Blogpost 1: The Silver Fern, a symbol of New Zealand

The silver fern is a plant native and unique to New Zealand, and stands as a proud symbol of the islands and their inhabitants. It’s treasured by the Maori people, for whom it represents strength and guidance. The white or silver undersides of the leaves are so bright that they catch and reflect the moonlight, allowing Maori hunters to bend branches to illuminate a path for themselves back through the bush at night. I’m looking forward to exploring the bush of New Zealand myself, and I can’t wait to see the silver ferns lighting my way during night hikes.

The distinctive silver-white underside of the fern

The same word in Maori can refer to a chief or a frond of the fern. The Maori phrase “Mate atu he tetekura, Ara mai he tetekura,” translates to either “As one chief dies, another rises to take their place,” or “As one frond withers and dies, another rises to take its place,” depending on the context. The silver fern has been worn as a logo by the national rugby teams since 1888, and has adorned the uniforms of the New Zealand military since 1898. It also marks the headstones of fallen soldiers. All of this significance has made the “silver fern flag” a popular alternative to their official flag, which features the mark of the British commonwealth and an unmistakable resemblance to that of Australia.

The Silver Fern Flag from Wikimedia Commons

The symbol of the silver fern holds deep meaning to the people of New Zealand and connects them to their homeland. Ferns are ancient and hardy plants, making them a good representative of the proud people of New Zealand and their rich history. As the silver fern is a meaningful part of Maori culture and grows only on the islands of New Zealand, I cannot imagine a more honest and powerful symbol for the nation.

Blogpost 5: The Blessing and Curse of Cell Reception

Camping out under the stars, far from the numbing light and noise of cities, is where outdoor enthusiasts know cares fade away and the stresses of daily life are released. One topic of debate among the outdoor community, however, is cell phones. I know people who keep them on and charged at all times, and those who leave them behind entirely. I personally always bring mine along, but keep it on silent-mode to prevent any distractions, as I do feel safer knowing I can contact aid. It’s tough to find a campground in modern-day America that is outside the reach of cell towers and satellite service, and some campgrounds I have stayed at recently even have their own WiFi network!

Camping in New Zealand’s Ahuriri Valley, by fourcornersnz

However, this constant connection is not present throughout the majority of New Zealand. Tourists complain about expensive, slow internet even within the nation’s largest cities, and outside the metropolitan regions, cell reception is hard to come by. The main 3 networks, Spark, 2Degrees, and Vodafone, claim to cover over 95% of “the places where Kiwis work and play”, but as 86% of New Zealanders live in cities, this means that barely 50% of the nation’s land area has cell service.

Approximation of the Spark Mobile Network Coverage Map

Being cut off from cell networks might be a scary part of my New Zealand adventures. I’m accustomed to having an emergency solution in the palm of my hand, so I’ll need to remember to take extra precautions. Before leaving for a hike or overnight stay in the wilderness, I’ll let someone know where I’m going and when I plan to be back, so they can check on me if I take longer than expected to return. A compass is also a must-bring item when GPS isn’t reliable. As long as I stay safe, perhaps I’ll even appreciate being freed from the tethers of cell networks!

Blogpost 4: Engagement in Conservation

When we picture New Zealand in our minds, we imagine the majestic mountain, meadows, and jungles of a land pure and preserved (reminiscent, even, of Tolkien’s vision of Middle Earth). But the islands have also been subject to an extreme transformation over the past decades and centuries from an untouched wilderness to a land dominated and altered by the needs of humans. By 2000, 63% of New Zealand’s total land area had been converted for human occupation and use, including the modification of 90% of wetlands for development. Logging and land development have carved the once-expansive lowland forests into many fragments, which offer much less protection for the biodiversity they hold, while the grazing of livestock have altered the types of brush that grows in tussock ecosystems and helped to give invasive plant species a foothold to out-compete native species. 23 bird species are considered “Nationally Critical” due to habitat loss and invasive pests, while dozens more are endangered or vulnerable.

