Culture, Society and People

New Zealanders draw pride in their nation from things such as the physical beauty of the country, the national character of its people and of course New Zealand's sporting prowess.

New Zealand people pride themselves on their quiet individualism, a quirky sense of humour, as well as resourcefulness and ingenuity. This individualism was evident in world politics when New Zealand resisted international pressure from its allies and in declared itself to be 100% nuclear free (in the mid 1980's), which it still is. Because of the strong egalitarian views held by the population, a notion of loyalty to friends - or mateship - is considered an important social value. These character traits are celebrated throughout New Zealand culture.

The group of people who are considered the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand are the Maori who arrived in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. Although the Maori have fared much better than the Aborigines in Australia, there is still some points of contention between them and the Pakeha (descendants of European settlers).

Pakeha settlers were originally from Great Britain and other parts of Northern Europe. However since then, peoples from all over the world, largely from the Pacific Islands and Asia, have joined descendants of these early settlers. This immigration has given New Zealand a rich and diverse society.

Central to New Zealand law and culture is the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty is the founding document of New Zealand signed between the British Crown and the Maori Chiefs in 1840. By this treaty, Maori ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria (Queen of England) in exchange for granting to the Maori people the same citizenship rights as those enjoyed by the citizens of England. Unfortunately the Maori translation differs widely in interpretation from the English version. The resultant has caused significant problems. The grounds and the house where the treaty was signed are open to the public at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands which is well worth a visit.

In the 1970's the Treaty began to be re-examined as a result of Maori pressure, and since this time there have been a number of claims by Maori tribes that have been reconciled. However there are a number of ongoing grievances regarding rights to land and sea.

Even though it is unable to compete with the big budgets of overseas productions, New Zealand has a vibrant film industry. Some of its most famous productions in recent years are: The Piano (the beach scenes were shot on Auckland's west coast beaches), Heavenly Creatures (Kate Winslet's first starring role), Once Were Warriors (a harsh story of modern Maori life) and the internationally acclaimed Whale Rider (a story of a young girl who fights to fulfil her destiny, set in a small coastal village). Also filmed in New Zealand by Peter Jackson is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy while The Last Samurai, was filmed in Taranaki.

New Zealand has a strong and unique music industry. Live performances from popular local bands are very common over the summer months as many bands choose to tour the popular vacation areas. May every year is New Zealand Music Month when all forms of New Zealand music is celebrated. Listen to gig guides on local radio stations, ads in local bars and nightclubs, newspapers and magazines to find out who is playing where and when.

"Yeah, nah" is an answer to any question.