A General Introduction to UK-New Zealand Relations

London is one of the most open and diverse metropolitans in the world. You can encounter people from all around the world in this magic city. And often you might find a group of people around you that are called Kiwis, an informal name for people from New Zealand. Given the fact that New Zealand and the United Kingdom share a historical connection and also a strong economic relationship, many New Zealanders choose the UK as a popular destination for their oversea experiences. That is the main reason why there are so many Kiwis working in different sectors of the UK and many of them have achieved great accomplishments.

In 1769 British navigator James Cook reached New Zealand under the directives to demonstrate British naval strength, to bring honour to the Crown and also to explore new opportunities and resources in the territory. This exploration by Captain Cook was largely informal and official relationship was not established between the Crown and the local Maori tribes. Sixty years later James Busby was appointed as the British representative in the affairs of New Zealand and he was given the responsibility to solve the conflicts between the local Maori tribes and European settlers. In 1834 Busby drafted the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand which was a prelude to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The treaty itself was the founding document of New Zealand as it laid the foundation for the political system, national status and also the relationship between the Crown and the local Maori tribes of New Zealand. The treaty determined that New Zealand will be a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch of the United Kingdom will become the head of state of New Zealand. But the parliament of New Zealand shall have the power to determine its own affairs and New Zealand shall be a colony with strong autonomy.

Settlers from Europe arrived in New Zealand in large numbers following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Many of them were British people from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The operation of the Otago Association on attracting Scottish immigrants to Dunedin and the operation of the Canterbury Association on bringing English immigrants to Canterbury were some great examples of this migration wave. According to the research by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, around 80% of New Zealanders are of at least partially British ancestry, and an estimated 17% are entitled to British passports. Most of the English immigrants to New Zealand were middle class in England who got tired of the class system in England. Many of them aspired to live in a new country where they could build a more egalitarian system and society. There were also many Scottish and Irish workers who came to the South Island of New Zealand as miners and eventually stayed in the country for a better life.

Given the fact that most of New Zealanders traced their ancestry back to Britain, New Zealand shares a natural connection with Britain and did fight alongside Britain in World War One and World War Two. The most famous example was the ANZAC soldiers in World War One. The ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was largely consisted of young soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. The army was formed in Egypt in 1914 and was operated in Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915. It was a huge military disaster in which 2779 New Zealand soldiers died in the campaign. This event triggered the emergence of the national consciousness of New Zealanders. The people of New Zealand now believed that New Zealand is its own country and should have control of its own destiny. Britain was no longer the mother country that New Zealand must follow under all conditions.

The economic relationship between the UK and New Zealand has always remained strong. For a long period of time Britain has remained the main export destination of New Zealand lamb, dairy products and wool. In 1955, the UK took 65.3% of New Zealand’s exports. Nearly 80 to 100% of New Zealand cheese and butter exports went to the United Kingdom from around 1890 to 1940. However, the UK’s decision to join the European communities in 1973 and later the European Union forced New Zealand to seek alternatives in international trade. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region has now become the main destinations for New Zealand’s exports. In recent years China became the largest trading partner of New Zealand and also the biggest destination for New Zealand’s goods and services.

Though New Zealand and the UK share a lot in common, there are some key differences between them as well, especially in the cultural and social aspects. New Zealand accent is very different to the standard Received Pronunciation spoken by British. New Zealand English was formed as a result of the assimilation between English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish accents. Many words from the native language Te Reo Maori are also incorporated into daily New Zealand English. New Zealand people are also generally more relaxed and chilled compared to their British counterparts. The weather in New Zealand is mostly sunny in the summer and people love to enjoy themselves on the beaches. New Zealand society is also very different to British society in which there is no class system and aristocrats in New Zealand. When the country was officially founded by the immigrants from the UK, one of their main goals was to form a more egalitarian and equal society compared to England. Most students in New Zealand are generally educated under the state education system and there is not really a big divide between state and private education system. Fundamentally New Zealand is a country with a dual identity in which both the Maori and the European identity of the country are honoured and respected. The two countries also share a huge rivalry in rugby. All Blacks and England are fierce rivals in international rugby and the atmosphere of the game has always been sensational. England defeated the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup 2019 and the rivalry became even bigger. The British and Irish Lions also have a rivalry with the All Blacks. The Lions are touring New Zealand every twelve years and their fixture is considered to be the biggest and most exciting clash in world rugby.

Overall Britain and New Zealand share a close relationship that was shaped by the two countries’ special historical connection. However, this doesn’t mean New Zealand was a smaller version of the United Kingdom. New Zealand is a country with its own identity and history. Many of the New Zealanders working in the United Kingdom are proud of the unique aspects of New Zealand culture and are very enthusiastic about sharing some of those culture with people from all around the world. Multicultural and diverse London will be incomplete without the Kiwis.