NEW ZEALAND VS SOUTH AFRICA – A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

I recently had the privilege to travel to New Zealand – the Land of the Long White Cloud. The primary purpose of the visit was to visit my children, but I used the opportunity to compare the facilities and customs with our own nation’s.

The obvious facts: South Africa is about four and a half times bigger than New Zealand. New Zealand comprises of two islands, whereas South Africa forms part of a continent and with a larger area. South Africa has a bigger population than New Zealand – the latter has a population of just over 5 million people.

New Zealand is further south and closer to the Antarctic, resulting in lower temperatures and higher rainfall.

South Africa’s history with the Europeans started about 100 hundred years before New Zealand’s – the Dutch started the settlement at the southern point of Africa in 1652, whereas the English landed in New Zealand in 1769.

But then it becomes interesting. A travel to New Zealand is actually a compact world tour  –the snowcapped Southern Alps, could easily be in the European Alps, the bigger cities like Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, apart of bearing the names of overseas cities, retained the English culture and architecture. If you visit the University of Canterbury, you have to continuously remind yourself that you are not on the Oxford campus … The forests, especially on the North Island could easily be Europe’s Black Forest or a Redwood Forest in America. Closer to home, the green rolling hills and vales with waterfalls remind us of our own Natal Midlands or even the Panorama Route. The mountains are just higher, the vales deeper and the waterfalls higher. There are ghost towns and historical towns closely linked to the days of gold mining. Burke’s Pass resembles a Wild West town and Arrowtown is very similar to our Pilgrim’s Rest – the buildings are just newer and the town bigger. Both towns are on the South Island.

There are of course the differences. New Zealand has glaciers, stoney, black beaches and then of course the most peculiar geographical features. The islands were formed as a result of volcanic activities and there is a risk of volcanic eruptions to this day. The country is situated on top of two fault lines, posing a serious risk of earthquakes. Almost not a day passes without earth tremors of various magnitudes. And because they are islands, the volcanic eruptions in the sea pose permanently pose a risk of tsunami’s. Have respect for the people of New Zealand – they live in the face of danger every day! They manage to utilise everything in the country – the geothermal activities are used to generate electricity.

One of the most notable aspects is the fact that the country managed to accommodate all its cultures – both the local and European heritages are included in all their museums and general life.

Heritage management is next level in New Zealand. All the big cities have very well maintained museums, with technologically advanced and interactive exhibitions. Visiting yesteryear is not a visit to a neglected, depressing facility. Even though some of the exhibits are old, the displays are vibrant, well illuminated, maintained and very interesting. Museums have special exhibitions on a regular basis. The Gallipoli – the Scale of our War exhibition at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington is a point in case. The exhibition tells the story of the campaign in Galipoli through the eyes of eight New Zealanders. The exhibits were however manufactured by the Weta Workshop, the same company that created the special effects for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Trilogies. Two museums sport simulations of earthquakes and tsunamis. Access to the museums and parks in these big centres is free. Take note SA Department for Sport, Arts and Culture!

And although New Zealand does not have a formal Constitution, the country is to this day governed by the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) – a document that was signed in 1840 by only a majority of the Maori tribes. Only after a few years it was discovered that the English and Māori versions differ in meaning!

My biggest respect for this country is the level of heritage management. The biggest  consideration for  development is not an intricate list of harmful activities, but approval by the local tribes that proposed developments will not impact on their local water resources.

I might have visited a smaller country, but they managed to broaden my horizons.

Geothermal lake at Waiotapu Scenic Reserve

Section of the English Gardens in Hamilton Gardens

Part of the Gallipoli Exhibition in Te Papa Museum in Wellington

Burke’s Pass, en route to Lake Tekapo, South Island