Otorohanga’s newest visitor attraction, the Ed Hillary Walkway, is a fitting tribute to that most iconic of Kiwi heroes, Sir Edmund Hillary.

It’s an architecturally striking, gallery-style arcade connecting Otorohanga’s main shopping street (Maniapoto Street/State Highway 3) and the heritage-listed Otorohanga Railway Station (now the home of Origin Coffee Roaster & Espresso Bar).

The origins of the haka are an intrinsic part of Maori culture deeply rooted in the mists of time. New Zealand has grown up with the haka since first encounters between Maori and early European explorers, missionaries and settlers.

While recent tradition suggests the haka was exclusively the domain of men, legends and history reflect a different story. Indeed, the story of the most famous haka, Ka mate, was about the power of female sexuality.

To most people, the haka is a war dance. This is understandable, as many have seen the haka performed as a pre-battle challenge to their opposition. But the word ‘haka’ simply means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance. While they are the correct terms to associate with the haka, they do not do justice to the life force, the actions, words, rhythm, themes, meaning, style or history that are the haka.

In pre-European and early contact times, the haka was used as a part of the formal process when two parties came together. In short, there was a challenge from the tangata whenua (tribe from that area) followed by a response from the manuhiri (visiting party). Following speeches by both parties the encounter concluded with a tangata whenua performing a haka peruperu and the visitors responding with their own haka.

The elaborate form of the traditional challenge is not often seen these days. It is largely reserved for special occasions such as visits by senior dignitaries. However, the principles that underpin the traditional rituals are still retained in a modern form.

New Zealanders have grown accustomed to seeing the haka performed by sporting teams. They thrill to the spectacle of the All Blacks forming ranks prior to kick off. The modern All Blacks perform the haka with passion and pride.

Today, the New Zealand Army also has its own unique haka, begun and finished by our female soldiers, acknowledging their special place in the armed forces. The haka has become a unique form of national expression.

The word ‘bungee’ first appeared around 1930 as the name for a rubber eraser. The word ‘bungy’ (as used by A. J. Hackett) is defined as: "Kiwi slang for an Elastic Strap". Cloth-covered rubber cords with hooks on the ends have been available for decades under the generic name ‘bungee cords’.

In the 1950s David Attenborough and a BBC film crew brought back footage of the "Land divers" of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. Young men, with vines tied to their ankles, jumped from tall wooden platforms as a test of their courage and passage into manhood.

The first modern bungy jumps were made in 1979 by the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club from the 250-foot Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. The jumpers were arrested shortly after, but continued with jumps in the U.S.A. from the Golden Gate and Royal Gorge bridges. This last jump was sponsored by and televised on the American program, “That's Incredible” and spread the concept worldwide. By 1982 dare-devils were jumping from mobile cranes and hot air balloons and putting on commercial displays.

Commercial bungy jumping began with the New Zealander, A.J. Hackett, who made his first jump from Auckland's Greenhithe Bridge in 1986. During the following years Hackett performed a number of jumps from bridges and other structures, including the Eiffel Tower. He built up public interest in the sport and opened the world's first permanent commercial bungy site, the Kawarau Bridge Bungy, at Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand. Hackett remains one of the largest commercial operators with operations in several countries.

Despite the inherent danger of jumping from a great height, millions of successful jumps have taken place since 1980. Bungy operators follow strict safety standards and double check calculations and fittings for every jump. A J. Hackett’s world-renowned ‘Bungy’ brand has become a New Zealand icon and exemplifies all things ‘Kiwi’.

Several million people have done a bungy jump in the past 20 years. Have you?

New Zealand – the first country in the world to give women the vote

Kate Sheppard was born Catherine Wilson Malcolm in Liverpool, England on 10 March, 1847. She spent her early years in London, Nairn (Scotland) and Dublin. She was an extremely gifted child, fortunate enough to receive an excellent education - her later writings reflect an extensive knowledge of the sciences, arts and the law.

After her father’s death in 1862, Kate’s mother moved the family to New Zealand in February, 1869. They settled in Christchurch and in 1871 Kate married Christchurch merchant, storekeeper and city councillor, Walter Allen Sheppard. The couple had one son Douglas, born in 1880.

In 1885 Sheppard became a founding member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The Temperance Union quickly realised that it was vital for women to have the right to vote and be represented in Parliament in order to improve the welfare of women and children.

The Union took the first of three major petitions to Parliament in 1891. It was signed by more than 9,000 women. The second petition in 1892 was signed by more than 19,000 women.

