We can celebrate with pride the achievement of Team  New   Zealand in lifting the "Auld Mug" again. A few months ago the magazine "Listener" apparently dedicated its main article to the main characteristics that defines New Zealanders as a Nation bonded to the land (abbrev).

 

1.     The most  important aspect of  New  Zealanders, is their relationship with the land, New  Zealanders   sense of self definition has been bound up with love of the natural world.

2.     The need for independence. The second most defining characteristic was the  high value that New  Zealander's put on their freedom. This is a country where you really can ski, see a play, go yachting, buy a designer frock, drink a Latte and go for a bush walk, conceivably all in the same day. Nothing is that far away.

3.     Masculinity of expression.  New Zealanders expect to be able to do manual tasks to a level of proficiency - woman as well as men - and admire such capability in others.

4.     Sport is their Therapist. Sport is a pervasive societal commodity in New Zealand.   Putting in the time and hard physical work without complaining - is gratified by a sporting achievement by  either sex.

5.     Friendship is their God. Mate ship is a key quotient of New Zealanders.

6.     Easy going or afraid of conflict? "She'll be right" and a reluctance to unnecessarily get  into conflict. New Zealanders hate it, they want to keep things cool. The easy going  Kiwi is more anxious about change  than he or she would probably like to think.

7.     Sense of humor.   It is understated, laconic humor; often used to defuse conflict. They generally prefer it to not be to direct or pointed. They like self-mockery, but gentler.

As a nation Kiwis are used to being told from on high that they are over indebted, big spending, house-mad,    underpaid, insufficiently productive, over-eating, sports   obsessed,   under investing, alcohol-abusing, nuclear-free, child beating, carbon-emitters.  In their  kinder moments  they  prefer to invoke  older notions  of  New Zealandness,  Kiwi ingenuity, anti- materialism, tolerance; and above all egalitarianism (whatever that means) and apparently the above  sums up  a Kiwi.

As far as the writer is concerned he is very happy to be called a Kiwi and a New  Zealander and is very proud of the achievements  of Team   New  Zealand  and all the sporting  codes.           Remember to vote in September  and  make a difference.

Go the All Blacks and Steel.