NEW ZEALAND’S CULTURE

Culture refers to the traditions, practises, languages, beliefs and views of the world
identifying social classes as nationalities, ethnicity, regions and common values. Cultural
identity is fundamental for individual’s sense of self and how they relate to others. A strong
cultural identity may contribute to the general well-being of the people.

It is not easy to describe a national identity. New Zealand is a diverse country with
many ethnic backgrounds with a wide range of cultures and customs. While people may
identify themselves as 'New Zealanders,' the concept of 'New Zealand-ness' varies from
person to person. For instance, some people might view the accomplishments in sport, art or
other activities or their country’s history as New Zealand identity, while others might view this
in a sense of national characteristics or features or by the national symbols. One element of
the national identity can be the Māori culture, which is both unique to New Zealand and part
of its identity in the outside world.

Generally said, New Zealand's Culture is primarily a Western Culture influenced by

the island's unique environment and geography and by the cultural contribution from the
Māori indigenous people and by the diverse waves of multi-ethnical migration following New
Zealand's British colonisation.

Beside the Māori ethnics, the other major ethnic is called Pākehā (the European New
Zealanders). They have maintained close cultural links with 'Mother England,' despite their
place far from Europe. Those links have been eroded by the British Empire's collapse and
the decline from special access to British meat and dairy markets. Pākehā started to
establish a distinct identity inspired by its pioneering past, rural lifestyle and the unique
surroundings in New Zealand. After the wars, Pākehā culture became dominant, but after
concerted political efforts, to encourage understanding between Māori and Pākehā,
biculturalism and the Treaty of Waitangi was introduced to school curriculums at the end of
the 20th century.

As for the national’s symbol identity it can be official or informal which includes the
Southern cross because of the country’s location in the Southern hemisphere, the silver fern
(New Zealand became known as ‘fernland’), the native birds which is the moa in the colonial
period, the white heron (kotuku) in 1990 for the country’s 150 th anniversary of the Treaty of
Waitangi and now recently is the kiwi (from early 20th century). Their currency also featured a
kiwi and ferns in 2011. Other than that, sheep appeared in coats of arm or more recently
gumboots were also used as symbol of New Zealand to expressed the national identity of
New Zealanders as pioneering farmers.
 The creation of the identity and national character of New Zealand, separated from
the British colonial identity, is generally connected to the World War I era, contributing to the
concept of the Anzac spirit. Many people tend to eliminate ethnic differences, call
themselves simply "Kiwis". New Zealand is observing both the Waitangi Day and the Anzac
Day as the national remembrance days, and are also celebrating holidays in or around the
anniversaries of each province's founding dates. “God Save the Queen” and “God Defend
New Zealand” are two national anthems which are mostly sung with Māori and English
verses alternatingly.

There are three languages in New Zealand. The language that is commonly used
limitlessly everywhere is English as the main spoken language but the Māori languages and
the Sign Language of New Zealand also have official status which are established under
their respective laws, in some contexts. Some immigrant groups also speak other languages
in New Zealand. Recorded in 1987, te reo Māori was made an official language of New
Zealand but between 2001 and 2013 the proportion of Māori who could speak the language
went into decline. Therefore, there has been some revival efforts for the teaching of the
Maori language.

In April 2006, New Zealand became the first country to declare sign language as

an official language which has its roots in British Sign Language (BSL) . It was developed by
and for Deaf people, like other natural sign languages, without any connection to a spoken
or written language, and is entirely capable of saying whatever a fluent signer wants to tell.
In combination with hand and face expression, it uses more lip patterns to show signals than
the BSL.

At the 2013 census, 96.1% of the overall population in NZ spoke English. New
Zealand English is near to Australian English in pronunciation, but has some differences
often unnoticed by outside people. The key variations between the English and other English
dialects in New Zealand are the changes in the short front vowels. Some of these variations
illustrate that New Zealand English is more similar than Australian English to the English of
Southern England. Many of the variations also indicate Māori's influence. New Zealand also
has some influences from Scotland and Ireland from the large number of immigrants in the
19th century.

About their religion namely, New Zealand is Christian and the most important
denominations are Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian. The remaining Christian
community is constituted by other Protestant groups and Maori Christian modifications
(Churches of Ratana and Ringatu). The native Māori pre-colonial religion was animistic but
many have converted. About a third of the population is not affiliated with religion. There are
limited but rising number of followers of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. There is no
official religion known, but Anglican cathedrals are typically used for governmental
occasions.

Links and sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_New_Zealand#cite_note-religion1-58
2. https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Zealand/People#ref228259
3. https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-7
4. https://socialreport.msd.govt.nz/cultural-identity.html#:~:text=New
%20Zealanders%20have%20a%20strong,is%20valued%2C%20practised
%20and%20protected.
5. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maori