# Are white Australians and New Zealanders indistinguishable from white UK residents? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269 "2013-10-15T02:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/1 "2013-10-15T02:06:03Z")
Just curious. Accents aside, is there anything about the way white NZ and AU adults look physically that would distinguish them from white UK residents? Larger, smaller more muscular, less muscular, fatter, thinner, slight changes in bone structure, the way they walk, gesture or use physical space … anything that would allow a perceptive person to notice a difference? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/2 "2013-10-15T02:11:44Z")
Interesting tidbit: the average Australian man is shorter than the average British man but the average Australian woman is taller than the average British woman. [cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/3 "2013-10-15T02:26:48Z")
Aussies and Kiwis are all upside down. They can walk across ceilings when they’re North of the equator. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/4 "2013-10-15T02:30:04Z")
Apart from many New Zealanders being partially or wholly Polynesian, I would say no. Most of the original immigrants to New Zealand and Australia were from England and Scotland, and those traits still can dominate. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/5 "2013-10-15T03:19:52Z")
As a generality I would say no. If you want to take it to Sherlockian levels, I would suggest that your ‘average’ Aussie would generally be a bit more tanned than your ‘average’ Pom. Even in the middle of winter you’ll get plenty of sun in most places in Australia just from normal weekend activities. ---
**Author:** ![Krav\_Manga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krav_manga/32/3153_2.png) [@Krav\_Manga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krav_Manga)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/6 "2013-10-15T03:20:51Z")
Australian men have chins. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/7 "2013-10-15T03:34:29Z")
We have more freckles and wrinkles. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/8 "2013-10-15T05:18:47Z")
I don’t think there would be much difference unless of course you consider southern europeans to be white. But an anglo saxon male will look the same anywhere. Aussies and kiwis tend to be more relaxed and open in their communications but this is not always true. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/9 "2013-10-15T06:56:32Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > I don’t think there would be much difference unless of course you consider southern europeans to be white. Is that missing a “don’t” or do you think southern europeans are polka-dotted? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/10 "2013-10-15T07:03:40Z")
Australia and New Zealand are countries of immigrants from all over Europe. Many may have more anglo-saxon in their blood than USAians, but there’s still plenty of people there of Greek or Italian or whatever heritage. Also, a lot of Aussies or Kiwis are only second generation, so retain strong physical and cultural ties with their mother country. It’s true to say GB & Aus/NZ are much more culturally aligned than with the US. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/11 "2013-10-15T09:56:22Z")
I can only speak for country folks in Australia - personal space is an issue. You tend to stand at least at arms length from other people. We have plenty of space after all. The only other thing would be not so much accent but how words are used (again I am only speaking for country areas) and non verbal communication. A lot of this stuff is generational and things are changing but folks seem to talk a lot slower in the bush and use less words. If you see someone you know (or often not know) while you are driving a lift of the index finger and a nod is it. Folks smile and say hello to strangers a lot more than in cities but I suspect that Aussies tend to be more friendly as a whole but that’s a ymmv type of thing. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/12 "2013-10-15T11:13:58Z")
One thing I’ve noticed in the UK is skinny men with small heads. It’s not a body type I’ve really come across in New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Mrmanface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mrmanface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrmanface)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/13 "2013-10-15T11:21:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Interesting tidbit: the average Australian man is shorter than the average British man but the average Australian woman is taller than the average British woman. [cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height) 1995 measurement compared to 2010 measurement. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/14 "2013-10-15T13:05:03Z")
> [@Krav\_Manga](#): > > Australian men have chins. Yes, fine chins. And above that, the physiognomy of a vulgar criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/15 "2013-10-15T13:21:40Z")
Australians know what a knife is. The others, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/16 "2013-10-15T13:27:49Z")
Aren’t we missing the obvious? Tans. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/17 "2013-10-15T14:52:17Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Aren’t we missing the obvious? > > Tans. \*\*GreedySmurf \*\*didn’t in post 5. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/18 "2013-10-15T15:02:54Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Apart from many New Zealanders being partially or wholly Polynesian, I would say no. Most of the original immigrants to New Zealand and Australia were from England and Scotland, and those traits still can dominate. Interesting points. As to many people being from NZ being partially or wholly Polynesian, we have a similar thing in the US (part of it being in Polynesia). When the OP specified “white” New Zealanders, I understood that to exclude people with Polynesian descent. You mentioned England and Scotland. Surveys in the US constantly remind us that more white people in the US claim German ancestry than any other, but these surveys typically are based on asking people to make their own judgment call as to what ancestry they most identify with rather than calculating blood quanta. E.g. a random American might be 1/2 Irish, 1/4 English, 1/8 German, and 1/8 Swedish but put down “German” on a survey because they have a German last name, because they belong to a Lutheran church, they really admired Grandma and she claimed she was German, because it’s cool to be German, etc. Not particularly scientific. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/19 "2013-10-15T15:08:51Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Australians know what a knife is. The others, not so much. I see you’ve played knifey-spoony before. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269/20 "2013-10-15T15:26:44Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > (again I am only speaking for country areas) and non verbal communication. A lot of this stuff is generational and things are changing but folks seem to talk a lot slower in the bush and use less words. If you see someone you know (or often not know) while you are driving a lift of the index finger and a nod is it. The old joke about the rural Australian as man-of-few-words: two elderly swagmen(=hobos) are tramping through the bush together. Quite early in the morning, they pass close by a big flock of sheep near the track. Two hours later, Old Bob says, in the first words spoken by either of them that day: “Nice lot of ewes”. Four hours later, Old Tom says: “They weren’t ewes; they were wethers.” That is the last thing either of them says that day. Four hours later still, they make camp for the night, light a fire, have supper, and turn in for the night, all in apparent contentment. The first thing next morning, though, Old Tom wakes up and discovers that Old Bob and his gear are gone. By the ashes of the camp-fire, he finds a scribbled note: “Too much flamin’ argument around here !” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-white-australians-and-new-zealanders-indistinguishable-from-white-uk-residents/671269.md?page=2)