
Smoking
To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please remember to smoke outside.
Shows
Most cities stage first-class concerts and shows. Theatre, orchestral concerts, ballet, rock and jazz are well represented. For information on upcoming shows and events, visit the Ticketek or It's on in New Zealand websites.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Language. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-language.cfm
The Spoken Word
English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multi-cultural society and you may hear many other languages spoken, including Maori, which is also an official language of New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Maori culture. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm
Indigenous Culture
The Māori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today, Māori make up over 14 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Rich and Varied
Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country. Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.
Feature Presentation
EXPERIENCE THE POWHIRI
Experience the Powhiri Experience the powhiri, a ceremony of welcome extended to visitors by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
Read more ›
Te Reo Māori — the Māori Language
The visitor to New Zealand will become immediately aware of the Māori language as the vast majority of place names are of Māori origin. At first, visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible- to-pronounce names. In fact, Māori has a logical structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent rules of pronunciation.
How Do You Say Onehunga, Whangamomona, Kahikatea, and Nguru?
Māori consists of five vowel sounds: a e i o u (‘a’ as in ‘car’, ‘e’ as in ‘egg’, ‘i’ like the ‘ee’ in ‘tee’, ‘o’ as in ‘four’, ‘u’ like an ‘o’ in ‘to’). There are eight consonants in Māori similar to those in English — ‘h’, ‘k’, ‘m’, ‘n’, ‘p’, ‘r’, ‘t’, and ‘w’. There are also two different consonants — ‘wh’ and ‘ng’. Many Māori pronounce the ‘wh’ sound similar to our ‘f’. The ‘ng’ is similar to our own ‘ng’ sound in a word like ‘sing’, except that in Māori, words can start with ‘ng’.
Kia ora = Gidday!
An attempt by a visitor to use Māori greetings will almost certainly elicit a delighted response from both Māori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders.
Kia ora — Hello
Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone
Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one person)
Tena koutou — Greeting to you all
Haere mai — Welcome
Nau mai — Welcome
Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?
Kei te pai — Good
Tino pai — Really good
Haere ra — Farewell
Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)
Hei konei ra — See you later
Video Feature
MAORI CULTURE
The Maori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and have a rich and varied culture.
Open Movie
Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori Art The rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Read more ›
Māori Protocol
Being a tribal Polynesian people, Māori have a unique protocol. The best place to observe it is on a marae (Māori meeting grounds). Many tourist operators in New Zealand organise visits to marae.
Welcome to the Powhiri
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests). He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri will pick up to show they come in peace. Some kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri. Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they move onto the marae in front of their men.
Whaikorero — Speeches of Welcome
Once inside the wharenui (meeting house) on the marae, mihimihi (greetings) and whaikorero (speeches) are made. To reinforce the good wishes of the speeches, waiata (songs) may be sung. It is usual for the manuhiri then present a koha (gift) to the tangata whenua after greeting the hosts with a hongi — the ceremonial touching of noses. After the powhiri, kai (food) may be shared.
Stories and Legends
Māori is an oral culture rich with stories and legends. The Māori creation story describes the world being formed by the violent separation of Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, by their children. Many Māori carvings and artworks graphically depict this struggle.
Fishing Up An Island
The creation of New Zealand is described by the legend of Maui. This god was a cheeky trickster who managed, among other things, to harness the sun in order to make the days longer. However, his biggest claim to fame was his fishing up of the North Island, which is described as Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui). A look at an aerial map of the North Island will show how closely it resembles a fish. Māori believe the far north to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour the mouth. Māori describe the South Island as Maui’s waka (canoe) and Stewart Island (Rakiura) as his punga (anchor).
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). The People. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-the-people.cfm
New Zealand — The People
Today, New Zealanders are largely sophisticated and highly educated urban dwellers. Members of a unique and vibrant multicultural society, New Zealanders are embracing 21st century technology and culture in record numbers. But New Zealanders also have a background of quiet but rugged individualism, self-reliance, and a genius for invention — qualities still evident in the population today.
Unique in the World
New Zealand has a diverse population — but with some uniting features that make it unique in the world. Our relatively isolated South Pacific location and rugged landscapes still makes many New Zealanders quiet and independent, yet resourceful and self-reliant, with a famous ‘Kiwi ingenuity’.
Café, Wellington - click for more.
Taking a break at Midnight Espresso café in Wellington
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Early Voyagers
Over four hundred years before Christopher Columbus and the rest of Europe worried about falling off the edge of the world, the first New Zealanders, the Maori, voyaged thousands of miles across the vast unknown Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes. In order to reach New Zealand, these brave adventurers developed their own navigation system using the stars and the currents.
Rugged Pioneers
New Zealand’s European pioneers were also brave, rugged and independent. Before establishing farms and settlements, they had to first clear the land — a painstaking and sometimes dangerous activity. Their isolation and exposure to the elements forced these early New Zealanders to become hardy and multi-skilled. This resourcefulness and ingenuity has greatly contributed to the New Zealand character. The same qualities can be seen today in the new pioneers — a generation of young Kiwi business executives, computer software builders, film-makers, fashion designers, and sportspeople making waves around the world.
Backyard Genius
Since before Sir Ernest Rutherford ‘split’ the atom early in the twentieth century, Kiwis have been discovering and inventing things. Many of these inventions have literally been created in a backyard. While frozen meat, the Hamilton Jet boat, and the bungy jump are probably our most famous Kiwi inventions, there are many others. New Zealanders are also responsible for the tranquilliser gun, seismic ‘base’ isolators (rubber and lead blocks which minimise earthquake damage), electric fences, the fastest motorbike in the world, freezer vacuum pumps, stamp vending machines, wide-toothed shearing combs, and the electronic petrol pump — to name a few!
Waka Maori Canoe - click for more.
These waka (Maori canoes) appear at the Ngaruawahia Regatta in the Waikato each March.
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Outdoor People
New Zealand has a low population density and spectacular scenery. As a result, many New Zealanders have a love of their landscape and the outdoors. Hiking, mountaineering, and kayaking are enjoyed by many New Zealanders, while many more will explore their landscape with a trip to the beach or a bush walk. They are following in the footsteps of perhaps the most adventurous Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in 1953.
Sailing in the Bay of Islands - click for more.
The R. Tucker Thompson, a sailing ship that is popular for day cruises in the Bay of Islands
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Water Passion
With so much coastline, it is little wonder New Zealanders love the water. Since Kupe, the first explorer to reach New Zealand, made landfall in the far north of the country over a thousand years ago, New Zealanders have had a passion for ocean-going craft. New Zealanders were at the forefront of yacht design and racing during much of the 20th century, and continued their dominance into this century by winning and retaining the prestigious America’s Cup. New Zealanders have also won many Olympic medals for yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and rowing.
Fair Go Mate
Tempering the rugged individualism of New Zealanders is a strong egalitarian streak and a sense of fair play and teamwork. This may be partly due to the co-operative ‘whanau’ (extended family) structure of Maori society, as well as the make-up of early Pakeha (Europeans) society. Many European immigrants came to New Zealand to escape the class system. A small population meant co-operation was vital for survival. The artificial class structures of ‘home’ became irrelevant in such a rugged and young country. New Zealand was also one of the earliest countries to grant women the right to vote and has a strong trade union tradition.
National Character Building
The two World Wars saw heavy casualties inflicted on the New Zealand male population. But it also saw loyalty to your friends and comrades — ‘mateship’ — become a prized social value. This quality is still seen on the sporting field today. Rugby football is the most popular spectator sport in New Zealand, and the legendary All Blacks have won the World Cup once and been a finalist twice. Though the sport has public school beginnings in England, in New Zealand, rugby is definitely the sport of the ‘average bloke’.
Trout Fishing on Lake Taupo - click for more.
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America's Cup in Auckland - click for more.
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Rural Economy
As the 20th century progressed, the make-up and character of the New Zealand population began to radically change. In the early part of the century, the New Zealand economy was largely dependent on agriculture and the export of primary produce. However, after the Second World War, more and more people moved to the cities, and manufacturing and tertiary industries became established.
New New Zealanders
In the 1970s, large numbers of Pacific Island immigrants settled in New Zealand, followed in the 80s and 90s by Asians, Europeans, and many others. These new arrivals contributed, along with technological and economic changes, to a totally new national identity. In the last twenty years or so, New Zealanders have embraced the global economy and the latest technology. Per head of population, New Zealanders are some of the highest mobile phone and Internet users in the world. They also read the most newspapers.
Taming the Land
Despite recent changes, New Zealand still has a sizeable rural population and farming is a major export earner. While the traditional exports of wool, meat, and dairy products are still very strong, new products, including Cervena (New Zealand venison), flowers, fruit, biotechnology, and wine are now also contributing greatly to our exports. Like the rest of the population, the farming sector have diversified and embraced technology, making New Zealand one of the most productive and efficient agricultural producers in the world.
Urban and Sophisticated
FAST FACT:
Wellington has more restaurant seats per head than New York City
New Zealand has absorbed the new culinary tastes, fashions, and lifestyles of the Pacific Rim and combined them with more traditional ones to produce a unique New Zealand identity. Today, Kiwis are as likely to visit an Asian restaurant or modern art gallery as they are to attend a rugby game or milk a cow!
MEMORY: Submitted by Allan from Canada
"We find very many things about New Zealand to be pleasureable but most of all it is the people."
