New Zealand is a country of writers, filmmakers, and adventurers. Beyond the New Zealanders creating great quotes, many visitors to New Zealand have also been inspired to talk about the country and its people. Here, we have some of the best quotes about New Zealand.
Travel and Landscape Quotes About New Zealand
New Zealand is a place renowned for its legendary natural beauty. From snowcapped mountains to coastlines and landscapes straight out of a fantasy novel. Travellers and locals enjoy Aotearoa and often have great things to say about it. Here are some of the quotes that capture the natural wonder of the country.
Aotearoa is the Māori name for New Zealand, often translated as “Land of the Long White Cloud.”
Whenever I get stressed, I just want to hop on a plane to Queenstown.
John Travolta
Aotearoa's landscapes aren't just beautiful, they're therapeutic. For many, Queenstown isn't just an adventure capital but a peaceful escape.
New Zealand feels like you took all the best bits of Canada and squished them onto a tiny island.
Evangeline Lilly
Actress Evangeline Lilly captures New Zealand's diversity of scenery in one sentence. Forests, mountains, lakes. It's all there, compact and untouched.
Fiordland, ladies and gentlemen. What a spectacle… To throw words at such a spectacle would be like throwing meringues at a charging rhinoceros.
Stephen Fry
Few places leave even seasoned travellers like Stephen Fry speechless. Fiordland's drama and scale defy description, and he's not wrong about the meringues.
Everywhere you turn in New Zealand, there’s something exciting to do. It’s the gem of the world… so far away from the madness.
Wes Bentley
For actor Wes Bentley, New Zealand's appeal isn't just scenic, it's also about serenity. That mix of adventure and calm is what keeps travellers coming back.
visitors came to New Zealand.
Kiwi Culture and Character in Quotes
New Zealanders, also known as Kiwis, are renowned for their humility, humour, and down-to-earth nature, with much of their slang reflecting this. Here are just a few examples of what motivates people. Kiwis are known for their quirks and values, from understatement to a seeming vendetta against tall poppies, the culture doesn't take itself too seriously while also expressing community, fairness, and humility.
New Zealand is not a small country but a large village.
Peter Jackson
Filmmaker Peter Jackson captures a core truth of Kiwi life, particularly the sense of community that is so deeply ingrained in New Zealand culture. Even in cities, there's a neighbourly warmth that runs through the culture.
People in New Zealand go out of their way to not be impressed by things.
Melanie Lynskey
There’s a deep current of modesty in Kiwi culture, which is sometimes mistaken for shyness. Melanie Lynskey reminds us that being unimpressed isn’t rudeness, it’s just part of the charm.
We’ve got a thing called the ‘tall poppy syndrome’… cut them down and say ‘You’ve been to the moon? So what?’
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi's signature humour pokes fun at a very real Kiwi tendency: keeping egos in check. In New Zealand, humility is not just a personality trait but a social value.
Tall Poppy Syndrome is a cultural phenomenon in New Zealand (and Australia) where people who stand out or achieve great success are cut down or criticised.
In New Zealand, I think we often take ourselves too seriously, and being able to laugh at yourself is necessary in life.
Murray Mexted
Even as he gently critiques his home country, former All Black Murray Mexted delivers a vital truth. A bit of self-deprecating humour goes a long way in Kiwi culture.
I'm quite proud of growing up in New Zealand where, from quite early on in primary school, you're learning to count in Maori, Maori mythology and dances and colours and history, and I think that gives a child a really good grounding.
Martin Henderson
New Zealand's influence extends beyond its people; it shapes the nation's identity. For actors like Martin Henderson, a Kiwi upbringing is a grounding force in a global world.
Want to learn the lingo? Here's a great video on Kiwi slang.
Global Perspectives on New Zealand
New Zealand's impact on the world is enormous, given how it manages to feel both remote and familiar simultaneously. The country sometimes feels like it's in contrast to the noise and chaos of the wider world, especially when you hear some of their common sayings. Here are some of the best quotes about how people see the country.
If the people of New Zealand want to be part of our world, they should hop off their islands, and push ’em closer.
Lewis Black
Comedian Lewis Black jokes about New Zealand’s isolation, which is something both locals and visitors embrace. It’s not just far away; it’s far removed from much of the world’s noise.
One of the best things about growing up in New Zealand is… anything is possible.
Peter Jackson
To Peter Jackson, Aotearoa is a place where creativity thrives. The space, freedom, and culture make room for big dreams, like turning hobbit fantasies into cinematic reality.
It was discovering New Zealand. … And even more precious were the people – not at all like the Australians.
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen offers a warm, cheeky tribute, not just to the landscape, but to the people who make the experience memorable. (And yes, he’s stirring the friendly trans-Tasman rivalry.)
Coming from New Zealand, all the music I listen to is not made by New Zealanders.
Lorde
Pop star Lorde offers a more introspective take, hinting at New Zealand’s global curiosity. Kiwis look outward, but often carry a uniquely local perspective.
I’m a proud New Zealander, and I represent Paralympics New Zealand.
Sophie Pascoe
Sophie Pascoe reminds us that pride in New Zealand isn’t about loud declarations, it’s about representation, excellence, and quiet determination on the world stage.
New Zealand has this funny attitude towards celebrities… we are not so impressed.
Rose Matafeo
Like many Kiwi comedians, Matafeo nails the national psyche: no fuss, no red carpets, just everyday realness, even for the famous.
New Zealand in Art, History, and Identity
New Zealand is home to beautiful nature, but it's also home to people who have shaped the country through art, history, their languages, and the connection between people and the land. The wild landscape has shaped the people, the places, and the politics. Here are some examples.
As man disappears from sight, the land remains.
Al Morrison
A poetic reminder of New Zealand’s deep relationship with nature. Morrison’s words echo the country’s enduring respect for its wild beauty and the idea that land comes before legacy.
There is only one word for New Zealand… EPIC.
Bear Grylls
Explorer Bear Grylls is known for dramatic understatement, but here, he captures the awe New Zealand inspires, not just in adventurers but in anyone seeking something larger than life.
I think it’s nice to have New Zealand as a base for me… it’s this little island on the bottom of the Earth.
Benee
Pop artist Benee's comment is at the intersection of geography and identity. Yes, it's far away, but that remoteness adds to New Zealand's originality and sense of self.
I come from a place that is very politically sophisticated and progressive. New Zealand was the first place to give women the right to vote.
Niki Caro
Director Niki Caro reminds us that Aotearoa isn’t just about beauty, it’s about values. From women’s suffrage to social justice, New Zealand often leads by quiet example.
Wisdom and Reflections Inspired by New Zealand
This quote isn't necessarily from New Zealanders, but it's widely used in the country, much like the accent.
We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
Often quoted in New Zealand’s conservation circles
This proverb, widely cited by environmental advocates in New Zealand, mirrors the country’s forward-thinking approach to sustainability and its reverence for nature.
Funny and Lighthearted NZ Quotes
New Zealanders are renowned for their sense of humour. They can poke fun at themselves while not taking life too seriously. Here's the lighter side of Kiwi humour.
New Zealanders who emigrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries.
Robert Muldoon
Muldoon's famous quip is a classic example of Kiwi-Aussie banter. It's cheeky, sharp and entirely in good humour.
Sir Robert Muldoon was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. Known for his blunt wit and controversial policies, he was also famous for his sharp one-liners.
From reflections to witty remarks, it is clear that New Zealand knows who it is. Whether the quotes are spoken by Kiwis or visitors who've loved their time there, New Zealand leaves an impression. You'll remember it long after you've left.
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