Who Are “Kiwis” and Why Are New Zealanders Called That?

Where does this unusual comparison of people with an exotic fruit come from? We explain.

The fruit actually has nothing to do with it. It’s all about the bird that exists only in this island nation and has become its symbol, much like the emu in Australia.

What Is a Kiwi Bird

Before understanding the nickname, one must get acquainted with the bird itself. The kiwi is a flightless bird that lives only in New Zealand. This creature shatters all stereotypes about feathered beings.

Their feathers resemble thick brown fur more than plumage, and their nostrils are located at the very tip of their beak—something you won’t find in any other creature in the world. It is the only bird in the world with such nostril placement, allowing it to literally “sniff out” prey—worms and larvae—in the soil on dark nights. Leading a nocturnal lifestyle, kiwis are secretive and cautious, and hearing their piercing cry in the dense forest is a great stroke of luck for a naturalist.

Furthermore, kiwis are record-holders for egg size: their egg makes up to 20% of the female’s body weight, the highest ratio among all birds. Did you know what the heaviest egg is? We previously wrote about the largest bird eggs.

For the indigenous Māori people, the kiwi is sacred. Legends say it is under the protection of the forest god Tāne. According to folklore, the kiwi sacrificed its ability to fly to descend to the ground and help the forest and its inhabitants, for which it was rewarded with eternal glory and reverence. This deep cultural connection laid the foundation for the nationwide love that blossomed later.

How the Kiwi Bird Became a Symbol of New Zealand

In the 19th century, the image of the kiwi began to gain popularity outside the country. New Zealand entrepreneurs, driven by patriotic sentiment, started placing images of the flightless bird on their goods: from canned food to postage stamps. Thus, the kiwi became a marker of “made in New Zealand,” a symbol of quality and national identity. By the end of the century, the bird could already be seen in cartoons and political sketches, where it personified the young nation.
But it was… shoe polish that brought true global fame to the name “kiwi.” In 1906, Australian entrepreneur of Scottish descent William Ramsay, whose wife was a New Zealander, named his new product after the national bird of her homeland. The “Kiwi” brand instantly became a hit, and during the world wars, it was purchased in tons for soldiers’ boots. Mass supplies to the British and American armies made the black tin with the bird one of the most recognizable products in the world, firmly associating the name “kiwi” with New Zealand on the international stage.

It was on the battlefields of the First World War that the nickname “kiwi” finally stuck to New Zealanders. Their expeditionary force wore badges with the image of this bird on their sleeves. Allies, to distinguish New Zealand soldiers from Australians, began calling them “kiwis.” For the soldiers, this nickname became a symbol of camaraderie and distinction from other units.

And that same shoe polish was in the kit bag of every second soldier. Thus, the bird, the soldiers, and the polish merged into a single word.

How Common Is the Nickname “Kiwi” Today?

Today, being a “Kiwi” is still an honor. The word is used by everyone—from the Prime Minister in official speeches to tour guides working with tourists. In the English language itself, a distinction has even been established: the bird is written with a lowercase letter (“kiwi”), while the person is written with an uppercase letter (“Kiwi”), elevating it to the rank of an official status.

Interestingly, the nickname even became the subject of a court case. In 2018, a New Zealand woman working in Australia tried to prove that her employer’s use of “kiwi” towards her constituted racial discrimination. The process lasted a year and a half, but ultimately the court dismissed the claim, ruling that the word is not offensive but, on the contrary, is recognized at the state level.

The precedent only confirmed that “Kiwi” is a symbol of national unity that the country’s inhabitants wear with honor, and its use emphasizes respect and friendliness rather than discrimination.