NZ trivia

Barry

April 2

Today is Autism Awareness Day, but given my ambiguity towards what it stands for, and particularly for the role of Autism Speaks has in it, (See my previous post Coming soon: Autism Awareness Day (and month)) I'll devote this post to some trivia about Aotearoa that most people outside our archipelago are unaware of:

Name Origins: When Dutch explorers realised that New Zealand was not connected to South America, they renamed it from "Staten Landt" (South America) to "Nova Zeelandia" (New Zealand) after the Dutch province of Zeeland. The Māori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, which approximately translates to "Land of the Long White Cloud."
Southernmost Capital: Wellington, New Zealand, holds the distinction of being the southernmost national capital in the world, situated at latitude 41.2° South. It shares the title of the most remote capital with Canberra, Australia, over 1,243 miles (2000 km) away.
Transgender Trailblazer: Georgina Beyer, a former sex worker, became the world's first openly transgender Member of Parliament in 1999, serving two terms representing the conservative Wairarapa electorate from 1999 to 2006.
Ninety-Mile Beach: Despite its name, New Zealand's Ninety-Mile Beach is only 56 miles (90 km) long. Perhaps it's a case of poetic license!
Long Life Expectancy: New Zealanders enjoy one of the world's highest life expectancy rates: 82.3 years for females and 78.3 years for males.
Pizza Hut's Kiwi Connection: The mozzarella cheese used by Pizza Hut restaurants doesn't come from Italy. It's sourced from the Taranaki region of New Zealand.
Tallest Freestanding Structure: The Auckland City Sky Tower, soaring to 1,076 feet (328 m), holds the title of the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kiwis and Their Cars: New Zealanders love their wheels! With 2.5 million cars for 4 million people, we boast one of the highest car ownership rates globally.
Number-8 Wire Ingenuity: The saying goes that a New Zealander can fix anything with a length of Number-8 fencing wire. This reflects our spirit of inventiveness and resourcefulness. (Fun fact: Number-8 wire is commonly used for fences to keep cows and sheep in their paddocks.)
No Snakes Allowed: New Zealand is a paradise for ophidiophobes—there are no snakes in Aotearoa.
Sheep Rule!: New Zealand boasts the highest sheep-to-human ratio in the world. With approximately 5 sheep per person, there are over 25.3 million sheep grazing across the country However back in the 1980s when sheep were a more valuable commodity, we had a sheep-to-human ratio of 22:1 (more than 70 million sheep roamed our hills when the human population was a little under 3.5 million)
The Elvish Weather: In 2012, New Zealand broadcast the first weather report in Elvish, the language from the iconic Lord of the Rings movies. It's no surprise, considering our stunning landscapes served as Middle-earth in the film series.
Golf Enthusiasts: New Zealand takes golf seriously! It boasts over 400 golf courses, making it the country with the most golf courses per capita in the world. And no, I have never swung a golf club, nor do I ever intend to do so!
Bungee Jumping Origin: The adrenaline-pumping activity of bungee jumping has its roots in New Zealand. In 1988, AJ Hackett made the world's first commercial bungee jump from the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. Inspired by cultural "bungee" jumps in Vanuatu, he introduced this thrilling adventure to the world. And no, I have never bungee jumped, nor do I ever intend to do so.
The "Fake" Kiwi: Surprisingly, the kiwifruit (yes, the green one - or gold or red or purple) you slice open) is not native to New Zealand. It actually hails from China! However, it was named after the kiwi (the bird), and the fruit didn't arrive in New Zealand until the early 20th century. We knew it as the Chinese gooseberry until the 1960s. The name change came about when it started to become an export product, and producers realised that at the height of the cold war, the name was a significant hindrance in marketing.
Crystal-Clear Waters: Nelson's Blue Lake holds the title of the clearest lake in the world. Its visibility reaches an astonishing 80 meters deep. Located in Nelson Lakes National Park, this pristine lake is a natural wonder.
No Nuclear Ban: It's a common misconception that New Zealand is nuclear free. There is a complete ban on nuclear weapons including nuclear powered warships, but we have a law allowing high schools to hold one pound of uranium and one pound of thorium for nuclear experiments. However, any accidental nuclear explosion would result in a hefty $1,000,000 fine.
Coffee Culture: New Zealand has a vibrant and thriving coffee culture that's deeply ingrained in our daily life. Tourists and locals alike laud New Zealand's coffee for its high quality and superb taste. The debate over who invented the Flat White continues between New Zealand and Australia. Both claim credit, but every Kiwi knows the Aussies are wrong. Besides our Flat Whites boast a double shot of espresso coffee while the Australian version has just a single shot. Regardless, the Flat White has become a beloved coffee choice in New Zealand.
New Zealand has more highland pipe bands per capita than Scotland.