The third and final petition in 1893 was signed by almost 32,000 women, nearly a third of the adult female population at the time. It was the largest petition that had ever been presented to Parliament.

Finally on 19 September 1893, the Electoral Act was passed and Kate Sheppard received a telegram from her previous political enemy, Premier Richard Seddon, conceding victory to the women.

Kate took her message worldwide and continued to fight for women’s suffrage. Ill health brought her back to New Zealand in 1904. She died at her home at Riccarton, Christchurch, on 13 July 1934, and was buried in Addington cemetery with her mother, a brother and a sister.

The Christchurch Times reported her death in simple appreciation:
'A great woman has gone, whose name will remain an inspiration to the daughters of New Zealand while our history endures - Kate Sheppard’.

Kate Sheppard’s legacy:

• Women in New Zealand were given the right to vote and New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant universal adult suffrage to men and women equally
• Sheppard was interested in a broad range of issues affecting women: the advantages of contraception, the right to divorce, equal rights to guardianship of children and clothing that did not crush internal organs. She argued for girls to have as much chance as boys did to run and play freely.
• Would voting rights challenge the husband’s manliness? Would reform lead to unthinkable role reversals where the wife brought home the bacon and the husband wore the apron? Would giving women the vote mean the end of the sale of alcoholic beverages?
• In 1919 women were granted the right to stand for Parliament, and in 1934, just before her death Sheppard had the satisfaction of seeing the first woman MP enter Parliament.
• Women's Christian Temperance Union - An organisation of women formed to work towards moderation or restraint in things, especially drinking alcohol. Under Kate Sheppard this group worked to make life better for families.
• Women's suffrage - The right of women to vote in public elections. Before 1893 only men who were over 21 could vote. Women, criminals and the insane could not.

New Zealand has had three official flags over its relatively short history. The flag is the symbol of the government and people of New Zealand. Its royal blue background is reminiscent of the blue sea and clear sky surrounding us. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasise New Zealand’s location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Flag recognises our historical foundations as a former British Colony and Dominion.

1834–1840. The Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand
New Zealand’s first flag was designed by a missionary of the Church Missionary Society, sewn up by an Australian and voted on by 25 Maori Chiefs from the Far North. It was known as the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand in recognition of the title used by the same chiefs when they met again at Waitangi to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1835. To Maori the United Tribes Flag signified that Britain had recognised New Zealand as an independent nation with its own flag and acknowledged the mana of the Maori Chiefs.

1840–1902. The Union Jack
Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, the Union Jack replaced the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand as the official flag of New Zealand. The Lieutenant -Governor, William Hobson, forcibly removed the United Tribes Flag from the Bay of Islands. However, some Maori, including Hone Heke, believed that Maori should have the right to fly the United Tribes Flag alongside the Union Jack, in recognition of their equal status with the government. Heke’s repeated felling of the flagstaff at Kororareka (Russell) between 1844 and 1846 was a vivid rejection of the Union Jack, which was viewed as a symbol of British power over Maori.

Flags used during the New Zealand Wars
For many Maori in the 19th century, the Union Jack was frequently viewed as a potent symbol of Great Britain’s power in New Zealand. In the New Zealand Wars Maori parties, who sought to resist government forces often devised their own flags to show their independence and counteract the ‘mana’ (honour) of the Union Jack.

1902 – The Current Flag
At the end of the nineteenth century the blue ensign with the Southern Cross was a flag for maritime purposes only, but gradually it was used on land, even though the Union Jack remained the legal flag of New Zealand. With the outbreak of the South African War in 1899 and the associated patriotism and flag waving, the confusion surrounding the correct flag was an embarrassment to Premier Seddon. In 1902 Seddon instituted the blue ensign with the stars of the Southern Cross as the legal flag of New Zealand.

Arguments for Change
For many years there have been arguments for and against a new national flag that better represents New Zealand. One point of view by Maori author Allan Duff: "It’s time our flag said something about ourselves, what we have become – not that we were once part of the British Empire, but a unique breed with unique qualities of national identity. In this new age of brands and symbolism let’s create our brand to symbolise what we kiwis are as a nation." There have been many alternative flag designs proposed over the years. One heavily favoured design is based on the Silver Fern, a proud symbol used throughout New Zealand’s short history, from the early war years to most modern sporting occasions. But there are also many New Zealanders that want the current flag to remain as it is.

The Silver Fern is widely representative of New Zealand and New Zealanders. It is a powerful and emotional symbol of inspiration and one that all Kiwis can relate to.

