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| Map of New Zealand |
Capital: Wellington
Currency: NZ Dollar (NZD)
Population: 4,173,460
Geographic
New Zealand consists of 2 narrow islands and a number of smaller islands, located near the centre of the water hemisphere. The North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait, 20 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. The total land area, 268,021 square kilometres (103,483 sq mi),is a little less than that of Italy or Japan, and a little more than the United Kingdom.
1. North Island
(Te Ika a Maui, in Maori)
Consists of high volcanic core, hot springs and geysers.
Main attractions: Auckland, Rotorua, other areas (white water rafting at Bay of Plenty, and Wellinton which consists of 300 cafes)
2.South Island
(Te Wai Pounamu, in Maori)
Consists of high, snow-capped mountains ranges(Sugarloafs) and well-watered forested areas.
Main attractions: Christchurch (which is the largest city in NZ), Mount Cook (Highest mountain in NZ), Fiordland National Park, other areas (cruises, diving and kayaking are common activities, and Queenstown where people can bungee jump or stay in luxurious resorts)
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| Maori man performing the Haka |
The first settlers of NZ were the Polynesian forebears of today's Maori. Exactly where in the east Polynesia did they come from?- the Cook Islands, Tahiti, the Marquesas?
New Zealand's Tangata Whenua (People of the Land)
New Zealand's indigenous people came from tropical Polynesia more than 1000 years ago. Learning to live in New Zealand shaped their thinking and their beliefs until they became Te Māori, a race clearly distinct from other Polynesian cultures.
The Maori culture was a highly sophisticated culture which centered upon village life and complex trading and waring relationships among the 53 tribes.
The Maori numbered approximately 115,000 when New Zealand was “discovered” by the western world, primary through the sailing journeys of Captain Cook in 1769. He made several journeys to
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| The Maori children |
LANGUAGES
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| Pie chart of languages spoken in NZ |
Until 1987, English was the New Zealand's only official language, and remains predominant in most settings. Maori became an official language under the 1987 Maori Language Act and New Zealand Sign Language under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. Maori is now an official second language and a system of Maori schools has now been created. Curriculum materials have been
translated and aspects of the Maori culture are taught throughout all of New Zealand’s school. The two official spoken languages are the most widely used; English is spoken by 98% of the population and Maori by 4.1%. Samoan is the most widely spoken non-official language (2.3%), followed by French, Hindi, Yue and Northern Chinese.
In New Zealand, just like in Australia have certain 'lingos' that foreigners might not understand. In the case of NZ, this 'lingo' is called the Kiwi-ese.
translated and aspects of the Maori culture are taught throughout all of New Zealand’s school. The two official spoken languages are the most widely used; English is spoken by 98% of the population and Maori by 4.1%. Samoan is the most widely spoken non-official language (2.3%), followed by French, Hindi, Yue and Northern Chinese.
In New Zealand, just like in Australia have certain 'lingos' that foreigners might not understand. In the case of NZ, this 'lingo' is called the Kiwi-ese.
If a Kiwi asks you to pop down to the ‘dairy’, they’re not suggesting you milk a cow, they’re talking about going to what you might know as the corner shop or convenience store. Don’t let New Zealand slang confuse you – use the Kiwi-English translation guide below and ‘get to grips’ with basic Kiwi-ese.
Bach A basic holiday home, classically found at the beach or by a lake
Beehive The hive-shaped executive wing of New Zealand’s Parliamentary Buildings
Bloke The common man, the ordinary guy in the street
Boy-racer Young person in a fast car, usually with the stereo ‘cranked up’ (‘loud’!)
Capsicum Bell pepper
Cheers Often used in place of ‘thank you’
Chilly bin Polystyrene box to keep food and beer cold
Chippies Potato chips or crisps
Chippy Builder
Choice Great, excellent: “That sports car is choice!”
Chocka Full
Crook Sick
Cuppa Cup of tea
Cuzzies Relatives
Dairy Convenience store, sometimes called 'the corner dairy'
Footy Rugby, the national obsession
Gumboots Waterproof rubber boots, also known as ‘gummies’
Haere mai Welcome
Hangi Traditional Maori cooking method using an underground earth oven
Hard case Clown, witty person
Heaps A lot
Hokey pokey New Zealand’s favourite ice cream flavour, vanilla with toffee bits
Jandals Open-topped rubber sandals, known elsewhere as thongs or flip-flops
Kia ora Hello
Kiwi A flightless bird or a person from New Zealand
Kiwifruit Small, fuzzy, brown-skinned and green-fleshed fruit
Knackered A tired person ("I've been at work all day and I'm knackered!") or a broken thing ("My car won't start, I think the engine's knackered").
