Polynesians arrived in New Zealand in the course of the 14th century. They were part of the last great Polynesian expansion which started somewhere around the Cook Islands and led to the establishment of populations in the Eastern Pacific (Easter Island), the North-East (Hawaii), and the South-West. Read more…
Category Archives: Society and Culture
Politics and Government in New Zealand
New Zealand is regarded as one of the most democratic government systems in the world, and is based on the Westminster system of a head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor-General), a head of government (the Prime Minister), and the trio of legislature, administration and judiciary. What puts New Zealand ahead of the rest, is the development of the political system over the last century, which has allowed it to address the needs of a multicultural society, while minimising cultural biases at the same time. Read more…
Kiwi English
New Zealand English is essentially the English somebody forgot to take out of their back pocket before putting their jeans through the laundry.
—Hamish Ritchie
Australian English is essentially Cockney without the refinement.
—Öjevind Lång
(https://ccil.org/~cowan/essential.html#English_Specific_Varieties, November 20, 2014)
Although National Geographic seems to have difficulty distinguishing Australian from New Zealand English, it would be doing both dialects a disservice to lump them in one pot together. Yes, yes, I know there are people who cannot reliably hear the differences between the major dialects of North America, either, or of the British Isles for that matter, but let’s have a look at what makes New Zealand English unique. Read more…
Oh, No, National Geographic!
I had a gift book voucher left over from some celebration or other, and as the shop was closing its branch in town I thought I would redeem it before it went into recycling. Had a look at the maps first, because the pair that I have adorning the living room wall are gradually fading away. Not much more than a street map of Wellington was available so I had a look at the tour guides instead, hoping to find something that might give me a few tips that I had not seen before. The National Geographic volume looked like the sort of thing that I wouldn’t have bought without the voucher anyway, and it looked quite impressive, so I settled for it.Read more…
