How to Discover New Zealand's Culture?

I do not know how the Kiwis appreciate the fact we always associate their country to The Lord of the Rings trilogy? New Zealand, however, does not need these movies to stand apart!

One could be tempted to summarize New Zealand to a European and Maori melting pot. But that would ignore the large Asian community and many minorities from the Pacific.

All these influences are represented in the everyday life, but one must visit museums to fully understand the history and culture of the country.

Fortunately, the people of New Zealand have their own idea about the way a museum should be built. You can forget the austere galleries and replace them with large spaces where quality override quantity. The great Te Papa museum of Wellington perfectly illustrates this philosophy.

Wide alleys host modern presentations with many videos or educational attractions you can touch with your hands. Entrance is, of course, free (as often in New Zealand).

Trying to present the culture of an entire country in one article would be pretentious if not completely ridiculous. Kiwipal does not aim to replace Wikipedia. I will focus only on the emblematic aspects of the Kiwi culture. This living culture that you will encounter during your stay in the country (there are great chances for you to fall in love with it).

After a long decline, the Maori language is now spoken by only 4% of the population. But since a decade, the language is more and more popular at school, and even a television channel is now fully presented in Maori.

On the religious level, New Zealand has kept Christian values imported by early British settlers. Anglicans, Catholics and Presbyterians represent 38% of the population.

Atheism is on a par with Christianity, while the rest of the population observes Maori beliefs, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist.

All these religious communities live together in peace in New Zealand.

If you want to learn more about the New Zealanders, I invite you to read my article about the Kiwis. Maoris account for 14% of the population, and their culture is without a doubt the most interesting of the country.

Formerly the honor and prestige of the tribe had to be defended at all costs. The survival of the community required a constant struggle to control a land and its natural resources.

Speaking literally of a "warrior society" would probably be an exaggeration, but one must remember that Western settlers paid a heavy price in human lives before finding a middle ground with Maoris.

Being truly essential for the community, tribal houses Whare nui are sometimes open to visitors.

The most famous one is located in Waitangi, on the very same place where the treaty was signed that ended the hostilities with the British settlers.

I must confess that I'm not a big fan of the Maori shows which one can attend in the whole Rotorua region.

Exclusively targeting tourists, they allow visitors to discover the Hongi, the Hangi or the famous Haka before attending a dinner show.

But if you really appreciate the Haka of the AllBlacks, it is far better to discover its meaning by visiting the excellent museums of Auckland and Wellington instead.

Spectacular in its form, this ritual dance is supposed to deprive the adversary of his life force (the dance is even being taught at school!).

If you expect to leave the country with a Maori tattoo, you are lucky because the modern methods have now replaced the original ritual incision made with a bone!

Assuming you are interested getting a facial tattoo, please remember that it is not possible. A moko tattoo symbolizes a high rank within a tribe, and a Paheka like you (a foreigner) does not deserve the great privilege and honor to wear it.

There are still some community tensions in New Zealand, but if there is one area where Maori and Pahekas find themselves fully united, it is rugby!

Taught from primary schools up to university, rugby has thousands of teams and 600,000 adherents for a country of only 4.5 million inhabitants ...

One can say that this discipline is eminently suitable to the Polynesians people.

This is not the only sport that interests the Kiwis.

New Zealand is a country of sailors and it holds the record for the highest number of boats per inhabitant in the world.

When they are not busy watching a rugby match or gone fishing, some Kiwis are involved in a very special passion: extreme sports. The bungee jumping was inspired by an ancient custom of the Vanuatu islands. The Kiwis were the first to turn it into a tourist attraction. One must say that the New Zealand's law authorizes almost anything, as long as the participant sign a discharge.

To recover from strong emotions, nothing beats a good barbecue with friends.

More than just a cooking method, the barbie (BBQ's nickname in New Zealand) is primarily a lifestyle. Huge portions and friendly welcome can be expected even when it rains (remember that bad weather is never a valid excuse to cancel an invitation...).

As for the Hangi,, it is somehow the Maori barbecue. The food is cooked on a bed of coals covered with earth.

The city of Rotorua, which has the largest Maori community in the country will give you the opportunity to taste this local specialty.

People rarely lacks of space in New Zealand. This is why most houses rarely have more than one floor and often possess a garden for the weekend barbecues. The construction style, however, varies all along the country.

During the colonization era, Westerners hoped to recreate a vivid image of their motherland. The architects were largely inspired by a Victorian style popular at that time. The gold rush of the 1860s has given them the means to achieve their ambitions. But it was still necessary to deal with the earthquakes of the country! Many buildings of the North Island are constructed with Kauri Wood as prime material in order to withstand earthquakes.

The Chinese gardens that multiply in many cities illustrate the importance of the third wave of immigrants.

New Zealand has a cosmopolitan, open and tolerant society. These qualities being naturally present in the country's culture.

The Maori architecture, Wharenui painted with bright colours, are particularly photogenic and admired by tourists.

Gradually, Maori style influenced modern architecture and it's a safe bet that the revival of Christchurch will reflect this evolution. Meanwhile, the Kiwis have demonstrated originality by building a cardboard cathedral to replace the one destroyed by the great earthquake of 2011.

Before Peter Jackson's trilogies, Jane Campion had already won the Golden Palm at Cannes for her acclaimed “Piano Lesson”.

But still now, the film that has most strongly impressed people unquestionably remains “Once were warriors” by Lee Tamahori.

As I said in the introduction to this article, I will not list all the actors and writers from New Zealand.

The Kiwi literature began to be known abroad after having long been confined to novels by Katherine Mansfield. (this great author being often studied at school).

Speaking about music, there is a good chance you've never heard a single note from New Zealand.

Perhaps the names of the Chills or Verlaines from Dunedin will bring back memories to those who were teenagers in the 80s...

However, the music scene is well alive and strongly influenced by the cultures of the Pacific.

In a totally different register, soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a star widely known and appreciated by opera lovers. But the ancients Maoris had not waited for the colonization to prove their prodigious artistic talents. The carving techniques on wood and basketry had reached a level of incomparable finesse. Dances and ceremonies were also very impressive and still are nowadays!

Despite the success of their economic system and their numerous renowned artists, New Zealanders are somehow still complexed by several centuries of isolation.

The richness of their own culture always seems lower to them than those of other countries.

An artist or an athlete is often supposed to become successful abroad first, then only he will be recognized by his own.

This is why the All Blacks are considered as the ambassadors of the country and adulated by the entire population.

I must add a few words concerning the Kiwiana, this expression refers to emblematic objects, specific to New Zealand's popular culture..

Marmite (or Vegemite), Hokey Pokey... these are words that you have probably never heard in the rest of the world, but which have a great importance in the heart of every New Zealander.

In a country where one does not take itself seriously, the simple things are often the most popular. It's impossible not to admire such great people!