Winston Aldworth: Kia ora and welcome to 1950s Britain

9:30 AM Tuesday Nov 27, 2012

Rolling hills over the Hawke's Bay region. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Congrats New Zealand, we've done it again. Aotearoa has been voted the favourite country in the world to visit for readers of Britain's Daily Telegraph.

But there's a sour note, for me. Yes, the Man From The Telegraph heaped richly deserved praise on our choice little nation. "Is it any wonder that you keep selecting New Zealand - otherwise known as Godzone - as the country you most like to visit on the planet?" he asked his readers before going on to salute our "place of outstanding beauty and open spaces".

His praise continued.

"Rolling green hills": check. "Rugged mountainscapes": check. "Dramatic Milford Sound": check.

But here's the bit that bugs me. "To a British traveller," writes the MFTT, "it is both strikingly familiar and redolent of another, more innocent era (where it is permanently 1955)."

Ah, the old "Britain-in-the-50s" analogy. I encountered this often while living in the UK. "Oh, you're from New Zealand? I've heard it's lovely, just like Britain in the 1950s."

I wouldn't know, mate. I wasn't born until 1973 and didn't get to Britain until 2001. And sitting in Auckland in 2012, 1950s Britain looks a bit dull - the Beatles hadn't even been formed let alone discovered acid.

The 50s analogy was generally made by someone who was never likely to come to New Zealand and was too young to actually remember Britain in the 50s. Most of the time it sounded like code for "not many immigrants".

I guess today's New Zealand could be a bit like Britain in the 1950s - after all, both societies share the same German-descended monarch. Then there's the, er, great cafes, bilingual national anthems, top-flight vineyards, superb beaches and the populations that are about one quarter Polynesian. Jolly good, bro.

The survey, which involved 17,000 Telegraph readers, presumably took place before the latest 100 per cent Pure campaign whoopsie.

Claiming top spot marks a return to form for New Zealand, after only managing a runners-up place last year. We were No 1 in four out of the five years between 2004 and 2008.

Cynicism aside, this is another reminder of how lucky we are to have such a great place. Get out and see it.

By Winston Aldworth @WinstonAldworth

TomH (England) | 11:13AM Tuesday, 27 Nov 2012

I think if you had ever bothered to see anything in the UK apart from Kiwi/Aussie bars in London then the thought may have crossed your mind that NZ may be appealing to holiday in compared to the overcrowded country, small houses, neighbours in their pockets they have to live in - I speak from 12 years experience.

HIVnegative () | 11:13AM Tuesday, 27 Nov 2012

I'm guessing at least 16000 that voted were kiwis. That is the extent we go to to make sure everyone we meet outside of NZ knows about it. I avoided London for this reason. From the travelling van decorated in kiwi paraphernalia to the I call NZ home t-shirt to Waitangi day where you get to meet up with people you have avoided for years on the other side of the world.

My friend once even heard a guy rip off the NZ Insurance ad about the aussies stealing our stuff to somehow assert our greatness. Cringe worthy.

If I happen to meet one of you maniacs on my travels. Yes I am from NZ too. Get over it!

Richard Murray (Devonport) | 11:13AM Tuesday, 27 Nov 2012

Sure, get out and see it... IF you can afford the exorbitant fuel prices, the outrageous cost of even the most basic accommodation and food, take the risk of getting your car or camper broken into and everything you own stolen... and least of all bring yourself to face the embarrassing and ashamedly woeful levels customer service we have in NZ nowadays.

Outwardly it is still Britain a la 1950's - yet more magnificent and grand, but now inwardly tainted with the avarice, attitude and gangland mentality of modern-day London, New York or everywhere. Whatever happened the 'Godzone' we used to know?