The Silver Fern image is inspired by the frond of the New Zealand tree fern, Cyathea Dealbata (‘’Ponga” in Maori). The fronds are dark green on the upper side and silver underneath. The underside glows brightly in moonlight, providing excellent track markers in New Zealand's native forests. It was often used by Maori as bedding because of the thin texture of the 'hairs'.

It’s no surprise that the Silver Fern symbol is widely used in sport, given New Zealand's passion for and commitment to sport. However, it is misleading to regard it as merely a sports symbol; it pervades the imagery of all New Zealand and has inspired New Zealanders in all aspects of their lives ... from the famous New Zealand export, Fernleaf Butter", the badges of most New Zealand Army units, Neil Dawson's Civic Square sculpture in Wellington, Katerina Nehua’s swimming costume for endurance swimming (1904 -1948) to our National netball team, “The Silver Ferns”.

It has played an inspirational role for the military. New Zealand Army contingents, who saw overseas service in the South African War of 1899-1902, are understood to have worn fern leaf badges. The fern leaf had become the Army’s predominant badge by World War I.

And, of course, the Silver Fern is the leading symbol in New Zealand's national game, rugby. One of New Zealand’s favourite icons is its rugby team, the All Blacks. Their black uniform with the Silver Fern has become a national symbol. It’s not known why black with a Silver Fern was first chosen. Our first rugby team to play overseas wore dark blue with a gold fern. However, by the time the 1888/89 “Natives” headed overseas, they were wearing black with silver. A black and white uniform became official when the New Zealand Rugby Union was established in 1892. By 1901 the white knickerbockers were replaced with black, creating the all black uniform worn by the 1905-06 “Originals”. They were the first team to be called the “All Blacks”.

Thanks largely to the All Blacks, black and white have become New Zealand’s national colours and the Silver Fern is now a hugely popular national symbol.

The Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park is owned and operated by the Otorohanga Zoological Society Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand’s native wildlife through education, display and breeding programs.

Quick Facts about the Otorohanga Kiwi House:

• Opened in July, 1971 as the first nocturnal house in NZ and a leader in kiwi research, especially incubation and raising kiwi chicks for release.
• Holds New Zealand’s largest public collection of kiwi and other indigenous species.
• Features NZ’s original walk-through aviary, where visitors can see native birds in a natural rainforest habitat.
• Has a conservation focus – all monies received are reinvested in the park.
• Guarantees that visitors will see kiwi or receive a refund.

As well as 3 types of kiwi (Northern Brown Kiwi, Great Spotted Kiwi and Little Spotted Kiwi) there are morepork (native owl), falcon, wekas, tui, keruru (native pigeon) kaka and kea.

In the pond and marshland areas you’ll find pukeko, pied stilt, spur-winged plover, white faced heron and a wonderful range of ducks of every size, shape, and form – paradise ducks, shoveler, grey duck, scaup, brown teal, blue duck and grey teal.

There are also unique reptiles like tuatara and geckoes... it really is a fascinating place. The nocturnal house is open daily and has two separate feeding times to allow visitors to view kiwi all day long. The best place in New Zealand to see a Kiwi!

