Maui is the superhero in many Maori legends. The South island is his Waka (canoe) Stewart Island is his anchor; and the North Island is the giant fish he pulled up from the sea.

There are 11 times more sheep in NZ than people. “Kia ora” literally means “have life” in Maori. But we use it for hi and sometimes goodbye. “Turituri” means “be quiet” and is often used in the classroom. One in 5 Kiwis are born overseas, in a different country.

The Maori were the first people to use trench warfare. They were outnumbered and out-weaponed by the British, but won many battles by outsmarting them. So the British had to lie to the press back home to feel better! NZ has 3 climate zones – desert, rainforest and alpine.

There were actually many Treaty of Waitangis put around the country and the translations into Maori were bad too, so we have some problems today in interpreting it. It was supposed to grant equal rights but was forgotten about for a long time and a lot eaten by rats. The Maori version is the valid one according to International law. Missionaries were the ones who developed the written Maori language.

A “hangi” is a traditional meal of meat, potatoes, kumara and other vegetables cooked under the ground to produce a strong flavour. The Maori were said to have come to NZ in 7 waka, from a mythical land called Hawaiki. There were Mori Ori in the Chatham islands, before the Maori but no one is sure why they disappered.

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There have been 2 significant earthquakes in NZ and they were the Napier earthquake in 1931 and the Edgecumbe earthquake in 1987… the only information I could find on and earthquake in 1993 is this http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/Site/publish/Journals/nzjgg/1998/17.aspx this might be helpful too http://www.mtaspiring.school.nz/Tephra/ThewhereandwhenofNZearthquakes.html but basically I don’t recall any major earthquake that caused any major damage to any part of the country in 1993 (however we do experience 200 earthquakes a year (thats news to me!) most are too small to be felt)

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Hi

Yes New Zealand has postal codes and has done for some time. However, they have not been used to any great extent. Recently, the post office overhauled the whole system and introduced a far more comprehensive set of postal codes.

They are actively encouraging their usage so that they can make the whole delivery system more efficient. Don’t worry about not putting a postal code on your card/letter. As long as the address is accurate it will be delivered without the code.

There is a website where you can get the correct code if you really want it. It is: New Zealand Postal Codes.

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Many tell me that there are lots of jobs available in New Zealand because the country is experiencing a huge brain drain due to the fact that the New Zealand youth sponge all the education they can get off the state, and when they’re finished, clear off to Australia and work over there, because the jobs are so low paid in New Zealand.

I’m told if you are able to get a good paying job in New Zealand, you can live like a king. However, I’m informed most jobs in high demand in New Zealand (ie Nursing), are very pooring paid and people struggle to make ends meet on the pay – and thus go to Australia in search of better prospects.

I was suprised at this, but I was told that per capita, New Zealand has a crime rate on par with Australia, which is strange for a country of 4 million I don’t really know much about New Zealand as of yet, but from what I’ve been told, it seems as if a lot of the New Zealand youth are very dissatisfied with New Zealand, and see Australia as the “land of opportunitiy”.

Due to the fact that a majority of New Zealanders live in Auckland, many sentiments voiced by people reflect Auckland realities of living. It is true that Auckland has high prices and high crime rates, and it is also true that vast numbers of Kiwis follow the lure of a warmer climate and higher income in Australia.

What this perspective does not take into account though is life in parts of New Zealand that aren’t like Auckland – which means, the vast majority of the country in terms of area. I live in Otago, on the South Island.

I am a lecturer and my wife is a nurse. We earn similar salaries to what we would be earning in Auckland, but real estate prices are a joke where we are by comparison, and we are finding life here nothing short of paradise.

We’ve come to New Zealand from England, and have previously lived in Britain, Canada, Germany, the US, and France. I find it hard to imagine a better place than NZ, know in fact that it probably can’t be found.

Keep in mind that Australia’s advantages also come at a price – high salaries usually attract high pricing, and I have colleagues who have returned to New Zealand from Australia to settle because they perceived NZ to be much more serene and liberal. We’ll be here for good.

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For example: Cat Pee on a Gooseberry Bush from New Zealand is so named because cat pee and gooseberry are sometimes noted in the bouquet of a Sauvignon Blanc.

Old wives tales: Shiraz and Syrah are different wines.

White Zin comes from white zin grapes but red zin comes from red zin grapes.

Myths: You get what you pay for in wine. $150 bottles are worth every penny. “Oh, I can tell the difference for sure!” –Yeah, right. Cork taint comes from air. All wines need to “breathe”. Bottles with screw caps must be crap. Stumped on interesting trivia right now. If I think of something I’ll get back to you.

