Modern society
New Zealand in the world
New Zealand is becoming more closely integrated into a global society. This is sometimes seen as Americanisation, and a departure from the country’s previous reliance on Britain for social and cultural models. Movies and television have been a major influence.
New Zealanders now rarely call England, Ireland or Scotland ‘home’, though this was common until the middle of the 20th century.
Overseas travel
Exposure to the outside world increased as overseas travel became more common. In 1950 there were 11 short-term departures per 1,000 population. By 2000 the number had leapt to 355. More than half the short-term departures from New Zealand were for Australia. Young people gaining their ‘OE’ (overseas experience) is an established feature of New Zealand life. London remains the major single destination for young New Zealanders travelling overseas, partly because they can work temporarily in Britain under various schemes.
Changing influences
Less than 7% of the population is now British-born. Although television shows such as Coronation Street and The office are popular, British influences on popular culture – from movies and television to music and fashion – have been largely overtaken by American and, increasingly, global trends. Australian influences are not as great as might be expected, given that the two countries share colonial origins and similar histories.
As the population has become more diverse, Asians and Pacific Islanders have woven new threads into the culture. A large number of young New Zealanders travel and work overseas, many of them teaching English in countries like Japan, Korea and China. This created a channel of influences from those countries to New Zealand.
Communications
In the main urban areas, 97% of households have telephones. In rural areas the rate is still well above 90%. One third of all private dwellings have access to the internet at home. Almost all children have access to computers at school.
Texting and talking
In 2001, 58% of households had at least one mobile phone, up from only 22% in 1997–98. And unlike many other developed countries, New Zealand has not banned the use of mobile phones while driving.
The car and public transport
About 90% of all households have access to at least one motor vehicle. In 2001, two in three New Zealanders travelled to work by car. Only one in 20 walked or ran to work.
Only about 2% of journeys are made by bus, and even fewer by rail. For long-distance public transport, air travel has largely replaced trains, buses and ferries, although vestigial train services survive, and the Wellington–Picton ferry services between the two main islands are important.
Driving passion
New Zealanders love their cars. There are two million vehicles for four million people, making the ownership rate one of the world’s highest – it ranked eighth in 1997, with 560 cars per 1,000 people.
Crime
Between 1962 and 1995, the number of recorded offences per 1,000 population increased nearly fourfold.
The number of murders in New Zealand ranges between 40 and 65 from year to year. Convictions for violent offences are increasing, and most burglaries remain unsolved.
About 7,000 people are given prison sentences each year. The country’s 17 prisons can accommodate about 6,000 inmates, and Māori make up more than 40% of the prison population. More than half the prison population is below the age of 30.
