NZ culture is susceptible to change
This is a personal blog where I write about how we, in New Zealand, can make a significant influence on the world. I touch on pertinent issues in education, technology and culture. To receive this blog in your inbox, subscribe here:
For better or for worse, New Zealand culture is subject to change.
Reason #1 - A quarter of our population was born overseas
It is now the case that 1 in every 4 NZ residents were born in a different country, a different culture.
Every year, for the 10 years preceding COVID, approximately 110,000 non-NZ citizens move to New Zealand and 50,000 leave. That’s 60,000 immigrants moving into NZ every year on net.
Compare that to the 45,000 NZ citizens departing and 35,000 arriving yearly, resulting in 10,000 NZ citizens leaving NZ every year on net. With these stats, it is clear to see how NZ has experienced significant multicultural influence.
If pre-COVID stats are any indicator of our future, and the demand to enter New Zealand remains high, we will continue to get a range of different backgrounds entering our country which will affect NZ culture.
Reason #2 - Our culture hasn’t had enough time to establish deep roots
Many other countries have been inhabited for Millennia. Their cultures have formed over many centuries so, like a tree, they have deeper roots.
Comparatively Aotearoa is the last major landmass to be discovered by humans, 700 years ago. On top of that, the majority of our population are immigrants of only the past 200 years causing lots of cultural disruption. Our country has a short history so, like an infant, the culture is more sensitive to change.
Having a malleable culture is both an amazing thing and terrible.
Terrible in that we don’t clearly understand our identity. What does it mean to be a kiwi? What traditions do we share? We have many diverse cultures here, but it is often a struggle articulating what ties them together. Without a common identity, people stick to their own or become culturally confused.
How can we love our home, our country, when we don’t understand what it stands for?
But having a malleable culture is also Amazing. A culture that is more flexible can serve as a huge advantage in the 21st Century. The ability to course correct quickly in a fast changing world could be our greatest strength.
It allows us to nudge our culture in the right direction and create the society we want to propagate into the future.
One that the world can learn from.
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