Culture - Emigrating to New Zealand

The settlement of New Zealand by the Polynesian Maori peoples occurred relatively recently as regards the world timeline, with a culture based on land ownership and kinship established in the late 13th century. The first European explorer arrived in 1642, followed by missionaries, traders and mariners in the early 18th century. By 1840, Maori...

The cuisine of New Zealand reflects the primarily agricultural component of this island nation, and is based on fresh, locally grown seasonal foods in a unique manner rare in first-world countries nowadays. In many ways, it's similar to Australian gastronomy, with the major influences on its British-based cuisine arriving from the...

New Zealand's key cultural heritage stems from two major roots – the complex and ancient nature-related Maori culture and the western, mostly British influences which arrived with the first Pakeha immigrants. Unsurprisingly in these days of increasing awareness of man's links with the natural world, Maori spiritual beliefs and traditions...

Local etiquette can be divided into two sections, interacting successfully with Pakeha (non-Maori) and interacting successfully with Maori. There are considerable differences between the two cultures even now, involving variations in protocol and social behaviour and a totally different relationship with the environment. On meeting and...

To those emigrating from the UK, the 'British' base of the culture of New Zealand and its peoples may seem reassuringly similar at first, if a little old-fashioned, but the remoteness of the country, its native Maori traditions and its large number of Asian migrants have coloured its culture over the years. Do's and don'ts include many...