Welcome to my blog!

Here, I will be sharing with all of you on New Zealand!

Flimed in New Zealand,
Country is famous for
The Lord of the Rings 

New Zealand is also known as Aotearoa (The land of the long white cloud) in the native Maori language. Have you wondered how the word "Aotearoa" came about? Ao is a cloud, dawn daytime or world; tea means white or clear, perhaps bright and roa means long or tall.

" It seems the voyagers to New Zealand were guided during the day by a long white cloud and at night by a long bright cloud. The more usual one tells how, when Kupe was nearing land after his long voyage, the first sign of land was the peculiar cloud hanging over it. Kupe drew attention to it and said “Surely is a point of land”. His wife, Hine-te-aparangi, called out “He ao! He ao!” (a cloud! a cloud!) Later Kupe decided to call the land after his wife's greeting to it, and the cloud which welcomed them. The name Aotea was given both to the Great Barrier and to the North Island, but the latter became Aotearoa, presumably because of its length." 

(An encylopaedia of New Zealand, 1966)

If you have not been to New Zealand, then you have to know that it is a country famously known for its beauty of natural landscapes that can be found throughout the entire country. Besides admiring these natural landscapes, you can also find yourself participating in the numerous adventure activities such as landscapes bungee jumping, river boating etc that can be found at some of these natural beauty spots. Not forgetting, the country is also very rich in the Maori cultures and it influences part of a New Zealander's daily lives. 

A video for you to enjoy!

100% Pure New Zealand (Advertisment)

Are you yearning to know more? Do keep reading as I will be covering more in depth on :

• The culture
• The traditions
• New Zealand's Indigenous groups
• Language in New Zealand
• Mode of education
• Leisure programmes 

Welcome back! 
Today, let us take a deeper look into New Zealand and see what has it to offer us. I will be sharing with you more on the the indigenous group - the Maoris and how their culture has become an influence in the daily lives of the people in New Zealand. 


Overview of New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island, and numerous smaller islands. The majority of New Zealand's population is of European descent with the indigenous Maori as the largest minority; followed by Asians and non- Maori Polynesians.

New Zealand is one of the most recently settled major landmasses. The first known settlers were the Eastern Polynesians who arrived by canoe in about AD 1250 -1300 according to most researchers. Over the following centuries, these settlers developed in to a distinct culture now known as Maori.

Languages

The official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori and Sign language. Maori became an official language in 1987 and New Zealand was the first country to declare Sign language as an official language in April 2006. The Te reo Maori is the native language which is related to Tahitian and Hawaiian and is only used in New Zealand. 


Education
New Zealand's academic model was developed after the British system and qualifications earned in a New Zealand education institute can be used around the world. They also have the credit base system for grading purposes. The education model can be seen below:

Education Level	Year	Age
Primary School	1	5
	2	6
	3	7
	4	8
	5	9
	6	10
	7	11
	8	12
Secondary School	9	13
	10	14
	11	15
	12	16
	13	17
	14	18

New Zealand has 8 major universities spread across the north and south islands that offers degrees in the arts and humanities, business and the sciences. The academic year for universities usually begin late February and ends in October. Just like polytechnics in Singapore, the academic years are split into 2 semesters and students get to enjoy a 2 week break in the middle of the semester as well as a 6 week break at the end of the year. Not forgetting, New Zealand also offers specialized courses in polytechnics.

Festivals 
There are many festivals that can be found throughout New Zealand and these festivals ranges from musical performances to the adventurous sports race. Instead of listing all the festivals, I will share with you on the more popular ones that you might be interested to know:

• Waitangi Day Celebrations, New Zealand 
• Ninety Mile Beach Lion Red Snapper Classic Event, New Zealand
• The Great New Zealand Trek Event, New Zealand
• New Zealand International Sevens, New Zealand
• Stroke & Stride Series, New Zealand
• Wild foods Festival, New Zealand 
• Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival, New Zealand 

The Maori 

History

Maori, one of the longest surviving indigenous people of New Zealand and they are Polynesians (Native of Polynesia). It is believed that the Maori migrated from Polynesia in canoes around the 9th century to 13th century AD. Today, the Maori population is at least 653,100 which is about 15% of the total population of 4.32 million in New Zealand.(estimated figures as of June 2009). Maori lives in all parts of New Zealand, but mostly in the North Islands where the climate is warmer.

