Kia Ora bloggers. This is a special welcome to on-line travellers on the Blog Around the World flight to New Zealand. Hope that you’re not to jet lagged getting here. Haere Mai (Welcome) to the home of the Domestic Executive.
It feels a little strange be giving you a tour of New Zealand since I’m still a newbie and learning about the place myself. Nevertheless I don’t want to let Debbie down who has set up this special tour so if you’re sitting comfortably I’ll begin.
Here in New Zealand we are on the edge of the world. If the world were flat you’d be about to tip over the edge but you don’t need to worry since the world as we know is round. The nearest place to New Zealand is over three hours plane ride away and you can take your pick whether you head left over the ditch (the Tasman Sea) to Australia or head north to check out one of the many many beautiful pacific islands. Or if you’re really adventurous you can head to the south pole. But let’s assume you’ve decided to stay put and check out what’s here on the edge of the world.
First up let’s get your bearings.
As you can see New Zealand has two main island (considerately called North Island and South Island) and some smaller ones (Chatham Island and Stewart Island). There are four metropolitan centres – Auckland (the business hub), Wellington (the Capital and I live about 50km north), Christchurch (known as the garden city) and Dunedin (known for it’s rain and cold, oh and the similarities to Edinburgh, Scotland). Outside of the main four cities there are lots and lots of other places that are best described as provincial towns or, well let’s just say, countryside and lots and lots of sheep.
OK, got the lie of the land? Let’s get some perspective.
New Zealand is about the size of the United Kingdom which has a population of over 50 million. Here in New Zealand there are about 4, yes that’s four, million people. It’s fair to say there is plenty of room over here. Even more than that, there’s really loads of room in the South Island as most people live in the North Island with a third of New Zealand’s total population living in Auckland.
The overwhelming thing about New Zealand is it’s natural beauty. There is every sort of natural phenomena you could think of here – volcanoes, mountains, lakes, beaches and countryside. The indigenous people, Maori, give it a depth of pacific culture that is magical. The natural fauna, flora and wildlife is unparalleled.
It’s hard to capture the sense of New Zealand’s beauty in this post so best you check out this video produce to promote New Zealand as tourist destination. Although this a promotional video it definitely shows off the best bits of what you can see if you come for real to New Zealand.
Now you’ve seen the official tourist promo, you might be wondering what it’s like to live on the edge of the world. Here’s some reflections from a immigrant’s point of view.
- Isolation – there is no doubt the isolation from the rest of the world means that there are only a small number of people brave enough to be so far away from anywhere. It also means there is no critical mass in the population. As a result the sorts of commerce, media and employment opportunities you come to expect elsewhere in the world are simply not possible here in New Zealand. It also brings a level of parochialism (especially in politics) that is at times detrimental to the success of New Zealand in a globalised world. But the fact that we are so far away from anywhere else means that people aren’t rushing here in droves so that leaves more space and peace for those of us that do live here. Oh, and we’re a long way from anywhere for anyone to start a war with us.
- People – New Zealand is by it’s very nature a land of immigrants and multi-cultural in that respect. History tells us though that the European settlers did much to keep the Maori in their place despite the Treaty of Waitangi (NZ’s founding document). The result of this is that the Pakeha (white settlers and now New Zealanders) have dominated New Zealand’s development and Maori tend to be poorer, less well educated and socially deprived. Much effort in recent years to recognise this but there is still a long long way to go. I have found the Maori culture and history fascinating yet sometimes intimidating as it is nothing like I have ever experienced before. Immigration has brought people from all over the globe to live here – British, South Africans, Asians, Americans and Canadians tend to dominate.
- Psyche – New Zealanders are by nature friendly people (cliche but true). They are practical, give it a go type people. They certainly like to make do and mend (it’s called the 8 wire mentality ). Some may say a little unsophisticated and backward. I like to think that it’s just new world charm.   There is something however about the New Zealand psyche that does hold the country back – they call it the tall poppy syndrome. Generally speaking kiwis don’t like tall poppies – people who stand out in the crowd, make a noise and lead the way. There are however entrepreneurs, innovators and darn right adventurous people although I think that they are the exception rather than the rule. New Zealanders like to do things their way – the kiwi way. Sport and Art are some of the areas where Kiwis are starting to forge their place in the world (we did so well at the Olympics given our size of country) and things like WoW are really making a name for us internationally.
- Lifestylers – although there are many, many people who work hard, get stressed and burn out. It’s fair to say that New Zealanders are people that prioritise their lifestyle over work. There is a strong emphasise on family and anyone with kids will spend Saturday mornings ferrying their kids around the sports engagements. Being able to live a more laid back lifestyle is certainly one of the driving forces for people moving to New Zealand. Kids can still grow up as kids here. Also more and more people are seeking a life in the country where they can get back to nature and more sustainable living – there is plenty of opportunity to do that here.
