Why would you call yourself after an almost blind and flightless bird?
Kiwi, kiwi or kiwi???
When you think about a kiwi the common european person would think about the kiwifruit. However, the original name of the kiwifruit is “chinese gooseberry” and kiwifruit just naturalized from time to time.
The second thought which would spring to someone’s mind could be, that kiwi is a common nickname for New Zealander’s. But why is that? A kiwi is a bird native to New Zealand. Kiwi’s are the smallest ratite birds in the world and are special because of their inablity to fly and almost blindness. But why would you call yourself after this unspectacluar and clumsy bird?
As the national symbol for New Zealand, the kiwi bird was part of the regimental sign on the uniforms of New Zealand’s army since the late 19th century. During World War I the nickname “kiwi” was given to every soldier who had worn the kiwi bird on their uniform. Later on, this term was spread to name every New Zealander as a kiwi.
Besides the inhabitants various New Zealand instituions or other things, have the name kiwi in their name or in their logo.
Even though, the nationalanimal of New Zealand is not that impressive like a lion or the like, New Zealanders are very proud on their clumy nationalbird. Since kiwibirds are threatended by domnesticated mammals like dogs or cats or humans, they are especially protected and special sanctuaries are set up to prevent their extinction.
As the national symbol for New Zealand, the kiwi bird was part of the regimental sign on the uniforms of New Zealand’s army. So everybody who had worn this sign was named as a “kiwi”. Later on, this term was spread to name every New Zealander as a kiwi. Even though the bird is not that spectacular as a nationalanimal than a lion or the like, people in New Zealand are proud on their little clumsy bird.