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Kiwiana. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-kiwiana.cfm
Kiwiana — Celebrating Our National Identity
Gumboots, ‘Buzzy Bee’ toys, marching girls, a meringue dessert, shell ashtrays, and a cookbook may not seem terribly important objects. But to many Kiwis (New Zealanders), such things assume vital importance as major icons of Kiwiana! What is Kiwiana? It could be described as all the weird and wonderful quirky things from years gone by that contribute to our sense of nationhood — our kiwi identity.
Buzzy-bee toy - a New Zealand Icon
What is a Kiwi?
Kiwi Bird - click for more.
Enlarge
To understand Kiwiana, it’s important to first know what exactly a kiwi is. A kiwi is a flightless nocturnal native bird, and the national bird of New Zealand. It has a long beak with nostrils on the end, and fossicks about at night feeding on small insects. However, over the years, New Zealanders have become known as ‘Kiwis’ as well. There is a ‘kiwi’ sense of humour, a kiwi ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude, and Kiwiana means the things that contribute to our sense of being Kiwi. Just to confuse you, the kiwifruit is often called a ‘kiwi’ in Europe and America and ‘Kiwi’ nugget (shoe polish) is known throughout the world, although it is an Australian invention!
Kiwifruit
The Kiwifruit, often simply called a ‘kiwi’ is of Chinese origin, but grows throughout New Zealand. It was originally called a ‘Chinese Gooseberry’ by New Zealanders, but when New Zealand started to export the fruit, it was decided to give them a better name. ‘Kiwifruit’ was the choice, because it would associate the fruit with New Zealand. The choice was timely, and New Zealand enjoyed record exports during the worldwide Kiwifruit boom. While kiwifruit are now grown throughout the world, you can always tell if a kiwifruit is from New Zealand, as it will be branded ‘Zespri’.
The Birds and the Buzzy Bees
The ‘Buzzy Bee’ — not the live one, but the toy — is probably the most famous single piece of Kiwiana. But it’s not just the bright red and yellow colours that make Buzzy Bee so attractive to Kiwis, who are far more used to the greens and browns of their native bush. As you pull the toy, the wings of Buzzy Bee rotate, making a wonderful loud clicking sound.
Pavlova
This dessert was invented as a tribute to the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured New Zealand and Australia in 1926. Pavlova is made of meringue and cream and is usually topped with kiwifruit.
Dessert Storm
The pavlova has long been at the centre of a trans-Tasman argument. Both New Zealanders and Australians steadfastly maintain they invented it. The first appearance of the recipe in written form was in a New Zealand cookbook in the early 1930s. Surely it is obvious that a Swiss-style meringue cake covered in ‘Chinese gooseberries’ and named after a Russian ballerina can only be a New Zealand invention!
Paua Shell
Paua (pronounced par-wah) is a close relative of abalone and comes in a beautiful shell. Maori used the shiny shell for eyes in carvings of various creatures. Whole paua shells are used for ashtrays and other containers, and pieces of paua shell are used for making jewellery, butterflies, coasters, 21st birthday keys and a variety of other objects and souvenirs.
Edmonds Cookbook — Sure to Sell
More copies of this book, published by the makers of Edmonds ‘Sure to Rise’ Baking Powder, have been sold than any other book in New Zealand. Few New Zealand children would leave home without buying or borrowing their mother’s copy of this kiwi culinary bible.
No 8 Wire
Kiwis are famous for their ingenuity and self-sufficiency. It is said that Kiwis can create amazing things — all they need is ‘a piece of Number 8 wire’. No 8 wire is a certain gauge of wire that was incredibly popular for use as fencing wire around New Zealand’s many farms. Ironically, until 1963, it was imported from other countries. Because No. 8 wire was widely available, it was used for a variety of tasks, and it has become a symbol of kiwi adaptability.
L & P — National Soft Drink
L & P stands for Lemon and Paeroa, New Zealand’s most famous soft drink. It was invented in 1904 after its maker tasted some mineral water near the town of Paeroa, and mixed it with lemon to make a particularly refreshing drink. L & P was originally called Paeroa and Lemon, though the name was later reversed, and then shorted to L & P. This drink is still popular throughout New Zealand today.
Crown Lynn Railways Cup
Rail transport was once the major mode of transport in New Zealand and an important part of the culture, as well as the infrastructure. On the overnight express from Wellington to Auckland, passengers would stop for a cup of tea along the way. The steaming brew was also served in an incredibly sturdy railways mug, made by New Zealand’s Crown Lynn pottery. While the mugs were cheaply made, over the years they have become valuable collector’s items.
Where Do You Find Kiwiana?
Most second-hand and souvenir shops have a good stock of Kiwiana, but if you want the real thing, go to one of the thousands of garage sales that are held throughout New Zealand every weekend.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Arts. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-arts.cfm
New Zealand — An Exciting Blend of Cultural Influences
The arts in New Zealand reflect an exciting blend of cultural influences including Maori and Pacific Island, as well as European and Asian. From haka to hip-hop, fashion to filmmaking, New Zealand artists are making their mark at home and around the world.
Artland New Zealand
Whether you’re interested in Maori carving or abstract painting, you’ll find lots of art in New Zealand. Traditional Maori arts such as carving and weaving are alive and well. You’ll find excellent examples in museums, shops, and on marae (meeting grounds) throughout the country.
Early Painters
New Zealand has a fine tradition of painting. C.F. Goldie (1870—1947) and Gottfried Lindauer (1839—1926) were two early artists who painted portraits of Maori subjects. Frances Hodgkins (1869—1947) is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed and influential painters. She was associated with a number of avant-garde British movements including Neo Romanticism.
Modern Masters
Rita Angus (1908—1970) is a much-loved New Zealand artist who painted beautiful New Zealand landscapes and a large number of self-portraits. [ more about Rita Angus] Colin McCahon (1919—1987) painted a large number of landscapes and used text, often of a religious nature, in many of his works. ‘His Practical Religion 1969’, featuring the words ‘I AM’, has become an iconic New Zealand artwork. [ more about Colin McCahon]
Bone fish hook necklace
Striking and Provocative
New Zealand has a vibrant contemporary art scene and most New Zealand towns have interesting art galleries and shops. Maori and Pacific, as well as feminist influences, are strong in contemporary New Zealand art. Artists such as Ralph Hotere, John Pule, Michael Parekowhai and Robyn Kahukiwa, not only create striking and dramatic images, but also provoke reactions from their audience.
Early Giant
Katherine Mansfield (1888 — 1923) is the giant of early New Zealand literature. Regarded as being one of the finest short-story writers in English, she is the first in a long line of excellent New Zealand short-story writers. Stories such as ‘The Doll’s House’, ‘At the Bay’, and ‘The Garden Party’ are superb examples of Mansfield’s depiction of turn-of-the-century colonial New Zealand.
Devastatingly Good
The twentieth century saw the emergence of many fine New Zealand novelists including John Mulgan (‘Man Alone’), Robin Hyde (‘The Godwits Fly’), Maurice Shadbolt (‘Strangers and Journeys’), and Janet Frame (‘Owls do Cry’). Born in 1924, Janet Frame is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded novelists. Frame’s books include devastating accounts of the treatment of mental patients in New Zealand during the 1950s and 60s. Her best-selling three-part autobiography was made into a top-rating television series and film — ‘An Angel at my Table’.
New Generation
New Zealand’s best-known Maori writers include Patricia Grace, Alan Duff, and Witi Ihimaera. Duff’s bleak ‘Once Were Warriors’, depicting a violent, dysfunctional Maori family, was made into an international hit movie by Maori filmmaker Lee Tamahori. An exciting younger generation of New Zealand novelists including new-ager Elizabeth Knox (‘The Vintner’s Luck’), Gen X-er Emily Perkins (‘Not Her Real Name’), Bulgarian-born Kapka Kassabova (‘Reconnaissance’), and Samoan-born Sia Figiel (‘Where we once belonged’) show that contemporary New Zealand literature has a wide range of cultural and stylistic influences.
Poetry
It should come as no surprise that much of New Zealand’s best poetry is about the country’s landscape. However, major New Zealand poets including James K. Baxter, ARD Fairburn, Denis Glover, Allen Curnow, and Sam Hunt also reveal a keen social conscience and wry sense of humour.
Arts and Culture Events
NEW ZEALAND ART AND CULTURE
New Zealand Art and Culture Many New Zealand artists are currently enjoying success on a global scale, including Hayley Westenra, Ben Makisi and Neil Dawson. Experience more New Zealand art and culture through the wide variety of events taking place here in the next 12 months.
Read more ›
Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori ArtThe rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Read more ›
Fashioning an Industry
New Zealand fashion has come of age in the last few years. Exciting designers such as Karen Walker, World, and Zambesi have put the country on the fashion map, frequently exhibiting in London and Sydney. New Zealand fashion used to be largely a copy of European styles. Now it is a vibrant and dynamic industry with a range of influences, including those of Maori and the Pacific Islands.
Music and Dance
New Zealand has three professional symphony orchestras, including the highly acclaimed NZSO (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra). There are also a large number of excellent choirs, including the National Youth Choir, which recently won a number of prestigious internationalevents. Recent co-productions between European-style groups, such as the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the NZSO, and Maori music and dance groups, are examples of a bicultural ‘fusion’ currently occurring.
