Kiwiana – “big” things to see in New Zealand.
While I was researching information for my previous blog it dawned on me that we as a country do seem to honour our Kiwiana and things which make us kiwis’ by making “big things” to pay them homage.
New Zealand may be a small country but we compensate with a whole bunch of very BIG things!
New Zealand is about 2.5 times smaller than the state of Texas (USA) alone, however, our huge volcanoes, mountain chains and love for the outdoors inspires us to create big things. Huge things even! If it was ever on your bucket list to see a giant trout or even a humongous soda bottle, then New Zealand is the place to do it. Artists have created enormous sculptures all around the country to promote movies or a local beverage to attract tourists or simply for the love of art. Here are just a few of them to give you an idea of what I mean.
TE KUITI’S SHEEP AND SHEARER
New Zealand: a small little island nation at the bottom of the world. Home to just over 4 million people, and 60 billion sheep. The human to sheep ratio is higher than most other countries in the world, and while dairy is a bigger industry nowadays, the North Island town of Te Kuiti has celebrated one of the most famous New Zealand champions of shearing, Sir David Fagan by sporting a 6 meter tall stature of a shearer, in full shearing mode.
Every year in Te Kuiti there are shearing competitions, and even a ‘Running of the Sheep’ event, where about 2000 sheep run down the main street. Only in New Zealand, eh?
The sheep and shearer statue, like many of the Big Things of New Zealand was on a post stamp in New Zealand Post’s town icons series, and continues to be a well-loved symbol of the great achievements in shearing that have come out of Te Kuiti.