New Zealand has a very dynamic society. Their isolated location in the world, their place in the South Pacific, and their love of the outdoors, sport, and art make New Zealanders and their culture very unique.
The culture of New Zealand’s indigenous people, the Maori, affects the language, arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders. A range of odd objects helps define what it is to be a New Zealander, or 'Kiwi'. These wonderful but weird things are known as 'Kiwiana'.
Today's modern nation of New Zealand is still very young, colonized only in the 1850's. The political system is based on the Westminster parliamentary system inherited from Great Britain but has evolved in recent years to a more European styled party representation system.
- Today Auckland is the world's largest Polynesian city.
- New Zealanders have gained a reputation as informal, laid back and friendly people, with a proudly egalitarian culture.
- Since 1996 New Zealand's system of government changed to Mixed Member Proportional representations.
- Immigrants continue to make up a significant proportion of New Zealanders. Because this is still a very green, clean and spacious land, it is very sought after.
- The population lives harmoniously with everybody enjoying the same citizenship rights under the law.