Jafa

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For other meanings of the word, see Jaffa (disambiguation).

Jafa is a slang term (usually offensive) for a resident of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the acronym for Just Another Fucking Aucklander. This prejudice against Aucklanders started to appear within the last four decades. Internationally the term JAFA has also come to stand for Just Another Fucking Australian (or Aussie), in reference to the prevalence of travelling Australians in other countries.

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[edit] Origins

Auckland is a thriving, vibrant metropolis, and the word Jafa often conveys dislike for the success of Aucklanders who make up more than a quarter of the population of New Zealand, and thus have a dominant voice in many aspects of New Zealand society. Aucklanders say the word indicates frustration and envy in the users.

Other reasons for the use of the word are:

  • the dominance Auckland allegedly has in national politics
  • that Auckland receives more than its fair share of government funds (though in 2005 it "received less than its share in terms of its proportion of total population"[1])
  • the domination of the National Provincial Championship by the Auckland provincial rugby union team in the 1980s, and 90s, holding the prestigious Ranfurly Shield trophy for a record 61 successful defences over 8 years.
  • the Bombay Hills, a physical divide separating Aucklanders from the southern rest of the country. This is a metaphorical Hadrian's Wall that supposedly gives Aucklanders a separation complex necessary to maintain their sense of superiority to, and safety from, the 'underpriviledged' and 'under-cultured' rest of New Zealand.

[edit] Stereotypes

  • Auckland is perceived to dominate over other New Zealand cities as it has by far the largest population
  • Auckland is perceived to be a drain on the national economy. In fact, it is the main business centre in the country, whereas rural New Zealand produces the agricultural majority of the nation's exports. Auckland also produced 35% plus of New Zealand's GDP in 2005[1].
  • Perceived to take more than their fair share of tax-take, particularly related to the costs involved in attempting to alleviate its traffic congestion, though again, Auckland has been shown to receive less road spending per capita than the rest of the country[citation needed]
  • Aucklanders are supposedly ignorant of New Zealand geography (JAFAs supposedly do not know of New Zealand south of the Bombay Hills)[citation needed].
  • Aucklanders are sometimes thought to be rude, arrogant and inconsiderate, having a similar reputation as those of New York City
  • Aucklanders are said to have little knowledge as to how to drive and adhere to road rules (supposedly reflected by the congestion on Auckland's infrastructure)
  • Aucklanders are said to prefer SUVs to other types of transportation. Many visitors to Auckland from Europe, Asia and other parts of New Zealand are often surprised how few sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons there are and how many SUVs take their place.[citation needed]

[edit] Location Of Prejudice

  • The prejudice exists generally in the South Island, the rural Lower North Island and increasingly Wellington where Auckland is perceived to take much of the national events which supposedly belong in the capital city.
  • Smaller cities and rural areas consider many of Auckland's residents to be yuppies [citation needed]
  • The strength of prejudice generally increases the further south one is from the Bombay Hills. It becomes openly noticeable south of Taupo, with it reaching peak intensity in Canterbury and other southern parts of New Zealand.[citation needed]
  • Auckland gay bars and night clubs where Wellingtonians and Cantabrians are often mistaken as 'poofs' [citation needed]

[edit] Examples

[edit] Use In Auckland

  • In 1999 the Tourism Auckland organisation launched a "Jafa" advertising campaign.
  • Aucklanders initially adopted the word ironically.
  • The New Zealand Herald, the main Northern North Island (encompassing Northland, Greater Auckland, Waikato) daily newspaper, now sometimes uses "Jafa" as a nickname for Aucklanders without any hint of irony.
  • The term is also used in the name of a volunteer-based media group, Jafa TV, run by students of the University of Auckland. This use of "Jafa" amongst Aucklanders, as a positive, self-referential term, has led to the reinterpretation of the acronym by some to mean Just Another Friendly Aucklander.
  • Recently, a free JafaCab service started in the Auckland CBD, with mayor Dick Hubbard driving a cab down Queen St. The occupants were Nicky Watson and Santa.
  • Sometimes to describe their own population in a general way

[edit] The Many Types of JAFA

Auckland's large area has produced various specific JAFA sub-stereotypes:

The Auckland Harbour Bridge with the North Shore in the distance.
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The Auckland Harbour Bridge with the North Shore in the distance.

[edit] North Aucklander

(from North Shore City and towns north of Takapuna)

The North Shore being a wealthy and upmarket area gives JAFAs of this corner a posh reputation and are seen to be Yuppies, Posh People or Snobs. North Shore's fastest and most convenient (and seen as only) way in and out of the district is the heavily-congested Auckland Harbour Bridge, and it is seen that the population of the North Shore is sustained only by the traffic on the bridge.

