New Zealand Local Customs

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Most Viewed Local Customs in New Zealand

76.

Useful Tips.......Emergency number   Christchurch

Useful Tips.......Emergency number, Christchurch

 7 Reviews  The New Zealand dollar has depreciated in value over the last few years. It now lies around $1NZ=$0.49US good for all of you wanting to travel to NZ but bad for us kiwi's!! The notes were changed... 

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77.

Local People   Christchurch

Local People, Christchurch

 9 Reviews  This old english method of having a bloke yelling the news pre newspaper days was trialled a few years ago as a tourism stunt - and it stuck. The Town Crier of Christchurch screams a few items of... 

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78.

Maori   Christchurch

Maori, Christchurch

 3 Reviews  When you are entering into Maori cultural exhibits, the visitors must be invited in to join the community before entering. Your group must select a chief or king for the group, and then that leader... 

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79.

Driving   Christchurch

Driving, Christchurch

 2 Reviews  When you drive along the Summit Road please thank all the idiots of Christchurch for being able to park on such nice carparks along the road. Those carparks have been altered attractively because car... 

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80.

Climate   Christchurch

Climate, Christchurch

 3 Reviews  The South Island is cooler than the North Island by a few degrees but on the whole NZ is known for its clean air. Average temps in winter (July) 1C – 12C Average temps in summer (January) 12C –... 

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81.

Wizard   Christchurch

Wizard, Christchurch

 3 Reviews  Speaking to the masses, though not so often these days, is the Christchurch Wizard aka Ian Brackenbury Channell. He has actually been deemed a "living work of art" and has been doing his thing in... 

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Know your Rugby

by fishandchips

The first game of Rugby played in NZ was a match between Nelson College and Nelson football (Soccer) club, played on 14 May 1870. The game had been introduced by Charles John Monro on his return from England and he he suggested that the local football club try out the rugby rules. It was obviously popular!!In 1871 Rugby became organised in Wellington and it had spread to Wanganui by the following year. Auckland adopted rugby in 1873 while Hamilton followed suit in 1874. In 1879, unions were formed in Canterbury and Wellington, indicating that the game was becoming more formally organised. Other unions soon followed but it was not until 1892 that the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was formed to administer the game at national level. The New Zealand Native Team became the first from NZ to visit Britain when it undertook the longest tour ever in 1888-89. The first national side to take...

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New Zealand Flag

by fishandchips

Our flag shows New Zealand's roots having the Union Jack of Great Britain included. This hasn't changed since the creation of New Zealand and gaining its eventual full independance in 1947.The blue background and 4 red stars with 5 points of the Southern Cross show it to be different from our neighbour (Australia) who have an extra couple of stars - all being white with at least 6 points.There have been several attempts to change the flag, especially by the Maori nation, with a view that a new flag might be better.

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The Haka - Kapa o Pango

by fishandchips

Recent times have seen the emergence of a new All Black haka which is even more powerful than Ka mate. Kapa o Pango or Team in black has been performed only a few times (three counting the game on 22/7/06) and has already created a stir due to some of the actions (especially the thumb over the throat!!). It goes;Kapa o pango kia whakawhenua au i ahau! (Let me become one with the land)Hi aue, hi! Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei! (This is our land that rumbles)Au, au, aue ha! (And it's my time! It's my moment!)Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei! (This defines us as the All Blacks)Au, au, aue ha! (It's my time! It's my moment!)I ahaha! Ka tu te ihiihi (Our dominance)Ka tu te wanawana (Our supremacy will triumph)Ki runga ki te rangi e tu iho nei, tu iho nei, hi! (And will be placed on high)Ponga ra! (Silver fern!)Kapa o Pango, aue hi! (All Blacks!)Ponga ra! (Silver fern!)Kapa o Pango, aue...

The Haka - A History

by fishandchips

A New Zealand team in New South Wales used a Maori war cry to introduce itself to its opponents before each of its matches in 1884. This is though to be where the origin of the pre-match haka started. Four years later in 1888, the New Zealand "Native" team performed the Ake Ake Kia Kaha haka before its first game of their tour of Britain. The team had to pay its own way and the pre match haka, using native mats and other traditional costume, was a money-making drawcard. In 1903 the New Zealand team in Australia (the first to play an official test match) used a mocking haka, Tupoto koe, Kangaru! It wasn't until 1905 that the current haka was first performed. It was performed by the 1905 "Originals" team in Britain and they performed it before the famous Welsh test where Bob Deans had a match winning try disallowed.The haka was performed for tour tests only (ie away games) and so wasn't...

Otara Market

by fishandchips

Based in South Auckland, the Otara market has been running for many years. It is a cultural melting pot with food and items from many different Auckland based cultures. Clothing such as the lava lava and asian themed icons such as the sari are all available to purchase. Pacific Island elders sell traditional tapa cloth and ti vaevae (quilts) next to their younger counterparts, selling satirical t-shirts and streetwear. Nearby, Indian and Chinese food stalls vie for business. Pacific Island music plays loudly, while the thick scent of Cook Island donuts, hot rewana bread, and Chinese pork buns hangs in the air. A lunchbox of Taro, Palusame (Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) and Pesupo (corned beef) is an excellent way to try something based in the Polynesian culture. The market is open every Saturday, 6am - 12noon. Otara Shopping Centre, Newbury Street, Otara. It is New Zealand’s...

