Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lished summer team sport, although not one in which the Kiwis are currently set-
ting the world alight.
If you truly want to discover the good, the bad and the ugly of the national
psyche, the sporting field isn't a bad place to start.
A Long Way from Britain
Most Kiwis (except perhaps the farmers) probably wish it rained a little less and they got
paid a little more, but it sometimes takes a few years travelling on their 'Big OE' (Over-
seas Experience - a traditional rite of passage) before they realise how good they've got
it. In a 2014 study of the quality of life in the world's major cities, Auckland was rated
third and Wellington 12th.
Despite all the change, key elements of the NZ identity are an unbroken thread, and
fortune is still a matter of economics rather than class. If you are served well in a restaur-
ant or shop, it will be out of politeness or pride in the job, rather than servility.
In country areas and on bush walks don't be surprised if you're given a cheery greet-
ing from passers-by, especially in the South Island. In a legacy of the British past, polite-
ness is generally regarded as one of the highest virtues. A 'please' and 'thank you' will
get you a long way. The three great exceptions to this rule are: a) on the road, where gen-
teel Dr Jekylls become raging Mr Hydes, especially if you have the misfortune of need-
ing to change lanes in Auckland; b) if you don't speak English very well; and c) if you
are Australian.
The latter two traits are the product of insularity and a smallness of world view that
tends to disappear among Kiwis who have travelled (and luckily many do). The
NZ-Australian rivalry is taken much more seriously on this side of the Tasman Sea. Al-
though it's very unlikely that Kiwis will be rude outright, visiting Aussies must get pretty
sick of the constant ribbing, much of it surprisingly ill-humoured. It's a sad truth that
while most Australians would cheer on a NZ sports team if they were playing anyone
other than their own, the opposite is true in NZ.
NZ is defined as a state in the Australian constitution. At the time of Australia's federa-
tion into one country it was hoped that NZ would join. On this side of the Tasman that
idea proved as unpopular then as it does now.
