How to refer to a person from New Zealand?

[bhaisahab]

Just for information, the kiwifruit is Actinidia

Actinidia deliciosa (syn. Actinidia chinensis deliciosa) or kiwifruit is native to southern China, where it is declared as the National fruit of China. [1] Other species of Actinidia are also found in China and range east to Japan and north into southeastern Siberia. This species grows naturally at altitudes between 600 - 2,000 m.

I used to be a teacher of horticulture.

[tedtmc]

I just read that the Kiwis changed the name of the fruit from Chinese Gooseberry in the 50's for marketing reasons rather than to suggest a Kiwi origin.
Here is the story:

When introduced to New Zealand by Isabel Fraser it was called yáng táo in China. People in New Zealand thought it had a gooseberry flavour and began to call it the Chinese gooseberry, although it is not related to the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry) family.

New Zealand exported the fruit to the US in the 1950s. Among the exporters was the prominent produce company Turners and Growers, who were calling the berries melonettes, because the name Chinese gooseberry had political connotations due to the Cold War. An American importer, Norman Sondag of San Francisco, complained that melonettes was as bad as Chinese gooseberry because melons and berries were both subject to high import tariffs. In June 1959, during a meeting of Turners and Growers management in Auckland, Jack Turner suggested the name kiwifruit which was adopted and later became the industry-wide name.

NZ is undoubtedly the largest producer of kiwifruits. The successful commercial production is probably attributable to the ideal climate for the fruit in North Island of NZ especially around the Bay of Plenty.

[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by Disaster Master

I saw a Kiwi.
I saw three Kiwi tourists.

Thanks.

Absolutely correct. If you ever saw three kiwi tourirsts, rather than three Kiwi tourists, that would be remarkable. :)

As for actinidia, it's worth noting that the kiwifruit of today is VERY different from the wild plant brought here from China. The size, texture and colour of the fruit, and the "fur" have all been extensively modified. Actinidia deliciosa, or actinidia chinensis, it may still be, but Chinese gooseberry it sure ain't.

[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

Just for information, the kiwifruit is Actinidia

Actinidia deliciosa (syn. Actinidia chinensis deliciosa) or kiwifruit is native to southern China, where it is declared as the National fruit of China. [1] Other species of Actinidia are also found in China and range east to Japan and north into southeastern Siberia. This species grows naturally at altitudes between 600 - 2,000 m.

Which species, bhaisahab, the one grown commercially here? If so, that's very interesting because the heart of the kiwifruit growing area in Zild is Te Puke, with an elevation of around 61m. The area I live in also has sizeable plantations and it is no higher than that either.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by stuartnz

Which species, bhaisahab, the one grown commercially here? If so, that's very interesting because the heart of the kiwifruit growing area in Zild is Te Puke, with an elevation of around 61m. The area I live in also has sizeable plantations and it is no higher than that either.

Sorry for the confusion, Actinidia deliciosa, which, to the best of my knowledge is the variety grown commercially in New Zealand and elsewhere, grows naturally, that is to say is self propagating and grows wild, at between 600 and 2000 metres of altitude. It will of course grow at lower altitudes if it is cultivated there, however it will not grow above 2000 metres.

[tedtmc]

If so, that's very interesting because the heart of the kiwifruit growing area in Zild is Te Puke, with an elevation of around 61m.

'Te Puke' is pronounced 'tee poo-kee', not the 'puke' as in vomit. Apparently here are a lot of places with Maori names starting with the 'Te' in front.
What does 'Te' mean? the?

The area I live in also has sizeable plantations and it is no higher than that either.

And where's that?

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[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by tedtmc

What does 'Te' mean? the?

Yes. "Te" is the singular definite article, ngā is the plural. Hence the Māori name for the island I live on, Te Ika a Maui, the fish of Maui. Te wahine, the woman, Ngā wāhine, the women.

As for where I live, if you have Google Earth, you can see it here:
http://maxqnzs.com/MyHome.kmz

[tedtmc]

I see, Hastings in the Hawkes Bay area. That's an important fruit growing area
with the famous Watties food factory. Small charming town. You get earthquake there?
Are there a lot of Maori people where you are?

[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by tedtmc

I see, Hastings in the Hawkes Bay area. That's an important fruit growing area
with the famous Watties food factory. Small charming town. You get earthquake there?
Are there a lot of Maori people where you are?

We get many earthquakes here, aenough so that most long-time residents don't actually notice any under that are under 4.5 on the Richter scale. There is a large Maaori population here, but a little further up the East Coast is one of three areas where Maori language and culture is dominant. My wife's Maori ancestry is from this area, a part of the country where it is routine to hear Maori used in everyday conversation.

[anatole nozière]

I've heard "En-Zedder," which sounds idiomatic and not too disrepectful. I don't like the stupid sound of "kiwi," and if I were a New Zealander I'd hate it--"Is that all you know about New Zealand?--How stereotypifying."