New Zealand Humour - The New Zealand Experience

The New Zealand Experience

New Zealand is a country that is isolated from much of the rest of the world geographically. New Zealanders are predominantly New Zealand European, although there exists a notable number of Asians, Polynesians and Māori. It is perhaps not surprising that these two situations lead to a humour that often has as a basis the newcomer trying to assimilate themselves with the new country. The intermingled strands of Māori, British, mainland European, Polynesian, Indian and Asian that have made the country their home each look at the land and each other in a different way, and these differences are often the focal point of humour. Comedians from minority groups (such as Raybon Kan and Jacob Rajan) often use these differences in their routines. Unlike the UK the word Asian in New Zealand means those of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese etc. descent. Those from the Indian subcontinent, India, Pakistan etc. or Fijian Indian are generally referred to as Indians. New Zealand's remote and agricultural nature is also a regular comedy catalyst, especially the well-known ratio between people and sheep in the country. The pioneering, backwoods spirit is also commonly used in comedy, as in the stereotypical farmer, Fred Dagg, and the yarns spun by New Zealand writer Barry Crump.