why are new zealanders called kiwis

New Zealanders are called “Kiwis” because of the kiwi bird, a small, flightless bird that is native to New Zealand and has become a powerful national symbol and nickname for the people.

Why Are New Zealanders Called Kiwis?

The Kiwi Bird: A National Symbol

The word “kiwi” originally refers to the bird , not the fruit or the people.

• The kiwi is a flightless, nocturnal bird found only in New Zealand.
• It has a long beak and brown, shaggy feathers, and is considered a unique emblem of the country.

• The name “kiwi” itself comes from the Māori language, echoing the bird’s distinctive call.

Over time, the kiwi bird became a national icon, used to represent New Zealand in art, logos, and public imagery.

From Bird to Symbol of the Country

In the 19th century, pictures of the kiwi began appearing on New Zealand-made products and in advertising to signal “this is from New Zealand.”

• Companies put the kiwi on packaging, trademarks, and labels as a kind of national stamp.
• Cartoonists and newspapers also used the kiwi as a stand‑in for New Zealand in drawings and satire.

This meant that, long before it became a nickname for people, the kiwi was already shorthand for the country itself.

World War I: When People Became “Kiwis”

The leap from symbol to nickname happened around World War I.

• New Zealand soldiers used the kiwi emblem on their military badges and regimental insignia.
• Other troops and the public began calling New Zealand soldiers “Kiwis” because of these badges.

• The term stuck within the military and then spread to civilians back home, becoming a popular informal label for all New Zealanders.

There’s also a small side‑story: a popular Australian boot‑polish brand called “Kiwi” was widely used by soldiers, which may have helped reinforce the word in military culture.

How New Zealanders Feel About the Name

Today, “Kiwi” is a widely accepted, even affectionate, nickname for New Zealanders.

• It is informal but common in everyday speech, media, and sport, and is generally seen as positive and unifying.

• Many New Zealanders embrace “Kiwi” as part of their cultural identity, regardless of their ethnic background, seeing it as a shared national label.

However, like any identity term, context and tone matter, and it’s always polite to use it respectfully.

It’s Not About the Fruit

A frequent misconception is that New Zealanders are called “Kiwis” because of kiwi fruit. In reality, it is the other way around.

• The bird came first; it was already a national symbol and people’s nickname.
• The fruit (originally called Chinese gooseberry) was later branded “kiwifruit” in the 20th century, partly to market it overseas using an already-recognised New Zealand symbol.

So when someone says “a Kiwi” about a person, they mean a New Zealander, not the fruit.

Mini Timeline of “Kiwi” as a Nickname

1. Māori name the native bird “kiwi.”

2. 19th century: Kiwi bird appears in company logos and cartoons as a symbol of New Zealand.

3. World War I: New Zealand soldiers with kiwi badges are nicknamed “Kiwis.”

4. Post‑war: “Kiwi” spreads to mean all New Zealanders, not just soldiers.

5. Later: “Kiwifruit” is named after this established symbol and nickname.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.