The pictures below show the Maori tribes residing in the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Resources taken from : http://databook.co.nz/factfile/MaoriTribes.pdf

Maori culture & traditions

The All Blacks, New Zealand's
rugby team performing the haka

New Zealand's Culture and traditions is very diverse and is partly influenced by the Maori cultures. Before the whites came into New Zealand, all literature in Maori were orally passed down to succeeding generations. Some of which included many legends and songs (waiata). The "Haka", which is a war dance would be today's most recognized traditions passed down. The Haka is a dance that is performed before the onset of war by the Maori last century; however, the Haka dance today is performed before every game by the All Blacks, New Zealand's Rugby Team. There is a common misunderstanding that the Haka dance is just war dance. However, this dance may also be performed for visiting dignitaries or to honor local heroes, but they are used to celebrate great occasions or achievements within a group. Another form of the Haka dances known as the Kapahaka includes their female counterparts performing in it.

The traditional Maori welcome is called a powhiri, this involves a hongi which is a greeting that involves pressing noses as opposed to a kiss.

Another prominent feature of Maori culture are the striking tattoos that were worn on the faces of the Maori people. The full faced tattoo also known as "Moko" in the Maori tribe is mainly an activity for the males. The female version of the moko were restricted to the chin area, the upper lips and the nostrils. The Moko is similar to an identity among the tribes. For men, it shows their rank, status and ferocity. Maori people can tell the position of power and authority a Maori man is holding just by looking at the Moko. For an example, the chief of the tribe will wear a full faced Moko and a dog cloak and is immediately identified as a person of authority, being in charge of warriors. The traditional process of the Moko is generally a painful one as a bone chisel was used to engrave the marking. Not to mention that this form of culture is starting to disappear. However, in order to preserve this form of culture and their identity, the Maori people of today are choosing to receive their Moko.

The Moko (tattoo) generally has the following significance :
Upper forehead = rank
a) The left and right areas, above the eyes = position
b) The left and right areas, just beneath the eyes = genealogy
c) The far left and right areas, leading to the ear = marriage(s)
d) Left and right areas, between the nose and lips = signature
e) The left and right areas, just under the ear = profession
f) The left and right areas of the chin = power and standing
g) The left and right areas leading onto the neck = position at birth 


Another culture of the Maori is the traditional form of cooking called a Hangi, known as a feast cooked in the earth. Stones are heated in a fire inside a dug out pit and covered in cabbage leaves or watercress to stop the food from burning. Mutton, pork, chicken, potatoes and Kumera (a sweet potato) are then unusually lowered into the pit in a basket. The food is covered with Mutton cloth or similar and traditionally with flax. Finally earth is placed on top to keep in the steam. The food takes about 3 hours to cook. The Hangi is still popular and is a viable alternative to a weekend barbecue but in a more modern way. The unique taste of food cooked in a Hangi can best be described as steamed food with an earthen flavour.

Maori Celebrations

Waitangi Day 

Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

For some people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, and especially for Maori, it is the occasion for reflecting on the Treaty. Since the 1970s the style and mood of the commemorations on Waitangi Day have been influenced by the increasingly heated debate surrounding the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand.

Waitangi Day is recognised as New Zealand's national day, but the long-standing tensions associated with it are always likely to surface in one form or another. The date is an important marker in the country's history. Recognition of the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi as the nation's founding document will continue to encourage leaders, communities and individuals to mark the day in new ways.

(Waitangi Day, URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/waitangiday-introduction, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 17-Jan-2010)

Matariki (Maori New Year)
Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. The Maori New Year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. Matariki events are held throughout New Zealand depending on the local Iwi (tribes) and geography.

Matariki is also associated with the winter solstice and Matariki is celebrated at mid-winter with the stars set to align this year on 14th June 2010. Special celebrations around the country include:

• A Matariki Gourmet Hangi, hosted by popular Kiwi celebrity chef Peter Gordon who is of Māori descent, is a Matariki highlight. (The hangi is a traditional Māori way of cooking food in an earth oven).
• Northland Fire Shows by the community circus featuring fire sculptures, unicycling and pipe bands.
• Plus festivals throughout New Zealand featuring kapa haka, education, kite workshops, art displays, Maori kai (food) stalls, star-gazing and storytelling.

