Something that irritates me is the amazingly common occurrence of people saying that New Zealand is a third world country. It is not. Here, I will be giving examples, and writing the responses I have been dying to give. It is your choice whether to read this or not. I have just really wanted to give these responses, and have them read.

Before I start writing the quotes, I want to start with this. New Zealand is not a third world country, nor a developing country. Sure, it isn't perfect. And sure, there is poverty. But that does not make it the third world country many make it out to be. Most countries have poverty, New Zealand isn't any different. The following is a quote from the United Nations:

" In common practice, Japan in Asia, Canada and the United States in northern America, Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, and Western Europe, are considered "developed" regions or areas. In international trade statistics, the Southern African Customs Union is also treated as a developed region and Israel as a developed country; countries emerging from the former Yugoslavia are treated as developing countries; and countries of eastern Europe and of the Commonwealth of Independent States (code 172) in Europe are not included under either developed or developing regions. "

You might notice this says that New Zealand is considered a 'developed' region. To most common people, a 'third world' country is a country where people live in broken house, who starve, and/or are in slums. So let me show you the skylines of Wellington, our capital, and Auckland, our largest city:

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/210/6/7/Wellington_Skyline_I_by_rmbastey.jpg (Unsupported image host)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v7Pf1KkLwhE/TTqfmiwL6FI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/lQGG7wtWpEQ/s1600/auckland.jpg (Unsupported image host)

Sure, they aren't as impressive as the skylines of, say, New York, or Tokyo, but, hey, our population is only four million. We don't need massive skyscrapers. They're pretty decent, if you ask me. On most nights, you can actually see the stars.

Another thing you might note about New Zealand is that in the UN HDI (Human Development Index), New Zealand has a score of 0.95. In this index, 1 is fully developed, and 0 is completely undeveloped. And in the 2011 Mercer Quality of Living Survey, Auckland scored third, while Wellington scored thirteenth. For personal safety, Auckland and Wellington tied for ninth place. Do you get that in countries that ARE under developed? No.

Now, with the quotes:

In New Zealand I had to use a long drop toilet more than once. Of which one was at a very popular, highly advertised, prime tourist location. And I always had this sense of the people there feeling cheated, threatened, hostile, defensive, and bitter & twisted.

I would assume these long drops were on the Great Walks, such as the Routeburn,and the Milford Tracks. Now, here is something foreigners can't seem to get into their heads: this is the middle of nowhere. New Zealand is not one of the many countries that would destroy gigantic areas of forest and dig a huge ditch up steep mountains to put plumbing in one toilet.

People go on those tracks for adventure. If these people don't want adventure, don't go to New Zealand. Our best tourist locations are based on adventure - the Luge in Queenstown, bungee jumping, Zorbs, tramping. These people need to toughen up. The tracks in New Zealand that are made for tourists are amazingly well equipped for the middle of nowhere.

They have hand sanitizer in the Long Drops, they have solar powered heating in the huts. I have been on plenty of tracks where the huts are from the early 1900s, the long drop is filled with spiders, there are possums living in the rafters. That's part of the fun: you walk for a few hours, you sleep in a hut. You get away from the city, and listen to the river, and watch the Keas as they play on the awning. At night, you watch the stars. You swim in a freezing river. Tramping isn't for luxury.

I personally love nothing more than being in the middle of nowhere. There is nothing better than listening to the birds in the forest, or the feeling you get when you get to the top of a tussock covered mountain, and see the valley below you. I think that a lot of people live in cities too long, they get used to being in a jungle of concrete. They start to never want to leave their pampered lives.

http://i47.tinypic.com/1116xxc.jpg (Unsupported image host)

hm. I could find a lot more things before to focus on. But at least I think I've made my point, and pointed out a few things.

Now, I admit New Zealand has its bad parts. Around 500,000 New Zealanders are in Australia, and that is quarter of our population. But they move there because of higher incomes, and a lot of them are offered jobs there. We have our fair share of poverty, and unemployment. But so does the USA. We've had two large disasters lately, including the Christchurch earthquakes, and the Pike River Mine disaster. They have hurt us.

Some people say we are becoming a third world country. But are we yet? No.

Foreign ignorance irritates me.

/rant


Administrators/Moderators, feel free to delete this if you want to. I just hope that at least one person will read this. I posted it because I could find no rules or reasons not to.
 

Uh I've never heard of anyone calling newzealand a 3rd world country.  

It happens. I've seen it on the Internet, I have been approached on Graal about it. It probably is hard to notice if you aren't as in love with New Zealand as I am  

It's really a beautiful country. i went there when i was six and i want to go again.  

Posted by NCJohn

Uh I've never heard of anyone calling newzealand a 3rd world country.

lol same  

The common internet opinion is that New Zealand is less developed? Sounds like you've been trolled. New Zealand is cool and all but Aussies > Kiwis.

Fun fact: Australia has a sympathy clause in the constitution, allowing New Zealand to become a state of Australia. </troll>  

ooh I never kneeew that  

Posted by Twinny

The common internet opinion is that New Zealand is less developed? Sounds like you've been trolled. New Zealand is cool and all but Aussies > Kiwis.

Fun fact: Australia has a sympathy clause in the constitution, allowing New Zealand to become a state of Australia. </troll>

I've heard of that. But I'm pretty sure it requires New Zealand to accept.

And, no, it isn't really common, but it is there. I've found most of the comments come from the United States and the United Kingdom. Just Google, 'New Zealand Third World Country', and it'll be there.  

Pfft. New Zealand is nicer than the polluted USA. Its not a third world country.  

Posted by Higbey

Pfft. New Zealand is nicer than the polluted USA. Its not a third world country.

True again  

Posted by Higbey

Pfft. New Zealand is nicer than the polluted USA. Its not a third world country.

A lot of places are nicer than the USA.  

Woah you speak English there?  

So Im guessing since the USA is the 'top dog' so to speak and practically monitors all international trade and makes up the majority of the UN's decisions people are morally allowed to discriminate and bash and demoralize its people. While smaller countries are morally allowed respect and people will unanimously agree with them that their country is nice like this thread because they aren't "The bad guys" in the global perspective. Okay. I'll just go along with it. Ya New Zealand is great those Americans are fat and lazy and sucks compared to them lol.  

New Zealand isn't third world. They just like their sheep a little too much, and have trouble pronouncing "fish and chips", and stole Australia's flag, and have horribly unsafe roads.  

Posted by Pazx

New Zealand isn't third world. They just like their sheep a little too much, and have trouble pronouncing "fish and chips", and stole Australia's flag, and have horribly unsafe roads.

Actually, the New Zealand flag has been in use since 1869. They held a competition for the Australian flag in 1901. Therefore, though our flag was only made official in 1902, we chose it first.

And, Pimpsy, I think your exaggerating. While I understand where you're coming from, in no way did I mean it in that way. Being a New Zealander, I am of course biased.

Finally, Chaotic, of course we speak English o-o. We were first colonized by the United Kingdom - where, funnily enough, they also speak English. Our other official languages are Māori and Sign Language.