Yet among Kiwis still living at home, only 68 per cent were proud of sports achievements and the All Blacks and the same percentage valued the laid-back lifestyle.
The biggest difference came when asked about NZ's culture, particularly Maori aspects of it - such as the haka.
Up to 78 per cent of expats said this made them proud as a New Zealander, while 48 per cent of Kiwis living back home agreed. Overseas Kiwis also valued the country's multicultural society more (70 per cent) compared with those living in New Zealand (50 per cent).
Massey University Professor Paul Spoonley, of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said: "When you're away from your home environment, it intensifies your cultural experiences. You tend to notice things which are different where you are and quite often, you don't have any past experiences or judgments - so you come to them fresh.
"And ... you tend to be very selective about what you remember of home. The interesting thing is ... they suddenly discover this love for tikanga Maori. What makes it different? We're British in the South Seas, but Maori culture really stands out and different and that's ours.
"So even if they might not have claimed it before, they certainly claim it when they're living in London or Los Angeles or Sydney."
Asked why fewer in New Zealand seemed proud of Maori culture or a multicultural society, Professor Spoonley said it was more to do with the level of contact and interaction with different cultures.
"Older New Zealanders and those outside the major centres tend to be much more conservative on cultural identity and multiculturalism.
"Tolerance is very much associated with contact - [either] here or overseas - the more ... you have, the more positive and tolerant you are."
Expats were also asked how they felt about NZ's social and economic situation. Almost half (46 per cent) believed men and women had equal opportunities to succeed in business here, while 31 per cent of expats thought the country was headed in the right direction economically.
When asked if they felt they could afford to buy a home in their preferred location in NZ, only 25 per cent agreed. The same portion also believed New Zealand was an affordable place to retire to.
Expats are, maybe unknowingly, among some of the best advocates for the country. Figures showed 99 per cent regularly recommended New Zealand as a place to visit while 80 per cent said they told others it was a good place to live, work or study.
Tourism NZ said many of visitors cited recommendations from Kiwi friends and family around the world as a key factor for making the trip.
Colmar Brunton head Jacqueline Farman said: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The longer Kiwis live away from New Zealand, the more they think about it and what makes it such a great place."
Truckers miss lifestyle and kai
Kiwi expat Mike Ogier's wife Tracie had never driven anything bigger than a Toyota van.
But when the couple decided it was time for a change in lifestyle, they turned to a life as truckers driving interstate in the US.
The couple, in their early 60s, left New Zealand in 2007 after their three children had left home. They signed up to a good driving school and soon began driving trucks for a company near their new home in Joplin, Missouri.
Now based in Houston, Texas, the couple drive to Edmonton, Canada, and back each week. Sometimes they get runs to Seattle or as far as Fairbanks, Alaska, and their long-haul trips are anything up to 48 hours driving non-stop.
"It's a weird life continually moving, living in a space smaller than most bathrooms and not keeping a home - but we love it," Mr Ogier said.
They say they appreciate certain things about New Zealand more now.
"I'm still a very proud Kiwi. We miss family and friends and the laid-back lifestyle, Kiwi food like fish and chips, roast lamb, meat pies, lamingtons and especially our seafood."
The series
Yesterday: Who are our expats?
Today: How do they view New Zealand?
Tomorrow: What do they think about various topics?
