Story by Kaitlin Flanigan
Kiwiana Treasures

If you ever find yourself in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, go search for the hilltop called: “Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.”
Congratulations, you’ve just visited the place with the world’s longest name. At an impressive eighty-five letters long, the Maori name translates into “the summit of the hill, where Tamatea, who is known as the land eater, slid down, climbed up and swallowed mountains, played on his nose flute to his loved one.” This is just a taste of the quirkiness that envelops this island nation.
Take, for example, the giant bra fence that wraps along a country road in Central Otago on the South Island. Created in late 1999 by anonymous locals, the fence started out with four bras. But its popularity and the amount of bras hanging on the fence quickly snowballed, turning the site into a local, and then a national, oddity. By 2006, an estimated 800 bras had appeared on this controversial tourist attraction until that spring, when the government removed the bras because the fence was found to be on public property and was deemed a “traffic hazard” and an “eyesore” by complaining locals.
New Zealand’s animals also add to the country’s quirkiness. Less than five percent of the total population is human, which means that New Zealand boasts one of the highest animal-to-human ratios in the world. There are twenty sheep to every person in the country. Would it be an appropriate time to mention that the human population of New Zealand is more than four million people? This means that eighty million sheep call New Zealand home, and it should come as no surprise that wool is one of the nation’s biggest exports. The country is also home to the two-foot-long Kea, a bird with the habit of eating the strips of rubber around car windows. Another unusual bird is the Kiwi, which has adapted to life on the islands without wings. As a nickname, New Zealanders are also sometimes referred to as Kiwis.
Even some of the activities in New Zealand have their own interesting facts. New Zealanders coined the term “jogging.” University of Oregon’s former track coach Bill Bowerman brought the exercise concept back to the United States in 1962, after a visit to the island nation.
New Zealanders have a love affair with the water surrounding their country, and it’s little wonder why—the farthest a Kiwi can be from the coastline is eighty miles. The love of seafaring also extends to the citizens of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. There are three harbors filled with boats, which boosts the city’s nickname, “City of Sails.”
One may ask why New Zealand’s eccentricities are worthwhile, but the answer is simple: It’s the country’s charms and oddities that make the island nation so unique and fascinating to the rest of the world, attracting everyone from Hollywood executives to everyday travelers exploring the world.
Aotearoa: Home to the Maori
Arriving more than 1,000 years ago, Maori culture in New Zealand boasts a rich history that continues to this day. The culture of the ancient tribes still influences the everyday life of the islands, from various festivities to the language itself.
A current trend in New Zealand society is substituting Maori words for everyday vocabulary, from the word for non-indigenous New Zealanders (Pakeha) to the Maori-given name of New Zealand itself (Aotearoa). It is common to hear people greet one another with “Kia ora” (“Hello”) and part with “Hei konei ra” (“See you later”). In fact, the Maori language is officially recognized by the government.
The Maori also have other distinct aspects to their culture, such as the tattoos that adorn their bodies. Maori tattoos denote each member’s social rank and identity. These traditional tattoos are engraved into the skin with a bone chisel or some other instrument. Afterwards, ink consisting of dried powder is dipped into the wounds.
Another fascinating aspect of the Maori culture is the ceremonies, or kapa haka, that they perform. Although the kapa haka can take many different forms, it’s generally a group dancing and singing in sync. During this ceremony, the women sing or chant poems, while others perform the haka, a dance with fierce shouting and aggressive stomping.
The haka is associated with New Zealand most prominently by foreigners because it is performed pre-game by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. Traditionally, the Maori performed a haka before charging into battle. Following suit, the All Blacks, too, line up, shouting and stomping, giving their opponents one hell of a game face.
The Maori’s presence in New Zealand is immediate to newcomers of Aotearoa, leaving a lasting impression of cultural richness.
Vacation Capital of the World
Tucked away like a well-kept secret for many years, New Zealand is only starting to emerge as a popular destination for the adventurous. With geography ranging from towering mountains to secluded beaches, New Zealand attracts vacationing explorers from all over the world.
New Zealand consists of two main islands, called the North and South Island, along with numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island and Chatham Island. Weather on the main islands stretches from that of a wet maritime climate on the west coast of the South Island to the semi-arid climate of the Canterbury region, to the subtropical setting found on the North Island.
New Zealand is unique in that it offers something for everyone. If you want to hike along glaciers, climb up soaring mountain sides, or snowboard down the slopes, Mt. Cook on the South Island is the place to be.
In addition to its geographic diversity, New Zealand has another treasure: its unique biodiversity. Evolving from eons of isolation, New Zealand’s furry, scaly, and beaked occupants add to the country’s brilliance. The rulers of New Zealand’s animal kingdom are easily the abundance of bird species, since larger predatory animals are not native to the islands.
New Zealand is also home to the world’s only species of “living fossils,” the native tuatara is lizard-like reptile, whose closest living relative died out sixty-five million years ago. Although their origins may be prehistoric, but these reptiles can only grow about twenty-four centimeters in length—not very threatening to humans. But what it lacks in stature, it makes up for in longevity: the tuatara can live upwards of eighty years in the wild. No wonder it is such an ancient creature.
Other unique creatures on this island include the world’s heaviest insect, the weta, which can grow as large as a house mouse. To those afraid of the “creepy-crawlies,” relax, as there are no snakes native to the country. As for spiders, there is only one species that is potentially poisonous; only rarely is ever encountered. Overall, New Zealand is a country with unique traits that range from the general quirkiness that cover the country, to the special characteristics of the country contributed by its indigenous population, to the soaring mountains and sweeping hills of the land itself.

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