38 New Zealand Facts I Grew Up Knowing + Some That Might Surprise You
Looking for New Zealand facts that go beyond “there are a lot of sheep”? (There are, by the way.)
I grew up on a sheep farm in the Wairarapa and have lived overseas since 2011, and living away has made me realise just how quirky my home country is.
Some of these facts are things every Kiwi kid grows up knowing. Others still surprise people when I bring them up, and a couple aren’t so fun.
So here are 38 New Zealand facts I grew up knowing, plus some that might surprise you.
Quick Answer: See These New Zealand Facts for Yourself
⭐⭐⭐ Want to visit a real hobbit hole? Book the Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour in Matamata (fact number 26). Check availability →
⭐⭐ Want to try a hāngī? Have one at Mitai Māori Village in Rotorua, with a haka and cultural evening too. Check availability →
⭐ How should you get around? Hire a car, so you can stop at every giant gumboot and kiwifruit along the way. Compare car rental prices here →
1. New Zealanders are called Kiwis
Let’s start with what is probably one of the most essential and interesting New Zealand facts: what we’re called.
A person from New Zealand is often referred to as a Kiwi and not a New Zealander. This is because the national bird and symbol of New Zealand is a Kiwi (bird).
This beautiful bird is the face of New Zealand, a native NZ bird that is endangered due to the increasing amount of pests that were introduced into the country a while back.
Also did you know that Kiwis are flightless birds?! They cannot fly at all.
Not to be confused with kiwi (the birds) or kiwifruit, just to make it more confusing!
This is probably one of the most well-known fun facts about NZ, but it also has to be one of the most confusing facts about New Zealand, don’t you think?
As a bonus fact, here’s one of my favourite fun facts about the kiwi bird: it lays one of the biggest eggs compared to its body size of any bird in the world. A kiwi egg can be around 20% of the mother’s body weight!
If you want to learn more fun facts about Kiwis (the people) keep reading on.
2. Kiwis are the most easy-going people
Maybe one of the most important New Zealand basic facts is that we are incredibly laid back and this affects the way we live.
If you want to know the definition of easy-going or relaxed, then just meet with a Kiwi (the person).
We as people are very relaxed, take everything in our stride and try not to get too worked up over things.
What will be will be! New Zealanders are very welcoming and very compassionate people.
I’m sure some people would argue with this fact about New Zealand and say their country is the most easygoing, but if not the most, Kiwis are definitely some of the most relaxed people you’ll ever meet!
If you ever want to hang out, or learn more random stuff about New Zealand, just say Kia Ora (Hello in Maori language), and let us know!
3. New Zealand can have 4 seasons in one day
Here’s an interesting fact about New Zealand to help you plan your trip!
While most countries have a specific weather pattern, in New Zealand we really do have 4 seasons and we can have them all in one day too.
We get the rain, we get the sunshine, we get the wind, and anything else you can think of, we probably get it. Our seasons are very recognisable, unlike most other countries around the world, and I cover them in my guide to the best time to visit New Zealand.
Where I’d Stay to See the Real New Zealand
(⭐⭐⭐ = my top pick)
⭐⭐⭐ Arista of Rotorua: Pick this one if you want to see the geothermal side of New Zealand and try a hāngī. It’s a really well-reviewed motel with over a thousand reviews and easy parking. Check prices & availability →
⭐⭐ The Martinborough Hotel: Pick this one if you want to see the Wairarapa, where I grew up. It’s a historic hotel right on the square, surrounded by vineyards. Check prices & availability →
⭐ The Castle: Pick this one if you want something a little unique. Yes, it’s an actual castle-style stay in Greytown, in the Wairarapa countryside. Check prices & availability →
4. NZ has over 20,000 earthquakes a year
Yes, that’s right! Approximately 20,000 earthquakes every year are recorded in New Zealand.
Most of them are too small to notice, but a couple of hundred are big enough to feel every year, so this is still one of the most important facts about New Zealand to know before you go.
The reason for all these earthquakes is that New Zealand sits on tectonic plates and is part of the ‘ring of fire’ so it experiences a lot of action.
However, one of the cool things to know about New Zealand is that because of this, NZ has some of the strongest and most strict building laws in the world!
To build or renovate a house or commercial building there’s a lot of red tape, paperwork and building checks to make sure everything is up to code and earthquake safe.
5. Lots of land, not many people
New Zealand has a small population of around 5.3 million people, and about three quarters of them live on the North Island.
However, there’s a lot of land mass in New Zealand which means unless you live in the likes of Auckland or Wellington, then you won’t be living on top of people.
