NEW ZEALAND LITTLE KNOWN
Views Of Americans
“EUROPEANS SAVAGES AND
MAORI PYGMIES”
Dominion Special Service
Palmerston North. August 19. “New Zealand should be advertised more —the people in America know nothing about us, or our wool and meat. You'll meet only one person in 1000 who can tell you anything about our country,” said'Mrs. A. Poananga. Palmerston North, who gave an address on her impressions of America to members of the Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Chib to-day. Mrs. Poananga said she was asked manv ridiculous questions about New Zealand and its inhabitants —“Do we live in houses?” “Do we have the radio?” “Do we have lights?” "Do we still use candles?” “I was asked where I learned to speak English, and, when I said New Zealand, people just couldn't understand it.” said Mrs. Poananga. “It is bard for them to understand wheu they know nothing of the country. “It is wonderful what a vague conception they have of New Zealand and the Maori. They think the Maori are pygmies and that Europeans are savages. They do not think there are any Englishmen in New Zealand at all,” she aid.
She found the American people most hospitable and friendly, but New Zealanders in comparison were too conservative and stiff.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19380820.2.143
Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 16
Word Count
208NEW ZEALAND LITTLE KNOWN Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 16
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