New Waves
New Zealand has a diverse contemporary and alternative music scene. While rapper OMC (Pauly Fuemana) and Crowded House’s Neil Finn are probably our best known musicians, other performers including Bic Runga, Stellar, Shihad, Moana and the Moa Hunters, and King Kapisi are currently making waves.
Featured Event - click for more.
Montana World of Wearable Art Awards
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On Stage
As well as supporting a thriving local theatre scene, New Zealand performers regularly appear at festivals abroad, including the Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals. Maori and Pacific Island writers and performers have had a big impact on the New Zealand theatre, giving it a unique and colourful Polynesian-influenced identity.
On Film
A competitive exchange rate, excellent scenery, and a highly skilled workforce make New Zealand the perfect place to shoot a movie. New Zealand has produced many top directors, including Roger Donaldson (‘Cocktail’, ‘Species’), Jane Campion (‘The Piano’), Lee Tamahori (‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Edge’), and Peter Jackson, who directed the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy in New Zealand. Movies such as ‘Smash Palace’, ‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Piano’ and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ have proved that New Zealand can produce unique and intelligent movies equal to the best in the world.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Money matters. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-money-matters.cfm
Currency
New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Coins have values of 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2; notes have values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of New Zealand. However, every person who carries more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand is required to complete a Border Cash Report.
Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.
All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand. Travellers Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.
Exchange Rates
You can calculate the value of your currency in NZ Dollars using the newzealand.com currency converter on this page. The rate you are offered in your home country is likely to differ slightly.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand provides a monthly online summary of the New Zealand Dollar's average value against the US Dollar, the Pound, the Australian Dollar, the Yen and the Euro.
Banking
Banks are open from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available at banks, along main shopping streets and in malls.
International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded. Check with your bank before leaving home.
Goods and Services Tax
All goods and services are subject to a 12.5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) included in the displayed price. Visitors cannot claim this tax back, however when a supplier ships a major purchase to a visitor's home address the GST will not be charged.
Assortment of New Zealand Dollars
Tools
Currency Converter
A quick and easy way to convert your foreign currency into New Zealand dollars.
Open Converter
How Much Will it Cost?
Here is a general guide of what you can expect to pay in New Zealand for a few common items:
Approx
A hotel breakfast NZ$10- $25
Dinner (3-course, no wine) NZ$20 - $50
Lunch snack/sandwich NZ$5 - $10
Cafe lunch NZ$10 - $15
A postcard stamp to anywhere abroad NZ$1.50
Big Mac Hamburger NZ$3.95
Cappuccino NZ$3 - $3.50
Kodak Film, 36 exposures NZ$7.95
Tipping and Service Charges
Tipping in New Zealand is not obligatory - even in restaurants and bars. However, tipping for good service or kindness is at the discretion of the visitor. Hotels and restaurants in New Zealand do not add service charges to their bills.
Travellers Cheques
NZ$ travellers cheques are not available for purchase.
International visitors who wish to travel to New Zealand with travellers cheques should bring a major currency type of travellers cheque with them in the future.
For travel to our region AUS$ travellers cheques can be purchased.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). People and history. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-people-and-history.cfm
Population
New Zealand is an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth. It has a diverse multi-cultural population of 4 million people, the majority of whom are of British descent. New Zealand's indigenous Maori make up around 14 percent of the population.
Early Settlement
The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an epic journey from the legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.
The first documented European to discover New Zealand was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who came here in 1642 in search of the fabled great southern continent. Over a 125 years later, Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769 and produced a map of the country.
Traditional Maori Carving. - click for more.
A beautiful example of some traditional Maori carving.
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The Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi , seen as New Zealand's founding document, established the country as a nation. It was signed in 1840 between leading Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, now one of the country's most historic sites. The signing of the treaty began on 6 February, which has become New Zealand's national day, known as 'Waitangi Day'.
Economy and Government
New Zealand is a modern country with a well-developed economy and a government structure based on the British parliamentary system. New Zealand has long been a sovereign nation in its own right with only tenuous ties to Britain through New Zealand's membership of the British Commonwealth. You can find more information on New Zealand's government and its monetary policy at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and New Zealand Government Online.
Heru - Ornamental Comb
Kiwis and kiwis
New Zealand's first settlers, the Maori, named the kiwi bird for the sound of its chirp - kiwi, kiwi, kiwi! This flightless bird, about the size of a domestic hen, has an extremely long beak and plumage that is more like hair than feathers. New Zealanders have adopted this nocturnal, flightless and endearing creature as their national emblem.
Referring to New Zealanders as Kiwis probably dates back to the First World War, when New Zealand soldiers first acquired this nickname.
In the international financial markets, New Zealand’s basic currency unit, the New Zealand dollar, is frequently called ’the kiwi’ The dollar coin features a kiwi bird on one side.
Perhaps the best-known kiwi is the delicious kiwifruit. Originating in China, kiwifruit were grown in New Zealand domestic gardens for decades as ‘Chinese gooseberries’. However, when enterprising New Zealand farmers began propagating the fruit intensively for export, it was given the name kiwifruit and has since achieved worldwide fame.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). People with special needs. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-people-with-special-needs.cfm
Disabled Facilities
New Zealand law requires that every new building and major reconstruction provide ‘reasonable and adequate’ access for people with disabilities. Most facilities have wheelchair access, but it is wise to check when booking.
Weka is New Zealand's disability information web site, with information for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
www.weka.net.nz
Or call Weka on Ph. 0800 17 1981
Transport for the Disabled
Tour operators such as Accessible Tours and Jetsave can provide holiday packages for individuals and groups. Most transport operators do cater for people with special needs, but it is recommended to phone ahead to inform operators and check availability. Most urban transport buses are not equipped to cater for the disabled.
Parking concessions are available for people with disabilities, and temporary display cards can be issued for the length of a visitor's stay. In order to obtain a New Zealand card, visitors should bring their home mobility card or medical certificate as proof of disability. Once in New Zealand, contact the NZCCS on 0800 227 225. Most parking areas have parks specifically allocated for the disabled.
Food Allergies
Those with special diets can contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for information on bringing particular foods into the country, www.maf.govt.nz, or email enquiry@maf.govt.nz.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Time differences. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-time-differences.cfm
Telling the Time
Sunrise over Mount Hikurangi - click for more.
Sunrise over Mount Hikurangi on the East Coast – one of the first places in the world to see the sun.
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New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day, 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). In summer New Zealand uses ‘daylight saving’, with clocks put forward one hour to GMT+13. Daylight saving begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the third Sunday of the following March, when clocks are put back to GMT+12.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Visitor information. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-visitor-information.cfm
Visitor Information
i-SITE Visitor Centre
Self drive visitors in New Zealand are faced with a wide range of tourism options and places to visit. To help visitors with these many choices, the New Zealand i-SITE Visitor Centres have been established. Each centre is identified by the distinctive i-SITE logo.
i-SITE Visitor Centres are the officially recognised provider of reliable New Zealand information, with centres in over 80 locations throughout New Zealand. Accreditation to the network ensures that staff are knowledgeable and provide objective, quality information. Services offered include:
* Information and bookings for accommodation, transport (air, road, rail and ferry), attractions and activities
* Itinerary planning and advice
* Gifts, souvenirs, stamps and phone cards
* Restaurant information
* Local events and entertainment
* Maps and guide books
International visitors can call into centres at Auckland and Christchurch international airports to pick up a directory of
i-SITE Visitor Centre locations throughout New Zealand.
Visitor Information Network Logo with link to Visitor Information page.
Information Centres
I-SITE VISITOR CENTRES
i-SITE Visitor Centres i-SITE Visitor Centres span the country. Find out more about our officially recognised information centres and access a printable map of New Zealand showing the locations of i-SITE Visitor Centres nationwide.
Read more ›
New Zealand Tourism Awards - recognising and rewarding excellence.
The New Zealand Tourism Award winners represent some of the most unique, quality tourism experiences available. Look out for the koru of the Tourism Awards winners logo. It is our assurance that you will receive the best product, experience or service New Zealand has to offer.
For more information visit New Zealand Tourism Awards.
Poste Restante
Enquiries can be made at any Post Office for the nearest post shop offering this service (usually the main post office for the town). Letters are held for up to three months, unless the sender requests a shorter period. There is no charge for letter mail, but a small charge for holding large parcels. You will need to have ID with you when you collect your mail.
Internet Cafes
The easiest way to stay in touch while travelling. For the most up-to-date listing of Internet Cafes and Internet Online Services, check the New Zealand Yellow Pages.
Tourist FM Radio
Tourist Information FM radio provides visitors travelling throughout New Zealand with information on the history and culture of an area, the availability of local services, accommodation and activities 24 hours a day. A blue road sign tells visitors they are in a broadcast area with transmission on frequency 88.2 FM (100.4 FM for German language and 100.8 FM for Japanese language).
Kiwi Search Engine
From the www.linknz.co.nz Kiwi search engine find more than 12,000 tourism related websites.
