Culture of New Zealand

Italic textThe culture of New Zealand is a fusion of Maori culture and that of the descendants of the early [[Britai[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[British colonists and later settlers, many of whom were of working class origin.

Introduction

While British culture predominates within the country, Maori culture is increasingly being identified with New Zealand, due to haka displays by New Zealand sporting teams, and to tens of thousands of visitors who each year experience and film or photograph Maori culture events held at places such as Rotorua.

British and Irish culture in New Zealand has been significantly influenced by Maori and other Polynesians. Scottish influences are strong, mainly in the southernmost parts of the South Island. In general, early immigrants from other parts of Europe and Asia, and World War II refugees (particularly the Dutch) were readily assimilated.

Small enclaves of these early immigrant cultures remain as islands in a sea of British colonial culture. Unlike Australia, New Zealand has not experienced sizeable immigration from Mediterranean countries in Southern Europe, but in recent years there has been a considerable influx of migrants from Asia, which now makes up a significant proportion of the population, particularly in Auckland. New Zealand has by some measures the highest proportion of the population born in a foreign country, at approximately 25%, higher than comparable nations like USA, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and Canada

After the Second World War, significant immigration from the Pacific Islands began, so much so that there are now more nationals from some Pacific island nations living in New Zealand than on their home islands. The wide variety of Pacific Island cultures has combined in New Zealand, mostly in South Auckland, to form a distinctive subculture that is separate from the Maori culture.

For a variety of reasons many Maori and Pacific people have been socially disadvantaged, forming an underclass in some areas. Cultural considerations for both Maori and Pacific people now have a significant influence on educational, medical and social organisations, particularly in areas with high concentrations of these population groups.

Immigration policy in New Zealand has often been controversial, with some politicians claiming that the pace of immigration has been too rapid for New Zealand to absorb, and that recent immigrants are having trouble adapting to the New Zealand society. This position is seen by others as a cynical appeal to xenophobic sentiment in order to gain votes near election time, and these views are not widely supported by the general population.

Is there a separate New Zealand culture?

Many people have claimed that non-Maori New Zealanders have no culture separate from their ancestors' country of origin. Some have taken this argument further, claiming that New Zealand has no culture at all.

This has led to protests from those who believe that there is a uniquely definable New Zealand culture developed from a mix of Maori and immigrant contributions. Others argue that belief in the 'absence' of culture in NZ is a symptom of white privilege, allowing members of a dominant group to see their culture as the 'default', rather than as a specific position of relative advantage.

As with most modern western societies, New Zealand struggles to reconcile its high culture and its popular culture. But in contrast to many societies, the egalitarian nature of New Zealand means that the Pop Culture of the country is often afforded the greater value. This is observable in the common belief that kiwiana, a category of kitsch 1950's-style artifacts, is the defining cultural touchstone.

Perhaps one of the more memorable protests at the high culture vs. popular culture divide was the 1980 song "Culture" by The Knobz after outspoken Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon stated that New Zealand pop music was not part of the New Zealand cultural scene.

The three "R's"

The three "R's" of New Zealand culture are Rugby, Racing and beeR. This cultural image probably has its origins in colonial agricultural New Zealand, when hard farm work such as harvesting, shearing and droving took place in hot summer conditions. The large number of soldiers who left New Zealand to fight in the First and Second World Wars and their subsequent socialising have contributed to this image.

Although less obvious today, in the past team sports, particularly Rugby union, gambling on horse races, and sharing a beer after a hard day's work with some good friends or work mates have been significant images of New Zealand life. This predominantly working-class male cultural image has previously been so strong that it has overshadowed other, perhaps higher, cultural aspects of New Zealand society.

Sporting and outdoor activities still play a significant part in the recreation of New Zealanders. Participation in a sport, rather than mere spectating, is considered a worthy pursuit. Team sports and sporting abilities are generally held in high regard, with top-performing players often becoming celebrities. However, New Zealanders can often be scathing when national sports teams and athletes lose. Anecdotal evidence suggests that domestic violence may increase when a NZ team has suffered a loss.

