A Sense of Humour

New Zealanders traditionally have a hard time laughing at themselves. As new country, we don't take well to criticism or jokes at our expense.

Perhaps it's because we're all a little insecure that, in spite of the LOTR mountains, beautiful beaches, and a menacing rubgy team, sometimes (but not always) our isolated little island can feel a little bit shit. So we seek constant reassurance that it isn't. And poking fun at ourselves, our geography, or our way of life is therefore all too often considered...'just not on, mate'.

But the sooner we learn to embrace our shitness and laugh about it, the better. Because if you can't laugh at yourself...someone else will. Probably an Australian.

So if you take off that 'Born Here' T-Shirt with a map of NZ on the front, let yourself get 'beached as', and stop trying so hard to do things that will 'put New Zealand on the map', you might find that, like the Flight of the Conchords, you'll do it by just being yourself.

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