How a flightless bird became the identity of an entire nation

Food & Drink · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before the First World War, the kiwi was merely a symbol of New Zealand's landscape. It wasn't until soldiers marched through Europe that this unique bird transformed into a nickname for the people themselves, eventually supplanting older terms like 'Enzedders' to become a global identifier.

The transition of the kiwi from a biological curiosity to a national nickname was driven largely by military history. Before the Great War, the kiwi represented the country's unique fauna rather than its inhabitants. However, by 1917, New Zealand soldiers were increasingly referred to as 'Kiwis' across various war theatres. This shift was bolstered by the presence of troops in Europe; for instance, in early 1919, soldiers at Sling Camp near Bulford carved a large kiwi into a chalk hill, helping to popularize the name throughout the continent.

The nickname's rise coincided with other competing identifiers. In the early 20th century, New Zealanders were often called 'En Zed(der)s' or 'Maorilanders.' While the kiwi became the dominant term after the Second World War, the term's usage has evolved through various cultural layers. Even the famous 'Kiwi' boot polish, developed by William Ramsay in 1906 to honor his wife's New Zealand roots, helped cement the name in the global consciousness.

Despite its widespread use as a symbol of pride, the term is not universally embraced. Certain New Zealanders, especially those of Māori descent, find the term unsettling and choose to reject it. This complexity is reflected in linguistic nuances: while the bird is a Māori-origin word typically written in lowercase, the nickname for the people is often capitalized and pluralized as 'Kiwis.' Even in formal settings, such as a 2018 South Australian employment tribunal, the term has been scrutinized to determine if its use constitutes discrimination.

Today, the term is deeply embedded in the nation's infrastructure, appearing in names like KiwiRail and Kiwibank. It serves as a ubiquitous descriptor, used by officials to refer to residents and even by conservation trusts in slogans like 'Kiwis for kiwi'.

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