I Heart New Zealand

Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 23, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Full disclosure – it’s my job to promote New Zealand. So take this post with whatever grain of salt you need, but it’s a post from my heart.

Yesterday morning I got up early and looked out my window and saw a farmers’ market directly across from my hotel. I had planned to go to the City Market at Chaffers Marina, but hadn’t realized that I was staying so close.

I did a quick little tour and then headed to the coffee stand. As they made my flat white, the baristas asked me where I was from and we got to chatting. I got my coffee and prepared to head back around the market and one of the baristas asked, “Where are you going?”

I didn’t quite know what to say, so I laughed and said, “To the market.”

“Stay here and have your coffee with us.”

That’s why I love New Zealand. It was the two baristas, who then proceeded to introduce me to anyone who came for a coffee over the next five minutes so I’d “know a few people here.” It’s the people at the jam, jelly and cheese counter, who took the time to tell me about their small company and explained how they make their products. It’s the security guard who took the time to walk me over to the other part of the farmers’ market so I could find the City Market – which is a little bit more upscale. It’s the taxi driver who, when I arrived five minutes late to be picked up and taken to the train station, laughed off my apologies and said, “We’ve got a few extra minutes, do you want me to take you back to the market?”

There are a lot of great things to see and do in New Zealand, but none of them would be as exceptional if it wasn’t for the people. Kiwis are an incredible bunch and from North Island to South Island, coast-to-coast, they can be as different as they come, but they all have one thing in common – they are warm and friendly.