- Dark and dirty – for all the positives in New Zealand it is not without it’s social problems. Poverty, family violence, child mortality, youth crime, gangs and drugs (especially P) are some of the worst in the developed world. Proportionate to the population the statistics are horrific. Driving standards here are atrocious (you can start to drive at 15) and road kill rates are shocking. These are the dark and dirty parts of New Zealand’s public image that is largely hidden from the rest of the world.  I worked for over a year for the Ministry of Social Development and was sickened (literally) with some of the child abuse cases we handled. There is much that New Zealand still needs to do to pull itself up by the boot straps to address these social issues. Oh, also New Zealand’s clean and green image is a thin veneer. I have found environmental standards and practices that are commonplace elsewhere in the world lacking here in New Zealand but were waking up to global warming much like most of the rest of the world.
For me New Zealand has been my saviour. I’ve loved it from the moment I first came to visited about 10 years ago. After emigrating here in 2006, I’ve been able to realise my dream of living in the country and getting a life which isn’t all about work. For that I have to thank New Zealand for. Here’s my top 10 things I love about New Zealand.
1. The natural beauty – the sky, the sea, the land, the birds, the bees the sheer rawness of it all. If you have around 3 months to spare you can get yourself a camper van and tour the whole of New Zealand and see it for yourself. If you can’t do this you can check out some of the cool places I’ve been to. See this post. Or maybe this post. And if you still have a taste for it, this post.
2. Kiwi sporting pride – how a nation can get behind it’s national sport, Rugby. Not just the national obsession for the All Blacks playing but the haka which is performed before each national match. If you’ve never heard the kiwi national anthem or seen a haka watch this. It gives me goose bumps when I watch it.
3. Food and drink – there is a wonderful wine industry here in New Zealand. Martinborough our local wine region is around 45 minutes drive from our house and between you and me would have been my first choice to live but the fact there is a mountain range makes it a little too challenging to commute to Wellington from there. The coffee, morning tea and afternoon tea culture here in New Zealand would have you think that the kiwis were hungry all the time. I think it’s more that kiwis are a social bunch so prefer to conduct business over a latte, sausage roll or scone.
4. Lord of the Rings – the star of these movies was really New Zealand. The landscapes and the industry, fondly called Wellywood, was much of a phenomena as the Tolkien story itself. I’m still looking for hobbiton although I have found the forest which is just up the road from where I live.
5. Kiwi bank – this is a nationally owned and run bank. It’s advertising campaign so sums up the kiwi psyche and it makes me laugh out loud every time. Enjoy!
6. Earth moves – the earth moves for us here in New Zealand on a regular occasion. Yes we’re one of the most vocanically active places in the world. Living through an earthquake for the first time is really very wierd but you get used to it and maybe even come to enjoy them. However, the big one is due any time now so let’s hope it’s not to close to Wellington. You can see all the recent earthquakes here. The last one I felt was Sunday this week.
7. “Good as gold” – this and other kiwi colloquialisms make me laugh all the time. You can check out a full list here.
8. First for sun – we’re the first place in the world to see the sun rise. The thing to keep in mind about New Zealand is that it’s a cold place with a hot sun. This means when the sun sets the chill sets in. Our isolation also means we get wild winds and weather from the south pole. Wellington has little protection from this and is affectionately known as windy wellington. Here’s what it’s like to take off and land here. Hope you didn’t have this problem when you arrived here today.
9. Liberal and independent thinking – New Zealand was the first place in the world to give women the vote (yeh New Zealand!) and we curently have a woman prime minister, Helen Clarke. It is anti nuclear, was anti apartheid and took a stand against the war in Iraq. Once New Zealand takes a stand on something it’s like a dog with a bone. They are however quite liberal with their immigration policy if you have the right skills (or lots of money) and want to share their place with people seeking their own place in the world.
10. Home builders delight – self building in New Zealand is a big thing. You buy a piece of land (a section) and build your house of your dreams. There are few of the typical residential developments you get in the UK and more individual styles. Certainly we could never have built our grand design if we’d stayed in the UK. Firstly there isn’t the land available at a price we could of afforded and the costs of building together with the planning regulations make it a challenge few people tackle. We’re delighted with the place we have built which is a colonial style house with all the mod cons.
It’s impossible to do justice to New Zealand in this post but the beauty of the Internet is that you don’t need to duplicate what has been written else where. Here’s where you can find out more.