Global Hotel Reservations (2006). Country fact sheet. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.discountworldhotels.net/newzealand/
Country Fact Sheet
Full country name: New Zealand
Area: 268,680 sq km
Population: 4 million
People: 75% New Zealand European (Pakeha), 10% Maori, 5% other European, 4.5% Polynesian, 5% Asian, 0.5% other
Language: English, Maori
Religion: Predominantly Christian (75%)
Government: Independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations
GDP: US$85 billion
GDP per capita: US$22,360
Annual Growth: 2%
Inflation: 2.7%
Major Industries: Food processing, wood and paper products, wool, textiles, dairy products, iron and steel, machinery, tourism
Major Trading Partners: Australia, Japan, UK, China and the USA
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +12
Dialling Code: 64
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Visas
Only a valid passport is necessary for citizens of most countries.
When to Go
The weather is never so miserable that there's no point in going to New Zealand: there are things to see and do all year round. The warmer months (November to April) are busiest, especially during the school holidays from December 20 to the end of January. Ski resort towns are obviously busier during the winter months. If you're travelling during peak periods (especially the Christmas season) it's best to book ahead, as much accommodation and transport fills up. It's probably more pleasant to visit either before or after this hectic period, when the weather is still warm and there aren't as many other travellers around.
vents
Some of the noteworthy cultural events include: Summer City Programme (January to February; Wellington), which is a series of festivals around the city; BMW Wine Marlborough Festival (2nd week in February; Blenheim); New Zealand Festival (February, even-numbered years only; Wellington), an entire month of national and international culture; Golden Shears Sheep-Shearing Contest (March; Masterton), a must for lovers of sheep and sweat; and Canterbury Show Week (November; Christchurch), which has agricultural exhibits, rides and local entertainment.
New Zealand Tourism Online Ltd. (2006). New Zealand language. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/language.html
New Zealand Language
Official Languages
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand. Maori became an official language in 1987.
In April 2006, New Zealand became the first country to declare sign language as an official language, alongside Maori and English.
New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand.
Maori Language
Maori is only used in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world. Despite its official status, the language continues to struggle against being lost.
In the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, Queen Victoria promised the Maori that their language would be protected. It was only recently that the Maori language has gathered widespread support. In the present, the Maori language is commonly used in the media and at school.
When Maori people moved to the cities in the 1940's, they felt pressured to speak English and children were raised without the Maori language. By the 1970's, the Maori language was close to being irrevocably lost.
A recent survey by the New Zealand government shows about 130,000 people speak some Maori.
Fifteen of the 82 artefacts on show at the British Museum's 'Power & Taboo: Sacred objects from the Pacific' exhibition are from New Zealand.
Exploring the power of the gods in the Polynesian Islands of the eastern Pacific, the exhibition runs from 28 September 2006 to 7 January 2007.
New Zealand's Tangata Whenua
(people of the land)
Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1,000
years ago.
Today, Māori make up over 15 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Māori arts
Totara, a native softwood, is used for decorative carvings - click for more.
A moment of focussed attention as a Maori carver applies the finishing touches.
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Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country.
Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre,
and hip-hop.
Power & Taboo: Sacred objects from the Pacific
Displaying part of the British Museum's early collections from the Pacific region, and illustrated with images made in the early part of European settlement (1760-1860), Power & Taboo investigates Polynesian ideas about the gods and how to manage their power.
The English word 'taboo' is derived from Polynesian languages and was introduced into our lexicon via Captain Cook’s journals. We use the word to mean ‘forbidden’ but the original Polynesian terms - such as 'tapu' in Māori - have a more complex meaning. They refer to actions and constraints by which the power of the gods is restricted to certain people, objects and places.
Rare examples of feathered cloaks and valuable ornaments of jade and ivory from New Zealand, as well as Easter Island and Hawaii, are featured in the exhibition. Many of these objects had a lasting influence on 20th century artists such as Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events which complement the themes of Power & Taboo.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). New Zealand's Tangata Whenua (People of the Land). Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/maori-culture/index.cfm
New Zealand's indigenous people came from tropical Polynesia more than 1000 years ago. Learning to live in New Zealand shaped their thinking and their beliefs until they became Te Māori, a race clearly distinct from other Polynesian cultures.
Māori oral history names Kupe as the first explorer to discover New Zealand. He and his companion, Ngahue, captained two sea-going waka (canoes), Matahorua and Tawiri-rangi, and sailed south from Hawaiki to see what lay beyond the horizon.
The first sign of a major land mass was a build up of white cloud in the distance. Kupe's wife, Hine-te-aparangi, called out "He ao he ao! He aotea! He aotearoa" ("A cloud, a cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!), and so the land was named Aotearoa - 'Land of the long white cloud'. After circumnavigating the North and South Islands of Aotearoa, Kupe and his crew returned to Hawaiki with treasures such as preserved moa flesh and pounamu (greenstone).
The story of Kupe's remarkable voyage, and other such endeavours, were passed on from one generation to the next through storytelling and song [ The Story of Kupe and Te Wheke] . When disputes and warfare disrupted life in Hawaiki, several groups decided to leave their homeland and travel south to occupy the land discovered by their ancestor Kupe. A Massey University study of DNA taken from modern Māori confirms this account.
Today Māori people live throughout New Zealand, and many are actively involved with keeping their culture and language alive. Within any Māori community, the marae provides a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life. The term marae describes a communal 'plaza' area that includes a wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai (dining room).
Māori people define themselves by their iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe), maunga (mountain) and awa (river). Whanau is the name given to family - the term embraces immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood ties.
In recent years, the introduction of Māori language nests (kohanga reo) has revived the Māori language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encouraged to speak in Māori. Primary and secondary schools build on this early immersion by including Māori in the curriculum.
The tradition of oral history - the telling of ancient stories, myths and legends - continues today. On many marae, elders teach tribal lore, etiquette and genealogy. They also retell the stories that form the basis of Māori beliefs, including the story of how Maui fished up the North Island [ The Story of He Ika A Maui] and how the saddleback got it's name [ The Story of Maui and Tieke] .
Traditional carvers also help to keep Māori culture alive by creating intricate works that pay respect to the past. Every piece carved tells a story, which can be read by those who know how. The shape of the heads, position of the body as well as the surface patterns work together to record and remember events.
The ancient beliefs of Māori culture are recognised and respected by New Zealand's leaders today. Recently, a North Island roading project was modified to avoid disturbing a taniwha (water monster). In its original form, the roading project would have encroached on a swamp which is the home of a one-eyed taniwha, Karutahi. The local tribe, Ngati Naho, believes the taniwha spends half the year in the swamp. It has a second home in the Waikato River, to which it swims during floods. To ensure that the swamp is undisturbed, Transit New Zealand has altered its plans so that this historic site is preserved.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Powhiri: New Zealand’s welcoming spirit. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/powhiri/powhiri-introduction.cfm
Through this feature, we invite you to take part in a powhiri, a Maori ceremony of welcome. We hope that this will be one of many cultural experiences that you will discover and enjoy during your visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Haere mai! Haere mai! Haere mai!
Once! Twice! Thrice! Welcome.
The powhiri is a ceremony of welcome extended to visitors by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Here we invite you to follow the sequence of a powhiri, which we hope you will experience as part of your visit to our country.
The traditions and protocol of the powhiri provide an insight into the unique and spiritual world of the Maori, which is as important today as in the past. The various elements of the powhiri serve to ward off evil spirits and unite both visitor and host in an environment of friendship and peace.
The word powhiri encapsulates two important concepts to Maori. According to Waitangi kaumatua (elder), Wiremu Williams, of the Nga Puhi iwi (tribe), the word Po can be translated as a venture into the "unknown" or a new experience, while Whiri is derived from the term Whiriwhiri meaning the act or experience of exchanging information and knowledge.
This presentation features images and recordings of the people of Waitangi, a small settlement in the Bay of Islands (on the east coast of the Northland peninsula), renowned for its historical significance, scenic beauty and great fishing.
In 1840, Waitangi became the first location for the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori, and New Zealand's founding document.
Each year on the 6th February (a national holiday), visitors to the Waitangi National Trust estate may be able to experience a formal powhiri celebrating the Treaty of Waitangi.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Arts, culture, and heritage. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/activities/arts-culture-heritage/arts-culture-and-heritage-home.cfm
Stunning scenery might be your first reason for visiting New Zealand, but the chance to explore our history and creativity probably comes a close second.
Otago Museum, Dunedin - click for more.
Otago Museum won three awards at the 2005 Tourism Awards
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Our unique culture has grown from a fusion of diverse ethnic groups - Maori, English, Scottish, Irish, Central European, Polynesian and Asian, to name but a few. In every town and city, there are opportunities to dig into the past or be entertained by the local creative community.
You can watch kapa haka performances, to appreciate Maori performance art traditions; you can catch a band or check out a theatrical production; you can follow an art trail to visit painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists. And wherever you go in the country, our colourful history is explained by a multitude of museums.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Creative New Zealand. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/arts-and-culture-feature/creative-new-zealand.cfm
New Zealanders have a passion for dreaming things up, playing with ideas and interpreting the world in unexpected ways. The sheer amount of creativity that goes on in the country makes you think there must be something in the water.
Amazing landscapes might be your first reason for visiting New Zealand, but the chance to explore local culture comes a close second.
New Zealand's unique brand of creativity has grown from a fusion of diverse societies - Maori, English, Scottish, Irish, Polynesian and Asian, to name but a few. When the controlled discipline of western culture meets the emotive mysticism of the Pacific Rim region, all kinds of interesting things happen.