Kiwi

The word

Kiwi (usually capitalised) has been applied to and adopted by New Zealanders as a nickname for themselves and as an adjective for their culture. It originates from kiwi (usually uncapitalised), the Maori word for several species of a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. The plural form for New Zealanders is always Kiwis. The plural forms for the birds are the anglicised kiwis or, following the Maori language, kiwi without an s.

Kiwi (bird) logos are often associated with New Zealand military forces and New Zealand goods. The association probably originated during WWI when the ANZACS of Australia and New Zealand introduced Kiwi shoe polish to the allied trenches. It was widely used by British and American armies during that war.

The New Zealand dollar is often called the Kiwi dollar (or just the Kiwi) and the bird's image appears on both the 20 cent and one dollar coins.

Non-New Zealanders sometimes use the word Kiwi to refer to the kiwifruit, also known as the Chinese Gooseberry. This is not generally understood by New Zealanders, who use the full term to refer to the fruit.

Kiwiana

Items and icons from New Zealand's cultural heritage are often called Kiwiana. The word "Kiwiana" originated in 1956. It was registered as a trademark in 1980, but the originator did not complete the registration which left the name to become available for general use in New Zealand.

Well-known kiwiana include:

All Blacks — national Rugby Union team
Black singlet — worn by many farmers, shearers as well as representative athletes
Buzzy Bee — child's toy
Chocolate fish — pretty self evident, really.
Clayton's — originally a non alcoholic spirit, advertised as The drink you have when you're not having a drink, that did not gain market acceptance; now refers to any form of inferior substitute. This term is primarily used among those generations old enough to remember the original drink.
Gumboots, calf length rubber boots, (designed to be puddle and cow-pat proof, not for fetishists).
Kiwi — native bird; its stylised image or shape frequently appears on things associated with New Zealand
Kiwifruit — fruit from a vine originating in China but selectively bred by New Zealand horticulturalists to obtain egg-sized fruit with green or gold flesh
L&P — Lemon & Paeroa, a popular soft drink
Paua — the polished shell of the native paua (abalone) shellfish, turned into jewellery, souvenirs, just about anything. Once considered kitsch, it is starting to regain its popularity
Silver fern — native plant; its stylised image or shape is displayed by many of the national sports teams
Tiki — Maori icon, often worn as a necklace pendant. Tourist vaierty in green plastic, (often stamped "Air New Zealand"), are the definitively tasteless deapths of kiwiana kitsch.
Footrot Flats — popular cartoon strip by Murray Ball
Jandals — beach footwear with a bit of sole but very little else.

There are Kiwiana sections in many New Zealand museums, and some are dedicated to showing Kiwiana only.

Attitudes

The remoteness of many parts of New Zealand and the distance of the country from much of the developed world meant that things that were easily obtainable in other parts of the world were often not readily available locally. New Zealand has only recently experienced economic development outside farming, so traditionally, Kiwis are jacks-of-all-trades to some extent, willing to roll up their sleeves and have a go. Most highly industrialised countries produce experts trained in narrow fields of specialisation, but New Zealand professionals are often generalists as well. This reputation often makes New Zealanders uniquely valued employees in overseas organisations.

This has given rise to the attitudes "She'll be right, mate" as well as "Kiwi ingenuity".

She'll be right, mate

This is an attitude that the situation, repairs, or whatever has been done is adequate or sufficient for what is needed. This is often perceived as carelessness, especially when a failure occurs.

Kiwi ingenuity

Kiwi ingenuity is a "can-do" attitude that any problem or situation can be solved, despite apparently insurmountable odds, and the meagrest of resources. While this attitude occasionally leads to spectacular failure if inadequately prepared, it has also helped motivate many world-first innovations. Examples of these include Richard Pearse's aircraft flights, some nine months earlier than the Wright brothers (but unfortunately rather uncontrolled), the invention of aerial topdressing, Bill Hamilton's jetboat propulsion, the Rotary Cow Shed, John Britten's V-1000 Superbike, Bob Semple's "Tank" and the Taranaki gate. This attitude is a matter of pride and national identity, summed up in the saying "If anybody can a Kiwi can". Another closely related expression is the "No. 8 wire" attitude, meaning that anything can be fixed with the most make-shift and basic materials. Australians and Americans have similar expressions involving coat hangers and duct tape.

