Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What Makes Kiwis Tick?
While NZ is a proud little nation, Kiwis traditionally don't have time for show-offs. Jingo-
istic flag-waving is generally frowned upon. People who make an impression on the inter-
national stage are respected and admired, but flashy tall poppies have traditionally had their
heads lopped off. This is perhaps a legacy of NZ's early egalitarian ideals - the ones that
sought to avoid the worst injustices of the 'mother country' (Britain) by breaking up large
land holdings and enthusiastically adopting a 'cradle to grave' welfare state. 'Just because
someone's got a bigger car than me, or bigger guns, doesn't make them better' is the gener-
al Kiwi attitude.
NZ has rarely let its size get in the way of making a point on the international stage. A
founding member of the League of Nations (the precursor to the UN), it ruffled feathers
between the world wars by failing to blindly follow Britain's position. It was in the 1980s,
however, when things got really interesting.
People born in other countries make up 23% of NZ residents. Of these, the main regions of origin are the
UK and Ireland (29%), the Pacific Islands (15%), Northeast Asia (15%) and Australia (7%).
 
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