Culture of Australia

The original culture of Australia can only be surmised: cultural patterns among the remote descendants of the first Australians cannot be as­sumed to be unchanged after 53,000 (or more) years of human habita­tion of the continent. Much more is known about the richly diverse cul­tures of modern Aboriginal Australians, or at least of those few who survived the impact of European colonisation. Although the effect of the arrival of Europeans on Aboriginal culture was profound and catas­trophic, the reverse is not the case: broadly speaking, mainstream Aus­tralian culture has been imported from the United States and Europe (in particular, the United Kingdom).

Much of Australia's culture is derived from European and American roots, but distinctive Australian features have evolved from the envi­ronment and Aboriginal culture. The vigour and originality of the arts in Australia - films, opera, music, painting, theatre, dance, and crafts - are achieving international recognition.

Australians traditionally have a very strong 'underdog attitude', that is they will support those who appear to have the lesser hand, so long as

Australia is not involved. This underdog attitude is most evident with sport, as sport is also a large part of Australian culture. Should an Aus­tralian be asked to choose between two unknown sides, chances are they would choose the least likely to win.

And there is another side of this underdog attitude in Australians. This is the culture of 'cutting down the tall poppy', which reveals itself in many aspects of Australians' outlooks. As a result, Australians are extremely critical of their political leaders and high-flyers, while being always sympathetic to those who are being done wrong and in strife.

Culture of New Zealand

The culture of New Zealand is a fusion of Maori culture and that of the de­scendants of the early British colonists and later settlers, many of whom were of working class origin.

While British culture predominates within the country, Maori culture is increasingly being identified with New Zealand, due to haka displays by New Zealand sporting teams, and to tens of thousands of visitors who each year experience and film or photograph Maori culture events held at places such as Rotorua.

British and Irish culture in New Zealand has been significantly influ­enced by Maori and other Polynesians. Scottish influences are strong, mainly in the southernmost parts of the South Island. In general, early immigrants from other parts of Europe and Asia, and World War II refugees (particularly the Dutch) were readily assimilated.

Small enclaves of these early immigrant cultures remain as islands in a sea of British colonial culture. Unlike Australia, New Zealand has not experienced size­able immigration from Mediterranean countries in Southern Europe, but in recent years there has been a considerable influx of migrants from Asia, which now makes up a significant proportion of the population, particularly in Auckland.

After the Second World War, significant immigration from the Pacific Islands began. The wide variety of Pacific Island cultures has combined in New Zealand, mostly in South Auckland, to form a distinctive subculture that is separate from Maori culture.

For a variety of reasons many Maoiri and Pacific people have been so­cially disadvantaged, forming an underclass in some areas. Cultural consid­erations for both Maori and Pacific people now have a significant influence on educational, medical and social organisations, particularly in areas with high concentrations of these population groups.