They were 3.6 meters (12 feet) tall and weighed about 230 kg (about 500 pounds). We greet people by pressing our noses and foreheads together. Kiwis are incredible people, and immensely proud of their own backyard. This has happened due to pollution from humans, unfortunately. 1-5 Interesting Facts About New Zealand 1. New Zealand’s culture is inextricably linked with the fact of its Māori heritage, and chances are you’ve seen things like the haka or been welcomed with a friendly “kia ora!”. It’s only accessible from October to May, and even then, only during the 1 ½ hours before or 1 hour after low tide. Means ‘thank you’. New Zealand many don’t know is that it’s not just called that! These tiny, family-owned grocery stores emerged during the early 1900s, and were originally known as ‘dairy produce sellers’. It’s a country that many love to visit time and time again, but no matter how often you travel there, there always seems to be something new and fascinating to discover… That’s why Silver Fern Holidays sought out 20 really interesting facts about New Zealand that you probably didn’t know. New Zealanders are very welcoming and very compassionate people. Its closest neighbour is Australia,... General Facts about New Zealand. It is thought they evolved to occupy a habitat and lifestyle that elsewhere in the world would be filled by a mammal, and their one-off evolutionary design holds all sorts of biological records. So remember this fact about New Zealand and Kiwis, because we’re pretty easy going – until you disrespect our land! By. Sharp snowy peaks, rocky shores, and pastures create a majestic landscape. New Zealand has more than 50 volcanoes, some of which are still active today. We as people are very relaxed, take everything in our stride and try not to get too worked up over things. James Cameron (who is the director of Titanic, Avatar & lots of more) has a house in Lake Ferry as he says he finds most of his inspiration writing there as it’s so peaceful. 8. Usually, fish or chicken is cooked with vegetables such as carrots, kumara (sweet potato) are cooked in a pit which is put on top of hot stones and then covered with dirt to trap the heat. What’s tramping? One of my favourite cool things about New Zealand is the haka, which. Our seasons are very recognisable unlike most other countries around the world. New Zealand is a country consisting of islands in the south-western Pacific. While most countries have a specific weather pattern, in New Zealand we really do have 4 seasons and we can have them all in one day too. 27. Because of New Zealand’s small population, pastoral economy and relatively isolated location, you’ll find that most Kiwis embrace a laid-back attitude that lets them cruise through life without stressing over the little things. James Cameron (who is the director of Titanic, Avatar & lots of more) has a house in Lake Ferry as he says he finds most of his inspiration writing there as it’s so peaceful. New Zealand is a welcoming, diverse country with a history of Māori, European, Pacific Island, and Asian immigration. New Zealand has a lot of rules and some very strict ones. The Mickey Mouselook-alike in the animal kingdom is found only in New Zealand. Here are a few of the most fascinating. In 2015 New Zealand tried to change their flag but with most of the country not on board, the flag never got changed. First European explorer Abel Tasman gave this name it after the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. Many say the union jack doesn’t represent our country and one of the main flags that were up for grabs was the silver fern, which is a native New Zealand plant. If you’ve never visited New Zealand, it’s time to get educated about Māori culture. 8. It used to be 20 sheep for every person, but recent statistics show that... 2. 15. New Zealand was explored by a Dutch Man Abel Tasman. If you’re from America, the UK or pretty much anywhere else in the world, it’ll probably seem like the Kiwis you meet aren’t even speaking English. Image Source: Josiah Martin. Maori arrived in New Zealand, then known as The Land of the Long White Cloud, around AD950 in canoes.