NEW ZEALAND — "A Lesson in Appreciation"
New Zealand is a special and magical place. Its unique landscape brought life to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth and made it a reality. New Zealand’s vineyards and chefs are recognized around the world, almost as well as its proclivity for death-defying bungee, adrenaline-pumping ski runs, and dominating rugby team. From the urban buzz of Auckland to the awe-inspiring hiking trails of the South Island, one cannot help but envy the Kiwis. It didn’t take long for me to realize New Zealand is not only one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited, but one that has charmed its inhabitants into appreciating and taking pride in their cultural differences.
THE ISLANDS
New Zealand’s north island offers plenty of urban and geothermal energy. Auckland is a modern oasis where the sun frequently plays peek-a-boo with rain clouds and friendly locals pack pubs and restaurants to enjoy delicious meals and All Blacks victories. Once away from the sailboat-sliced bays of the city, the countryside stretches an evolving tapestry of cow-dotted pastures, snow-capped mountains, and steaming geothermal vents. Although attractions like Hobbiton call to tourists like a siren of commercialism, it still manages to maintain a level of innocence and authenticity lacking from theme parks in other parts of the world. While herds of families wait at the visitor center for a chance to tour the hobbit holes of the Shire, dozens of baby lambs playfully scamper and butt heads under their parents’ watchful eyes along surrounding pastoral hillsides.
Hobbiton, North Island
One can’t help but feel giddy with anticipation when flying over New Zealand’s south island. From the air, the Southern Alps form an undulating snow-capped spine along the western shore of the island. An arrival in Queenstown follows a precarious descent over Lake Wakatipu through dangerous crosswinds between the flanking Southern Alps and Remarkables mountain ranges. As the airport fades from your rental vehicle’s rear-view mirror, your windshield will struggle to frame the vast and beautiful landscape rising before you. Glaciers have sculpted fertile valleys and feed rushing rivers and placid lakes that provide flawless reflections of the heavens and mountain-sketched horizons. Lush green ferns and forest open to towering fjords and beaches, while snow-battered mountain passes close to hopeful visitors in search of the clear blue skies just beyond their reach.
Lake Tekapo, South Island
THE POWER
The power of New Zealand’s natural beauty will humble you. A morning hike could begin with drizzle, fog, and gusty winds, and end with a rainbow-painted valley where a reluctant sun illuminates icebergs that slowly drown into a pristine mountain-fringed glacial lake. You could stop by a fantastic winery, bungee jump off a bridge spanning a picturesque ravine, and then stop by another winery for an equally breath-taking experience. New Zealand welcomes us into her gallery of natural wonder, but the price of admission is our respect for her work. From volcanic eruptions sending boulders through back-country cabin roofs to earthquakes crippling once-thriving cities, like Christchurch; New Zealand reminds man of the fragility of his life and creations.
The people of New Zealand have an incredible sense of pride in their country. It’s estimated that the Māori navigated from East Polynesia to New Zealand around the thirteenth century; about 400 years before European arrival and settlement. Despite the typical growing pains and challenges maturing countries face, Europeans, Māori, and other immigrants learned to embrace their native roots and harvest a distinctively Kiwi culture. There’s a sense of respect and appreciation for not only the incredible beauty and bounty found on both islands, but for the people who call those islands home.
Kawarau Bungee Jump, South Island
THE LESSON
The world could learn a lot from the citizens of New Zealand. The Kiwis understand nature’s apathy of man and his pursuit of control and profits. Rather than dwelling on fear, greed, and divisiveness, they embrace their diversity and appreciate the beauty and fragility of life. It’s why they can jump off bridges attached to bungee cords for fun. It's why New Zealand was the first country in the world to extend voting rights to women. It’s why the All Blacks perform a traditional Māori war dance before every rugby match. And it’s why New Zealand does not have the levels of racism and prejudice found many other places in the world. The Kiwis understand we are all immigrants, and as a result, they live as respectful guests of what the Māori called: the Land of the Long White Cloud.