# Ish, ian etc. New Zealand has no "way" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2004, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668 "2004-08-13T10:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/21 "2004-08-13T20:06:46Z")
Oh yeah, smartypantses? What do you call a person from Botswana? One of them is a Motswana, more than one are Batswana. So there. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/22 "2004-08-13T20:54:19Z")
Antipode A’la Mode? ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/23 "2004-08-14T00:13:36Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > New Zealand? Gotta be Sheepish 😃 :round of applause: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/24 "2004-08-14T01:52:50Z")
Beets and Beetroot on Hamburgers? Let’s just Burger King about the “New Zealand ‘way’” ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/25 "2004-08-14T02:44:30Z")
Shagging sheep is **the New Zealand way** You are American, he is British, I am **a New Zealander**. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/26 "2004-08-14T19:08:01Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Barbadian > Ivorian > Qatari > > New Zealand? Gotta be Sheepish 😃 Bastard! That was very good. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/27 "2004-08-14T19:09:14Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Your right to have a way was revoked when you started putting beets on burgers. If you stop that abominable practice then we can talk. Beetroot is very yummy on burgers! Now give me my way! ---
**Author:** ![Silocke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Silocke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silocke)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/28 "2004-08-14T20:22:53Z")
> [@](#): > > The word you’re looking for is Danish. You know like those things you eat with your coffee. What does my sex life have to do with any of this? ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/29 "2004-08-14T20:37:10Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > This goes back to “what’s the adjectival form?”, which I’m sure has come up before. In particular, one year I lived with two other guys with my first name and in the same department. I was American, another was British, and the last was – what? > > Ultimately, he said that back in NZ they’d usually use “kiwi” in that place. Just thought of another question this could tie into, inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=270949): what is the adjectival prefix for New Zealand. We have Franco-, Italo-, Sino-, Russo-… What would it be for a New Zealander? “Kiwo-”? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/30 "2004-08-15T00:37:37Z")
Pardon my saying so, **calm kiwi,** having a way is overrated. In fact it’s way overrated. When I was a kid, watching _Superman_ on our steam-powered television, the announcer said Superman fought for “truth, justice, and the American way.” I felt proud of that, and darn grateful for Superman’s efforts. Later on, though, I became less sure of just what the American Way was. It seemed like every time I heard the phrase, it was to suggest that some other guy was against it. On the other hand, I really enjoy hearing Dave Frischberg singing about the Hopi Way. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/31 "2004-08-15T02:10:12Z")
Well having a “way” is usually associated with being good at something, or proactive about something, or having an especially confident and competent way of handling particular situations. What’s a situation, problem or challenge in which someone might say “Man we really need to call New Zealander in on this one!” ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/32 "2004-08-15T02:23:17Z")
How about making Lord of the Rings movies? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/33 "2004-08-15T11:52:38Z")
Way? Who cares about a little ol’ _way_? Let’s go for the whole _road_, eh? 🙂 I’ve got no problems with “The New Zealand Way”. Trouble is, if one guy proclaims something as the New Zealand Way, ten others demand to know if that’s been properly published in the Gazette, five more represent government departments sharing the “way” portfolio, and start up an inquiry into whether proper procedures have been followed, someone considers organising a hui on the issue (the march to which jams up the Auckland Harbour Bridge), and the media get confused, with Paul Holmes devoting an entire programme at 7pm to the “New Zealand Whey, and Its Effects of Dairy Production in the New Millenium.” Maybe just stick to “Believe it or not, we know what we’re doing. Eventually.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/34 "2004-08-15T12:23:49Z")
Bravo **Icey**! All you needed was a Listener cover, a Herald excusive and an Inside NZ doco _Wayism: The Hidden Cost_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/35 "2004-08-15T13:11:19Z")
I know this is disapproved of here, but I have to do it…LMAO **Ice**. That was brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/36 "2004-08-15T13:14:40Z")
Is a way worth a hikoi though? I love a good hikoi (I always wanted to walk over the bridge 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/37 "2004-08-15T14:10:06Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > Way? Who cares about a little ol’ _way_? Let’s go for the whole _road_, eh? 🙂 > > I’ve got no problems with “The New Zealand Way”. Trouble is, if one guy proclaims something as the New Zealand Way, ten others demand to know if that’s been properly published in the Gazette, five more represent government departments sharing the “way” portfolio, and start up an inquiry into whether proper procedures have been followed, someone considers organising a hui on the issue (the march to which jams up the Auckland Harbour Bridge), and the media get confused, with Paul Holmes devoting an entire programme at 7pm to the “New Zealand Whey, and Its Effects of Dairy Production in the New Millenium.” > > Maybe just stick to “Believe it or not, we know what we’re doing. Eventually.” 🙂 Ah…so… [“The Muddle Way”](http://www.thebuddhistsociety.org.uk/mw.htm) now all you need is a [Kiwi Koan.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan) ---
**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/38 "2004-08-15T15:02:37Z")
Calm Kiwi– When New Zealanders refer to themselves as “Kiwis” is that a reference to the fruit or to the bird? Aren’t both from NZ? Why does it feel to me (I’m an American)like a slur to call someone a Kiwi? Also, what’s wrong with your flag? Is it the historical inclusion of the Union Jack? In any event, it beats heck out of, say, the Libyan flag. Lastly in one of your posts you said “LMAO Ice, that was brilliant” and added that it wasn’t approved of here. Which part specifically? The LMAO? By whom is it not approved and why, if you know? ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/39 "2004-08-15T15:25:38Z")
> [@hyjyljyj](#): > > When New Zealanders refer to themselves as “Kiwis” is that a reference to the fruit or to the bird? Aren’t both from NZ? Yep. The national consciousness evidently likes defining itself in terms of little brown furry things. (oh, tell me with a straight face that kiwi feathers don’t look like fur) > [@](#): > > Why does it feel to me (I’m an American)like a slur to call someone a Kiwi? Decades of overbearing cultural stifling and “political correctness”? General libero-intellectual cultural paranoia? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/40 "2004-08-15T15:37:46Z")
If I may be so rude as to answer your questions in **Calm Kiwi** ’s place. Kiwis are so named after the bird. The fruit is also named after the bird. It was earlier, and no doubt still is to some people, known as the Chinese Gooseberry. It is not a slur at all. I am not sure why you feel that it might be. **Mathocist** is probably close on that one. Personally I don’t have a problem with our flag. I think some people would rather have something further removed from Old Mother England. Some people would also like one that doesn’t look so similar to the Australian flag (we should get the Aussies to change theirs!). I think **Calm Kiwi** is probably sensitive to some people’s general dislike of net-speak. It’s not really as frowned upon as he/she seems to think though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668.md?page=3)