Hangi

by fishandchips

The Hangi is a method of cooking food created by the Moari. Unlike the Umu method used by many other Polynesian peoples (food cooked above ground), the Hangi involves digging a pit and lowering white hot stones into the bottom. Wire baskets of food are quickly put on top. The baskets get covered with wet sheets and the wet sheets get covered with wet sacks. Then the sacks are covered with dirt. The water in the wet cloths turns into steam when it gets heated by the heat in the rocks and because the steam can’t escape through the dirt it heats and cooks the food. It takes about 7 hours to cook a hangi from start to finish. The food has an earthy taste and isn't to everyones liking. Manuka or tea tree wood is often used because of the way it burns and because of the lovely smoke flavour it gives to the food.If you get the chance going to a Hangi is a good experience. In places such as...

Essential New Zealand Food

by fishandchips

There are some food items that are unique to New Zealand though some are now available in different countries. Marmite - this yeast spread is not to be confused with its Australian imitation Vegemite. They are made with similar ingredients though Marmite is blacker and sweeter. Marmite is also high in vitamin B. Pavlova - this desert was created by a Kiwi while working in Australia so is claimed on both sides of the 'ditch' (Tasman Sea). Must be eaten with slices of kiwifruit on top of generous portions of cream. Feijoa - this fruit has a unique taste and makes wonderful Jam (jelly) though is best eaten raw. Kiwifruit - called kiwis in some parts of the world, this fruit is actually from China (I called it a chinese gooseberry when I was a kid) but has become an NZ icon Kumara - this sweet potato is a native of South America & hence some speculation of the origins of the Maori and...

Sleeping in Lamb Skins

by AKtravelers

When we visited Lisa's house in Wellington, she showed us a lambskin that was now performing the function of cat comforter. She told us that the lamb skin was the very same lambskin she slept in as a baby. She added that all New Zealand babies are wrapped in lamskins when they're infants. In feeling the wool and skin, which Lisa said had been repaired several times, it's easy to see why this custom became common in a land of 30 million sheep -- it was soft and warm. Of course, the cats thought so too.

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Mobile Surgery

by kiwi

I'm calling this local custom because it really is a custom to help ourselves in New Zealand. This attitude first grew with the European pioneers, simply because our geographical location precluded immediate help from elsewhere.I'm very proud of this service. The bus itself was privately funded but the service is funded by the Minstry of Health and uses national and international expertise, working in conjunction with regional health providers. It is a 39 tonne mobile unit with very modern video communications and surgical tools. During an operation, the bus has sides that extend out. Obviously very customised both in the surgical area and the driving cab. The bus provides surgery to small town rural areas, and allows certain surgical procedures to go ahead without the patient having to travel a long way to the nearest city.I believe that the doctors and surgeons donate their time on...

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Nga Hau E Wha Marae

by fishandchips

No visit to NZ is complete without going to a Marae. One option in Christchurch is Nga Hau E Wha (pronounced - na ho e far) Marae located in Aranui. This is the local HQ of the Ngai Tahu tribe and is an interesting place to have a look at. In theory you should wait at the gate for an invitation to enter whereupon you may be called to do a performance (sing a song etc) before being accepted. This is often the case in smaller areas of the North Is but no always done here. The whole area here has many rules or protocol that must be strictly adhered to such as women must always be at the back, never at the front. The welcoming ceremony or Powhiri is quite interesting as is the introductions (7 stages at a formal Hui). I would recommend that you do a visit if you get the chance.You can visit this link below to get a full rundown of everything there is to know about marae protocol.

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Local traditions and culture in New Zealand

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Local Customs: Cities in New Zealand
  1. Auckland Local Customs
  2. Christchurch Local Customs
  3. Queenstown Local Customs
  4. Wellington Local Customs
  5. Rotorua Local Customs
  6. Dunedin Local Customs
  7. Napier Local Customs
  8. Paihia Local Customs
  9. Akaroa Local Customs
  10. Milford Sound Local Customs
  11. Kaikoura Local Customs
  12. Wanaka Local Customs
  13. Arthur's Pass National Park Local Customs
  14. Arrowtown Local Customs
  15. Timaru Local Customs
  16. Mount Maunganui Local Customs
  17. Bay of Islands Local Customs
  18. Lyttelton Local Customs
  19. Gisborne Local Customs
  20. Palmerston North Local Customs
  21. Hanmer Springs Local Customs
  22. Hokitika Local Customs
  23. Nelson Local Customs
  24. Blenheim Local Customs
  25. Cape Reinga Local Customs
  26. Abel Tasman National Park Local Customs
  27. Ninety Mile Beach Local Customs
  28. Queen Charlotte Sound Local Customs

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North Island Local Customs  South Island Local Customs 

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A: I have not heard bad comments about Apex. Both companies are ok and you see their vehicles everywhere in NZ. If you have travel insurance from your home country (which... 

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