Australia, the world’s sixth-largest country by area, has a population of around 26 million, mostly concentrated on its Pacific seaboard. New Zealand, 4100 kilometers to the east, is much smaller, size-wise, with a population of only five million. But the two countries also have much in common, especially where dating culture is concerned. Leafing through freedatingsites.com.au, we get to know each other better and understand the cultural characteristics of these countries. If you are interested in getting to know someone from either nation (known respectively as ‘Aussies’ and ‘Kiwis’) a little bit of background research would be advisable.
- Features of the culture of dating in Australia and New Zealand
It would be worthwhile starting with a historical overview. Both countries have been settled by humans for millennia, the original Australian occupants being Aboriginal tribes who first crossed over from Asia, while New Zealand has been home to Maoris for centuries. Both countries became colonies of the British Empire in the 19th-century, and remain predominantly English-speaking. You are likely to notice the variation between Aussie and Kiwi accents. Australians like to shorten words. ‘Straya’ is how they’ll refer to their homeland, while the native mammals are ‘roos’ (kangaroos) and they also love outdoors dining at their ‘barbies’ (barbecues). Kiwis, whether of Maori or British heritage, will say “kia ora,” Maori for “welcome.”
How about dating-wise? Both Australians and New Zealanders love the great outdoors and are likely to be passionate about skiing, hiking, sailing, and scuba diving. Are you at all squeamish about spiders? Aussies and Kiwis are used to large arachnids that would terrify most Europeans and think nothing of removing them from indoors. Both cultures are laid back, but also love partying and your Aussie girlfriend will easily drink you under the table! They also love self-deprecating humor.
- Similarities and differences in the culture of acquaintances of these countries
In all those respects – a fun-loving, hard-drinking, down-to-earth but always hospitable outlook – there’s not much to differentiate natives of Australia from their not-so-near neighbors on the far side of the Tasman Sea. Around five times the population of New Zealand, Australia understandably has a larger pop culture, in terms of movies, TV, and music. However, New Zealand still has a lively social scene, with bustling music festivals.
Aussies tend to be a little more outspoken, using a lot of rhyming slang (an import from London, England, an example of which would be ‘apples and pears’ to refer to stairs). They also relish sarcasm and can turn the air blue with their colorful grasp of four-letter words. In New Zealand, the Maoris account for 8% of the population, and their indigenous language is taught at school. Australian Aborigines are less homogenized, so their profile is quite low. Both countries are sports-mad, and for all the relatively small population, the New Zealand international rugby team (known as the ‘All Blacks’) is currently ranked third in the world, while Australia (the ‘Wallabies’) is sixth.
- The role of the family in the lives of people in New Zealand and Australia
It’s important to appreciate that Australia and New Zealand society is comprised of many ethnic groups beyond indigenous people and those of British descent. There has been large-scale immigration from other parts of the world. New Zealand has prominent Dutch, German, North American, and South African communities. Australia’s proximity to South East Asia accounts for its large Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian populations, not to mention East Europeans. Each culture will have its family traditions. Within the English-speaking majorities, in line with similar Western cultures, they are having children later in life, while widespread divorce and re-marriage means that many families now include step-parents and step-siblings.
Conclusion: managing a relationship with an Australian or New Zealander
Should you find yourself getting involved in a romance with an Aussie or Kiwi who happens to live on the other side of the equator, modern Internet dating provides a host of remedies. With video chatting, you can touch base almost as if the person is in your vicinity, and this can become even more vivid if you communicate using Virtual Reality headsets. Travel is also coming down in cost all the time – keep an eye out for last-minute deals.
