K - Kiwi

Kia Ora

It doesn’t matter where I live, I’ll always be a Kiwi. Even if one day I do become a citizen of another nation, I will still support the All Blacks, the Silver Ferns and celebrate our unique two degrees of separation uniqueness. Despite starting my life in the Waikato, I will always be a Hurricanes, Lions, Pulse and Saints supporter. 

I feel at home where I live right now, but I miss the little things. News broadcasts which are actually news, not tabloid misinformation constantly creating a mood of impending disaster. People who tell it like it is, without making it all about them. Watching rugby instead of league and AFL with over excited commentators. Spontaneous roadtrips and changing scenery.

It is funny, looking in from the outside to be able to see that all the things that felt like they were being done the wrong way, were actually world leading. Great ideas and models, just hindered by an economy which hadn’t invested in the areas of need for a long time. A strong economy striving to be a free market but not looking after the basics; a strong economy but still a tiny country not paying the people a compelling salary to stay and follow their passion.

Anyway, this isn’t meant to be political. It's about that Kiwi essence, that pride we all take in our country. The team of 5 million who can do anything if we put out minds to it. The team who collectively hold their breath in the last minutes of a Rugby World Cup Final, or Bledisloe Cup match and particularly anytime we play Australia. The way we embrace other cultures, how we immerse ourselves in Tikanga and respect each other and our differences. That doesn’t happen in other countries, well not in the same way.

It got me thinking. You can take the Kiwi out of the country, but you can’t take it out of the person. Where did it come from, that sense of belonging ? How long did it take for our ancestors (and here I am talking about those of us whose ancestors came on sailing ships and airplanes, more than the Tangata Whenua) to feel they were New Zealanders rather than English, Scots, Irish etc. What contributed to build that fierce pride, that Kiwi ingenuity ? It was definitely strong when our ANZACs joined WW1. Was it already building in 1905 when the Originals toured England and beat Devon in their first match 55-4 ? Did it begin even earlier, borne out of disasters or through the sheer determination of those early settlers to build a new life in a far flung colony ?

Wherever it started, and however it started, it has become part of us all. Right now we all need to remember we have it, we are all on the same team – even if we aren’t all on the same part of the planet.

Kia kaha Kiwis.