Beaut – great; good fun: "That'll be beaut, mate"
Bit of a dag – comedian; joker
Bloke – usually a man and often used when referring to a stranger: "There's this bloke down the road who sells “greasies” (Fish & Chips) from his pie-cart for $1 a bag, which is much cheaper than that bloke who has a shop"
Blow me down – expression of surprise: "Well, blow me down”
Bludge – to exploit others; as in "dole bludger"
Bob's your Uncle – roughly translates as: “There ya go, that's all there is to it!  Just press this big red button that says, 'Launch the Missile', and Bob's your uncle".
Boy-racer – Young hoon (idiot) in fast car with incredibly
loud stereo.
Brassed off – disappointed; annoyed
Brickie – bricklayer
Bugalugs – usually used for something like ‘cutie’: "How's it going bugalugs?"
Bugger – A mischievous or funny person: "You silly bugger!"  Also useful as an expletive when you drop a piano on your foot: “Bugger!  I felt that”
Buggered – exhausted
Bugger off – go away; get out
Bun in the oven – pregnant
Bust a gut – make an intense effort
Bute-ee (beauty) – You fabulous thing!  When someone does something nice for you: "You bute-ee!"
Carked it – died; “kicked the bucket”
Cheerio – good bye
Cheers – goodbye; thanks; good luck.
Chippy – builder; carpenter
Choc-a-block – full to overflowing
Chronic – serious; severe: "Yeah, hurts something chronic".
Chunder – to vomit
Cods wollop – untrue statement or remark: “It’s a load of cods wollop"
Crikey dick! – Gosh! Wow!
Crook – sick; unwell
Cruise – cruisy; taking it easy: "Let's just cruise 'round…..I'm cruisy"
Cuz, Cuzzie – male or female cousin
Dear – expensive
Ding – a small dent in a vehicle: "The prang (collision) caused a bit of a ding"
Dinky – cute or tacky
Dodgy – bad; unreliable: "That fish tastes a bit dodgy"
Eh? – pronounced ‘ay’ as in ‘say’ and often used at the end of sentences when expecting a reply: "This would be a better gift, eh", instead of saying "Do you think this would be a better gift"?  It is also often used as a substitute for ‘pardon?’ or ‘what?’
Flag it – let's not do that: “Let’s flag it”
Flash – sensational; looks really good: "That’s flash!"
Flog – steal; ‘nick’
Fogey – old person who doesn't know anything about our generation: "Old fogey! … I mean, really!  Get a clue!”
Get off the grass! – exclamation of disbelief equivalent to: "Stop pulling my leg"; "Get outta here" and "No way"
Gimme –abbreviation for: "Give me..."
Gizza – abbreviation for: "Give us a..."
Going bush – becoming reclusive
Good as gold – a good job well done; not a problem
Hard case – funny; comical: “That’s hard case”; or a funny person; a real character:  “He’s a real hard case”
How come? – Why?
Hoon – usually associated with young adults, fast cars, loud stereos and alcohol
Hooray – Kiwi for ‘Goodbye’
Hosing down – raining heavily: “It’s hosing down”
Hunky dory or ‘honky dory’ – everything's fine: "My life is hunky dory"
Kick the bucket – die
Knackered – exhausted
Marge – margarine
Mate – friend; pal; mate; buddy: "Thanks, mate" or "Pass us a beer, mate".  A common term that can be used even with strangers: "How's it going, mate" = "How are you?"  But it is NOT used to the same extent as in Australia, where every second word seems to be "mate".
Naff off! – go away: “Get lost!”
Panel beater – auto body shop
Pike out – to give up when the going gets tough
Piker – one who gives up easily
Prang – motor vehicle accident
Rack off! – “Go away!”; “Get lost!”
Raining cats & dogs – raining heavily
Randy – horny; feeling sexy
Rark up – give somebody a good telling off
Rattle your dags! – hurry up, get a move on. The expression 'Rattle your dags' reputedly refers to the sound a running sheep makes as it rattles its dags (the dried excrement hanging around its rear end)
Ring – phone somebody: "I'll give them a ring"
Scodie – disgusting; horrible
Scull – drink beer rapidly
She'll be right - not a problem; it'll be O.K.
Sickie – to take time off work for a fictitious illness:"Throw a sickie"
Skint – short of money
Skiting – bragging; showing off
Snarky – mixture of sarcastic & nasty
Sook – kindly description of someone who is being silly or behaving like a softy or scaredy cat: "You're being a sook"... "Just a big sook". More often than not the phrase is used as a term of endearment.
Sparkie - electrician
Spit the dummy - throw a fit; get really mad
Sprog – a child
Squiz – to take a look at something: "Have a squiz"; ask to look at something: "Giz a Squiz"
Stirrer – trouble maker; agitator
Strapped for cash – short of money
Strewth! – ‘honestly’, expletive showing frustration and derived from the old phrase 'God's Truth'….when run together, it becomes “s'truth!"
Suck the kumara (sweet potato) – to die
Sunday driver – someone driving really, really slowly
Ta – thanks
Ta ta – goodbye (usually when speaking to a child)
Take a hike! – Expression of anger: "Go away!"… "Get lost!"
Tiki Tour – roundabout way to get somewhere, a scenic tour
Up the duff – pregnant
Yack – general conversation between friends: "Have a yack"
Yarn – tell a tall story: “Spin a yarn”
Yonks – forever; a long time: "I haven't seen them in yonks".
Yoo-hoo! – “Hello, I'm here. Can I come in?”
Wally – stupid person
Wet blanket – Someone who spoils the fun and doesn't get into the swing of things, particularly at a social occasion.
What are ya! – "Are you insane?"
Whinge – complain
Wobbly – become angry: “Pack a wobbly”; throw a tantrum: “Throw a wobbly”
Wonky – crooked
Wop-wops – out of the way location: “Out in the sticks”

CLOTHES

Braces – suspenders
Dressing gown – bathrobe
Cardy/cardie – cardigan; woollen button-up-the-front jersey
Gumboots – rubber boots; wellingtons; wellies
Jandals – rubber thongs; flip-flops
Jersey – a woollen sweater or sweatshirt
PJ’s – jammies; pyjamas
Singlet/singlet top – a sleeveless top with thin straps
Togs – bathing suit
Tights – pantyhose
Tracksuit – sweats; sweatsuit

FOODS

Biscuits – Americans call them ‘cookies’
Candyfloss – cotton candy
Capsicum – bell pepper
Chips – french fries
Chocolate fish – a chocolate-covered marshmallow fish; also frequently given (literally or figuratively) as a reward for a job well done: "Good on ya, mate. You deserve a chocolate fish."
Crisps – potato chips
Cuppa – cup of tea
Fizzy drink – soda drink; pop
Greasies – common term for fish and chips, probably because they usually are!
Hokey Pokey – 'sea foam' candy
Ice block – popsicle
Jam – Americans call it ‘jelly’
Jelly – Americans call it ‘jello’
L&P – fizzy soda water; “Lemon & Paeroa” was originally lemon flavoured spring water from the town of Paeroa
Lolly – candy
Marge – margarine
Pikelet – small pancake often served with jam and whipped cream
Pinky bar – a chocolate-covered marshmallow confection
Sausie – sausage
Tea – it can also mean ‘dinner’: “Come for tea”
Vegemite/Marmite – spread for toast or bread -indescribable, but missed by many expat Kiwis. Bill Tabb described it as: "A spread the color of dark molasses, the consistency of cold honey and the flavor of yeasty soy sauce.  A flavor that is acquired and quite good on warm soft pretzels here in California."
Takeaways – New Zealand term for ‘take-outs’ or food ‘to go’;
Tinny – can of beer, can also mean a drug
Tomato sauce – ketchup

PLACES

Dairy – ‘corner store’ originally selling only milk, bread, papers, convenience foods and dairy produce, and until the past decade or so, the only shop allowed to open 7 days a week.
Bach – small holiday home, pronounced "batch"
Bush – New Zealand native forest area
Car park – parking lot
Chemist – pharmacy; drug store.
Dunny – toilet; lavatory; W.C.
Flat – apartment
Footpath – pavement or sidewalk
Ground floor – first floor; very confusing for Kiwi visitors to the States!  When using lifts (elevators) we are always one floor out!
Loo – bathroom, toilet, W.C.
Pub – bar, hotel where alcohol is served

STUFF (i.e. it doesn't really go anywhere else)

Ads – TV commercials; adverts
A&P Show – Agricultural & Pastoral Show where farmers exhibit animals & produce. There are often sideshows for the townies, with ferris wheels, dodgems etc.
Bonnet – car hood
Boot – trunk; back storage compartment of car
Bumper – fender
Caravan – trailer; mobile home
Chook – hen
CV – resumé; Curriculum Vitae
Dummy – baby's pacifier
Telly – television
Cheque – check
Chilly bin – Lidded polystyrene box for keeping beer & food cold; Australians call them ‘Eskies’
Crib – small holiday home; a South Island term for “bach”
Chrissy – Christmas
Dole – unemployment benefit
Flannel – wash cloth
Gawk – stare at: “What are you gawking at?”
Hottie – hot water bottle
Judder bar – speed bump
Kiwi – New Zealander or an endangered flightless bird native to New Zealand
Kiwifruit – hairy-skinned fruit with green flesh, formerly known as Chinese Gooseberry
Lift – elevator
Maori – indigenous people of New Zealand.
Motorway – freeway
Nana – grandmother
Nappy – diaper
Pakeha – person of European descent; non-Maori
Petrol – gasoline
Pong – bad smell
Power cut – outage
Post code – zip code
Pram – (Perambulator) baby carriage; stroller
Rellies – family; relatives
Rubber – eraser
Rubbish – trash; garbage
Sellotape – scotch tape; sticky tape
Shandy – drink made with lemonade and beer
Sticking plaster – Band-Aid
Sunnies – sunglasses
Tea towel – dish rag
Torch – flashlight
Tramping – hiking; trekking
Trots – horse racing with a sulky
Wardrobe – clothes closet
Windscreen – windshield

> Find more Kiwi Slang here