Could a food-passionate person like me survive in NZ?
About the sacrifice of living on an island
When starting out my research for this story, I had the idea of writing about the fishing industry in my mind. While reading about aquaculture and New Zealand’s exports — mussels (85%), salmon (11%) and oysters (4%) — I suddenly had to remember those huge oysters I had at a champagne brunch in Shanghai a few months ago. I started thinking more about goods and food from NZ. Soon I realized that this is going to be a text about food. Again, the oysters popped up in my mind… These meaty and delicious jumbos with a refined taste came straight from the north coast of New Zealand. Okay, now I’ve just outed myself as a food enthusiast!
What else have I been consuming from NZ? I’ve seen Kiwi apples (pardon the pun, can’t help it) in the supermarket a dozen times but never bought them. I just don’t know why I should, when there’s a variety of luscious German sorts. I have to confess I actually ate so many lamb filets at my favourite Greek restaurant (queries for name and place are welcome anytime!) that I suddenly gained the dreadful certainty of having a large stake in the decimation of New Zealand’s sheep population within the last few years. Due to the New Zealand Sectors Report 2014 sheep meat still is on position no. 2 of the exported food & beverage. Baa, meh!
Cheese was the next thing I thought of. Could also be the last thing I will be thinking of as a cheese adorer — but never mind! When I was in Australia I observed the same sad truth we’ve been discussing in class last week — cheese in New Zealand and Australia is everything but cheap. Yes, there is this affordable rubber type stuff in 4 pound bricks, which, melted might be evocative of its original, and they call it cheese. But it definitely isn’t the same thing which I’m talking of. If you want a good piece of cheese you will have to spend half of your week salary. And still New Zealand dairy farmers earn least in a global comparison. So why doesn’t government support dairy industry with subsidies? Probably because milk powder currently is no. 1 exported food, which contributes to New Zealand’s GDP. Of course, this is the more profitable option for the wealth of the country in terms of figures. But in the long run (in terms of cheese) isn’t it inevitable for Kiwis to migrate? Seriously, in the long run, not the figures alone do count. But this is how free economy works — may the strongest survive. I will stop going into more detail about subsidization and government intervening economy at this point because this would go beyond of the scope of this story…
Having read articles and my fellow students’ stories about New Zealand within the last weeks, I am absolutely envious of the Kiwis about their coast, untouched nature, well-adjusted, helpful and friendly people, endemic plants and animals, night sky (stars, stars, stars), richness and uniqueness of sceneries and their adorable accent, whereof most are typical for islands. But when I think of food, I am glad to be beneficiary of a local position right in the heart of Europe, where variety in food is (still) affordable. And as I am becoming a teacher, I guess the scenario where I am a millionaire living in New Zealand can be dropped; I reckon my only chance is to go on planning a trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud with a backpack full of cheese… just kidding. Even I can live without cheese for a few weeks (days). And in the last resort, there still are the sheep… and the oysters… ;-) Cheers!*
*I know I am being a little unfair, as NZ definitely has more to offer in terms of food. So please don’t take this too serious, I am just pulling legs. ;-)
http://www.aquaculture.org.nz/industry/overview/
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/nz-dairy-farmers-paid-least-in-world-2015090114
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/agriculture-horticulture-forestry.aspx
