# 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:** 3
**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, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/41 "2004-08-15T15:39:05Z")
**h** \<-- Ah, found it! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/42 "2004-08-15T17:16:40Z")
How about “Almost-Aussie Way”? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/43 "2004-08-15T17:29:59Z")
That one’s going to start a war, isn’t it? ---
**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, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/44 "2004-08-15T19:21:06Z")
> [@](#): > > _Orig. by **BrainGlutton** _ > How about “Almost-Aussie Way”? … That one’s going to start a war, isn’t it?"? Nah. We all know that an Aussie is really a Kiwi in training. Now, _that_ might start a war. 😃 ---
**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, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/45 "2004-08-15T19:51:52Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > 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. I interpreted **Calm Kiwi** ’s post as saying that “that’s funny” or “yeah, me too” posts (not adding anything at all to the discussion) are frowned upon in this forum. Whether that’s true or not, or whether that’s what **Kiwi** meant, I don’t know. ---
**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, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/46 "2004-08-15T20:41:22Z")
Oh sorry for confusing the situation. I was apologising for the “LMAO” I thought that kind of net talk was not really desired here, but the moment called for it. **hyjyljyj** you seem to have got your answers but I will answer again. Kiwis are people or birds, the fruit are kiwifruit. Just like grapes and grapefruit are not the same thing neither are Kiwis and kiwifruit. Kiwi is never a slur. It is generaly the first thing most of us call ourselves, saving New Zealander for more formal use. Just don’t call us kiwifruit 😃 Many people want to change the flag (or talk about it anyway). Often the reason cited is the Union Jack thing but if most of us are honest it’s more likely to be so it doesn’t look like that one from over the ditch. The two can be confused. An often talked about replacment is a plain black flag with a large silver fern. This is the flag you will often see Kiwis waving at sports events. It doesn’t look the teeniest bit Aussie :). ---
**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, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/47 "2004-08-15T21:44:09Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Just don’t call us kiwifruit Unless, of course, we see you coming out of one of _those_ bars. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/48 "2004-08-16T00:24:13Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Of course, we all know that the Kiwi eats, roots and leaves. That is their way:) According to my information, the kiwi\* (Apteryx australis), a ratite, eats worms and bugs that it forages for at night using its unusually acute sense of smell. It is the only bird that has its nostrils at the _tip_ of its bill. Real carnavores, these, not veggies! - The bird, not the New Zealander, who is a Kiwi, not a kiwi. ---
**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 16, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/49 "2004-08-16T00:30:18Z")
**Snakespirit** that was a joke…and old joke. A Kiwi (person), eats, roots (shags) and leaves (goes away). ---
**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 16, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/50 "2004-08-16T00:48:54Z")
Supposed to be: Eats roots, shoots, and leaves. I’m sure you can figure out the extra action :). ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/51 "2004-08-16T01:17:01Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > **Snakespirit** that was a joke…and old joke. A Kiwi (person), eats, roots (shags) and leaves (goes away). :o Oh my. I’d be ROTFL if I wasn’t so embarassed! Thanks for setting me up. 😃 ---
**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 16, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/52 "2004-08-16T02:46:54Z")
That old joke lends us nocturnal ratites a sence of racy Antipodean coolness. I like! 🙂 'Course, it’ll make the Aussies jealous … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/53 "2004-08-16T04:30:56Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Kiwi is never a slur. It is generaly the first thing most of us call ourselves, saving New Zealander for more formal use. Just don’t call us kiwifruit 😃 There’s only one of them on this board, isn’t there? 😃 > [@](#): > > Many people want to change the flag (or talk about it anyway). Often the reason cited is the Union Jack thing but if most of us are honest it’s more likely to be so it doesn’t look like that one from over the ditch. The two can be confused. An often talked about replacment is a plain black flag with a large silver fern. This is the flag you will often see Kiwis waving at sports events. It doesn’t look the teeniest bit Aussie :). And I think the black thing with a silver fern will experience the New Zealand Way™. Referred to a select committee and die under a table somewhere. Besides which, it would most often be done as a _white_ fern, and they look a lot like a white feather, and we know what that represents, don’t we? KF ---
**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 16, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/54 "2004-08-16T06:07:43Z")
The NZ Air Force used to have a silver fern as their insignia (it is now a kiwi). It was quickly changed due to the white feather connotations. ---
**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 16, 2004, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/55 "2004-08-16T09:53:42Z")
> [@Kiwi Fruit](#): > > There’s only one of them on this board, isn’t there? 😃 Ooooops sorry **Kiwi Fruit**. Is this better? Call that one Kiwi Fruit, the rest of us Kiwis and and the lil round fuzzy fruit kiwifruit? 🙂 > [@](#): > > And I think the black thing with a silver fern will experience the New Zealand Way™. Referred to a select committee and die under a table somewhere. Besides which, it would most often be done as a _white_ fern, and they look a lot like a white feather, and we know what that represents, don’t we? > > KF I still think the silver fern is the most easily recognised symbol of NZ other then the Kiwi (not fruit 😉 ) and would make a bloody good flag. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/56 "2004-08-17T22:43:51Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Others that are a bit iffy: > > Barbados (Barbadoan?) > etc Someone/something from Barbados is BAJAN. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/57 "2004-08-18T00:35:37Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Snakespirit that was a joke…and old joke. A Kiwi (person), eats, roots (shags) and leaves (goes away). > [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Supposed to be: Eats roots, shoots, and leaves. I’m sure you can figure out the extra action :). I am left to wonder why the Kiwi left that part out… The Aussie version of the joke always includes it. Do our Kiwi cousins often have difficulty completing the job and hence leave early? Let’s see if that one starts the war… 😉 ---
**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 18, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/58 "2004-08-18T00:47:10Z")
I just quoted **Princhester** so it would seem an Aussie is the non-shooter here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/59 "2004-08-18T01:13:59Z")
Time for a re-read of **Princhester’s** post, cousin. He was talking about a Kiwi, so obviously he is also aware of this… lack, that our cousins exhibit 😉 The Aussie shooting record remains unblemished for now ---
**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 18, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ish-ian-etc-new-zealand-has-no-way/259668/60 "2004-08-18T01:16:49Z")
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