It’s been a pleasure to share my view of New Zealand but I know as soon as I publish this post I’ll think of heaps and heaps more that I know I should have told you. I look forward to hearing what you think.
Do stay and have a look around Domestic Executive HQ, you’re most welcome. I’ll be serving Afternoon Tea at 3pm so “bring a plate” (that’s another kiwism which means bring something to eat!).
For more about:
Take care and enjoy the ride back home!  E noho ra.
What a beautiful place to live! I loved all the scenery and the description. But that Maori warrior scared me just a little. I love your blog and I’m going to read some more of your posts. (visiting from Los Angeles, CA)
Great post !! Makes me really homesick. Enjoy your BATW day 🙂
Thanks for sharing so much about NZ. I loved hearing about it and seeing the videos… the plane one made me nervous to visit! I would love to visit some day! Thanks!!
thank you so much for all of that information about new zealand. it makes me want to go down there for a vacation. i worked with a few travel nurses from new zealand and they are just genuinely kind people.
Fantastic summary! ‘Good on ya mate!’ I can imagine this post must have taken some quality time and it’s a brilliant read covering all the main subjects. You deserve a well-earned rest and a cup of fine English tea! 🙂 Sarah x
Thanks all for popping by so far. It’s been an exciting day and a tough assignment. How to give people a glimpse of New Zealand – easier said than done. I’m taking Sarah’s suggestion and taking a well earned rest but I’m taking a fine New Zealand Pinot noir instead of a good ol’ cup of gumboot.
Looking foward to more blog crack when I check back in the morning. Nite nite for now.
JT
Excellent post with plenty of information. I’m getting such itchy feet. Loved revisiting the youtube clips. The NZ tourist authority are showing some new short ads on tv which only add to the frustration. Roll on next year.
Wow, what a fascinating and educational post! I have always heard the scenery is gorgeous there but never knew much of anything else about it. Loved the haka video, it is much like the one that the University of Hawaii football team here does before each game. They adopted it from the Maoris. Thanks for sharing!
Hi from Arkansas!
What a wonderful tour!! Makes me want to go on vacation.
What a cool tour! I would be the nerd in the back of the group for the tour looking for hobbits.
Wow!! What a great post about New Zealand. I feel like I have really been there now!! I hope you enjoy blogging as much as I have. I’m from Texas and BATW!!
YAY for NZ!! I went there for a few weeks 12 years ago and LOVED it!! I was in New Plymouth. Congrats on being BATW of the day! I am from Tennessee.
Hi Julie! I will come back a little later today when I have more time to read. All I can say is thank you. It looks like you put a lot of thought and effort into this and I am very grateful. I can’t wait to read it!
This was FABULOUS! I really enjoyed reading, and learned so much. I’ve wanted to travel to NZ ever since the LOTR movies (and you are so correct–NZ was indeed the star of these films!) and you have convinced me that I must start planning a trip very soon.
You’re an awesome tour guide!
WOW! That really doesn’t put it into words, but that’s all I could come up with. I’m totally visiting NZ when I pull together a quarter of a million to travel there. It certainly doesn’t lack in the beauty department. And the haka? If I were the other team, I probably would have peed my pants after watching them do that. I got goose bumps too and they were just on my computer screen. Great job!
Sending Hugs from Louisiana!
NZ is high up on my “to visit” list. I never really thought about how the geography would affect so much, but it makes sense. Thanks for the warm welcome!
Great tour! You really put a lot of work into this post, and it was well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. That haka was really something to see! And the trouble those pilots had landing makes me glad I didn’t fly to visit you today :o) I also enjoyed the links to the posts of pictures .. just lovely!
Enjoy your day, and thanks for having us! :o)
Greetings from Wisconsin, USA:-) Congratulations on your BATW feature. I hope that you are enjoying your day in the sun:-) Thanks for that wonderful and comphrensive tour of New Zealand:-)
Wow, you know, I’ve always wanted to visit NZ, but I never really knew that much about it. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Oh, and when you find hobbiton, be sure to post pictures 😉
What a wonderful tour guide you are! I have wanted to visit New Zealand since I was a pre-teen and a missionary visited our church to share his pictures and experiences there. Now my husband has a colleague who spends part of his year there, and I am even more intrigued. Thank you for sharing so much of your home with us!
Thank you so much for the education. I so enjoyed learning about your beautiful country.
Hello from New Orleans, Louisisna! Great post! New Zealand looks SO beautiful! It has certainly been on my list of places I want to travel to. Thanks for all the great info. =)
Those are definitely some things that I wouldn’t have thought about with NZ – the South Pole proximity, who lives there and why, the social fabric, etc. I did some research on the Maori when I was in college and was truly fascinated by them.
thankyou for the tour. I have always wanted to go to New Zealand!
