Observations of Kiwis by Two Foreigners

Notice in NZ Health Food Store

Signs at Dyers Pass

Just Two of the Cyclists on the Dyers Pass Road

Kiwi Personality
If prizes were given, New Zealanders would get the gold for the friendliest people on earth. I mean genuinely friendly, not just your North American, “Have a nice day,” superficial friendliness. In shops clerks frequently ask questions such as, “And how is your day so far today?” And they seem like they really hope it’s a prize winner. If you pause and look confused in the slightest, you’ll attract genuine concern, locals come over and ask if you’re all right, or as in Christchurch, say, “You look lost, where is it you’d like to get to?” or something similar. It’s happened more than once. People working in bookstores seem more serious minded and show more concern than shopkeepers in general. We walked by the busy bus station and a bus driver stopped his bus as he was pulling out of a bay and waved us across. Can you imagine a TTC driver doing that? I’m not sure we’re going to be tough enough to return to Toronto after this trip.
Kiwi Humour
I’ve been struck by the Kiwi sense of humour while here – evident in signs and labels. I include a picture of a health food store window display to show you what I mean. I believe this is fairly typical. Also I’ve copied the label from a soft drink I enjoyed yesterday. We’ve seen similar labels on beer and other drinks. Imagine this read with a Kiwi accent:
You know that when Mac’s puts its mind to making a bottle of apple, we’re not going to come up with some sickly concoction for the faint of heart MAC’S GREEN APPLE is made from the juice of real Hawke’s Bay Granny Smiths. It will make your eyes squint like a gunfighter and your mouth pucker like a cat’s bum. All with natural flavourings and completely free from any added preservatives, as it ought to be.
Kiwi Honesty
Today is our last day in NZ, and I can say we’ve become almost blasé about security. We’ve not even seen any suspicious looking characters, it seems ridiculously safe in the cities, even in the seedier areas. Rob Two Names, our helicopter pilot, proclaimed the virtues of living in Te Anau. He said that people living there still don’t lock their doors at night.
When we went to the Royal Albatross Observatory we learned that the Albatross has no fear. When they go to weigh the chicks, the mothers are very trusting and let their keepers handle the babies without a fuss. As such they are very prone to predators. I’m wondering if Kiwis are like the Albatross, they seem so trusting, are they gullible also? In New Zealand, they probably have very few dishonest predators, but it makes me wonder if they run into difficulty when they do their OE (overseas experience). Do others take advantage of them? What happens to them in London, Paris, New York, Montreal or Toronto?
Kiwi Civic Pride
There is almost no graffiti in New Zealand. We noticed this and our Canadian friends remarked on it too when we had dinner with them recently in Christchurch. The cities are pristine both large and small. New Zealanders must have a high level of civic pride. How do they instill this value in their young people, that’s what I’d like to know. Our neighbourhood in the Beach and just about every other one in Toronto fights a losing battle with the young over graffiti. Tagging is hideous and commonplace in North America and Europe. Perhaps New Zealand is a bit behind the times in this area, let’s keep it that way!
Kiwi Fitness Levels
We’ve noticed that Kiwis are off the streets at about 5:30 p.m. When we went into Blenheim at 4 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, it was difficult to find a restaurant open. We went into Christchurch around 6 p.m. to meet Toronto friends for dinner, and all the shops were closed already. We were in Dunedin on a Saturday and after the weekly market closed at noon, the streets were left to tourists. I know there are far fewer people in this country, but where do they all go for thrills when the work day is finished? This is the place where someone invented bungee jumping for goodness sake.

I know that Canada won 14 Golds at the recent Winter Olympics but if medals were given for general levels of fitness, Kiwis would win hands down. I simply must take a photo of a Kiwi riding a bicycle straight uphill and I mean UPHILL to show to you. We are staying on the Banks Peninsula across Dyer’s Pass. When we want to get to Christchurch, we must make a hair-raising 45 minute journey on this steep winding road with no shoulders. Last night we met at least 12 Kiwi cyclists on their way over the pass, then followed one for a considerable distance down the tortuous road, crossing switchbacks etc. It would have been foolish to try to pass the fellow and the speed limit was 25-35 km anyway, so it was fun to follow and enjoy the scenery. Now these people are NOT twenty somethings either. We’ve seen a few people our age doing this, and we’ve NEVER seen a Kiwi get off the bike and push it up the hill. I’m sure only tourists and those who have mechanical problems with their bikes are allowed this luxury.

One is almost forced into action here, surrounded by mountains, the sea and gorgeous scenery. In Wellington at lunch time there were men and women on their backs near the waterfront, being led through a public fitness regime. I made a movie of it to share. On our way back to Charteris Bay we passed through an upper middle class suburb at about 6:30 p.m., and there were legions power walking, jogging, cycling, you name it. There I’ve answered my own question, Kiwis aren’t out carousing in the bars after work, drinking all those empty calories, they’re all out going for the gold medals. Look out Canada – those Kiwis are determined to capture those medals next time...

Today is our last day in NZ. We’ve had a wonderful time here in this place so far from everywhere else. We are off to Sydney and Australian adventures. We’ll keep you posted...

Noon in Wellington