(Matariki, Url: http://www.tourism.net.nz/featured-events/2010/maori-new-year.html, 9 Dec 2010)

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Good to see you again!

In this post, I will be touching on disneyization in New Zealand and also how the growth of tourism in New Zealand had brought about changes to the society, economy and environment.

Disneyization in NZ

What is "disneyization"?

Disneyization is a term to imply the homogenization of consumption, merchandising, and emotional labour. It can be used more broadly to describe the process of stripping a real place or event of its original character and repackaging it in a sanitized format. References to anything negative are removed, and the facts are watered down with the intent of making the subject more pleasant and easily grasped.

(Really Authentic? Erin, 2010)

The 4 dimensions of Disneyization include:

• theming
• hybrid consumption
• merchandising
• performative labour

Cultural Tourism in NZ

Cultural tourism today has become increasingly popular and it is also a tourism sector that can be benefiting to the country's economy. The Maori people have existed many years back and the uniqueness of the Maori culture today is the reason why tourists visit New Zealand. New Zealand being a country with little heritage for cultural tourism to exist, they are looking at another perspective which is to showcase the Maori people in their country. This is so as to strive to be a cultural destination that people would visit in the near future. Hence the tourism board of New Zealand is working closely with the Maori tribes to put up cultural shows for visitors. One of which is the Tamaki Maori Village which I will be discussing on below.

Tamaki Maori Village - Rotorua

Visiting the Tamaki Maori is one of the "must do things" when you are in Rotorua. The Tamaki Maori Village is a replica of a pre - European Maori village where visitors are introduced to Maori customs and traditions. Visitors get to watch and experience Maori cultural performances and try out the Hangi feasts and view traditional arts and crafts. Below is an extract from a travel website telling visitors what they can expect when at the village :

"We are led by the storyteller through this 3.5 hour evening encounter. Share in ancient ceremonies of welcome and of farewell and experience the lifestyles and warrior traditions of pre-European times. Journey of Ages tells the story of Uitara IV’s campaign for a place within a rebel warrior cult, destined to change Aotearoa forever. It culminates in a traditional farewell feast of earth-cooked hangi, as Uitara and other characters you have met prepare to leave with their new found leader. An amazing re-enactment – based on actual events from our history, with real characters, traditional arts & crafts, powerful song & dance and authentic Hangi Feast."

(Extracted from: http://www.info-rotorua.com/Tamaki-Maori-Village/)

"After dinner, we wandered around the souvenir shop, and bought a wood carving for a price that was in line with the prices we’d seen at the shops in Rotorua...The hangi feast itself was buffet style, served in a large hall with several lines which were all the same. It was well organized and there was lots of food for everyone. The food was good, and there were demonstrations of how the food was made outside the main hall."

(Extracted from: http://www.ianandwendy.com/travel/new-zealand/rotorua/disneyfied-maori-culture-at-tamaki-maori-village-hangi.htm)

It can be seen that the Tamaki Maori Village is being disneyfied as it fulfills the performative labour, theming and merchandising section go the Disney model. Performances are scripted to ensure the standard operating procedures (SOP) as these performances are performed daily for visitors. The Hangi Feast is originally a traditional method of cooking by the Maori people however mentioned in the extract "The hangi feast itself was buffet style, served in a large hall with several lines which were all the same"..  Also, it has a souvenir shop that sells merchandises with the village logo on the product. Not forgetting, it is a village that is themed under Maori culture before the arrival of the Europeans. Hence, the question of the authenticity of the heritage village.

Authentic? Not Authentic?

I would say that the need to suit the demand of visitors to the heritage village has caused it to loose its authenticity as everything is becoming standardized. These dance performances hold a significant meaning to the Maori people and by doing it every day has cause it to become a routine where people then forget it's significance to their culture. The Hangi Feast is originally a traditional method of cooking by the Maori people however mentioned in the extract "The hangi feast itself was buffet style, served in a large hall with several lines which were all the same" Hence, it is no longer authentic as the idea of the Hangi feast was for people to gather around the earthen cooking pit and feast together. 