Everything is fairly spread out, which is probably why the public transport system isn’t the best, and why so many visitors look into campervan hire in New Zealand.
Knowing the percentage of people living on each island is one of the interesting facts about NZ that once helped me win a pub quiz!
6. It’s one of the most multicultural countries in the world
One of the interesting facts on New Zealand culture is that it has been called one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world!
NZ is an extremely multicultural country and very welcoming to immigrants. We have more ethnicities living in the country than there are countries in the world.
The indigenous people of New Zealand are Maoris, then there are European, Indian, Chinese, Samoan and many, many more!
We welcome people no matter their background, race or religion.
7. NZ Has Some of the Strongest UV in the World
If you come to NZ, you might notice you get sunburnt a lot more easily than at home. That’s partly because of the thinner ozone layer over our part of the world, and partly because our air is so clean and clear.
The ozone is a natural form of gas that sits on the upper layer of the earth and protects the earth from harmful sun rays.
The famous ozone hole actually sits over Antarctica, not New Zealand, but it was caused by human-made chemicals, and it thins the ozone over our part of the world too, especially in spring.
Luckily, it’s slowly healing since the world banned the chemicals that caused it.
But keep this fact about New Zealand in mind if visiting and pack extra sunscreen because still you need to be extra careful in the sun.
Protect yourself, as you can get burnt in only 10 minutes.
We love the sun here, but this is certainly one of the bad things about living or visiting in New Zealand sometimes.
You can even get sunburnt in the winter if the sun’s out.
8. Littering is disrespecting the land
Littering in New Zealand is highly frowned upon, whether you’re in a city or at one of the best campsites in New Zealand!
It won’t get you any friends and it can even have serious consequences, so this is important information on New Zealand to know beforehand!
New Zealand likes to keep their image of being green and clean which is why a majority of New Zealanders have a real passion for keeping the country clean.
Most of us believe if you litter, you’re disrespecting the land. So remember this fact about New Zealand and Kiwis, because we’re pretty easygoing, until you disrespect our land!
There was an Irish family who came for a holiday and left all their rubbish on a beach, and the whole country turned against them. They were on our local news, hotels banned them from staying, and they were eventually told to leave the country!
A lot of people see this as one of the most unusual facts about New Zealand, but keeping the environment safe is very important to Kiwis.
9. There are 3 official languages
In New Zealand, we have three official languages!
The first is te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, which became official in 1987.
Next is New Zealand Sign Language, which became official in 2006.
And the third is English. Almost everyone speaks it, but it only became an official language by law in 2026!
10. There are a lot of rules
I have only noticed this since living overseas for quite a while.
New Zealand has a lot of rules and some very strict ones.
The people generally like to stay on the straight and narrow and are very law-abiding citizens.
For example, police crack down hard on speeding over holiday weekends like Christmas and Easter, so keep that in mind if you’re planning Christmas in New Zealand.
For years they ran a holiday speed tolerance of just 4 km/h over the limit, so don’t push it!
For anyone planning on driving there, this is one of those New Zealand interesting facts you won’t want to forget, and I share more in my New Zealand travel tips for first-timers!
11. NZ has some weird & interesting slang
In New Zealand, we have some unusual and confusing slang terms and sentences that tend to baffle visitors.
It’s weird, but I think it’s also one of the really special things about New Zealand.
Kiwi slang is so weird, I wrote a whole article on the best New Zealand slang words.
It’s the most popular post on my website! I guess a lot of people must be confused about us!
12. Our Traditional Meal Is Cooked in the Ground
One of the lesser-known facts about New Zealand is how good our food is!
One of the most delicious meals is a hāngī, a traditional Māori meal that is cooked underground. If you want to try one, I’d go to Mitai Māori Village in Rotorua.
Usually pork, chicken or lamb is cooked with kūmara (sweet potato), potato and pumpkin in a pit on top of hot stones, then covered with earth to trap the heat.
The meal is cooked for about 3 or 4 hours which makes the food so beautifully soft, the meat will just fall off the bone!
If you want to know more New Zealand food facts, you can read my post about the best New Zealand food.
3 New Zealand Experiences I’d Book Right Away
🏡 Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour: Pick this one if you want to prove that hobbits aren’t real, but their homes are! Check availability →
🔥 Mitai Māori Village Evening: Pick this one if you want to try a hāngī cooked in the ground and see a haka up close. Check availability →
🥾 Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Return Shuttle: Pick this one if you want to hike between active volcanoes on one of the most beautiful day walks in the country. Check availability →
13. Home to the Clearest Lake in the World
If you want to impress your friends with fun facts in New Zealand, tell them that NZ officially has the clearest lake in the world.
