The Community Life in New Zealand
Like America or Australia, New Zealand had been a colony with indigenous people before European settlers arrived. Another commonality is that it came to armed conflicts like in Australia or in America between indigenous people and European settlers. Most of those conflicts evolved because of territorial disputes.
Looking at the situation in New Zealand today, the Maoris have a different position in society than the Native Americans in America.
Because of the higher amount of indigenous people living NZ (14.6% indigenous people of 4.4 million people), the situation there seems totally different compared to the 1.99% indigenous people of 318.9 inhabitants of the USA.
A huge difference is that Maori traditions are still a part of the Kiwis’ (New Zealanders’) everyday life. A very familiar tradition is the Haka which is performed before every national sports game. Another very popular tradition is the Maori greeting, the “hongi”, which means pressing one’s nose and forehead (at the same time) to another person at an encounter. When for example a president from another country arrives in New Zealand, he is welcomed by this tradition. A welcome ceremony for the German chancellor in the United States with indigenous people seems unimaginable. The Maori culture was and still is a part of New Zealand. Languages and traditions are celebrated. It is also impressive that Kiwis with European roots take part in traditions like the haka.
It looks like as if everything would be peaceful on this island at the end of the world. But actually it is not: Maori are facing many problems. Compared to other cultures living in New Zealand, Maoris have a much higher unemployment rate and drug problems are much more common among Maoris.
To put it in a nutshell: although New Zealand is a very progressive country, it also faces problems, which the government of New Zealand is working on.