The Boulevard Gallery at Te Papa - click for more.
The Boulevard Gallery was designed to make full use of natural light.
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Artists everywhere
Galleries and museums provide a perennial glimpse of artistic endeavours. Wellington's Te Papa is the newest and most ground-breaking of New Zealand's museums; the World of WearableArt complex in Nelson is one of the most creative, with its unique blend of wearable art exhibits and collectable motor vehicles.
In artists’ studios it’s possible to meet some of the people who make New Zealand creative. Hot spots for home-grown art include Kerikeri, Waiheke Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Nelson and Hokitika. Armed with an art trail map, you can visit painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists. Sometimes you’re offered the chance to create your own piece of New Zealand art - maybe a bone carving or a traditional Maori flax basket.
Art isn’t always tucked away in galleries and studios. Christchurch-based sculptor Neil Dawson has won international acclaim for his atmospheric outdoor works. Dawson's beautiful metal globes have decorated air space in Canberra, Paris and Kuala Lumpur, and his work 'Ferns' is currently hovering above Civic Square in Wellington.
Film and music
New Zealand has become a popular filming destination for the global cinema industry, built on the legacy of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Indigenous film projects have also been hugely successful. Following in the footsteps of The Whale Rider is In My Father’s Den, an intricately layered, character-driven mystery that has been a favourite in international film festivals.
Another success story is the short film Two Cars, One Night from writer/director Taika Waititi, which was nominated for a 2005 Academy Award™ in the Short Film Live Action category.
FAST FACT:
When you are shopping for Maori arts and crafts, it’s a good idea to look for the Toi iho mark. Toi iho means 'Maori made'. The mark tells you that the artwork you are considering was designed and crafted by a Maori artist, it is not a mass produced item. Buying artwork that carries the Toi iho mark is a way to ensure that you are getting something of real value, not just sentimental value. The creation of the mark was facilitated by Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, in consultation with Maori artists.
www.toiiho.com
Ever since the soaring tones of soprano Kiri Te Kanawa first charmed the world, New Zealand’s music artists have been finding audiences beyond their home patch. Brothers Tim and Neil Finn, originally from Split Enz, continue to produce new songs and play regular live gigs. Chinese-Maori singer Bic Runga is responsible for ‘Drive’, the biggest selling local artist album in New Zealand music history. Her songs are hauntingly beautiful.
Hayley Westenra is another New Zealand singing sensation. Although she's only eighteen, Hayley's classical vocal skills have been rated alongside Bryn Terfel and Andrea Boccelli. Her CD 'Pure' was launched globally and quickly became one of the fastest-selling Classical/Crossover debut albums ever.
Engaging events
When creativity is focused around an event, it becomes accessible to everyone. The World of WearableArt Awards combines textile art, fashion design, sculpture and storytelling into one magnificent live show. Another event that showcases creativity is Auckland’s Pasifika Festival, where traditional Polynesian music and dancing is juxtaposed with locally produced funk, soul and rap music.
For a fascinating glimpse of New Zealand clothing design you can time your visit to coincide with New Zealand Fashion Week, which is held in Auckland every October. Public events during the week include an exhibition and a ‘Best of Fashion Week’ show. Dunedin’s Fashion Week, which is held every March in the historic railway station, is an eye-opener for anyone with a passion for innovative apparel.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Maori arts meets America. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/events-calendar/toi-maori/toi-maori.cfm
Maori Art meets America; New Zealand's contemporary native art
In August 2005, Maori art and artisans from New Zealand made a ground-breaking journey to San Francisco. While the event is now over, part of the exhibition continues to tour the US.
Maori Art Meets America
On August 4th the Ohlone tribe of California welcomed the fully-manned waka (canoe) Te Ika a Maui on the beach at San Francisco's Maritime Park. The ceremony marked the arrival of Maori Art in America.
New Zealand’s Maori culture emerged from Polynesian migrations that began in the 13th century. During the 1800s missionaries and traders began to arrive, paving the way for European settlement. Most of the settlers who landed in New Zealand between 1840 and 1900 were English or Scottish, with some Irish and Welsh thrown in for good measure.
More recently, New Zealand has received immigrants from Holland and Central Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Cultural attraction. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/activities/arts-culture-heritage/cultural-attraction.cfm
Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori ArtThe rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Read more ›
It all adds up to a fascinating culture that you can explore in a variety of ways. There are many authentic Maori cultural activities available throughout the country. These range from walking tours of the world’s largest kauri forest to traditional kapa haka performances followed by a hangi (earth oven) feast.
Other elements of Kiwi culture are also represented. In Dunedin, a city with strong links to Scotland, you can take part in a haggis ceremony; Southland can offer you the unforgettable satisfaction of shearing a sheep; and in Kerikeri you can relive the days of steam driven sea travel.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Key facts introduction. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/new-zealand-key-facts-home.cfm
New Zealand's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.
Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain, Colorado or Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries. It is a haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it an ideal year-round holiday destination.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-entertainment.cfm
Food and Wine
New Zealand's 'Pacific Rim' cuisine style takes its inspiration from regions and countries such as Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Polynesia, Japan and Vietnam. This unique blend of influences has created a mouth-watering range of flavours and food available from cafes and restaurants nationwide.
For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style look out for lamb, pork and venison; salmon, crayfish, Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and scallops; kumara (sweet potato); kiwifruit and tamarillo; and pavlova, our national dessert, made from meringue and lashings of fresh whipped cream topped with fresh fruit or berries.
While the main centres support a few elegant, silver-service restaurants, the trend is towards more relaxed cafe-bar dining. There is a wide variety of international food available including Japanese, Indian, Halal, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Malaysian, and Thai. There are more than 900 Asian restaurants throughout New Zealand.
Allan Scott Winery in Marlborough - click for more.
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Lombardi Vineyard, Hawke's Bay - click for more.
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While you are here, take the opportunity to discover more about New Zealand wines . Our whites wines, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, have achieved an international reputation for excellence - and the reds are catching-up fast!
Feature Presentation
THE GOURMET'S GARDEN
The Gourmet's Garden Take a tour with three expert guides and discover the fantastic flavours of New Zealand. Explore food, wine and fauna. From Auckland's fresh cuisine to the vineyards of Marlborough and Queenstown's stunning scenery...
Read more ›
Vurtigo Bar, Courtenay Place, Wellington - click for more.
Vurtigo Bar, in the centre of Wellington’s café and nightlife scene – Courtenay Place.
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Alcohol
Most night-spots, restaurants and cafes serve liquor seven days a week. You can purchase alcohol from liquor outlets (beer, wine and spirits) and supermarkets (beer and wine only) seven days a week. Legally you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol or consume it in a public place, and you may be asked for a photo-ID.
Night Life in New Zealand
Lively DJ and band scenes, particularly in the larger cities, have given New Zealand's night life a renewed vibrancy. You will find a variety of night-clubs, cabarets, pubs, concerts and live performances to choose from, and there are also four casinos, in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
Smoking
To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please remember to smoke outside.
Shows
Most cities stage first-class concerts and shows. Theatre, orchestral concerts, ballet, rock and jazz are well represented. For information on upcoming shows and events, visit the Ticketek or It's on in New Zealand websites.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Language. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-language.cfm
The Spoken Word
English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multi-cultural society and you may hear many other languages spoken, including Maori, which is also an official language of New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Maori culture. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm
Indigenous Culture
The Māori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today, Māori make up over 14 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Rich and Varied
Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country. Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.
Feature Presentation
EXPERIENCE THE POWHIRI
Experience the Powhiri Experience the powhiri, a ceremony of welcome extended to visitors by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
Read more ›
Te Reo Māori — the Māori Language
The visitor to New Zealand will become immediately aware of the Māori language as the vast majority of place names are of Māori origin. At first, visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible- to-pronounce names. In fact, Māori has a logical structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent rules of pronunciation.
How Do You Say Onehunga, Whangamomona, Kahikatea, and Nguru?
Māori consists of five vowel sounds: a e i o u (‘a’ as in ‘car’, ‘e’ as in ‘egg’, ‘i’ like the ‘ee’ in ‘tee’, ‘o’ as in ‘four’, ‘u’ like an ‘o’ in ‘to’). There are eight consonants in Māori similar to those in English — ‘h’, ‘k’, ‘m’, ‘n’, ‘p’, ‘r’, ‘t’, and ‘w’. There are also two different consonants — ‘wh’ and ‘ng’. Many Māori pronounce the ‘wh’ sound similar to our ‘f’. The ‘ng’ is similar to our own ‘ng’ sound in a word like ‘sing’, except that in Māori, words can start with ‘ng’.
Kia ora = Gidday!
An attempt by a visitor to use Māori greetings will almost certainly elicit a delighted response from both Māori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders.
Kia ora — Hello
Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone
Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one person)
Tena koutou — Greeting to you all
Haere mai — Welcome
Nau mai — Welcome
Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?
Kei te pai — Good
Tino pai — Really good
Haere ra — Farewell
Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)
Hei konei ra — See you later
Video Feature
MAORI CULTURE
The Maori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and have a rich and varied culture.
Open Movie
Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori Art The rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Read more ›
Māori Protocol
Being a tribal Polynesian people, Māori have a unique protocol. The best place to observe it is on a marae (Māori meeting grounds). Many tourist operators in New Zealand organise visits to marae.
