Halloween in New Zealand - Cultural Fusion or Confusion?

Halloween is a relatively recent import into New Zealand popular culture. Here's one take on the cultural fusion - or confusion - it unleashes in a multi-cultural society in the South Pacific.

Romancing the Backpacker in New Zealand

Nearly 2.5 million international visitors arrive in New Zealand every year. In younger age groups there are a lot of backpackers. Indeed, a sub-sector of the tourism industry caters to this market with backpacker hostels and hotels, backpacker buses, night life, and extreme sport activities - bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, skydiving, etc.

Each backpacker seeks the adventure and leaves with a unique experience.

You may not find the following on the Tourism New Zealand or Ministry of Tourism sites, but you'll find more reliable information on tourism there.

Here's to better Canadian - Pasifika relations:

Pasifika English - New Zealand

Pasifika English

A similar adaptation of English, as Maori have done, by Pacific Island communities in New Zealand, such as Samoan, Cook, Nuiean, and Tongan, results in Pasifika English with additional influence on younger Pasifika English (and Maori) speakers from African-American hip-hop. More here

The New Zealand animated TV series Bro'Town captures some of the Pasifika English dialect:

Bro'Town clip

Another Bro'Town clip addresses the interface between social services & Pasifika peoples.




And another one on race relations, that have not always been cordial, between Maori & Pasifika peoples: