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After some consideration, it became apparent that the title of this blog, “Where are all the kiwis?” may need some explanation. First of all, New Zealanders, whether they be the native Maoris or of European decent are lovingly referred to as Kiwis. Why Kiwi you may ask. Are they small, round, brown and hairy with green insides like the fruit? While some of them actually may be round, brown and hairy, the term kiwi refers not to the delicious fruit that mixes so lovely with strawberries and bananas in a smoothie, but to the kiwi bird. Sadly, the yummy kiwi fruit isn’t even grown in New Zealand.
So, what on earth is a kiwi bird and why would they name a bird after a fruit that doesn’t even grown in New Zealand? While the latter, I’m afraid, I have no good answer for; the kiwi bird is a small, brown, flightless (or so I’ve been told) bird that is native to New Zealand and has become somewhat of the mascot of this country. Its strange, however, that they have chosen the kiwi to represent their nation being that it is almost completely extinct in the wild and can only be viewed in kiwi nature reserves or on the many tourist souvenirs that are sold on every street corner. Sadly, the kiwi bird seems to be disappearing from all but the hearts of the locals.
Finally, and most interestingly, “Where are all the kiwis?” refers to the fact that there seem to be very few native New Zealanders actually living in New Zealand. It seems almost everyone that you meet, at least in Queenstown, is foreign. The population of Queenstown is 25% Brazilian. Brazilian?!? Why? Are the kiwi people, like the kiwi bird, becoming extinct? Or are they simply hiding somewhere in the North Island? In total, I have met maybe seven people who were actually born in New Zealand. Of those seven, three have spent more of their lives living outside of New Zealand than within. In contrast, since being in Queenstown, I have met twenty-one from the UK, eleven from Australia, five from France, four from Brazil, four from Canada, two from Holland, one Romanian and one other American (I apologize in advance if I have forgotten anyone or put you in the wrong category). It is understandable that being a tourist town, Queenstown will have a high percentage of foreign residents, but doesn’t it also follow that at least some Kiwis would still be here? This is one of my quests while here, to find out “Where are all the kiwis?”
49 people so far, huh? Is there a tally sheet? j/k, sounds like you’re settling in really well!
Of course there is a tally sheet and do you think that you are on it… NO! JK
That was more of a rough guesstimate than an actual list.