Culture & Society

Haka: The haka is a traditional Māori posture dance used for challenge, welcome and celebration. Most famously performed by the All Blacks before rugby matches. The most well-known haka is Ka Mate, composed by the chief Te Rauparaha around 1820.

Pōwhiri: A traditional Māori welcome ceremony onto a marae (meeting ground), involving challenge, call and response, hongi and a shared meal.

Hongi: The traditional Māori greeting of pressing noses and foreheads together, symbolising the exchange of the breath of life (hā).

Wharenui (meeting house): The central building on a marae where communal gatherings take place. Its carved interior depicts tribal ancestors.

Manaakitanga: The Māori value of hospitality, kindness and generosity — looking after others.

Whānau: Extended family, a central concept in Māori society emphasising collective identity and responsibility.

Kia Ora: A versatile Māori greeting meaning "hello", "thank you" or "be well" — used widely across New Zealand.

Taonga: Treasures — including land, culture, language and all things Māori hold dear.

National bird: The kiwi — a nocturnal flightless bird unique to New Zealand. "Kiwi" is also a common nickname for New Zealanders.

Silver fern (ponga): An iconic national symbol used by many sports teams and on passports.

All Blacks: New Zealand's national rugby union team, one of the most successful in history.

Matariki: The Pleiades star cluster, whose rising marks the Māori New Year. A public holiday since 2022.

National museum: Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington (opened 1998) — "Our place, a treasure box".

Film: Peter Jackson directed the Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit trilogies, filmed in New Zealand.

Literature: Keri Hulme's "The Bone People" won the Booker Prize in 1985.

New Zealand prides itself on being an egalitarian, multicultural society that respects diversity. Key values include:

- Fair go: Everyone deserves an equal opportunity

- Respect for the Treaty: Honouring the Crown-Māori partnership

- Environmental stewardship: Caring for the natural environment

- Inclusivity: Welcoming people from all backgrounds

New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote (1893) and has consistently been a world leader in progressive social policy.

Pacific communities: New Zealand has one of the largest Pacific Island populations outside the Pacific Islands themselves. Major Pacific communities include:

- Samoan — the largest Pacific group in NZ

- Tongan, Cook Island Māori, Fijian, Niuean and other communities

- Together, Pacific peoples make up around 8% of the NZ population

NZ's Pacific territories: New Zealand has a special relationship with several Pacific nations:

- Cook Islands — a self-governing nation in free association with NZ; Cook Islanders are NZ citizens

- Niue — similarly self-governing in free association; Niueans are NZ citizens

- Tokelau — a dependent territory of New Zealand

Growing Asian communities: People of Asian descent make up approximately 15% of the NZ population — the fastest growing major ethnic group — with large Chinese, Indian, Korean and Filipino communities particularly in Auckland.

Multicultural identity: New Zealand's identity is increasingly shaped by its diversity. The motto "Aotearoa New Zealand — a place where people and nature thrive together" reflects this. New Zealand recognises multiple cultural identities and encourages integration without requiring assimilation.

Sir Edmund Hillary: New Zealand mountaineer and explorer Sir Edmund Hillary (with Tenzing Norgay) became the first person to summit Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. Hillary's face appears on the $5 note. He also participated in the first overland crossing of Antarctica in 1958.

Rugby union — All Blacks: New Zealand's national rugby team has won the Rugby World Cup three times — 1987 (inaugural), 2011 (hosted in NZ), and 2015. They are consistently ranked among the world's top teams.

Black Ferns: The NZ women's rugby union team — world champions multiple times including 2022. One of the most successful women's rugby teams in history.

Silver Ferns: New Zealand's national netball team, one of the world's top ranked teams. World champions in 1967, 1999, 2003.

America's Cup: New Zealand has had remarkable success in sailing — winning the America's Cup in 1995 (Team New Zealand), 2000, and 2017. NZ successfully defended the Cup in Auckland in 2021.

Music: Lorde (Ella Yelich-O'Connor) became a global music phenomenon at age 16 with "Royals" in 2013. Split Enz and their successor band Crowded House (led by Neil Finn) are among NZ's most celebrated musical exports. Kiri Te Kanawa is a world-renowned Māori opera soprano.

Science and exploration: NZ-born Ernest Rutherford (Lord Rutherford of Nelson) split the atom in 1917 and is considered the father of nuclear physics — his image appears on the $100 note.