Are you a New Zealander?

**Oakie** · 22nd February 2006, 15:00

Yep. I decided about 6 months ago that from then on I was only going to be a 'New Zealander'.
It happened because we got a survey thing to fill out for work and the only choices available to me were 'New Zealand European' or 'pakeha'. My ancestors all left England and Scotland between 1847 and 1880 so I thought I shouldn't really call myself European anymore and I didn't want to be included in a group that distinguishes you more on colour than ethnicity (pakeha) ... So here I am ... a 'New Zealander' and damned proud of it.

**Hitcher** · 22nd February 2006, 15:04

Originally Posted by jimbo600

Actually during one UK census so many people put Jedi down as religion thay had to recognise it as a legitimate religion, cool aye.

After the last census, even though over 70,000 people had stated their religion as "Jedi", the Head Statistician determined that it wasn't a proper religion and would not therefore be added to future censuses. So there!

**sAsLEX** · 22nd February 2006, 15:23

Originally Posted by Hitcher

After the last census, even though over 70,000 people had stated their religion as "Jedi", the Head Statistician determined that it wasn't a proper religion and would not therefore be added to future censuses. So there!

Good to see we have one person who decides what is a religion. Might pay to get myself in that job, convert to muslim (or any faith that believes theirs is the only true faith) and then axe all the other ones.

**Flatcap** · 22nd February 2006, 15:26

Originally Posted by MisterD

March 7th isn't it?

Country of birth: People's Republic of Lancashire.

You will be ticking "European" then so we can lump you in with the Germans....

**slob** · 22nd February 2006, 16:01

Since I'm the procrastinating type (when at work), I looked up "Ethnicity" on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity

Here's the bit from the page that supports what I was going on about:

"In English, Ethnicity goes far beyond the modern ties of a person to a particular nation (e.g., citizenship), and focuses more upon the connection to a perceived shared past and culture."

So by that token, "European" would mean people whose history or culture is linked to Europe.

Of course there are alternative definitions that I've conveniently omitted..

**MSTRS:Me** · 22nd February 2006, 16:09

Slob is right. What if you were a naturalised NZer who was born in Germany, to a Turkish mother (who was born in Greece) and a Negroid father (who was born in Morocco).
Too damned confusing.
Much easier to have only two options.....New Zealander....and ....Other

**Nivlac** · 22nd February 2006, 16:10

Originally Posted by slob

You do realise the distinction between "nationality" and "ethnicity" don't you?

Yes, but the problem is that Statistics NZ don't even make the clear distinction.

"While the census “help notes” informed respondents that ethnicity is not about nationality, some of the examples given in the form comprise both ethnic groups and countries. In published three-digit level data from the 2001 census, ethnic groups include Australians, Germans, Poles and Dutch." - (Paul Callister, 2004, http://www.callister.co.nz/nzethnicgroup.pdf )

BTW, here is Statistics NZ's official word on the issue for the 2006 census...
http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006...-ethnicity.htm
at least they have said that this year they won't automatically re-classify everyone who puts "New Zealander" as a NZ European... I know of a few Maori who consider themselves to be New Zealanders and are not to happy about being stuck under the european heading.

**MidnightMike** · 22nd February 2006, 16:11

I dont care really, just as it's not pakeha, I hate that word

**oldrider** · 22nd February 2006, 16:37

Everyone borne here after the treaty is a ""New Zealander". Good call.

European/Pakeha are pre-treaty terms.

Ask the Maori party to Honour the treaty.

(Normaly I do not find Pakeha offensive But put in the obove context, I do.)

Cheers John.

**Jackrat** · 22nd February 2006, 16:39

Originally Posted by yungatart

I always tick 'other' and write New Zealander on official type forms- have done for years

Yeah me too,nice to know there's at lest two of us.

**jimbo600** · 22nd February 2006, 16:43

Originally Posted by Hitcher

After the last census, even though over 70,000 people had stated their religion as "Jedi", the Head Statistician determined that it wasn't a proper religion and would not therefore be added to future censuses. So there!

Ah that's right. Well it was five years ago and I can barely remember where I park my bike most of the time.

**Ixion** · 22nd February 2006, 16:55

Originally Posted by slob

Since I'm the procrastinating type (when at work), I looked up "Ethnicity" on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity

Here's the bit from the page that supports what I was going on about:

"In English, Ethnicity goes far beyond the modern ties of a person to a particular nation (e.g., citizenship), and focuses more upon the connection to a perceived shared past and culture."

So by that token, "European" would mean people whose history or culture is linked to Europe.

Of course there are alternative definitions that I've conveniently omitted..

No it wouldn't . European is not a single shared past and culture. The past and culture of (say) Turkey, or Bosnia, is TOTALLY different to that of Ireland . And that again quite different to Norway or the Spains. You might as well say that well fit into Oceanic . And the English are emphatically NOT European. My Grandsire would have clipped you upside the headfor that suggestion. Europeans are them wogs across the Channel.