Ask a Kiwi/New Zealander?

[Valka D'Ur]

1. Why are New Zealanders called "kiwis"?

2. Where was the original "Zealand"?

 

[classical_hero]

What would you do if the All Blacks don't win?

 

[kiwitt]

Is the sheep shaggers stereotype accurate?

Our sheep numbers are declining ... so many are going to Australia where there does seem to be more sheep

what are your ag policies wrt pesticides? do y'all have the need or does "organic" do well.

Organic farming has not really taken off as well as expected ... and this is more to do with the fact that most producers and retailers charge more for organic foods in supermarkets.

1. Why are New Zealanders called "kiwis"?

Probably because of our national bird a Kiwi and we used that as a symbol on many of our WWI/WWII military unit flags.

2. Where was the original "Zealand"?

Holland, i.e. Abel Tasman was from there.

What would you do if the All Blacks don't win?

The country generally goes into a short depression. Me, I'll be disappointed. But we can be proud of the fact we have hosted the Best RWC so far with a stadium of 4 million.

 

[Nobody]

First Question: Who would win in a fight David Tua or Sonny Bill and Shane Cameron together?

Second: Do your toilets run backwards like on the Simpsons?

Third: Who are you voting for in the election?

 

[Camikaze]

Australians have many opinions on Kiwis (largely rather ). What do Kiwis think of Australians?

On the scale of extreme ironing to rugby, how popular is cricket in NZ?

 

[Monsterzuma]

how well did NZ weather the 2008 financial crisis? i hear stories about neo-liberal privatization plans leaving the economy in a derelict state, is anything like that visible from your point of view?

 

[warpus]

When I was on the south island, 95%+ of the bridges outside of cities I crossed only had 1 lane. Not 1 lane going each way - just 1 lane. There weren't any traffic lights at these bridges either - you had to approach it carefully, make sure that nobody was going the other way, and go.

The Kiwis seemed really comfortable with these bridges, but.. why weren't more bridges with 2 lanes built? The situation is probably a lot different on the north island, so maybe you have no idea, but.. It seems weird that almost every single bridge on the south island (outside of cities) is like that.. Or maybe it's just a coincidence I kept running into those ones

 

[kiwitt]

First Question: Who would win in a fight David Tua or Sonny Bill and Shane Cameron together?

Sonny Bill

Second: Do your toilets run backwards like on the Simpsons?

Don't watch the Simpsons

Third: Who are you voting for in the election?

NZ First - don't trust National or Labour.

Australians have many opinions on Kiwis (largely rather ). What do Kiwis think of Australians?

As mates with sporting rivalry. The fact many of us go to live in Australia shows we have no problem with them.

On the scale of extreme ironing to rugby, how popular is cricket in NZ?

I don't follow much sports, but I would say Cricket is less popular than Rugby.

how well did NZ weather the 2008 financial crisis? i hear stories about neo-liberal privatization plans leaving the economy in a derelict state, is anything like that visible from your point of view?

Actually we have weathered the storm pretty well, as our economy has already been exposed for so long. The only problem we have is the huge overseas debt that consumers have built up.

When I was on the south island, 95%+ of the bridges outside of cities I crossed only had 1 lane. Not 1 lane going each way - just 1 lane. There weren't any traffic lights at these bridges either - you had to approach it carefully, make sure that nobody was going the other way, and go.

The Kiwis seemed really comfortable with these bridges, but.. why weren't more bridges with 2 lanes built? The situation is probably a lot different on the north island, so maybe you have no idea, but.. It seems weird that almost every single bridge on the south island (outside of cities) is like that.. Or maybe it's just a coincidence I kept running into those ones

We have a few on the North Island too.

It is likely they were made when there was hardly any traffic or huge local population. As the traffic increases we will look to replace them, but they are quite a substantial cost for a sparsely populated country like us.

NOTE: The US has them too

Spoiler :

 

[warpus]

It is likely they were made when there was hardly any traffic or huge local population. As the traffic increases we will look to replace them, but they are quite a substantial cost for a sparsely populated country like us.

We have some here too.. Well.. There is one in the city I live in, and it's in the process of being upgraded to a 4 lane bridge.