This lake is called Blue Lake or Rotomairewhenua and is in the Nelson Lakes National Park in the South Island.
It takes a multi-day hike to reach the lake but it’s well worth it (for more spots like this, see my New Zealand hidden gems)!
The lake is considered Tapu (sacred) so you’re not allowed to swim in it. If you were, it would look like you were floating on air!
14. Our Most Famous Dish Is the Mince Pie
One of the most fun facts about New Zealand food is that we have a famous mince pie.
And this famous mince pie shouldn’t be missed during your visit to New Zealand. It will quickly become your favourite NZ meal.
A mince pie is a pastry pie (for 1 person), about the size of your hand, and it’s filled with different fillings.
Some of the most popular flavour combinations include mince and cheese, steak and cheese, and bacon and egg.
You can find them at any bakery, service station or local dairy (a corner shop) around the country, and they’re a cheap feed if you’re wondering whether New Zealand is expensive.
15. Gumboot throwing is a sport
Are you searching for really strange facts about New Zealand? Then this one is for you!
In the north island, in a small town called Taihape, they have a festival every year which celebrates the sport of throwing a gumboot.
If you don’t know what a gumboot is it’s wellingtons, rain boots or you may call them rubber boots.
Gumboot throwing is a ‘sport’ in which the gumboot is thrown to the furthest distance.
This is probably one of the favourite weird facts about New Zealand!
16. We Have the Best Rugby Team in the World
Speaking of sports, NZ has the best rugby team in the world!
Don’t ever tell a Kiwi otherwise, we see this as an indisputable fact about New Zealand.
And there’s proof: the All Blacks have won the Rugby World Cup three times and have spent more time ranked number one in the world than any other team.
17. Kiwis love the sea
A big thing that I have noticed is that (most) Kiwis have a love/need to be by the sea.
No matter where you live, you are usually only an hour away from the sea in New Zealand, which is great news if you want to see the most beautiful New Zealand beaches!
I’ve been living overseas for quite a while now and I’m shocked at how many people cannot swim or never learned it in school.
In NZ it was mandatory for us to learn how to swim and learn about the dangers of the ocean so that we could feel safe if we ever got into trouble.
Especially since the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea around us can be some of the roughest waters in the world!
18. There’s Northern and Southern accents
Although NZ is so small there are a few different accents which can determine where you live.
The most noticeable ones are Auckland which sounds a wee bit posh, and the southern accent found down the bottom of the South Island.
The southern accent is more noticeable as they really roll their rs.
Birthday is Birrrrthday down in the small town of Invercargill!
I know that because my sister lived down there and she contracted that southern accent. Years later it’s still stuck with her!
19. Two big movie directors live in New Zealand
Some of the biggest movie directors are buying up land in New Zealand.
Peter Jackson, who made the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is from Wellington and still makes his films there.
James Cameron (the director of Titanic and Avatar) owns farmland in the South Wairarapa and has made New Zealand his home.
You might notice he picked the Wairarapa, where I’m from! That’s because it’s absolutely stunning and has a super unique landscape.
And, of course, Taika Waititi, director of JoJo Rabbit and Thor Ragnarok is from New Zealand!
20. we have Incredible Maori carvings
Maori are famous for being exceptional carvers and can make the most beautiful pieces of art!
If you get the chance to have a look at a marae (a local meeting house) you will notice, the beautiful carvings inside and out.
Each carving has its own special significance and story.
21. NZ is home to incredible wine
New Zealand has some of the best wineries in the world, and that’s a fact! During your holiday to New Zealand, try to visit at least one wine region.
Some notable ones are Waiheke Island, Hawkes Bay, Martinborough, Nelson and Marlborough.
As a proud Kiwi, this is one of my absolute favourite facts about New Zealand.
Every time I go back home I make sure I grab a couple bottles of wine to take back to Albania with me (more ideas in my New Zealand souvenirs guide).
22. “Yeah, Nah, Yea” is a common sentence in NZ
If you want to melt your friends’ minds, one of the weirdest New Zealand fun facts is that a ‘Yea, nah, yeah’ is an actual sentence!
This goes back to NZ slang, but one of the top funny facts about New Zealand is that is an actual sentence we Kiwis use regularly.
And what does it mean?
Well the combination yeah, nah usually means no. The combination yeah, nah, yeah usually means yes.
Basically whatever word comes last is our final answer!
