New Zealand has a reputation for being a really beautiful country. Everyone is aware of this. Other fascinating facts about Aotearoa (the Maori title for New Zealand, which means “country of the long white cloud”) can be found here.
New Zealand is a major tourist attraction; in fact, visitors spent over 115 million dollars every day in 2019. To lure the traveler in you, we offer more intriguing facts about New Zealand.
New Zealand is a place that piques people’s interest since it is frequently portrayed as a nearly unspoiled wonderland on either side of the globe. This has been the setting for several film projects and attracts lots of visitors every year due to its inherent beauty and numerous beaches.
The trade to Oceania is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity unlike anything else. So, to captivate you and place New Zealand at the top of your list of exchange sites, we’ve created this blog with 12 New Zealand facts.
The very first country to see a sunrise
New Zealand begins with a slightly contentious one, as those in the know will recall that Samoa was actually the first nation to greet the fresh day. Ironically, due to the Earth’s curvature, the East Coast city of Gisborne in the North Island is the first one to observe the physical sunrise!
It’s a terrific spot to come, especially if you’re a parties on New Year’s Eve, when it really gets going. Overall, it’s an excellent one to cross off the checklist, and the East Coast is a fantastic spot to explore.
Maori + England
In New Zealand, there really are 2 main languages (along with Sign Language): British and Maori, which is also the native language of the country and is also studied in primary schools. As a result, when exploring the islands, you will encounter certain terminology and words in this dialect.
Because New Zealand was colonized by the English, Queen Elizabeth is perhaps the country’s head of state, and the country has two national anthems: “God Save the Queen” and “God Defend New Zealand.”
New Zealand’s Kiwi fruit
New Zealand makes nearly a billion dollars a year from the kiwifruit. The fruit was formerly known as the monkeys peach in China since it was regarded ripened while eaten by monkeys. In New Zealand, they were dubbed the Chinese gooseberry and subsequently the kiwi fruit, and it started to export in the 1950s. The fruit is now available in two varieties: the conventional, fuzzy-covered green and the gold, which has a smoother appearance.
Appreciation for the culture of one’s ancestors
The Maori represent New Zealand’s indigenous people, who originated in Polynesia. They have a great heritage and are an important part of New Zealand’s daily routine, accounting for about 15% of the population. You’ve most likely heard of Maori tattoos, right? The root is the same: those people’s tattooing are a part of the tradition, and they wear them on their bodies and faces.
Maoris are a happy and energetic community, and you may visit their communities, sample their cuisine, listen to the music, and perform traditional dances. Furthermore, the locals are heavily interested in tourism, primarily guiding excursions to discover the country’s greenery and scenic wonders.
In 1893, it was the first country to allow women to vote
One of the more illustrious New Zealand trivia is that in 1893, they were the first nation to grant women’s right to vote. Kate Sheppard, an influential personality in the women’s liberation movement, had a significant role in this.
Her efforts to collect 30,000 signatures for parliamentary led to the formation of universal suffrage, for which she is honored on our $10 bill. In addition, they were the first nation in the world to have 3 women in the top three spots. Helen Clark (Prime Minister), Dame Silvia Cartwright (Governor General), and Sian Elias (Secretary of State) (Chief Justice).
Dessert of New Zealand
The pavlova, a creme cake garnished with whipped cream & mixed fruit pieces, is New Zealand’s most famous delicacy. It was dedicated after Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballerina who toured New Zealand in the 1920s. This has been a point of contention among Australia and New Zealand for years about where it was developed. The recipe appears to be of New Zealand provenance (from a New Zealand recipe book), but it was called by the wife of a manager of a hotel bar in Western Australia over years of investigation.
There are more sheep than people
New Zealand is a lightly populous country, with a population of roughly 5 million people (much less than the metropolis of S Paulo, for instance). As a result, the amount of animals reared by livestock, such as sheep, is frequently more than the number of individuals. Livestock is a large industry that moves 40 million sheep and 10 million cattle each year.
Country of Volcanoes
New Zealand is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is considered to be somewhat risky. Several of them, along with the famed Mt Ruapehu, often known as Mt Doom from The Lord of the Rings, are still listed as dangerous.
Furthermore, Auckland, our largest city, is situated on a vast volcanic area with roughly 53 volcanoes. You shouldn’t be concerned, as the last explosion occurred roughly 500 years ago and is extremely unlikely to happen again.
The kiwifruit is more than a fruit
New Zealand’s national bird and symbol is the kiwi. The creature has a long beak and a light-colored body, which gave the fruit its name because of the resemblance. Because the kiwi cannot fly, it becomes easy prey and is currently on the danger of becoming extinct, prompting many conservation efforts. New Zealanders are often referred to as kiwis, in regard to the bird.
Sport in New Zealand
Rugby is one of New Zealand’s most major sport. It began in 1823 at the Rugby School in England, when a lad named William Webb Willis got tired with kicking a soccer ball and decided to pick that up and run with this now. It is now New Zealand’s national sport, with 250,000 club players participating. The All Blacks are the name of the national squad.
A good living
New Zealand boasts high quality of life indexes, with some places, like Auckland, ranking among the greatest places to live on earth. Infrastructure, economic freedom, an effective public transportation system, safe streets, and excellent academic facilities are among the reasons it has become a favorite destination for international students and immigrants.
Nation of Liberals
Same-sex marriages and prostitution are allowed in New Zealand, making among the most liberal countries in the world. The drinking age is 18, the driving age is 15, the consensual sex age is 16.
