Exploration: New Zealand Culture

By nature, every country embraces a different culture. Part of the wonderment of traveling is experience a way of life different than your home, and perhaps learning from these changes. This is a collection of photographs that to me, represents the essence of NZ culture.

This is a photo of the city streets of Wellington. This is the capital city of a country, and the streets are this clean and clear of people. If I had to pick out one aspect of New Zealand's culture to bring back to America, it would be the constant respect of one's surroundings. From city streets to wildlife, New Zealanders constantly put in effort to maintain their environments.

The shell pictured here is called a paua. It is featured prominently in Maori culture, frequently used to decorate the walls of a Marae, or necklaces and earrings. The paua is also a protected animal, so its shell can only be taken sustainably, meaning when the creature dies and the shell naturally washes up to shore. This creature is only found in NZ, and therefore acts as an appropriate symbol for this remote island nation.

Unlike the US, New Zealand makes a lot of effort to incorporate Maori culture into its national identity. The Maori, or the indigenous people, celebrate Nature and express gratitude for being able to use natural resources. These photos were taken in the Takahanga Marae and in Orokonui, respectively. From a Maori home to a national ecosanctuary, these deified forces of nature strongly represent the indigenous culture.

These plants line the wall of the Christchurch Council building. After the earthquake in 2011, the city was rebuilt with the principle of sustainability in mind. There are plants incorporated in the most important building in the city, which makes the surroundings feel less like an urban area and more part of New Zealand's beautiful landscape. I also just loved how this photo came out.

My last cultural photo does not seem like it belongs in a cultural assignment, but I think it strongly fits New Zealand's natural identity. This is the night sky as seen from Mahu Whenua, the mountainous backcountry. The Southern Cross is near the middle of the photo. There is no light pollution or human interference, which made the night sky absolutely luminous. New Zealand culture focuses on preserving nature, but it also places emphasis on appreciating nature. Being out under this sky with a camera and the silent landscape is the best way to respect the environment and understand why every conservation effort is important. I am also just proud that I managed to play with the aperture and shutter speed enough to get a decently clear picture of the stars!