• Instant Kiwi, New Zealand in a nutshell

Instant Kiwi, New Zealand in a nutshell is a nice mini-book to learn about New Zealand. I can't remember how I got this book but I was very excited to see it. 

It gives information on the country and myths of its creation, the Māori people and European settlers, the Kiwi bird as the country's national animal, cultural facts and words to learn! 

I will share a few aspects from the book: 

The hongi is a traditional Māori greeting where two people lean forward and let their noses touch lightly with eyes closed. This greeting carries important significance as you are "sharing the breath of life". This tradition comes from Māori mythology where Tāne, god of forests and of birds, created the first woman from clay and breathed into her nostrils to give her life. Through the exchange of this greeting, manuhiri, visitors, blend with tangata whenua, the people of the land, and establish a connection.   

Here are some simple expressions and words:

• Kia ora - hello (informal)
• Tēnā tātou katoa - greetings (formal)
• Ka kite anō - see you later
• Ka pai! - very good, well done
• Māoritanga - things that relate to Maori values and concepts
• Pākehā - people of European origin; non-Maori 
• iwi - tribe
• moko - traditional tattoo on the face or the body

"According to Maori legend, the kiwi once lived high in the trees and had beautifully coloured wings. One day, Tāne asked several different birds if one of them would live on the forest floor to help save the trees from the ground bugs that were destroying them. One by one, the birds made their feeble excuses. 

The kiwi was the only one who agreed to Tāne's request, even though it meant he would have to lose his beautiful wings and colourful feathers and live on the damp forest floor. What's more, Tāne said to the kiwi, 'You will not be able to return to the forest roof and will never see the light of day again.' Kiwi looked at the sun for the last time and sadly whispered goodbye.

As a reward for his sacrifice, Tāne decreed that the kiwi would become the best known and most loved bird of all." 

There are many more fun facts about New Zealand and its culture in the book. You might already know that The Lord of the Rings was filmed entirely in New Zealand. The landscapes are breathtaking! Here is a video you can watch to witness New Zealand's beauty.  

New Zealand's Stunning Landscapes | National Geographic

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