Globalization in NZ

The growth of tourism in New Zealand is due to Globalization and this has led to the changes in the social cultural, economy as well as environmental aspects . 

Some positive changes in the context of social cultural would be that it helps to re- evaluate the culture and traditions that the people of New Zealand practice. The practices of the Maori culture and traditions were starting to disappear and when New Zealand realized that the Maori was an important contributing factor to tourism in New Zealand, it was decided that promoting the Maori people as a cultural experience would help to sustain the culture and traditions. Tourism also helps to encourage local involvement and boost the local community's pride in the country as New Zealand is now more aware of the value of their cultural traditions as well as their heritage sites. The growth of tourism would also mean more visitors to the country and this will allow more people to respect and understand  more on New Zealand's unique culture and traditions of the Maori; hence being a force for peace. However, with this increasing growth of tourism has also brought about negative impacts such as the loss of indigenous identity and values due to commofication, standardization of traditional practices, as well as loss of authenticity.

As for the Economy, the growth of tourism has led to an increase in 2009. However, the total expenditure fell by 5.4% in 2010 despite the increase in visitors. Hence tourism in New Zealand this year is bad.

Tourist expenditure	2008	2009	2010
Visitors	2,238,860	2,201,887	2,297309
Total Expenditure	6,027,894,110	6,102,382,429	5,772,575,082
% Change	+ 0.1%	+ 1.2%	- 5.4%

(An extract from:  IVS online Data )

Lastly, the growth of tourism in New Zealand may cause environmental degradation to occur if not taken care by both visitors and operators. Visitors are concern about the decline in natural resources in New Zealand and the garbage that are left behind after visiting an attraction. Tour operators of New Zealand can help to play a part by hiring eco friendly transportations and even book visitors into eco friendly hotels that recycles. Another concern on the environment would be the carbon emission produced by planes as the only way to get to New Zealand is by plane. This might affect the tourism of New Zealand in the near future as people of today are getting more concern about the environment.

Hence, the growth of tourism may bring about more negative impacts as compared to positive impacts to New Zealand.

Look out for the next post where I will be discussing on whether tourism is the culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions! See You!

Welcome Back!

Culprit or not? 

What is cultural commodification?

It is basically packaging culture for sale, making culture into a commodity. An example would be the establishment of historical parks and the development of a tourist industry around the park.   

After analyzing the positive and the negative impacts that tourism has brought about in New Zealand's social culture, economic and environment, I strongly agree that tourism is a contributing factor in commodifying cultures and traditions in New Zealand.

The Maori culture was once an untouched culture in New Zealand. However, due to the increasing demand for indigenous tourism in New Zealand, more and more travel packages to New Zealand are including visits to heritage villages and other kinds of cultural destination that features the Maori heritage. Tourists who visit Maori cultural site would also like to bring home local Maori products in memory of the visit and hence these demands lead to the commodification of the Maori culture into products. Hence, souvenir shops are set up in heritage villages to suit the demands of tourist where tourist can buy local handmade crafts and small replicas of the Moko back to their home country. 

Hence, I would conclude that tourism is the culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions 

List of references:

• http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/aotearoa/1
• http://www.tourism.net.nz
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_New_Zealand 
• http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/culture/maori/
• http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm
• http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/haka-cultural-dance-in-new-zealand/
• http://www.the-complete-new-zealand-holiday-guide.com/new-zealand-culture-3.html
• http://www.tourism.net.nz/featured-events/2010/maori-new-year.html
• http://www.2camels.com/festivals/new-zealand.php
• http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/about-us/100percent-pure-history
• http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/new-zealand/new-zealand-festivals-%26-events/air-new-zealand-fashion-week.html
• http://welltodoliving.com/2010/06/really-authentic/
• http://www.info-rotorua.com/Tamaki-Maori-Village/
• http://www.discovernewzealand.com/index.cfm/shorttoursauckland/
• http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/markets-and-stats/other-research/visitor-experience-monitor/environment
• http://www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/Data--Analysis/International-tourism/International-Visitors/IVS-Online-Databases/