Monday, March 18, 2013

In Praise of Godzone

Although Kiwis are generally laid-back, sombre and unemotive creatures, we seem to have the worrying trait of craving instant acceptance from those that visit our shores. One of the refreshing things about Americans is that they really don't care and any observations that you may have whilst visiting their part of the world are politely noted, but summarily brushed aside. It's the sort of arrogant self-confidence that Kiwis can only dream of.

Meanwhile in New Zealand, we constantly fret about what others think about us and earnestly dissect and examine any reaction from an overseas visitor...especially well known ones. How many gushing interviews have you seen from Kiwi media that ask that inane question "how do you like NZ so far"....as a bewildered celeb is making their way across the airport tarmac after alighting from an arriving jet.

Nice to learn that motor-mouth and fellow caravan and Prius hater, Jeremy Clarkson enjoyed his brief visit to Godszone. So much that he devoted the opening paragraphs and the last couple of sentences to New Zealand in his weekly Sunday Times column.

While we can be chuffed that Clarkson's praise for New Zealand may linger in the back-of-mind of a few UK readers, some Kiwis may be furiously worrying about the repercussions of elevating Palmerston North as the mecca of the South Pacific ;-)
"If you were God and you were all-powerful, you wouldn’t select Bethlehem as a suitable birthplace for your only child, because it’s a horrible place. And you certainly wouldn’t let him grow up anywhere in the Holy Land. What you’d actually do is choose New Zealand.

New Zealand causes anyone to question the wisdom of God. Because if he really were all-knowing, children at Christmas time today would be singing “O little town of Wellington” and people would not cease from mental fight until Jerusalem had been built in Auckland’s green and pleasant land. Jesus would have been from Palmerston North.

I’m in New Zealand right now and it really is absolutely stunning — bite-the-back-of-your-hand-to-stop-yourself-crying-out lovely. But sadly, because of modern technology, I can’t enjoy any of the things it has to offer. Not its wine or its sunshine or even the scrutiny of its fastidiously attentive paparazzi. Because on the way here I lost my credit card."
Read the full column HERE

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