Lollies Candy or sweets
Loo Toilet, also known as a ‘dunny’
Marge Margarine
Mate A close friend
Mate’s rates A discount for a friend (or the kind of good discount you’d give a friend)
Motu Island
OE Overseas Experience
Pakeha New Zealander of European descent
Pavlova iconic New Zealand dessert is a baked meringue topped with cream and fruit
Pinky Bar Chocolate bar with marshmallow centre
Pommie Someone from Britain
Shout Paying for something on behalf of others (often a round of drinks or dinner)
Puke Hill
Strapped for cash Short of money
Stuck in To ‘get stuck in’ is to start working on something
Sunnies Sunglasses
Sweet/Sweet as Great, excellent (“This concert is going to be sweet as!”)
Ta Thanks
Takeaway Food taken ‘to go’, often fast food such as fish 'n' chips
Thanks Often used in place of ‘please’, as in “I’ll have a bottle of orange juice, thanks.”
Tiki tour Scenic route
Togs Bathing suit
Tomato sauce Ketchup
Ute Utility vehicle
Varsity University
Whanga Harbour, bay
Wop-wops In the middle of nowhere
Yonks Forever, a long time
Beehive The hive-shaped executive wing of New Zealand’s Parliamentary Buildings
Bloke The common man, the ordinary guy in the street
Boy-racer Young person in a fast car, usually with the stereo ‘cranked up’ (‘loud’!)
Capsicum Bell pepper
Cheers Often used in place of ‘thank you’
Chilly bin Polystyrene box to keep food and beer cold
Chippies Potato chips or crisps
Chippy Builder
Choice Great, excellent: “That sports car is choice!”
Chocka Full
Crook Sick
Cuppa Cup of tea
Cuzzies Relatives
Dairy Convenience store, sometimes called 'the corner dairy'
Footy Rugby, the national obsession
Gumboots Waterproof rubber boots, also known as ‘gummies’
Haere mai Welcome
Hangi Traditional Maori cooking method using an underground earth oven
Hard case Clown, witty person
Heaps A lot
Hokey pokey New Zealand’s favourite ice cream flavour, vanilla with toffee bits
Jandals Open-topped rubber sandals, known elsewhere as thongs or flip-flops
Kia ora Hello
Kiwi A flightless bird or a person from New Zealand
Kiwifruit Small, fuzzy, brown-skinned and green-fleshed fruit
Knackered A tired person ("I've been at work all day and I'm knackered!") or a broken thing ("My car won't start, I think the engine's knackered").
Lollies Candy or sweets
Loo Toilet, also known as a ‘dunny’
Marge Margarine
Mate A close friend
Mate’s rates A discount for a friend (or the kind of good discount you’d give a friend)
Motu Island
OE Overseas Experience
Pakeha New Zealander of European descent
Pavlova iconic New Zealand dessert is a baked meringue topped with cream and fruit
Pinky Bar Chocolate bar with marshmallow centre
Pommie Someone from Britain
Shout Paying for something on behalf of others (often a round of drinks or dinner)
Puke Hill
Strapped for cash Short of money
Stuck in To ‘get stuck in’ is to start working on something
Sunnies Sunglasses
Sweet/Sweet as Great, excellent (“This concert is going to be sweet as!”)
Ta Thanks
Takeaway Food taken ‘to go’, often fast food such as fish 'n' chips
Thanks Often used in place of ‘please’, as in “I’ll have a bottle of orange juice, thanks.”
Tiki tour Scenic route
Togs Bathing suit
Tomato sauce Ketchup
Ute Utility vehicle
Varsity University
Whanga Harbour, bay
Wop-wops In the middle of nowhere
Yonks Forever, a long time
EDUCATION
The Ministry of Education is the Government's lead advisor for the New Zealand education system.
Levels of Education
1. Early Childhood education
-Playcentre (Birth yo School Age_
-Kindergarten (Age 3 to 5)
-Kohanga Reo (immersed infants in Māori from infancy to school age)
2. Compulsory (Primary and Secondary)
-Primary and Secondary education is compulsory for students between the ages of 6 and 16 (15 with parental and school permission), and is a right until the end of the calendar year following the student's 19th birthday
-New Zealand has recently moved towards a system where school levels are identified by the year number.
-There are 15 year levels - numbered 0 through to 14
3. Tertiary Education
-Universities
-Colleges
-Polytechnics
-Private Training Establishments (their purpose is to provide training often not available in the public sector)
-Wananga (provides education in a Maori cultural context)
In summary, this is how the education system should look like in a form of a table.
In recent years, the introduction of Maori language nests (kohanga reo) has received the Maori language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encouraged to speak Maori. Primary and secondary schools build on this early immersion by including Maori in the curriculum. This curriculum covers the areas of geography, math and English language arts. It uses photographs to introduce the students to both New Zealand and aspects of the Maori culture.