Welcome to the Powhiri
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests). He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri will pick up to show they come in peace. Some kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri. Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they move onto the marae in front of their men.
Whaikorero — Speeches of Welcome
Once inside the wharenui (meeting house) on the marae, mihimihi (greetings) and whaikorero (speeches) are made. To reinforce the good wishes of the speeches, waiata (songs) may be sung. It is usual for the manuhiri then present a koha (gift) to the tangata whenua after greeting the hosts with a hongi — the ceremonial touching of noses. After the powhiri, kai (food) may be shared.
Stories and Legends
Māori is an oral culture rich with stories and legends. The Māori creation story describes the world being formed by the violent separation of Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, by their children. Many Māori carvings and artworks graphically depict this struggle.
Fishing Up An Island
The creation of New Zealand is described by the legend of Maui. This god was a cheeky trickster who managed, among other things, to harness the sun in order to make the days longer. However, his biggest claim to fame was his fishing up of the North Island, which is described as Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui). A look at an aerial map of the North Island will show how closely it resembles a fish. Māori believe the far north to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour the mouth. Māori describe the South Island as Maui’s waka (canoe) and Stewart Island (Rakiura) as his punga (anchor).
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). The People. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-the-people.cfm
New Zealand — The People
Today, New Zealanders are largely sophisticated and highly educated urban dwellers. Members of a unique and vibrant multicultural society, New Zealanders are embracing 21st century technology and culture in record numbers. But New Zealanders also have a background of quiet but rugged individualism, self-reliance, and a genius for invention — qualities still evident in the population today.
Unique in the World
New Zealand has a diverse population — but with some uniting features that make it unique in the world. Our relatively isolated South Pacific location and rugged landscapes still makes many New Zealanders quiet and independent, yet resourceful and self-reliant, with a famous ‘Kiwi ingenuity’.
Café, Wellington - click for more.
Taking a break at Midnight Espresso café in Wellington
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Early Voyagers
Over four hundred years before Christopher Columbus and the rest of Europe worried about falling off the edge of the world, the first New Zealanders, the Maori, voyaged thousands of miles across the vast unknown Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes. In order to reach New Zealand, these brave adventurers developed their own navigation system using the stars and the currents.
Rugged Pioneers
New Zealand’s European pioneers were also brave, rugged and independent. Before establishing farms and settlements, they had to first clear the land — a painstaking and sometimes dangerous activity. Their isolation and exposure to the elements forced these early New Zealanders to become hardy and multi-skilled. This resourcefulness and ingenuity has greatly contributed to the New Zealand character. The same qualities can be seen today in the new pioneers — a generation of young Kiwi business executives, computer software builders, film-makers, fashion designers, and sportspeople making waves around the world.
Backyard Genius
Since before Sir Ernest Rutherford ‘split’ the atom early in the twentieth century, Kiwis have been discovering and inventing things. Many of these inventions have literally been created in a backyard. While frozen meat, the Hamilton Jet boat, and the bungy jump are probably our most famous Kiwi inventions, there are many others. New Zealanders are also responsible for the tranquilliser gun, seismic ‘base’ isolators (rubber and lead blocks which minimise earthquake damage), electric fences, the fastest motorbike in the world, freezer vacuum pumps, stamp vending machines, wide-toothed shearing combs, and the electronic petrol pump — to name a few!
Waka Maori Canoe - click for more.
These waka (Maori canoes) appear at the Ngaruawahia Regatta in the Waikato each March.
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Outdoor People
New Zealand has a low population density and spectacular scenery. As a result, many New Zealanders have a love of their landscape and the outdoors. Hiking, mountaineering, and kayaking are enjoyed by many New Zealanders, while many more will explore their landscape with a trip to the beach or a bush walk. They are following in the footsteps of perhaps the most adventurous Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in 1953.
Sailing in the Bay of Islands - click for more.
The R. Tucker Thompson, a sailing ship that is popular for day cruises in the Bay of Islands
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Water Passion
With so much coastline, it is little wonder New Zealanders love the water. Since Kupe, the first explorer to reach New Zealand, made landfall in the far north of the country over a thousand years ago, New Zealanders have had a passion for ocean-going craft. New Zealanders were at the forefront of yacht design and racing during much of the 20th century, and continued their dominance into this century by winning and retaining the prestigious America’s Cup. New Zealanders have also won many Olympic medals for yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and rowing.
Fair Go Mate
Tempering the rugged individualism of New Zealanders is a strong egalitarian streak and a sense of fair play and teamwork. This may be partly due to the co-operative ‘whanau’ (extended family) structure of Maori society, as well as the make-up of early Pakeha (Europeans) society. Many European immigrants came to New Zealand to escape the class system. A small population meant co-operation was vital for survival. The artificial class structures of ‘home’ became irrelevant in such a rugged and young country. New Zealand was also one of the earliest countries to grant women the right to vote and has a strong trade union tradition.
National Character Building
The two World Wars saw heavy casualties inflicted on the New Zealand male population. But it also saw loyalty to your friends and comrades — ‘mateship’ — become a prized social value. This quality is still seen on the sporting field today. Rugby football is the most popular spectator sport in New Zealand, and the legendary All Blacks have won the World Cup once and been a finalist twice. Though the sport has public school beginnings in England, in New Zealand, rugby is definitely the sport of the ‘average bloke’.
Trout Fishing on Lake Taupo - click for more.
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America's Cup in Auckland - click for more.
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Rural Economy
As the 20th century progressed, the make-up and character of the New Zealand population began to radically change. In the early part of the century, the New Zealand economy was largely dependent on agriculture and the export of primary produce. However, after the Second World War, more and more people moved to the cities, and manufacturing and tertiary industries became established.
New New Zealanders
In the 1970s, large numbers of Pacific Island immigrants settled in New Zealand, followed in the 80s and 90s by Asians, Europeans, and many others. These new arrivals contributed, along with technological and economic changes, to a totally new national identity. In the last twenty years or so, New Zealanders have embraced the global economy and the latest technology. Per head of population, New Zealanders are some of the highest mobile phone and Internet users in the world. They also read the most newspapers.
Taming the Land
Despite recent changes, New Zealand still has a sizeable rural population and farming is a major export earner. While the traditional exports of wool, meat, and dairy products are still very strong, new products, including Cervena (New Zealand venison), flowers, fruit, biotechnology, and wine are now also contributing greatly to our exports. Like the rest of the population, the farming sector have diversified and embraced technology, making New Zealand one of the most productive and efficient agricultural producers in the world.
Urban and Sophisticated
FAST FACT:
Wellington has more restaurant seats per head than New York City
New Zealand has absorbed the new culinary tastes, fashions, and lifestyles of the Pacific Rim and combined them with more traditional ones to produce a unique New Zealand identity. Today, Kiwis are as likely to visit an Asian restaurant or modern art gallery as they are to attend a rugby game or milk a cow!
MEMORY: Submitted by Allan from Canada
"We find very many things about New Zealand to be pleasureable but most of all it is the people."
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Kiwiana. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-kiwiana.cfm
Kiwiana — Celebrating Our National Identity
Gumboots, ‘Buzzy Bee’ toys, marching girls, a meringue dessert, shell ashtrays, and a cookbook may not seem terribly important objects. But to many Kiwis (New Zealanders), such things assume vital importance as major icons of Kiwiana! What is Kiwiana? It could be described as all the weird and wonderful quirky things from years gone by that contribute to our sense of nationhood — our kiwi identity.
Buzzy-bee toy - a New Zealand Icon
What is a Kiwi?
Kiwi Bird - click for more.
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To understand Kiwiana, it’s important to first know what exactly a kiwi is. A kiwi is a flightless nocturnal native bird, and the national bird of New Zealand. It has a long beak with nostrils on the end, and fossicks about at night feeding on small insects. However, over the years, New Zealanders have become known as ‘Kiwis’ as well. There is a ‘kiwi’ sense of humour, a kiwi ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude, and Kiwiana means the things that contribute to our sense of being Kiwi. Just to confuse you, the kiwifruit is often called a ‘kiwi’ in Europe and America and ‘Kiwi’ nugget (shoe polish) is known throughout the world, although it is an Australian invention!
Kiwifruit
The Kiwifruit, often simply called a ‘kiwi’ is of Chinese origin, but grows throughout New Zealand. It was originally called a ‘Chinese Gooseberry’ by New Zealanders, but when New Zealand started to export the fruit, it was decided to give them a better name. ‘Kiwifruit’ was the choice, because it would associate the fruit with New Zealand. The choice was timely, and New Zealand enjoyed record exports during the worldwide Kiwifruit boom. While kiwifruit are now grown throughout the world, you can always tell if a kiwifruit is from New Zealand, as it will be branded ‘Zespri’.
The Birds and the Buzzy Bees
The ‘Buzzy Bee’ — not the live one, but the toy — is probably the most famous single piece of Kiwiana. But it’s not just the bright red and yellow colours that make Buzzy Bee so attractive to Kiwis, who are far more used to the greens and browns of their native bush. As you pull the toy, the wings of Buzzy Bee rotate, making a wonderful loud clicking sound.
Pavlova
This dessert was invented as a tribute to the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured New Zealand and Australia in 1926. Pavlova is made of meringue and cream and is usually topped with kiwifruit.
