Activity Two:
Rugged Pioneers
New Zealand's European Pioneers were also brave, rugged and independent. Before establishing farms and settlements, they first had to clear the land a painstaking and sometimes dangerous activity Their Isolation and exposure to the elements forced these early New Zealanders to become hardly multi skilled.
This resourcefulness and ability has greatly contributed to the New Zealand. The same qualities can bee seen in the new pioneers a generation of young kiwis business executives computer software builders film makers fashion designers and sportspeople making waves around the world.
Backyard Genius
Since before Sir Ernest Rutherford split the atom early in the twentieth century. Kiwis has been discovering and inventing things, Many of these inventions have literally been created in a backyard. While frozen meat, the Hamilton Jet Boat, and the bungy jump are probably our most famous Kiwi inventions, there are many others.
New Zealanders are also responsible for the tranquilliser gun seismic base isolators, rubber and lead block with minimise earthquake damage, electric fences, the fastest motorbike in the world, freezer vacuums pumps,stamp vending machine, wide toothed shearing combs, and the electronic petrol pump to name a few.
Kiwis love the great outdoors
For the same reasons that many visitors come to New Zealand, kiwis have developed a passion for the outdoor and delight in activities that make the most of the spectacular landscape.
With so much coastline it's little wonder New Zealand love the water and it's reputed that over 15% of New Zealand families own their own boat respected as superior yacht designers, kiwis continue to dominate on the world yachting,Kayaking,Windsurfing and Row Scene.
Hiking,Camping,Fishing bush beach walks are other popular outdoor pursuits.The more intrepid take to the mountains following footsteps of perhaps the most adventurous kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary who conquered Mount Everest, the worlds highest mountain in 1953.