The kakapo, a critically endangered bird native to New Zealand

There are ways, however, for a visitor to do their part to help protect the natural environment in New Zealand. Eco-sanctuaries like Zealandia offer volunteer roles that vary seasonally and include activities like bird feeding and monitoring population numbers, and can be great to do as an activity on a short visit. Groups such as Love Volunteers organize week long trips that allow people to immerse themselves in New Zealand conservation efforts. These trips offer travelers the chance to work in parks, reserves, wetlands, or coastlines to help reintroduce native plants, clear foliage, maintain trails, and even rescue whales. Visitors can also do their part just by making sure that any trips or tours they sign up for are environmentally conscious and as sustainable as possible.

Volunteers are needed to help monitor native flora and fauna populations at Zealandia

Even if you don’t decide to get involved with specific volunteering efforts, being aware of which plants are invasive weeds and which are native species goes along way towards making sure you keep your impact neutral or positive while hiking, biking, or climbing through the lovely landscape of New Zealand. Do your part to ensure that the environment in New Zealand is just as pristine for the next traveler to come along.

Blogpost 3: New Zealand and the essence of Middle Earth

One does not simply walk into Mordor– that is, unless they fancy a hike through Tongariro National Park. When Peter Jackson began to film his film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he chose New Zealand as the land where Middle Earth would come to life. And who could blame him? The island’s lush forests, rolling plains, comfy meadows, and towering mountains make it the perfect analogue for the world of Tolkien’s imagination. Hobbiton came alive in Matamata, Edoras on Mount Sunday, and Paths of the Dead in Putangirua Pinnacles.

Mount Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park by Tom Coates

New Zealand takes pride in its role in these renowned films, and the tourism industry especially embraces it. The official government website and dozens of other companies are happy to show you every location from Isengard to Rivendell. However, it is not all Shire salts and second breakfasts, as the Middle Earth assumptions are not without their dangers. Every hero and major character in the films was white, completely censoring the native Maori population from the movies’ aesthetic. And while Tolkien was clearly not a fan of industrialization, New Zealand is an industrialized nation with strong infrastructure. Unlike the medieval feudal world of Middle Earth, nearly one third of the nation’s total population lives within Auckland’s city limits.

Hobbiton by Amanda, A Dangerous Business

While The Lord of the Rings is a compliment to the natural beauty of New Zealand, essentializing a modern nation as a land of fantasy is disrespectful to its inhabitants, especially when the diversity of their population is misrepresented by that ideal. New Zealand is a real country populated by real people who live lives without spells, elves, or rings of power, and want to be viewed as such. Nevertheless they can still get caught up in the same wonder and joy that Tolkien and Jackson brought us all with their work.

Blogpost 2: Street Art: Maori Whakairo (Carving)

Throughout the cities, Maori communities, and rivers of New Zealand, carved designs tell stories that cover meeting houses, signposts, canoes, and more. The Maori traditional art of whakairo, or carving, connects New Zealand to its cultural heritage and provides reminders of identity within the modern nation.

According to Maori legend, whakairo was invented by Ruatepupuke, grandson of the sea god Tangaroa, who carved a sacred fishing lure from a stone. The Maori carving tradition, deeply linked with their Polynesian origins, has matured into a unique style over the centuries spent isolated. Patterns, inspired by fish scales, spider webs, fish hooks, the movement of the sea, and the ribs of ferns, can tell stories across the rafters of a meeting house or along the bow of a canoe. Artists used greenstone to carve designs into wood, stone, bone, and even their own skin to make unique tattoos. Maori carvers were traditionally men, but recently women have taken up the practice as well.

At Te Puia in Rotorua, you can watch Maori carvers at work. By Chad Case

When communities shifted from rural to urban spaces after World War II, the Maori brought their artistry with them. Within cities, they made their presence felt by building marae, traditional courtyards surrounded by meeting houses and other community buildings. Artists like Cliff Whiting worked to restore and rebuild older marae and wharenui (meeting houses), and collaborated with New Zealanders of European descent to build new ones integrating and including everyone that calls New Zealand home.

Ohinemutu is home to the Te Papaiouru Marae and the Tama-te-Kapua meeting house. By Kia Ora Guided City Walks

These grand pieces of culture and history are appealing to tourists, who make a point to see famous carvings and even pick up a few souvenirs. However, the carvings are primarily created for the unity and honor of those who call New Zealand home, not as an attraction for the visitors passing through. Though not what we usually think of as street art, the presence of whakairo in urban and historic spaces conveys similar messages of community, pride, narrative, and beauty as other street art across the world.