|
|
NEW ZEALAND Aotearoa The original, Maori name for New Zealand is "Aotearoa" meaning Land of the Long White Cloud (or, according to your politics, "Land of the Wrong White Crowd" *g*). New Zealand is also known as "Kiwiland" and New Zealanders as "Kiwis". This is not because of the strange looking, hairy, green fruit that are brimful of nourishing vitamin C. Indeed, it's because of an even stranger, flightless, nocturnal bird, the Maori name for which is Kiwi. Although the Kiwi is only found in New Zealand, its shy nature and nocturnal habits do much to ensure that the vast majority of New Zealanders never see or hear a Kiwi outside of a zoo. In fact, Gloria has heard it said that the lamb would make a better mascot for New Zealand than the Kiwi. New Zealand has only around 3.5 million people, but it's home to more than 40 million sheep! |
Click for sound