Nice place you live in! I will be back on a regular basis!
Happy BATW day!
Hi there! Greetings from Ms. Oklahoma!! New Zealand…how absolutely beautiful! You did an awesome job on your post! Would love to travel there some day…except I’m a little scared of some of the spiders you have??? I think it’s NZ…maybe it was Australia. Anyway, beautiful! Enjoy your day in the spotlight and nice to meet ya!
WOW!!! That was incredible information! Thanks so much for sharing!
It does sound like a beautiful place!!!!!
What an interesting place! Loving the haka.
I wish that we could find a big beautiful piece of property and build the house of our dreams.
Enjoy making your dreams come true in NZ.
Congratulations on your feature. Your house is so beautiful and unique! Love it!!
Wow! Lots of interesting info. Thanks. Enjoy your BATW visitors today.
Happy BATW day!! You did an amazing tour!! That was definitely an awesome little vacation for me 😉
Thanks so much for the amazing, informative tour of your beautiful land!!
Visiting from SoCal via BATW, Susan
Wow! What an awesome tour! I would love to come and visit. What a journey you are on! I hope you enjoy your BATW day – I’m stopping in from Nebraska!
Greetings from Georgia by way of BATW. Congrats on your day in the spotlight. New Zealand does sound like a wonderful place. And I like your title picture, Very beautiful home. I like places that have mountains and beach too. That is my kind of place. Have a great day.
Amy 😉
Hobbiton, it’s on the Alexander farm just out of Matamata. I used to live in Matamata and was excited to see it on the big screen.
I spent about 23 years living in Wellington. Some of the scenes were filmed on Mt Victoria, where I used to walk and bike and around the Wellington area, again all places that I’m familiar with. gave me a big kick when I was sitting in a movie theater in Reno and watching all these places I knew so well, appearing on the screen…
Hello from Idaho. Who knew New Zealand was windy? I had no idea. Those plane landings look a bit scary. But the place is so beautiful I hope to someday brave the treacherous plane ride and come visit. Thanks for sharing. Loved the videos.
Gorgeous! Such a great tour! NZ is now on my wish list of places to visit!!
Greeting from Colorado & BATW!
Wow…thanks for the tour…beautiful!
wow! N. Zealand…it is on my list of places to actually travle to. My husband and I are big fans of the PBS shoe Globe Trekker and my utmost favorite episode if the one where they go to N. Zealand and the traveler hikes the Milford Track—I sooooo want to do that one day (and actually pay for a room with a shower!)
i know some people from n. Zealand and they are natives and tell me that N. Zealand is loosing is “nativness” that there are so many transplants from other countries (i think I was told mostly Asian) that it isn’t truly New Zealand any more. What do you think? (besides that, I still want to come and check out the scenery!)
thanks for the tour…that is seriously a LOT of info!
Wow! Excellent post, very well written. I would love to come and visit New Zealand someday. Loved all the info!
I love all of the detail you put into your post, it’s fascinating. One of my good friends recently went there on her honeymoon. It’s made me want to visit. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia because I have an aunt from there, but New Zealand is quickly making it’s way up towards the top of my list.
I have a question though. Are the Kiwis appalled at their child abuse rate, driving death rate, etc? or do they just accept it as a way of life?
Wow! It’s so nice to meet you. I have learned so much about a country my hubby and I so badly want to visit. How could we possibly choose where and what we would want to see while there? It’s all lovely. Heck, I think I want to move there.
Congrats on your day in the spotlight. I have really enjoyed reading your post.
I clicked on a few of your links and wow! I learned a lot! Thanks for the tour! Greetings from California!
Hey there! Thanks so much for the tour. I’ve been over to your side of the world before, but never to New Zealand. Think I need to get over there, don’t you? Hosting a Recipe Week this week, so if you’re hungry, stop by! Isn’t BATW wonderful?
Beautiful! Absolutely stunning landscapes.
My boys dressed in Maori facepaint (or the closest we could do here in *iowa* with info from Google!) and still remember that part of world history as one of their fondest days.
Thanks for the tour. 🙂
Great post! Thanks for all the wonderful information!
WOW!!! Now I need to add NZ to my some day travel list! You did a great job and showed so many great things. Thanks for taking the time to do this and show us a great glimps of NZ. I am visiting from BATW and Illinois. I am a little jet lagged now, so I need to go take a nap!
Thanks for letting us visit!
Happy BATW. Thanks for your informative and lovely post on your adopted homeland. The land of The First for Sun is a place to travel to one day. Take care.
Thanks for all the information about NZ, now I really want to come for a visit.