Kiwiana images

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

A celebration of kiwi-produced icons (historic and contemporary) that are a part of New Zealand's unique cultural identity.

Image: Kiwiana

Kiwiana

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Kiwiana

From the 1980s Pākehā began to explore their distinctive traditions and to argue that New Zealanders had a culture which was neither Māori nor British. There was an interest in ‘kiwiana’ – items of popular culture thought to be unique to New Zealand, such as the pāua-shell ash-tray.

Source: Jock Phillips, 'The New Zealanders - Bicultural New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/3976/kiwiana (accessed 21 January 2020)

Image: 'Camp Leader' knitted doll

'Camp Leader' knitted doll

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: 'Camp Mother' knitted doll

'Camp Mother' knitted doll

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Maori doll

Maori doll

mychillybin

Image: Vase, Swan

Vase, Swan

Puke Ariki

Image: Vase

Vase

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Shaker, Salt

Shaker, Salt

Puke Ariki

Image: Cup and Saucer

Cup and Saucer

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: saucer

saucer

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: cup

cup

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Kete

Kete

Puke Ariki

Image: Female Pare rito (female rito hat)

Female Pare rito (female rito hat)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Kete

Kete

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Hongi

Hongi

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Wharenui doorway

Wharenui doorway

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Girls Ice Cream Treat

Girls Ice Cream Treat

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Pavlova

Pavlova

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Fish and chips

Fish and chips

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: New Zealand Hot Dog and a can of L&P

New Zealand Hot Dog and a can of L&P

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Hangi

Hangi

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Kiwi favourite

Kiwi favourite

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Kiwi Barbie

Kiwi Barbie

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Custard Square

Custard Square

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: ‘Fish and chips, Maketu’

‘Fish and chips, Maketu’

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: "Batch & Urupa"

"Batch & Urupa"

Puke Ariki

Image: Trampers’ hut

Trampers’ hut

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: [Four Square foodmarket]

[Four Square foodmarket]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Kiwiana

Kiwiana

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Ōtorohanga

In 1999 a project to brand Ōtorohanga the 'kiwiana' town of New Zealand was started. This was part of a nationwide trend in which small towns tried to create a name for themselves in the wake of challenging economic conditions and population stagnation and decline. Kiwiana describes distinctively New Zealand objects from times past. These are a sample of the kiwiana icons which are found on the town's main thoroughfares.

Source: Kerryn Pollock, 'King Country places - Ōtorohanga', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34647/kiwiana (accessed 21 January 2020)

Image: Stamps

Stamps

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Collecting in the Bay of Islands

Collecting in the Bay of Islands

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Apple poster

Apple poster

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Box, Butter

Box, Butter

Puke Ariki

Image: Mānuka honey

Mānuka honey

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Dog, from Footrot Flats

Dog, from Footrot Flats

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Shrek the hermit sheep

Shrek the hermit sheep

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Possum

Possum

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Symbols of identity

National identity is also reproduced on a daily basis through national symbols and everyday items. These range from official symbols such as stamps, flags, coins or coats of arms through to trademarks or the popular icons commonly known as ‘kiwiana’.

Source: Fiona Barker, 'New Zealand identity - Symbols of identity', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-7 (accessed 23 January 2020)g

Image: Rugby jersey [1924 replica]

Rugby jersey [1924 replica]

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Gumboots

Gumboots

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Kiwi 1/4 Acre

Kiwi 1/4 Acre

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Beanie: Knitted

Beanie: Knitted

Canterbury Museum

Image: Summer in Hokianga

Summer in Hokianga

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Beach cricket

Beach cricket

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Children's touch

Children's touch

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: An illustration from Hutu and Kawa find an island (1957) by Avis Acres

An illustration from Hutu and Kawa find an island (1957) by Avis Acres

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mau kaki (pendant)

Mau kaki (pendant)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: brooch, silver fern

brooch, silver fern

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Weta

Weta

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Pate (cricket bat)

Pate (cricket bat)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Kowhai

Kowhai

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Teapot

Teapot

Puke Ariki

Image: [Marching Girls]

[Marching Girls]

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: United Tribes’ flag: the 1888–89 ‘Native’ rugby team

United Tribes’ flag: the 1888–89 ‘Native’ rugby team

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Flag, Maori

Flag, Maori

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Laser Kiwi flag

Laser Kiwi flag

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Kiwi

Native birds were also quickly adopted as symbols. In the colonial period the moa was a pre-eminent symbol of the country – but from the early 20th century the kiwi was the dominant symbol. During the First World War New Zealand soldiers became known as ‘Kiwis’. This soon spread to become the common name for all New Zealanders and an adjective applied to all things New Zealand. Even the country’s currency became known as the kiwi. In 2011 the dollar coin featured a kiwi and ferns.

Source: Fiona Barker, 'New Zealand identity - Symbols of identity', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-7 (accessed 23 January 2020)g 

Image: Kiwi CND badge

Kiwi CND badge

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Kiwi Records

Kiwi Records

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: kiwi ornament

kiwi ornament

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Matchbox

Matchbox

Puke Ariki

Image: New Zealand International Arts Festival

New Zealand International Arts Festival

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Other examples of Kiwiana

Image: Toy tractor with trailer

Toy tractor with trailer

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Father Christmas

Father Christmas

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Caravans

Caravans

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Brother Ken, bro'Town

Brother Ken, bro'Town

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Selwyn College 'ie lavalava

Selwyn College 'ie lavalava

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Lei

Lei

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Anzac poppy

Anzac poppy

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Te Hokowhitu a Tū insignia

Te Hokowhitu a Tū insignia

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Ake Ake Ake Kia Kaha e

Ake Ake Ake Kia Kaha e

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Blue smoke

Blue smoke

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Flying Nun label

The Flying Nun label

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Minarets sheep station, New Zealand

Minarets sheep station, New Zealand

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Kowhaiwhai

Kowhaiwhai

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rugby players

Rugby players

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Māori

Māori designs were used quite often on 19th-century publications, especially tourist books. They also became common on trademarks and stamps. The $50 banknote featured early-20th-century Ngāti Porou politician Āpirana Ngata. A piece of pounamu (greenstone), often carved, became a common item of dress distinguishing Kiwis overseas in the late 20th century, and designs with koru elements were important in the branding of many public agencies.

Source: Fiona Barker, 'New Zealand identity - Symbols of identity', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-identity/page-7 (accessed 23 January 2020)g  

Image: Kahui rere - Ngarauru

Kahui rere - Ngarauru

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Hei Matau (fish hook)

Hei Matau (fish hook)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: First series of banknotes: £50

First series of banknotes: £50

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mamaku koru

Mamaku koru

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Koru, 1, 2, 3

Koru, 1, 2, 3

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Sellebration

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