Conformism

While New Zealand, like Australia, prides itself as being more egalitarian than Britain, there is a degree of inverse snobbery known as the 'Tall Poppy Syndrome', in which people who are seen as (over) ambitious and having ideas above their station are cut down to size. This is also known as the 'Great Kiwi Clobbering Machine', and has prompted many of the country's best and brightest to emigrate.

Kiwis typically undersell their achievements and abilities — not many would label themselves an 'expert', even when others might use this title for them. This and their typically laid-back attitude contrast with those of Americans, who appear as brash and overbearing.

A lack of diversity and intelligent analysis in local media leads to some New Zealanders feeling alienated and under-represented. This has led to a strong sub-culture of satire, sarcasm and withdrawal from the mainstream. Although this sub-culture is not peculiar to youth, until recently New Zealand had the highest youth suicide rate in the OECD, though this may be due to it's geographical location: As it is quite close to the south pole, low sunlight levels may cause Seasonal affectivie Disorder which may be a factor in the suicide rate. It should be noted that many Scandinavian countries have relatively high levels of suicide

Anti-intellectualism

New Zealanders are practical people and generally dislike intellectual pretension. Academics are not considered highly valued in New Zealand culture with a preference for people who get their hands dirty and muck in. An insult directed to people who are too theorectial is "intellectual wanker."

Attribution

Because New Zealanders often have to relocate to achieve worldwide fame and fortune, New Zealanders are keen to claim famous people as being New Zealanders, however short their residency in New Zealand might have been. While being born in New Zealand is an absolute qualification for being identified as a New Zealander, attendance at a New Zealand school, or having been resident in New Zealand also qualifies, irrespective of national origin. This sometimes leads to famous people and innovations being identified as coming from both New Zealand and another country — such as the pop groups Crowded House and Split Enz, the Pavlova dessert, the race horse Phar Lap and the actors Sam Neill and Russell Crowe, all of whom have been claimed both by Aussies and by Kiwis as theirs. However, New Zealanders are generally quick to disown controversial or unpopular figures such as Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Because New Zealand loses much of its talent to other countries, anything from 'Overseas' is seen as holding more cultural capital than the local equivalent, regardless of its quality. This means that New Zealanders are often lured to the performances of "international acts" not realising they are considered third-rate also-rans at home. This is exacerbated by New Zealand's isolation and small population causing it to be skipped by the international tours of all but the most commercially successful musicians and performers.

The flipside to this phenomenon is that famous people from overseas can claim to an affinity with New Zealand with relatively little resistance from the locals. Particularly as New Zealanders are flattered by the attention of what they regard as international acts. The quick way to the heart of the New Zealand audience is to visit repeatedly within a short space of time. This technique has been used to good effect by semi-popular musicians such as Michael Franti, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson.

Social conservatism

While New Zealand has pioneered social reforms, including votes for women, the welfare state, and respecting indigenous culture, its society can also be conservative in outlook. Until the late 1960s pubs would close at 6pm, (a restriction introduced in World War 1), while until 1980 shops were closed all weekend. Both restrictions were considered attempts to preserve family life, but as the country became more urbanised and people's leisure activities more consumer-oriented, people found the restrictions stifling. Criticism centred on the observation that other countries had more liberal opening hours, and overseas tourists were uncatered for on weekends. In 1986, all restrictions on shopping hours were repealed, but it wasn't until 1999 that alcohol could be sold to the general public on Sundays.

The current government has pursued a programme of liberal legislation. In their current term of office, prostitution was decriminalised, the legal drinking age was lowered from 20 to 18, and in December 2004 civil union laws were passed, and then fully implemented on 26 April 2005. The reforms give legal recognition to lesbian and gay relationships, as well as providing heterosexual couples with an alternative to formal marriage. New Zealand also has one of the world's most liberal attitudes to the migration of gay couples.

Macho culture

New Zealand's history has been dominated by physical labour, and even where New Zealanders have excelled intellectually, there is often strong mechanical or physical component to their pursuits (e.g. engineering or rocket science.)