In relation the above paragraph, almost everything that is done in the curriculum has to incorporate some sort of Maori element into it. For without it, future generations might not come to know of this culture and way of life. Hence, there is a possibility that the Maori culture will simply diminish right before their very eyes. Educating younger New Zealanders and incorporating the Maori culture into their curriculum in their various schools is an excellent way of saving the Maori culture as it raises awareness and appreciation for them.
New Zealand vs. Singapore
My godmother, Shirleen Oh, lives in Wellington, NZ, and she has expressed her views on the education system in NZ vs. Singapore.
She said, "Personally I like it here better. Kids are encouraged to better themselves in any area that they're good at. So if you're not very good academically, but very good at sports or in the arts (music, etc), these strengths are encouraged instead of you being written off as not very bright or clever, or a lost cause.
Also, they don't do the type of streaming that they do in Spore. Education is important, but its approached here in a slightly more easy pace. I find that students don't get stressed out the way they do in Spore, and yet, many do just as well.
Students in their teens also mature earlier here in terms of the direction they want to take in life. Your dreams and hopes are encouraged and supported here at an earlier age, whereas in Spore, its all study, study, study."
Most schools cater for either primary, intermediate, or secondary school students:
- Years 1–6: Primary School (Ages 5–11)
- Years 7–8: Intermediate School (Ages 10–13)
- Years 9–13: Secondary School (Ages 12–18)
1. Early Childhood education
-Playcentre (Birth yo School Age_
-Kindergarten (Age 3 to 5)
-Kohanga Reo (immersed infants in Māori from infancy to school age)
2. Compulsory (Primary and Secondary)
-Primary and Secondary education is compulsory for students between the ages of 6 and 16 (15 with parental and school permission), and is a right until the end of the calendar year following the student's 19th birthday
-New Zealand has recently moved towards a system where school levels are identified by the year number.
-There are 15 year levels - numbered 0 through to 14
3. Tertiary Education
-Universities
-Colleges
-Polytechnics
-Private Training Establishments (their purpose is to provide training often not available in the public sector)
-Wananga (provides education in a Maori cultural context)
In summary, this is how the education system should look like in a form of a table.
| Year | Old system | Curriculum/Qualification Level | School type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | New Entrants | Level 1 | Primary school | Primary School | Composite school | |
| 1 | Junior 1/Primer 1 | |||||
| 2 | Junior 2/Primer 2 | |||||
| 3 | Standard 1 | Level 1-2 | ||||
| 4 | Standard 2 | Level 2 | ||||
| 5 | Standard 3 | Level 2-3 | ||||
| 6 | Standard 4 | Level 3 | ||||
| 7 | Form 1/Standard 5 | Level 3-4 | Intermediate school | Junior secondary school | ||
| 8 | Form 2/Standard 6 | Level 4 | ||||
| 9 | Form 3 | Level 4-5 | Secondary school | |||
| 10 | Form 4 | Level 5 | ||||
| 11 | Form 5 | Level 5-6 / Level 1 | Senior secondary school | |||
| 12 | Form 6 | Level 6-7 / Level 2 | ||||
| 13 | Form 7 | Level 7-8 / Level 3 | ||||
| 14 | – | |||||
In recent years, the introduction of Maori language nests (kohanga reo) has received the Maori language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encouraged to speak Maori. Primary and secondary schools build on this early immersion by including Maori in the curriculum. This curriculum covers the areas of geography, math and English language arts. It uses photographs to introduce the students to both New Zealand and aspects of the Maori culture.In relation the above paragraph, almost everything that is done in the curriculum has to incorporate some sort of Maori element into it. For without it, future generations might not come to know of this culture and way of life. Hence, there is a possibility that the Maori culture will simply diminish right before their very eyes. Educating younger New Zealanders and incorporating the Maori culture into their curriculum in their various schools is an excellent way of saving the Maori culture as it raises awareness and appreciation for them.
New Zealand vs. Singapore
My godmother, Shirleen Oh, lives in Wellington, NZ, and she has expressed her views on the education system in NZ vs. Singapore.
She said, "Personally I like it here better. Kids are encouraged to better themselves in any area that they're good at. So if you're not very good academically, but very good at sports or in the arts (music, etc), these strengths are encouraged instead of you being written off as not very bright or clever, or a lost cause.
Also, they don't do the type of streaming that they do in Spore. Education is important, but its approached here in a slightly more easy pace. I find that students don't get stressed out the way they do in Spore, and yet, many do just as well.
Students in their teens also mature earlier here in terms of the direction they want to take in life. Your dreams and hopes are encouraged and supported here at an earlier age, whereas in Spore, its all study, study, study."
I couldn't agree with her more. It's true, the pace in terms of education in NZ is much slower and easier whereas in Singapore, the government stress' a lot on the point of education and how important it is to be educated.
Very helpful. For more information about Auckland, visit website.
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