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Oceania
New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
Aotearoa — land of the long white cloud, where Māori and Pākehā share the land.
Daily life
Life is outdoors — tramping (hiking), rugby, the beach, the bach (holiday cottage). Coffee culture rivals Australia's; the flat white was invented here (or in Sydney — Kiwis will fight you on this). Te reo Māori is a national language and you'll hear 'kia ora' as a daily greeting.
Food
- Hāngī (earth-oven feast)
- Pavlova (also fought over with Australia)
- Whitebait fritters
- Kūmara (Māori sweet potato)
- L&P (lemon soft drink)
Family values
Whānau (extended family in te reo Māori) extends well beyond blood relatives. Kiwis are famously laid-back — 'she'll be right' is a national motto.
Holidays & traditions
Waitangi Day (Feb 6)ANZAC Day (Apr 25)Matariki (Māori New Year, the country's newest public holiday)Christmas (in summer, often at the beach)
Religion & spiritual life
One of the most secular countries in the world. Christianity is largest, but most Kiwis don't actively practice; Māori spiritual concepts like mana and tapu still shape public life.