NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, somewhat inspired by the thread about the Australian national identity, I decided that it was time for a thread about the land of milk and sheep.

So what do you think that New Zealand's national identity is, if we have one?

Well, somewhat inspired by the thread about the Australian national identity, I decided that it was time for a thread about the land of milk and sheep.

So what do you think that New Zealand's national identity is, if we have one?

If you don't know, then how would the rest of us?
:p

Australia's little brother, and the place where Lord of the Rings was filmed.

Hobbits live in NZ.

Underdeveloped, sheep and other free-range agriculture, Cooke, hobbits.

Well, somewhat inspired by the thread about the Australian national identity, I decided that it was time for a thread about the land of milk and sheep.

So what do you think that New Zealand's national identity is, if we have one?

Kiwis, lambs, and gorgeous gorgeous landscapes
Fun people
:)

Sheep
Strange accents, sometimes you have to think about it to understand what the kiwis are saying
As Mirkana said Australia's strange and sometimes jealous little brother.

Some positives
Oysters
Cab Sav
Some good scenery (Milford Sound)

Edit: Oh yeah and a poor cricket team

As I stated in the Australia thread of the same theme, NZ is Australia's mini-me clone. Everything is the same except the country is much smaller.

the place where Lord of the Rings was filmed.

we keep trying to lose you but we not having luck at it

fun loving outdoorsmen

pre-2007, I'd have said this:
http://folksong.org.nz/howlucky/fred.jpg
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=AYvMeT2GC14

but now I'm leaning more towards this:
http://pumpsandgloss.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/flight_of_the_conchords2-bio.jpg

Their accents actually sound pretty similar to Afrikaner.

Their accents actually sound pretty similar to Afrikaner.
Only if you've never heard either.

The crazy folk who decided jumping off heights with a rope is a sport.

Only if you've never heard either.

I've heard both.

I've heard both.
rarely twould appear for you to make such a comment. Guess you think Ocker and Kiwi sound the same too, eh?

Australia's Canada.

Large men in tight shorts.

And sheep.

milk and sheep.
milk and sheep.

Who?

I am having trouble seeing, what with the wool being pulled over my eyes and all.

When I think of NZ I think of cow flatulence, there's a flatulence tax on cows in NZ, and sheep shagging.

Rather outlandish.

New Zealand Next Hollywood

Once Were Warriors remains one of the most disturbing films I've seen,

I see NZ as a mixture between extraordinary landscape and then fairly tawdry cities.

The people also tend to divide between simply big people, whether native or European, and then weird little emos.

So I guess it's a land of contrast for me.

Also, their way of converting every vowel into an 'i' is odd, it's like they're forcing it sometimes.

Once Were Warriors remains one of the most disturbing films I've seen.
Where I used to teach, it was viewed as a comedy by most of the kids. In truth it was closer to a documentary of them than anything else.

Also, their way of converting every vowel into an 'i' is odd, it's like they're forcing it sometimes.
We do that just for the benefit of tourists. In reality we all talk with very posh, BBC accents when no-one else is around.

Never been there myself but my cousins description was a land that time forgot.

We do that just for the benefit of tourists. In reality we all talk with very posh, BBC accents when no-one else is around.

Indeed, like this (http://danmiller.typepad.com/dan_millers_notebook/images/2007/12/07/14614783_2.jpg)

NZ: A place I'd love to visit....but will never have the money to go :p

As I stated in the Australia thread of the same theme, NZ is Australia's mini-me clone. Everything is the same except the country is much smaller.

This was the first thing that came to mind, really. No offense but New Zealand seems kinda like a poor man's Australia, y'know?

er... sheep. And pretty.

And a bloody long way away.

Over friendly towards their ovine livestock. ;)

I haven't been to NZ (except for sitting in the bar at Auckland airport en route to LA), but I've met plenty of Kiwis.

For the most part they're very nice, friendly people. They seem to have an intense rivalry with Australia, which I don't think is nearly as strong on our behalf (or maybe it is in NSW & Qld where they play rugby, but not where I live). Their accent makes me laugh. The countryside has a reputation for being very clean, green & beautiful. There are definitely some cultural similarities between NZ & Aus, but we're also quite different. The geography is very different to Aus, with their own unique plants & animals.

So what do you think that New Zealand's national identity is, if we have one?

I wrote my Master's degree on that topic. (Well, some aspects of that topic, not the whole issue.) A little under 200 pages. Would you like me to paste it here? :D

The crazy folk who decided jumping off heights with a rope is a sport.

Bungee jumping was actually invented in Vanuatu. But not as a sport.

You don't have one.
If you did you would know.

WOOHOO proud kiwi! Born and raised in NZ.
Well we have the kiwi fruit and the kiwi bird (the small flightless native bird)
Our female primeminister Helen Clark looks and sounds like a guy hahaha
the sky tower in Auckland and the Beehive parliament in Wellington
Waitomo caves are great! Awsome hills, mountains and bush and no poisonous animals except the white tail which was actually australian GRRR and the katipo is the only native poisonous animal.

The South Island is the underdeveloped area haha no offence to south islanders but they are the really old area with christchurch and lots of farm area however the NORTH ISLAND is where civilization is haha. Although the southisland has better landscape then the north.

Also in the very far south especially around Gore they sound very funny haha
and we have the Maori Culture with the HAKA!

We only have 4 million people and auckland our largest city has a quarter of that population hahaha. Wellington is our capital though.

Damn i love my country! oh and I'd say the australians are the ones jelous of us actually! hahaha. I've been to australia and yeah it was fine but its no New Zealand i'll never live in another country haha

And if you ever have the chance TRAVEL TO NEW ZEALAND!

oh and one more thing we have a city called rotorua with natural hot springs and mud pools and it actually smells like crap and rotten eggs haha but after 30 minutes you sorta get use to it :P

Nothing really. Sheep maybe?
You guys should be part of Australia anyway. :p

New Zealanders are like Bulgarians, minus all that oil wealth. You know what I mean.

I wrote my Master's degree on that topic. (Well, some aspects of that topic, not the whole issue.) A little under 200 pages. Would you like me to paste it here? :D

Just put it in your sig so all can read every time you post.

Underdeveloped? its not like we're third world...

Hobbitses.

Chokers :p

Not forgetting one of the greatest literary creations of all time
http://www.toydreamer.com.au/images/largefootrot.jpg

Has anyone mentioned sheep yet?

great! we're sheep shagging backwater hobbits!

How do New Zealanders find sheep in long grass.

More than comfortable thanks.

great! we're sheep shagging backwater hobbits!

I wouldn't worry about that. Having people struggle to say things about your country is infinitely better than everyone hating you because of the things your nation has done.

I admit I don't know as much about NZ as I should (same goes for Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Indonesia and a host of small island nations), though I do wonder why so many people dislike Aucklanders.

Picturesque. But for films. Cinematesque?

I've only been to visit, but for a vacation it was very nice.

Flight of the Conchords.
Kiwi fruit.
Kiwi bird.
Butter.
LotR.
Braindead.
Rugby.

In that order.

WOOHOO proud kiwi! *snip* Damn i love my country! oh and I'd say the australians are the ones jelous of us actually! hahaha.

Nope, sorry. I'm definitely not jealous of NZ. Nor are the other Aussies I know.

Nope, sorry. I'm definitely not jealous of NZ. Nor are the other Aussies I know.

I think it is more the other way round.

I hear the Kiwis are still fuming over a certain cricket game, which btw we won fair and square.