The Interview

Back in Auckland, I caught an Uber ride from a guy named Chico. Chico was from the United Arab Emirates but has been living in New Zealand for seven years. I decided he would be the perfect person to interview about New Zealand.

I first asked Chico what sports he thought were most popular in New Zealand. His answer was basically what I expected: “Everybody plays rugby. The entire nation basically worships the All Blacks”, and if rugby is not your thing, you might play cricket or basketball. He also said that not being from New Zealand originally, he had become a rugby fan, but actually enjoyed watching NBA basketball the most. I thought this was interesting, and I asked if American sports were popular here. Chico said that they are not, mainly because it is nearly impossible to access them. NBA basketball is probably the most popular American sport, in his opinion, and there is a fair amount of people who subscribe to NBA League Pass. Other than that, American football, baseball, and other sports have very little following among New Zealanders and are difficult to access.

Off of the topic of sport, I asked Chico about his recommendations for tourism activities. This is where he got really excited. He said that, in his opinion, “Auckland isn’t the real New Zealand. Queenstown is where you have to go”. I told him we were going there for a free weekend and he immediately rattled off things to do; Bungee jumping, paragliding, jet boating, the shark submarine and more. He said Queenstown is his favorite place to go. It is surrounded by natural beauty, and the action sport scene is awesome. Now that I have visited for myself, I can confirm that everything Chico said was spot on.

Building further on the natural beauty aspect of New Zealand, Chico stated that this was his favorite part of the country. He mentioned the beaches, mountains, and the fact that the entire country has formed from volcanos, some of them still active. I was unaware of this, and it certainly added a new sort of astonishment at the country I would be living in for the next three weeks. This is also something I have heard from many other New Zealanders. The natural beauty of their country is something they are proud of and truly appreciate.

My interview/conversation with Chico was an awesome way to start this trip, and now having experienced it all, I can confirm that his statements were spot on. The sports scene, natural beauty, and experience of Queenstown are all wonderfully unique features that make New Zealand the amazing place that it is. 

Blog Entry #1: The Interview