23. There is a drinking holiday called ‘Crate Day’
One of the silliest fun facts about New Zealand is that there is an ‘official’ day that revolves around buying a crate of beer and drinking it listening to one specific radio station AND following a set of rules.
Essentially, some of the country buy a crate of beer, grab some friends, have a BBQ and drink a whole crate of beer to themselves.
But really, this is just one of the many excuses Kiwis use for having a day of drinking! We definitely do not have a drinking problem 🤣
So you would be right in thinking this is one of the more bizarre and funny things about New Zealand culture.
24. Auckland is not the capital
This won’t blow many people’s minds, but one of the crazy facts about New Zealand for some is that Auckland is NOT the capital of the country.
Many assume that Auckland is the capital as it’s where the main business hub is, but it’s not true!
Wellington’s airport is squeezed between the hills and the sea, so it can’t take most long-haul flights.
Therefore Auckland takes most of the international flights and has an ever-growing business centre, though it’s just one of the best New Zealand cities worth visiting.
My Number One Tip: Hire a Car for Full Flexibility
If you want to see the giant gumboot, the big kiwifruit and all the sheep for yourself, New Zealand is so much easier with your own wheels.
Check here for the best car rental companies and prices for your New Zealand trip →
25. There are small towns with big objects as their town icons
Whilst on a New Zealand road trip you may find yourself driving through towns with giant things on display, like a huge gumboot, a giant kiwifruit or an enormous L&P bottle.
Don’t worry, you’re not going crazy or are on any type of acid.
Towns such as Taihape, Te Puke, Paeroa and Ohakune (there are lots more!) put up big structures to show off what they’re proud of.
For example, the small town of Te Puke has a giant kiwifruit as this town is famous for growing kiwifruit.
26. Hobbits are not real, but their homes are!
If you have watched the Lord of the Rings you will ‘know’ that there are hobbits in New Zealand.
Sorry to disappoint you but there are no actual hobbits in NZ!
We don’t have small people living in the mountains. Hobbits are a fictional character I’m sorry to say.
But! One of the most interesting things about New Zealand is that you CAN visit Hobbiton. The set was first built for The Lord of the Rings and then rebuilt properly for The Hobbit films, so now it’s permanent and one of the best things to do in New Zealand!
27. The people to sheep ratio
One of the weird things about New Zealand is that it has a large sheep-to-person ratio.
It used to be a lot higher. Back in 1982 there were about 22 sheep for every person, but so many farms have switched to dairy cows that it’s now around 4 or 5 sheep per person.
That’s still incredibly high and you will notice thousands of sheep on your holiday in New Zealand!
The sheep-to-person ratio is one of my favourite NZ facts as it is something so undeniably uniquely Kiwi.
Also, a wee fact within this one is that I grew up on a sheep farm. My dad was a sheep farmer so my pet animals were literally lambs.
If there were sick ewes (which are female sheep) that just had babies, I would have to raise them by bottle-feeding them and giving them lots of cuddles of course.
One of my lambs grew into a full sheep and I even took her to my pet day at school. She won all sorts of awards LOL. Yup that’s how farm-like my school was back in New Zealand.
28. We Have Over 600 Islands
The country has around 600 islands.
Most Kiwis don’t even know this fact about New Zealand! The main islands are of course the North Island and South Island.
There’s also Waiheke Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands.
Most of the islands are incredibly small, in the middle of a lake or even sunken!
All these islands are one of many New Zealand’s unique features that make this country’s ecosystem so fascinating and diverse.
29. NZ has a Bad domestic abuse rate
Most of these facts are positive, but there are some bad things about New Zealand.
Unfortunately, probably the most horrifying fact about New Zealand is that it has one of the highest domestic abuse rates in the world.
1 in 3 women experience domestic abuse in New Zealand. And if you add psychological abuse to the equation over 50% of women experience abuse!
This statistic is just crazy and I hope that one day it will lower because it’s truly horrifying.
30. One Of The Largest tourism Epicentres
New Zealand has had and continues to experience huge growth in tourism over the last 10 years, so it’s worth reading my complete New Zealand travel guide before you go.
Much of the country cannot handle having so many people as the infrastructure is just not set up for that.
The government have said recently though that they aim to improve infrastructure for the rapid growth in tourism.
In saying that, it’s a huge plus for many locals as it’s allows new jobs and higher wages when tourism is done right, which ties into how tipping in New Zealand works.
31. Home to the war dance, the Haka
One of my favourite cool things about New Zealand is the haka, which is a Maori war dance.