Howick Beach, looking east.
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Howick Beach, looking east.

[edit] East Aucklander

(from 'Chowick' and increasingly East Tamaki)

New Zealand's immigration policies and proximity to South Asia have led to a large surge of Chinese, Korean, Hong Kongers, Japanese and Indians settling in East Auckland. Auckland was one of the top destinations of Hong Kong citizens leaving the colony before the transfer of sovereignty. The suburb of Howick, due to the large Chinese population is sometimes called 'Chowick'. East Auckland JAFAs are therefore considered to be of mostly Asian descent, speaking little English and owning businesses such as dairies, supermarkets and speciality mini-marts. The population of East Auckland is said to be sustained by the immigration policy at any time.

The volcanic cone of Mangere Mountain viewed from across the lava fields of Ambury Regional Park.
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The volcanic cone of Mangere Mountain viewed from across the lava fields of Ambury Regional Park.

[edit] South Aucklander

(from Manukau, particularly Mangere, Otahuhu, Otara and Papakura)

Reportedly living a lifestyle similar to that seen in Once Were Warriors, Auckland's large Pacific Island and Māori population (with those two ethnicities generally in the lower socio-economic group) is said to be the main cause of South Auckland's high crime rate. This area of Auckland is usually the poorer area of Auckland and would be seen along the same quality living as Compton, Flaxmere, Harlem or East New Orleans. South Auckland JAFAs are often seen as Māori, Pacific Islander tending to violence and crime. Auckland authority and council are working to clean up the image of this area and Auckland Police are looking at new measures to slow the rising crime rate.

[edit] West Aucklander

(from Henderson, Waitakere City)

West Auckland has a varying reputation depending on what happens in other parts of the region, as it can be seen as an upmarket or violent area depending on events in North and South Auckland. When crime is high or high profile in South Auckland, West Auckland is not seen as such a violent or run down area, when crime is stable in South Auckland, West Auckland's reputation tends to decline. When the North Shore is quiet, West Auckland is usually seen as a relatively calm area, when an exclusive or wealthy event occurs on the Shore, West Auckland loses it's wealthy look.

The Auckland CBD.
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The Auckland CBD.

[edit] Central Aucklander

(residents of Tamaki Strait to New Lynn and Ellerslie to the City)

Residents of this supposedly all-rich and exclusive area share the same sort of reputation as North Auckland JAFAs but live in either inner city apartments or in small Victorian houses on steep hillsides. This exclusive and wealthy few are considered to be the JAFAs that have the most impact on New Zealand's media being the business brains, media journalists and politicians (including Helen Clark, New Zealand's current Prime Minister).

The Hauraki Gulf, with Auckland shown as the grey area and the Coromandel Peninsula on the right.
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The Hauraki Gulf, with Auckland shown as the grey area and the Coromandel Peninsula on the right.

[edit] Hauraki Islander

(from outlying islands within the Hauraki Gulf, particularly Waiheke Island)

Waiheke Island was once seen as a retreat from urbanization for Hippies and Beatnicks years ago, but now the hippie idea is not so prominent, Waiheke and other outlying islands are being used as exclusive and posh vineyards, as well as a retreat for wealthy business yuppies. Aucklanders themselves think people from these islands are just 'strange' and 'arty'. This may be from the aging hippie population becoming artists and winemakers.

[edit] Related Words And Sayings

  • New Zealand stops at the Bombay Hills - used by Aucklanders[citation needed] and non-Aucklanders alike
  • Jafastan - Auckland
  • Jafastani - Aucklander
  • Jafaland/J'land - Auckland
  • Queen Street Farmer - Urban businessman with rural investments and supposedly little understanding of rural life
  • The Bridge - The Auckland Harbour Bridge, usually said like this when discussing traffic strife

[edit] Use In Advertising

  • Transit NZ has a road safety campaign on State Highway 2 using the term "JAFA" - "Just Another Fatigued Aucklander".
  • Transit NZ also runs a similar road safety campaign running north from Hastings using the term "JAFA" as, "Just Another Fatal Accident."
  • On Tui beer billboards: "Let's go to Auckland for the holidays. Yeah, right." and "Aucklanders are people too. Yeah, right."
  • Waikato Draught Billboard: "Aucklanders Heading South For The Summer, Our Seasonal Disaster" Which was displayed in Huntly, in the Waikato Region. Hamilton Mayor Michael Redman publicly asked the advertising company to remove the billboard claiming that Hamiltonians don't feel that way about Aucklanders (and fear for tourism income).
  • In the name of an Auckland taxi company, "Jafacabs"

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b What You Should Know About Auckland, New Zealand Herald, Tuesday 21 November, 2006, Page D2

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../j/a/f/Jafa.html"
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