Dessert Storm
The pavlova has long been at the centre of a trans-Tasman argument. Both New Zealanders and Australians steadfastly maintain they invented it. The first appearance of the recipe in written form was in a New Zealand cookbook in the early 1930s. Surely it is obvious that a Swiss-style meringue cake covered in ‘Chinese gooseberries’ and named after a Russian ballerina can only be a New Zealand invention!
Paua Shell
Paua (pronounced par-wah) is a close relative of abalone and comes in a beautiful shell. Maori used the shiny shell for eyes in carvings of various creatures. Whole paua shells are used for ashtrays and other containers, and pieces of paua shell are used for making jewellery, butterflies, coasters, 21st birthday keys and a variety of other objects and souvenirs.
Edmonds Cookbook — Sure to Sell
More copies of this book, published by the makers of Edmonds ‘Sure to Rise’ Baking Powder, have been sold than any other book in New Zealand. Few New Zealand children would leave home without buying or borrowing their mother’s copy of this kiwi culinary bible.
No 8 Wire
Kiwis are famous for their ingenuity and self-sufficiency. It is said that Kiwis can create amazing things — all they need is ‘a piece of Number 8 wire’. No 8 wire is a certain gauge of wire that was incredibly popular for use as fencing wire around New Zealand’s many farms. Ironically, until 1963, it was imported from other countries. Because No. 8 wire was widely available, it was used for a variety of tasks, and it has become a symbol of kiwi adaptability.
L & P — National Soft Drink
L & P stands for Lemon and Paeroa, New Zealand’s most famous soft drink. It was invented in 1904 after its maker tasted some mineral water near the town of Paeroa, and mixed it with lemon to make a particularly refreshing drink. L & P was originally called Paeroa and Lemon, though the name was later reversed, and then shorted to L & P. This drink is still popular throughout New Zealand today.
Crown Lynn Railways Cup
Rail transport was once the major mode of transport in New Zealand and an important part of the culture, as well as the infrastructure. On the overnight express from Wellington to Auckland, passengers would stop for a cup of tea along the way. The steaming brew was also served in an incredibly sturdy railways mug, made by New Zealand’s Crown Lynn pottery. While the mugs were cheaply made, over the years they have become valuable collector’s items.
Where Do You Find Kiwiana?
Most second-hand and souvenir shops have a good stock of Kiwiana, but if you want the real thing, go to one of the thousands of garage sales that are held throughout New Zealand every weekend.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Arts. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-arts.cfm
New Zealand — An Exciting Blend of Cultural Influences
The arts in New Zealand reflect an exciting blend of cultural influences including Maori and Pacific Island, as well as European and Asian. From haka to hip-hop, fashion to filmmaking, New Zealand artists are making their mark at home and around the world.
Artland New Zealand
Whether you’re interested in Maori carving or abstract painting, you’ll find lots of art in New Zealand. Traditional Maori arts such as carving and weaving are alive and well. You’ll find excellent examples in museums, shops, and on marae (meeting grounds) throughout the country.
Early Painters
New Zealand has a fine tradition of painting. C.F. Goldie (1870—1947) and Gottfried Lindauer (1839—1926) were two early artists who painted portraits of Maori subjects. Frances Hodgkins (1869—1947) is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed and influential painters. She was associated with a number of avant-garde British movements including Neo Romanticism.
Modern Masters
Rita Angus (1908—1970) is a much-loved New Zealand artist who painted beautiful New Zealand landscapes and a large number of self-portraits. [ more about Rita Angus] Colin McCahon (1919—1987) painted a large number of landscapes and used text, often of a religious nature, in many of his works. ‘His Practical Religion 1969’, featuring the words ‘I AM’, has become an iconic New Zealand artwork. [ more about Colin McCahon]
Bone fish hook necklace
Striking and Provocative
New Zealand has a vibrant contemporary art scene and most New Zealand towns have interesting art galleries and shops. Maori and Pacific, as well as feminist influences, are strong in contemporary New Zealand art. Artists such as Ralph Hotere, John Pule, Michael Parekowhai and Robyn Kahukiwa, not only create striking and dramatic images, but also provoke reactions from their audience.
Early Giant
Katherine Mansfield (1888 — 1923) is the giant of early New Zealand literature. Regarded as being one of the finest short-story writers in English, she is the first in a long line of excellent New Zealand short-story writers. Stories such as ‘The Doll’s House’, ‘At the Bay’, and ‘The Garden Party’ are superb examples of Mansfield’s depiction of turn-of-the-century colonial New Zealand.
Devastatingly Good
The twentieth century saw the emergence of many fine New Zealand novelists including John Mulgan (‘Man Alone’), Robin Hyde (‘The Godwits Fly’), Maurice Shadbolt (‘Strangers and Journeys’), and Janet Frame (‘Owls do Cry’). Born in 1924, Janet Frame is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded novelists. Frame’s books include devastating accounts of the treatment of mental patients in New Zealand during the 1950s and 60s. Her best-selling three-part autobiography was made into a top-rating television series and film — ‘An Angel at my Table’.
New Generation
New Zealand’s best-known Maori writers include Patricia Grace, Alan Duff, and Witi Ihimaera. Duff’s bleak ‘Once Were Warriors’, depicting a violent, dysfunctional Maori family, was made into an international hit movie by Maori filmmaker Lee Tamahori. An exciting younger generation of New Zealand novelists including new-ager Elizabeth Knox (‘The Vintner’s Luck’), Gen X-er Emily Perkins (‘Not Her Real Name’), Bulgarian-born Kapka Kassabova (‘Reconnaissance’), and Samoan-born Sia Figiel (‘Where we once belonged’) show that contemporary New Zealand literature has a wide range of cultural and stylistic influences.
Poetry
It should come as no surprise that much of New Zealand’s best poetry is about the country’s landscape. However, major New Zealand poets including James K. Baxter, ARD Fairburn, Denis Glover, Allen Curnow, and Sam Hunt also reveal a keen social conscience and wry sense of humour.
Arts and Culture Events
NEW ZEALAND ART AND CULTURE
New Zealand Art and Culture Many New Zealand artists are currently enjoying success on a global scale, including Hayley Westenra, Ben Makisi and Neil Dawson. Experience more New Zealand art and culture through the wide variety of events taking place here in the next 12 months.
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Maori Art Feature
CONTEMPORARY MAORI ART
Contemporary Maori ArtThe rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
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Fashioning an Industry
New Zealand fashion has come of age in the last few years. Exciting designers such as Karen Walker, World, and Zambesi have put the country on the fashion map, frequently exhibiting in London and Sydney. New Zealand fashion used to be largely a copy of European styles. Now it is a vibrant and dynamic industry with a range of influences, including those of Maori and the Pacific Islands.
Music and Dance
New Zealand has three professional symphony orchestras, including the highly acclaimed NZSO (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra). There are also a large number of excellent choirs, including the National Youth Choir, which recently won a number of prestigious internationalevents. Recent co-productions between European-style groups, such as the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the NZSO, and Maori music and dance groups, are examples of a bicultural ‘fusion’ currently occurring.
New Waves
New Zealand has a diverse contemporary and alternative music scene. While rapper OMC (Pauly Fuemana) and Crowded House’s Neil Finn are probably our best known musicians, other performers including Bic Runga, Stellar, Shihad, Moana and the Moa Hunters, and King Kapisi are currently making waves.
Featured Event - click for more.
Montana World of Wearable Art Awards
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On Stage
As well as supporting a thriving local theatre scene, New Zealand performers regularly appear at festivals abroad, including the Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals. Maori and Pacific Island writers and performers have had a big impact on the New Zealand theatre, giving it a unique and colourful Polynesian-influenced identity.
On Film
A competitive exchange rate, excellent scenery, and a highly skilled workforce make New Zealand the perfect place to shoot a movie. New Zealand has produced many top directors, including Roger Donaldson (‘Cocktail’, ‘Species’), Jane Campion (‘The Piano’), Lee Tamahori (‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Edge’), and Peter Jackson, who directed the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy in New Zealand. Movies such as ‘Smash Palace’, ‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Piano’ and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ have proved that New Zealand can produce unique and intelligent movies equal to the best in the world.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Money matters. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-money-matters.cfm
Currency
New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Coins have values of 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2; notes have values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of New Zealand. However, every person who carries more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand is required to complete a Border Cash Report.
Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.
All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand. Travellers Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.
Exchange Rates
You can calculate the value of your currency in NZ Dollars using the newzealand.com currency converter on this page. The rate you are offered in your home country is likely to differ slightly.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand provides a monthly online summary of the New Zealand Dollar's average value against the US Dollar, the Pound, the Australian Dollar, the Yen and the Euro.
Banking
Banks are open from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available at banks, along main shopping streets and in malls.
International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded. Check with your bank before leaving home.
Goods and Services Tax
All goods and services are subject to a 12.5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) included in the displayed price. Visitors cannot claim this tax back, however when a supplier ships a major purchase to a visitor's home address the GST will not be charged.
Assortment of New Zealand Dollars
Tools
Currency Converter
A quick and easy way to convert your foreign currency into New Zealand dollars.
Open Converter
How Much Will it Cost?
