New Zealand humour

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New Zealand humour bears some similarities to the body of humour of many other English-speaking countries. There are, however, several regional differences.

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[edit] The New Zealand experience

New Zealand is a multicultural country that is isolated from much of the rest of the world geographically. All New Zealanders share one thing in common — go back a few generations, and they are immigrants (though the degree to which this applies to Maori is disputed; whilst they were indeed immigrants originally, from where and how long ago is a matter of conjecture. As indisputably the longest surviving ethnic/cultural group in the country, they are usually referred to as indigenous people). It is perhaps not surprising that these two situations lead to a humour that often has as a basis the newcomer trying to assimilate themselves with the new country. The intermingled strands of Maori, British, mainland European, Polynesian, Indian and Asian that have made the country their home each look at the land and each other in a different way, and these differences are often the focal point of humour. Comedians from minority groups (such as Raybon Kan and Jacob Rajan) often utilise these differences in their routines.

New Zealand's remote and agricultural nature is also a regular comedy catalyst, especially the well-known imbalance in numbers between people and sheep in the country. The pioneering, backwoods spirit is also commonly used in comedy, as in the stereotypical famer, Fred Dagg, and the yarns spun by New Zealand writer Barry Crump.

[edit] The Trans-Tasman Rivalry

Australians are the butt of Kiwi humour in many ways (and vice versa, of course) — even at the highest diplomatic level. During the 1980s, then Prime Minister of New Zealand Robert Muldoon was asked about the increasing exodus of New Zealanders leaving the country to work in Australia. His comment was that by doing so, they were raising the average IQ of both countries.

In general terms, Australians are stereotyped in New Zealand humour as being brash, boorish, and more than a little stupid. New Zealanders, in return, are seen by Aussies as being dull, unsophisticated yokels, and mocked as 'South Seas Poms' on account of their supposedly closer ties with Britain.

[edit] Sheep jokes

There are a large number of (mainly crude) sheep jokes. As befitting the trans-Tasman rivalry, Australians tell these jokes about New Zealanders, and New Zealanders tell them about Australians. (The English on the other hand reserve the sheep jokes for the Welsh.)

Some sheep jokes also take differences in the accent (see below) into account. In one example, a farmer who is having unnatural relations with a sheep is asked if he should rather be shearing the sheep, to which he replies "I'm not shearing this sheep with anyone!" Here shearing is taken to be the pronunciation of the word sharing spoken with an New Zealand accent (in Kiwi English, shearing has the same pronunciation as sharing spoken with an Australian accent).

Other sheep jokes (or "ewe-phemisms") include puns on song titles which contain the word ewe. For example, a performing band may announce they are playing the song "There will never be another you", and follow up by saying this is particularly bad news for any Australians in the audience.

While other people make jokes about New Zealanders and sheep, New Zealanders themselves are not averse to a bit of sheep humour. [1] In mid-2000, Grant Gillon, a New Zealand Member of Parliament, caused controversy when he asked the following question during a debate on genetic engineering: "I want to ask the minister whether, no pun intended, it's appropriate in this case for a woman's body parts to be inserted into a sheep when that has normally been the domain of Tory males?" NZ Herald article

[edit] Accents

The difference between the accents of the two countries is a constant source of amusement. Australians gain an infinite amount of enjoyment out of the perceived similarity between the New Zealanders' pronunciation of the words 'six' and 'sux' or 'sex' and other words including soft vowels, such as "Fish and Chips".

New Zealanders also poke fun at themselves in this way, and regional variations such as the rising inflection that makes each sentence sound like a question are a source of comedy, as is the "swallowed vowel" sound which results in the name of the capital city sounding like "Wulinktun". The rolled "R" sound found in the accent of the southern South Island, and the "eh?" ending placed on sentences by some Maori and other North Islanders are also much lampooned.

See also: New Zealand English

[edit] New Zealand comedians

Ironically, some of New Zealand's best known comedians have for many years been working almost exclusively in Australia. This includes John Clarke, known to New Zealanders as Fred Dagg, who played the stereotypical farmer with precision and style. His wit has in recent years allowed him to extend his repertoire to a series of biting satires, particularly of politicians. He has also found an outlet in television series such as The Games and films such as Death In Brunswick.

Other examples include Tony Martin of 1980s sketch show, The D-Generation fame. Three compilations of the national radio program Martin/Molloy earned him ARIA awards. He has also written and directed the movie Bad Eggs.

Alan Brough appears on Spicks and Specks as a writer and team captain. In 2004 he was one third of the radio show Tough Love with Mick Molloy. He has also appeared in several movies such as Bad Eggs

Of other New Zealand comedians, a special place is reserved in the public's heart for the late Billy T. James, probably the first Maori comedian to find a nationwide audience of both Maori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders. He is still regarded as one of the country's finest comedic talents.

For several years during the 1970s and 1980s, New Zealand television featured a satirical send-up of current affairs entitled A Week Of It. This series, and particularly its two main stars, David McPhail and Jon Gadsby, became for several years a mainstay of New Zealand comedy.

One of New Zealand film director Peter Jackson's first films was Meet the Feebles, a riotous sexual puppet romp.

Of the current crop of comedians, the following are worthy of note:

  • Michèle A'Court is considered one of New Zealand's premier female comedians. She has worked in radio and television, as a presenter and as an actor in a number of comic roles.
  • Jim Hopkins is a well-known New Zealand comic, most notable for his red-rimmed spectacles.
  • Previously a journalist and lawyer, Raybon Kan is another New Zealand comedian.
  • Jeremy Elwood has been a New Zealand resident for ten years. During that time Jeremy has established himself as a rising star of the local stand-up comedy circuit. His routine combines social commentary with music and song.

[edit] New Zealand comedy movies

[edit] New Zealand cartoons

See also: Category:New Zealand cartoonists

[edit] New Zealand comedy television

[edit] External links

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