What We’re Doing

An inquisition into the identity of their country, we are exploring the land that is Aotearoa New Zealand and have set out to discover who our national kinsmen are.

In a survey released in May 2010, Auckland city was ranked 4th in the world for quality of living with Wellington coming in at 12th place, making our country one of the greatest places to live.  As evidence to these results, our national population is steadily diversifying.  In 2006, 25% of all working age individuals were born offshore compared with 22% in 2001 and 18% in 1981.

With our internationally recognised country an ethnic melting pot, it seems a good time as any to ask ourselves, who is New Zealand now?  We are about to investigate just that, and invite you to come along with us.

Embarking on December 8th 2010, our journey will span approximately two months and will encompass the most southern and northern points of New Zealand, traversing over 3,000 kilometers and visiting over 450 towns and cities (and that’s just one way!).  Armed with our shared passion for film-making and anthropology, we aim to answer our principle driving question of “Who Is New Zealand?” through meeting and interviewing the ‘locals’ and finding out what it is that they love about this land by hearing their stories, attitudes and opinions.

But what do you mean exactly by; “Who is New Zealand?” you might wonder?

One way of tackling such a hugely complex issue, is by way of contrast.  Almost everyone will tell you that this country isn’t the same as it was 30 years ago, and through discovering what has changed, we can further explore perceptions of identity on both a personal and national scale, as well as the meanings bestowed upon citizenship, and what differences if any exist between legal declarations and an individuals feeling of belonging.  Does a legal document make you a Kiwi?  What does it take to feel like a Kiwi?  In essence, this film will cover strong themes of national and ethnic identity.

Along similar lines, we want to find out whether or not the iconic Kiwi is still perceived as the stubbies, singlet and jandal wearing innovative bloke of yesterday.  What of this person has changed, and what has stayed the same?  Is this static individual a myth, or do people believe him to be alive and well in many locations around the country with a coil of number eight wire over his shoulder and a muted expression of clever ingenuity?

So whilst taking a contemporary measure of the new ethnic mix, we also want to probe into the ‘white’ kiwi persona, on which topic there is very little study done in contrast to the volumes undertaken on Maori culture. The film will emulate select elements of hugely popular previous works such as the television documentary series Heartland (1994), with Gary McCormick as well as Havoc and Newsboys Sell-Out tour (1999).  While similarly depicting in an entertaining and engrossing style the lives of those they encounter, Who Is New Zealand will also address the contentious present-day issues of immigration and national identity.

In summary, by way of exploring individually perceived identity, as well as a collective stereotyped identity, we seek to discover whether or not the New Zealand now is the same as the New Zealand back then.

In addition, some of the potential sub themes include:

• What differences, if any, exist between attitudes of North and South Islanders?
• What differences, if any, exist between attitudes of those in urban and those in rural environments?
• Are an individuals feelings of identity influenced by the reception of fellow New Zealand?
• How does one feel that the legitimacy of their status here is proved?  Can anyone be a Kiwi?

The outcome of this journey will be a documentary style film with an anthropological slant intended for public viewing, so that all of us might come to learn a little more about our national neighbors.  Additional ethnographic publications are hoped for, so too are a number of short tangential films.  The main feature is expected to be from 40 to 90 minutes in length.

So now that you know the score, we invite you to come along, jump in the car and join us on what will most certainly be one of best road trips you’ll ever take.  Whether your assistance is financial, through products, or otherwise, we’d love to carry your company’s name and support along with us as we get in amongst the mainstream, the new, and the unusual to find out, Who is New Zealand?