Live Like a Kiwi

Have you ever noticed that when you visit another country, often it’s not so much the famous tourist attractions but the little everyday things that are so fascinating?

From strange local lingo to idiosyncrasies in the food and even the way your coffee is served, it’s the little things in the life of the common person-on-the-street that can really give you a sense of a country’s special culture. We New Zealanders affectionately refer to ourselves as 'Kiwis', and we know that you're keen to come visit us and experience our unique Kiwi lifestyle – but why wait until you get here? We’ve put together a handy list of things you can do right now to get you started with a taste of Kiwi life. Plus we’ve also got some suggestions for things to do once you’re here to really experience life as a home-grown everyday Kiwi. So what are you waiting for? Put on your jandals, grab some mates and get stuck in – it’ll be sweet as!

On Top of the World

On 29 May 1953, a modest beekeeper from New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary, accompanied by a Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, became the first person to conquer Mt Everest. Not content with scaling the world’s highest mountain, Hillary also explored Antarctica, travelling to the South Pole in 1958, and is renowned for his humanitarian work in Nepal. He was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 16 July 1953, a member of the Order of New Zealand in 1987 and a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1995. ‘Sir Ed’ died in Auckland on 11 January 2008 and was farewelled at a state funeral – an unprecedented honour for a private citizen. His rugged portrait graces the NZ$5 note.