Here is a general guide of what you can expect to pay in New Zealand for a few common items:
Approx
A hotel breakfast NZ$10- $25
Dinner (3-course, no wine) NZ$20 - $50
Lunch snack/sandwich NZ$5 - $10
Cafe lunch NZ$10 - $15
A postcard stamp to anywhere abroad NZ$1.50
Big Mac Hamburger NZ$3.95
Cappuccino NZ$3 - $3.50
Kodak Film, 36 exposures NZ$7.95
Tipping and Service Charges
Tipping in New Zealand is not obligatory - even in restaurants and bars. However, tipping for good service or kindness is at the discretion of the visitor. Hotels and restaurants in New Zealand do not add service charges to their bills.
Travellers Cheques
NZ$ travellers cheques are not available for purchase.
International visitors who wish to travel to New Zealand with travellers cheques should bring a major currency type of travellers cheque with them in the future.
For travel to our region AUS$ travellers cheques can be purchased.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). People and history. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-people-and-history.cfm
Population
New Zealand is an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth. It has a diverse multi-cultural population of 4 million people, the majority of whom are of British descent. New Zealand's indigenous Maori make up around 14 percent of the population.
Early Settlement
The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an epic journey from the legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.
The first documented European to discover New Zealand was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who came here in 1642 in search of the fabled great southern continent. Over a 125 years later, Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769 and produced a map of the country.
Traditional Maori Carving. - click for more.
A beautiful example of some traditional Maori carving.
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The Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi , seen as New Zealand's founding document, established the country as a nation. It was signed in 1840 between leading Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, now one of the country's most historic sites. The signing of the treaty began on 6 February, which has become New Zealand's national day, known as 'Waitangi Day'.
Economy and Government
New Zealand is a modern country with a well-developed economy and a government structure based on the British parliamentary system. New Zealand has long been a sovereign nation in its own right with only tenuous ties to Britain through New Zealand's membership of the British Commonwealth. You can find more information on New Zealand's government and its monetary policy at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and New Zealand Government Online.
Heru - Ornamental Comb
Kiwis and kiwis
New Zealand's first settlers, the Maori, named the kiwi bird for the sound of its chirp - kiwi, kiwi, kiwi! This flightless bird, about the size of a domestic hen, has an extremely long beak and plumage that is more like hair than feathers. New Zealanders have adopted this nocturnal, flightless and endearing creature as their national emblem.
Referring to New Zealanders as Kiwis probably dates back to the First World War, when New Zealand soldiers first acquired this nickname.
In the international financial markets, New Zealand’s basic currency unit, the New Zealand dollar, is frequently called ’the kiwi’ The dollar coin features a kiwi bird on one side.
Perhaps the best-known kiwi is the delicious kiwifruit. Originating in China, kiwifruit were grown in New Zealand domestic gardens for decades as ‘Chinese gooseberries’. However, when enterprising New Zealand farmers began propagating the fruit intensively for export, it was given the name kiwifruit and has since achieved worldwide fame.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). People with special needs. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-people-with-special-needs.cfm
Disabled Facilities
New Zealand law requires that every new building and major reconstruction provide ‘reasonable and adequate’ access for people with disabilities. Most facilities have wheelchair access, but it is wise to check when booking.
Weka is New Zealand's disability information web site, with information for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
www.weka.net.nz
Or call Weka on Ph. 0800 17 1981
Transport for the Disabled
Tour operators such as Accessible Tours and Jetsave can provide holiday packages for individuals and groups. Most transport operators do cater for people with special needs, but it is recommended to phone ahead to inform operators and check availability. Most urban transport buses are not equipped to cater for the disabled.
Parking concessions are available for people with disabilities, and temporary display cards can be issued for the length of a visitor's stay. In order to obtain a New Zealand card, visitors should bring their home mobility card or medical certificate as proof of disability. Once in New Zealand, contact the NZCCS on 0800 227 225. Most parking areas have parks specifically allocated for the disabled.
Food Allergies
Those with special diets can contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for information on bringing particular foods into the country, www.maf.govt.nz, or email enquiry@maf.govt.nz.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Time differences. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-time-differences.cfm
Telling the Time
Sunrise over Mount Hikurangi - click for more.
Sunrise over Mount Hikurangi on the East Coast – one of the first places in the world to see the sun.
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New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day, 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). In summer New Zealand uses ‘daylight saving’, with clocks put forward one hour to GMT+13. Daylight saving begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the third Sunday of the following March, when clocks are put back to GMT+12.
Tourism New Zealand. (2006). Visitor information. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/key-facts/key-facts-visitor-information.cfm
Visitor Information
i-SITE Visitor Centre
Self drive visitors in New Zealand are faced with a wide range of tourism options and places to visit. To help visitors with these many choices, the New Zealand i-SITE Visitor Centres have been established. Each centre is identified by the distinctive i-SITE logo.
i-SITE Visitor Centres are the officially recognised provider of reliable New Zealand information, with centres in over 80 locations throughout New Zealand. Accreditation to the network ensures that staff are knowledgeable and provide objective, quality information. Services offered include:
* Information and bookings for accommodation, transport (air, road, rail and ferry), attractions and activities
* Itinerary planning and advice
* Gifts, souvenirs, stamps and phone cards
* Restaurant information
* Local events and entertainment
* Maps and guide books
International visitors can call into centres at Auckland and Christchurch international airports to pick up a directory of
i-SITE Visitor Centre locations throughout New Zealand.
Visitor Information Network Logo with link to Visitor Information page.
Information Centres
I-SITE VISITOR CENTRES
i-SITE Visitor Centres i-SITE Visitor Centres span the country. Find out more about our officially recognised information centres and access a printable map of New Zealand showing the locations of i-SITE Visitor Centres nationwide.
Read more ›
New Zealand Tourism Awards - recognising and rewarding excellence.
The New Zealand Tourism Award winners represent some of the most unique, quality tourism experiences available. Look out for the koru of the Tourism Awards winners logo. It is our assurance that you will receive the best product, experience or service New Zealand has to offer.
For more information visit New Zealand Tourism Awards.
Poste Restante
Enquiries can be made at any Post Office for the nearest post shop offering this service (usually the main post office for the town). Letters are held for up to three months, unless the sender requests a shorter period. There is no charge for letter mail, but a small charge for holding large parcels. You will need to have ID with you when you collect your mail.
Internet Cafes
The easiest way to stay in touch while travelling. For the most up-to-date listing of Internet Cafes and Internet Online Services, check the New Zealand Yellow Pages.
Tourist FM Radio
Tourist Information FM radio provides visitors travelling throughout New Zealand with information on the history and culture of an area, the availability of local services, accommodation and activities 24 hours a day. A blue road sign tells visitors they are in a broadcast area with transmission on frequency 88.2 FM (100.4 FM for German language and 100.8 FM for Japanese language).
Kiwi Search Engine
From the www.linknz.co.nz Kiwi search engine find more than 12,000 tourism related websites.
Global Hotel Reservations (2006). Country fact sheet. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.discountworldhotels.net/newzealand/
Country Fact Sheet
Full country name: New Zealand
Area: 268,680 sq km
Population: 4 million
People: 75% New Zealand European (Pakeha), 10% Maori, 5% other European, 4.5% Polynesian, 5% Asian, 0.5% other
Language: English, Maori
Religion: Predominantly Christian (75%)
Government: Independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations
GDP: US$85 billion
GDP per capita: US$22,360
Annual Growth: 2%
Inflation: 2.7%
Major Industries: Food processing, wood and paper products, wool, textiles, dairy products, iron and steel, machinery, tourism
Major Trading Partners: Australia, Japan, UK, China and the USA
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +12
Dialling Code: 64
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Visas
Only a valid passport is necessary for citizens of most countries.
When to Go
The weather is never so miserable that there's no point in going to New Zealand: there are things to see and do all year round. The warmer months (November to April) are busiest, especially during the school holidays from December 20 to the end of January. Ski resort towns are obviously busier during the winter months. If you're travelling during peak periods (especially the Christmas season) it's best to book ahead, as much accommodation and transport fills up. It's probably more pleasant to visit either before or after this hectic period, when the weather is still warm and there aren't as many other travellers around.
vents
Some of the noteworthy cultural events include: Summer City Programme (January to February; Wellington), which is a series of festivals around the city; BMW Wine Marlborough Festival (2nd week in February; Blenheim); New Zealand Festival (February, even-numbered years only; Wellington), an entire month of national and international culture; Golden Shears Sheep-Shearing Contest (March; Masterton), a must for lovers of sheep and sweat; and Canterbury Show Week (November; Christchurch), which has agricultural exhibits, rides and local entertainment.
New Zealand Tourism Online Ltd. (2006). New Zealand language. Retrieved December 14, 2006, from http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/language.html
New Zealand Language
Official Languages
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand. Maori became an official language in 1987.
In April 2006, New Zealand became the first country to declare sign language as an official language, alongside Maori and English.
New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand.
Maori Language
Maori is only used in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world. Despite its official status, the language continues to struggle against being lost.
In the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, Queen Victoria promised the Maori that their language would be protected. It was only recently that the Maori language has gathered widespread support. In the present, the Maori language is commonly used in the media and at school.
When Maori people moved to the cities in the 1940's, they felt pressured to speak English and children were raised without the Maori language. By the 1970's, the Maori language was close to being irrevocably lost.
A recent survey by the New Zealand government shows about 130,000 people speak some Maori.
posted by Brad | 10:14 AM
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