Just surprised that none of them had traffic lights.. I guess when the country's that sparsely populated you might not need them, you'd just hold people up and annoy them

Hey btw when I flew into Auckland, they took my Canadian salami. Said they had to because there was beef in it. I asked them if they were going to eat it, and they said no.. but I have my doubts. Can you look into this for me? I want that salami back

 

[kiwitt]

We have some here too.. Well.. There is one in the city I live in, and it's in the process of being upgraded to a 4 lane bridge.

Just surprised that none of them had traffic lights.. I guess when the country's that sparsely populated you might not need them, you'd just hold people up and annoy them

Patience is a virtue when you have a wonderful scenery to admire.

Hey btw when I flew into Auckland, they took my Canadian salami. Said they had to because there was beef in it. I asked them if they were going to eat it, and they said no.. but I have my doubts. Can you look into this for me? I want that salami back

Virtually all food products are confiscated and destroyed. This is part of agricultural protection policies.

 

[warpus]

Patience is a virtue when you have a wonderful scenery to admire.Virtually all food products are confiscated and destroyed. This is part of agricultural protection policies.

They let me keep all my granola bars! It was kinda funny with the salami, actually, they had to look up all the ingredients to see if it was allowed or not. They were some of the first Kiwis I interacted with and we were joking around about the salami for the 10-15 minutes they held me up while they investigated. Was a great introduction to Kiwi humour and hospitality.

edit: That experience.. a HUGE difference from American airports, where you're treated like a criminal.. No offense to Americans reading this, but your airports suck

 

[RebelYeller]

Really? we pretty airports.



Hanging gardens. Orlando International Airport.

 

[kiwitt]

I think he is talking about this in your airports.

Spoiler :

It really is intrusive.

 

[jtb1127]

Really? we pretty airports.



Hanging gardens. Orlando International Airport.

That place was sort of neat I must say.

Question:
What is the relationship between Maori and the rest. Is it tense like that of Native Americans and everyone else?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

To what extent do you identify with Australians?

 

[kiwitt]

What is the relationship between Maori and the rest. Is it tense like that of Native Americans and everyone else?

They are the "Bros". There are some radicals on both sides, but all-in-all we see Maori as integral part of NZ society and culture.

See how we respond when the Maori Haka is performed spontaneously in our busiest street in New Zealand

Spoiler :

Link to video.

To what extent do you identify with Australians?

We are similar - We see them as a smaller version of Americans and us like a smaller version of British. So if you can compare the Americans to the British, you get an idea.

 

[Masada]

I hate that particular crossing in Queen Street. Hate, hate, hate it. Auckland is also an objectively awful city. And the South Island is for mugs. Wellington4lyfe.

 

[kiwitt]

I hate that particular crossing in Queen Street. Hate, hate, hate it.

As a pedestrian or a driver ? They are thinking of closing Queen St to private vehicles to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Auckland is also an objectively awful city.

Why do most people want to settle there ?

 

[Masada]

As a pedestrian or a driver ? They are thinking of closing Queen St to private vehicles to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Pedestrian... and I'd kill to have it closed!

Why do most people want to settle there ?

Because most people are morons. Plain and simple. Also, nothing south of the Bombay Hills and all that nonsense; and truth be told, that is the truth.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

When I was on the south island, 95%+ of the bridges outside of cities I crossed only had 1 lane. Not 1 lane going each way - just 1 lane. There weren't any traffic lights at these bridges either - you had to approach it carefully, make sure that nobody was going the other way, and go.

The Kiwis seemed really comfortable with these bridges, but.. why weren't more bridges with 2 lanes built? The situation is probably a lot different on the north island, so maybe you have no idea, but.. It seems weird that almost every single bridge on the south island (outside of cities) is like that.. Or maybe it's just a coincidence I kept running into those ones

There's a lot of them in the rural areas of Alberta and British Columbia, or at least there used to be.

They let me keep all my granola bars! It was kinda funny with the salami, actually, they had to look up all the ingredients to see if it was allowed or not. They were some of the first Kiwis I interacted with and we were joking around about the salami for the 10-15 minutes they held me up while they investigated. Was a great introduction to Kiwi humour and hospitality.

You should have just eaten it. That's what my aunt did once when the Americans wouldn't let her bring a bag of potato chips across the border. She just pulled off to one side, ate the chips, and then went through.


Would somebody please answer my previous questions? They were not meant frivolously. I really want to know the answers.