This has led to a 'strong, silent' culture which involves less discussion than just 'getting in and doing it.' Such attitudes have spilled into most aspects of New Zealand culture, with theoretical or spiritual pursuits taking up less of the nation's energy than driving cars and playing rugby.

While New Zealand men often take pride in being 'strong, silent types', this attitude may have a downside in contributing to New Zealand having one of the highest suicide rates among young males in the industrialised world. It could also be an example of semiotic mythology and thus exaggerated out of proportion.

Regionalism and parochialism

While small in comparison to Australia or the US, there are regional differences in New Zealand, either between the North Island and South Island, or increasingly, between Auckland and the rest of the country. Auckland is the largest city, and dominates New Zealand economically. The New Zealand Herald, despite its name, is the daily newspaper of Auckland and the surrounding region, not the national newspaper. Aucklanders (sometimes known as Jafas — Just Another F***ing Aucklander) dismiss anywhere 'south of the Bombay Hills', as backward, in much the same way as Londoners dismiss anywhere 'North of Watford', while people from the rest of New Zealand regard Aucklanders as self-centred, brash and crass, sharing many of the characteristics of Sydneysiders in Australia (Auckland, with its harbours, has been described as a 'Clayton's [i.e. ersatz] Sydney'). The popular saying "New Zealand stops at the Bombay Hills" is thus used equally no matter which side of the hills the speaker happens to live on or be referring to. The most identifiable form of provincial rivalry is rugby's National Provincial Championship (NPC), where the chief provincial rivalries are that of Otago and Cantebury, and Auckland and Wellington.

Anti-government attitudes

Following the experiences of the 1980s (1981 Springbok tour, Rogernomics) and 1990s (Ruthanasia, "User-pays") there is a profound distrust of politicians in New Zealand. A national survey of 'most trusted occupations' ranked politicians the least trustworthy, and New Zealanders do tend to monitor the credibility and performance of their elected officials, usually with a focus on what they do wrong rather than making sure they do well. Despite New Zealanders' lack of trust in politicians New Zealand is rated the second least corrupt nation in the world (Transparency International, 2004) . Public distrust of politicians also manifested itself clearly in two recent referenda, on 'Proportional Representation' and on 'Extending the Parliamentary Term'. In both cases the general public seemed to establish in their minds what the politicians wanted and then voted almost 90 per cent against it. The national media and blogosphere often presents harsh criticism of elected figures.

Apathy

In contrast to the above, many people are apathetic about local government issues, with turnout as low as 10% for local body election in 2004. Turnout for non-compulsory Central Government elections is normally above 80%.

"Fair go"

The attitude of "everybody deserves a fair go" seems to originate from the anti-class bias of 19th Century immigrants from the United Kingdom. This egalitarian ethic is the motivation behind much of the social liberalism and welfare legislation mentioned above.

Iconic characters

Arts

Due to the small population base and a lack of arts funding sources, many artists have struggled to sustain themselves economically, even though they may achieve popular success. For this reason many of New Zealand's best artists go overseas to further their careers, especially to Australia, but also to Europe or America. Arts funding is provided through a specific arts based government department, Creative New Zealand.

New Zealand, like many countries, imports much of its cultural material from overseas, particularly from Britain and the United States. Most successful Hollywood films screen on New Zealand cinema screens and many British and American television programmes are shown on New Zealand Television. It is somewhat ironic that some of these programmes are now made in New Zealand but reflect an overseas culture.

The film industry is becoming one of the country's major export enterprises, with several major motion pictures being filmed on New Zealand locations recently, including the highly acclaimed film adaptation of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" directed by the Kiwi Peter Jackson.

There are museums in many towns and cities that preserve the country's heritage. The country's national museum is Te Papa ('Our Place'), in Wellington. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage are national bodies that assist with such heritage preservation.

Godzone

God's Own Country, or Godzone, is generally accepted, by New Zealanders as an alternative name for New Zealand. God's Own Country was the title of a poem about New Zealand written by Thomas Bracken about 1890. (He also wrote God Defend New Zealand, which became the country's second national anthem). It was a favourite saying of Richard John Seddon, Premier of New Zealand for 13 years (1893-1906).

External links

Kiwi Ingenuity