Columns, Opinion

RILEY: 100% Pure New Zealand

While I was gearing up for my study abroad experience back in the States, I was told again and again by friends and family what to expect.

“New Zealand is to Australia as Canada is to the United States.”

“Ooh, Middle Earth territory!”

“The kiwis are everywhere! They run around like squirrels.” (No, they don’t.)

“There are more sheep than people. You know that, right?” (Ok, that’s true.)

Now that I’ve been in New Zealand for a little over three months, I’ve become a bit more acquainted with the Kiwi way of life, and I wanted to explore some of the common stereotypes surrounding the country.

So, what do you think when you hear “New Zealand?”

Maybe you think of Middle Earth. Fair enough, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy was one of the highest-grossing movie series ever to be filmed in New Zealand. Since then, film sites such as Mount Doom and the town of Hobbiton have become major tourist attractions. The national Department of Conservation even lists the locations on their website. When the first “The Hobbit” film was released in December 2012, the Wellington airport was transformed into Middle Earth.

Perhaps you think of a British state. Once an English colony known as “the fairer Britain of the South Seas,” many more conservative, older-generation kiwis see their country as one with strong ties to the Crown. In fact, the New Zealand flag is essentially the British flag with a few stars added. Since a 2004 petition to alter the design generated 100,000 signatures, New Zealanders have discussed changing the flag — if only they could agree on a new design. Current prospects range from a simple fern emblem to a cartoon sheep bungee jumping. The best-known flag in New Zealand is most likely that of the All Blacks, the national Rugby team, which is a black flag with a silver fern.

Maybe you think of a welcoming, laid-back attitude. In a 2012 survey done by Forbes, New Zealand was rated the number one friendliest country. The rating system was based on how easy it is to befriend locals, learn the local language, integrate into the community and fit into the new culture. But from what I’ve learned interacting with locals, New Zealanders often recognize themselves as being quite sarcastic and cynical. After all, the national color is black. The country’s more gothic side — think Lorde and dark burgundy lipstick — is often associated with its isolation on the world map.

And finally, perhaps you think of nature and landscape when you think of New Zealand. It’s a tiny country, but it boasts 14 national parks and all different types of environments, from tropical to sub-alpine. The country is famous historically for its nuclear-free stance. The Green Party, a political party that advocates primarily for sustainable living and eco-friendly business practices, originated here and is now present in countries all over the world, such as Australia and Canada. New Zealand’s clean-and-green reputation has even resulted in the popular motto, “100 Percent Pure New Zealand.”

But like so many other countries, New Zealand has its fair share of environmental problems. Recently, New Zealand has struggled to protect its environment from corporate giants. In 2013, the “100 Percent Pure New Zealand” brand was made a farce when dairy company Fonterra, the country’s largest exporter, offered milk for sale in China marketed under the label that was later found to contain harmful bacteria. The so-called Anadarko Amendment, named after the Texas-based petroleum country responsible for a deadly oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, was passed several years ago, allowing offshore oil drilling to take place without the public’s knowledge.

New Zealand is also a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a trade agreement that, while providing some economic benefits and security, gives foreign investors the right to sue the New Zealand government for infringing on business if environmental policies interfere with corporate plans.

Nonetheless, the majority of New Zealanders are much more environmentally conscious than the average citizen, perhaps because they are surrounded by such gorgeous natural wonders. Of all that I was told about New Zealand before actually arriving, one statement from a friend stands out as the most accurate of them all: “It’s the most beautiful country in the world.”

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