It was used to ward off the opposition in war and to scare them.
You may see that the All Blacks (NZ rugby team) do a haka before every rugby game. This is always one of the best moments!
There are different hakas for different situations, though. They are also performed at weddings, funerals, home-comings and tributes.
32. There are still active volcanoes
One of the best unique facts about New Zealand is that there are still active volcanos to this day!
The most well-known is Mt Ruapehu, which is set in the middle of the north island and is a popular hiking and skiing spot.
Next, to Ruapehu are two other volcanos, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most beautiful hikes you can do in New Zealand, and I highly recommend it!
There’s also Whakaari/White Island, an active volcano off the coast of Whakatāne in the Bay of Plenty. In 2019 it erupted while tourists were on the island, and 22 people lost their lives.
When visiting New Zealand, if you’re making your way to any nature-based destinations such as Mount Cook, Tongariro or Ngauruhoe, always double-check how safe it is to visit at the time of going and if something feels off, don’t go.
33. There are two names for the country
Another fun fact about New Zealand many don’t know is that it’s not just called that!
The Māori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa and means the land of the long white cloud.
The name New Zealand came from Dutch mapmakers, who called it Nova Zeelandia (after the Dutch province of Zeeland) after Abel Tasman sailed past in 1642.
This is one of the most confusing bits of trivia about New Zealand, but it’s useful to know both names when you visit as they are used interchangeably by most Kiwis.
34. New Zealand tried to change its flag in 2015
Perhaps one of the most random facts about New Zealand is that the country has actually tried to change its official flag.
In 2015 and 2016 we held two referendums on changing the flag, but most of the country voted to keep the old one.
The current flag has the Southern Cross stars and the Union Jack, because New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth and the British monarch (now King Charles III) is still our head of state.
Many say the Union Jack doesn’t represent our country and one of the main flags that were up for grabs was the silver fern, which is a native New Zealand plant.
I wanted our flag to change so desperately and many of the younger generation did as well, however, the boomers ruined it for us and voted for things to stay the same.
So one of the best New Zealand trivia facts is that the flag of the silver fern is used in most sports as the flag!
35. There is only 1 native land mammal
I think that one of the most interesting facts about New Zealand is that there is only one native land animal in the country.
And that animal is bats! In fact, there are two species of bats that are native to New Zealand.
The two native species of bat are the long-tailed bat, also called Pekapeka, and the lesser short-tailed bat.
36. We Have Zero snakes!
One thing you might be surprised to learn about New Zealand is that we don’t have any snakes. In fact, we’re one of the only snake-free countries in the world.
Unlike many other snake-free countries, this is because snakes just never evolved in New Zealand rather than the terrain being inhospitable for them like in Antarctica or Alaska.
But given our Aussie neighbour’s reputation for large and terrifying animals, many tourists consider this one of the great things about New Zealand.
You’ll notice when you arrive in NZ, our immigration process is pretty thorough. They sometimes will spray your shoes and suitcase with disinfectant to kill off any bugs or bacteria as we have a very very fragile ecosystem.
37. New Zealand Was the First Country Where Women Could Vote
As a Kiwi woman, one of the New Zealand history facts I’m most proud of is that in 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote!
That same year, the US state of Colorado also granted women the right to vote.
However, New Zealand was the first entire country to allow this right to women.
Unfortunately, women weren’t allowed to stand for Parliament in New Zealand until 1919, 25 years after South Australia gave women that right, so we lose a few points there.
38. We’re the Land of the Wizards and Jedi
It’s safe to say that New Zealand people like to do things a little differently.
In 1990, New Zealand was the first modern country to appoint an Official National Wizard. I’m not kidding.
He is known officially as The Wizard of New Zealand, or just The Wizard.
The Wizard was appointed by then Prime Minister, Mike Moore, who was an old friend.
Over a decade later in 2001, the NZ census showed that over 53,000 people listed their religion as “Jedi.” This is the highest per capita reporting of the Jedi religion in the world.
However, during the next census five years later, the number had dropped to around 20,000, and continued to drop in the next census. Sad.
But when I tell people all about New Zealand, I always like to throw in that we’re a people who embrace the strange, something you’ll pick up from the top New Zealand travel bloggers too.
So, there you go there are 38 fun and interesting facts about New Zealand culture and history.
Tell me below which one you found the most fascinating!
From October the 1st 🙂
HOLY CRAP! 20,000 earth quakes a year?! That is absolutely insane. I can’t imagine growing up in that. I definitely have gotten snowbound and icebound though.
-Maria, maptrekking.com