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I am looking to travel to New Zealand next year with my girlfriend. I have been doing some research and it would seem that the fact that I have been convicted and served time within the last 10 years means that I am not entitled to live or even visit there. I am just wondering if there are any exemptions from this, or if she would be able to sponsor me?

If you’ve had a custodial sentence of more than 12 months within the last 10 years, you won’t pass the NZ character requirements. They are detailed in Section 7(1) of the Immigration Act and immigration officials have no discretionary powers relating to the requirements. You will be most unlikely to be able to find any way around the problem.

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Thanks

Link: http://www.gns.cri.nz/what/earthact/volcanoes/nzvolcanoes/ruabookprint.htm

Here are some interesting facts to include:

1) That there is a lake in the crater and how big the lake is.

2) When the last time was that it erupted.

3) When each cone was formed.

4) What kind of volcanic rock it is made of.

5) How volcanoes erupt in different ways – how a volcano “works”

6) Why volcanoes exist in the first place.

7) Why volcanoes are only in certain places and are not everywhere.

Things like that. Hope that helps!

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Is it because girls like Australians more? or something to do with the fact that Australia always beats New Zealand at rugby, when most Australians play AFL or rugby league?

I’m confused! A friend of mine said it’s because girls always go for Australians more. Is this true?

I just asked all my Kiwi mates watching TV at my house do they hate us Aussie’s all of them said in unison ‘no’. So it must be a sports thing. Whats ironic my gf is a Kiwi too.

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Like the history?? Major historical events that occurred there? Historical facts of famous ppl from there?? and some important landmarkers ??

European History: Settlement of the Wellington region by Europeans began between 1839 and 1840. Settlers originally established themselves in what is now know as Petone (pronouced pee-tone-ee) however they originally called the area Britannia. In 1865, Wellington became the capital city of New Zealand (replacing Auckland). At this time, the capital of Wellington was approximately 4900 people. Parliaments most well know building “The Beehive” (1) was finished in 1979. (I have included a pic through the links below)

Maori History: The Wellington region has a long and eventful Maori history, not the least of which is its Maori identification as “Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui” or the Head of Maui’s fish. The head of the fish, in Maori thinking, is the sweetest part.

Events: There have been a number of earthquakes(2) that have occurred in the Wellington region. The sinking of the Wahine (3) occurred in the Wellington Harbour entrance. Matiu/Somes Island (4) also has a large history about it. The sinking of HMNZS Wellington

Famous People: Katherine Mansfield (5),

writer John Plimmer – known as the father of Wellington

Peter Jackson (6), Oscar winning film-maker

John Campbell – broadcaster and news journalist

Jane Campion – Oscar winning film-maker (The Piano)

Russell Crowe – Oscar-winning actor

Sam Morgan – founder of online auction site TradeMe

Anna Paquin – Oscar-winning actress

Richard Taylor – Head of Weta Workshop, Multiple Oscar winner.

Jon Toogood – Singer/Guitarist for Shihad

Tana Umaga – Former Captain of the All Blacks

Karl Urban – Actor

Fran Walsh – Oscar-winning screenwriter

Landmarks:

The Bucket Fountain… (7)

Te Papa Tongarewa (the Museum of New Zealand) (8) As well as Te Papa, Wellington is home to The Museum of Wellington City and Sea,

The Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Museum, Colonial Cottage,

The New Zealand Cricket Museum,

The Cable Car Museum,

The Reserve Bank Museum,

the national opera company,

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra,

Nevine String Quartet,

City Gallery,

Chamber Music New Zealand,

Royal New Zealand Ballet,

St James’ Theatre,

Downstage Theatre,

Bats Theatre and Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Successful bands to come out of Wellington include The Phoenix Foundation, Shihad, Fly My Pretties, Fat Freddy’s Drop, and The Black Seeds.

Wellington’s cultural and nightlife venues concentrate in Courtenay Place and surroundings located in the southern part of the CBD, making the inner city suburb of Te Aro the largest entertainment destination in New Zealand.

Because of its location in the forties latitudes and its exposure to omnipresent winds coming through Cook Strait, the city is known as “Windy Wellington”.

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new zealand facts

Where I talk about some facts about new zealand, I plan on doing a few of these so please leave me comments or send me messages letting me know what kind of things you would like to know,

I love finding out new things as well as sharing what I already now. Also let me know if I got any bits wrong, it’s been known to happen The video I was talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6cpEZJKag

Duration : 0:4:52

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