To follow up on my last blog post, I decided to interview a local about the culture of environmentalism here in New Zealand. I can tell just by staying in the YHA and walking around the streets of Wellington and Rotorua that New Zealanders are very eco-friendly. There are many signs hanging up encouraging people to recycle, turn off the lights, and use the stairs. I wanted to find out more about why New Zealand is more concerned about the environment than other cultures and if there are any current issues that locals are concerned about.
I interviewed a local man who runs a souvenir shop here in Rotorua. He seemed willing to discuss some environmental concerns in New Zealand but admitted that he was no environmental expert. Although he did not have strong opinions about the environment, he was willing to answer a few questions that I had.
I first asked him why he thinks New Zealand has such a strong concern for the environment. In America there are people who care, but they do not seem as passionate as people here in New Zealand. He explained that New Zealanders like to think of their country as being both clean and green, which explains the trees and flowers planted around every street. He also mentioned that it is easier to keep New Zealand clean because of how small the country is. Everyone could do their part to help keep the country clean. In America there could be a different mentality. Since the country is bigger, people may think that their contribution won’t make a difference. For example, someone could be thinking “If I see litter all over the city, then what difference would it make if I threw my trash away?”
The concern about the environment in modern times is also supported by the history of the people. The ancestors of the Maori people are from East Polynesia. They believed in the “interrelatedness of people and nature” (Sullivan 39). This deep connection that the early Polynesians felt with nature is still seen today.
Even though New Zealand seems to be at the top of their game, there is always room for improvement. I asked him if there are any current environmental concerns. One big issue is deep sea oil drilling. He explained that just recently there were a few test drills which created a huge controversy in the nation. People have seen the possible repercussions that can come with drilling from the oil spills in America. Because of this, people are less likely to be open to the idea of fracking.
In other countries, this issue may not be a huge deal, but in New Zealand it seems that people are less willing to trust the government to handle this situation well. Reading online there are many recent articles that discuss protestors standing outside meetings shouting phrases such as “Frack off” (Protestors). The Maori activists seem to be the most passionate about these decisions arguing that big oil companies have “no permission to be in our tribal waters” (Reider 4). This idea of land and waters having significant meaning dates back to earlier times as well. In Penguin History of New Zealand, Michael King discusses the conflict between the Maori settlers and the European colonizers. The early Maori tribes were afraid that their customs and culture would be lost if more of their land was given over to the Europeans, and they have a similar view in modern times (King 210). They were always very protective of their land and their reactions to oil drilling reflects that today.
Finally, I asked him about his personal opinion on the matter. Again he seemed to not have a strong opinion, but he did mention that New Zealand could learn from the mistakes made in America. Generally he didn’t seem too opposed to the idea of fracking, but he did mention that precautions should be taken. Because of the oil spills that did happen, New Zealand has an idea of how to prepare for them now.
Being here in New Zealand has been an unbelievable experience that has taught me so much, but their eco-friendly nature has inspired me to become more aware of the environment. I’ve always been the type of person to throw away a water bottle without thinking twice about recycling, someone who leaves the water on while I’m brushing my teeth, and someone who uses the elevator instead of the stairs. I will definitely take this lesson home with me and hopefully inspire others to take measures to help the environment too.
King, Michael. The Penguin History of New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 2003. Print.
"Protesters against Deep Sea Oil Drilling Turn out in Force." NZ Herald. NZME, 29 Mar. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.
Reider, Rebecca. "Northland Iwi Face Statoil over Oil Drilling Plans." NZ Herald. NZME, 16 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.
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