Is a black american safe and accepted in new zealand?

Question

is there alot of racism like in the u.s.? i'm currently looking at different developed countries to visit during the summer and was wondering if it's safe for black americans. also, do people in new zealand like americans?

Answer 1

OF CORSE, There aint many racist peeps ova here, by my means you are welcome any time, by the way, if an american iz black, what is its culcha

Answer 2

As with any country, there is racism in New Zealand, but I doubt that it can be easily compared to the United States.  I would like to think it's a very uncommon occurrence here, because of the multi-racial society we live in (Predominantly New Zealand European, followed by the indigenous Mäori population, then the various Pacific Island and Asian / Indian communities).  

At the end of the day, our entire population is made up of 4.2 million, in a total area that's about twice the land mass of England, and yet they have a population of about 61 million.  

The pace of life is generally pretty slow and relaxed here, combined with excellent outdoors/adventure tourism, so you should enjoy it!

Answer 3

You should be fine. Most people will probably regard you as a novelty as most people wouldn't have seen an African/American. Personally, I would have no problem with it. There are many Afircan people at my school. As long as you are friendly towards people they will be friendly back. :]

Answer 4

Are you kidding me? Lol, if you were there when i lived in NZ i would of loved to meet you...being america and coming from a place where we only hear and see about in the movies...

Now racism...racism, i don't know if its a big deal there..though i lived there for 17yrs.,..never really heard about it...not against Americans anyway...just pacific islanders playing around, lol...(i'm a pacific islander)...You would be accepted definitely...no one is prejudiced against Americans...everyone would be more curious about where you are from etc..and where you have been...But mostly racism here compared to America will seem like nothing at all...There are a lot of people from different cultures with different backgrounds and you would fit in with our little world on a island...

Answer 5

Yes, very safe. To be honest, there are very few people of what you'd call 'Black or African', especially outside of Auckland there's hardly any. You would be quite a novelty here as most people wouldn't have met an African-American before.

I would beleive in general racism is very low in New Zealand compared to the states and people would welcome you very well. There's racism in every country don't get me wrong, but you shouldnt encounter it on a day to day basis. The one group I would say that gets the majority of it are asian people. If you try to integrate and be friendly, people here will warm to you.

Answer 6

No problem in New Zealand. Americans are liked, we have collage basketballer's who don't make the NBA come over and play in New Zealand's professional league. So enjoy the country.

Answer 7

Of course we don't mind what race you are.

Answer 8

I don't think the native people over there really mind. Most any foreigner likes an American person.

There's really not any racism I don't think cuz they are all just New Zelanders.

Answer 9

An African American asked the exact same question just a few weeks ago so if you search you will find the answers there also.  I think you are at an advantage being an African Amercian actually as you have the "cool" factor, whereas a white American is more likely to be viewed as being loud and obnoxious & maybe as very religious or a George Bush supporter.  Be aware that the Maori and Pacific Island population here pretty much worship African Americans and always have, but perhaps more so as the hip hop scene has taken off here (although of course you may not be into that music at all).  I don't think you'll find it hard to find a girlfriend/boyfriend if you're single!  NZ tends to be less rascist than alot of other countries, such as Australia or Europe.  I guess you might be looked at in curiousity in smaller towns or rural areas & I would avoid the city of Christchurch as that is the only place in New Zealand that has had racial violence with neo-n**i type skinheads, etc.  You will fit in best in Auckland as it's the most multi-racial city and Wellington will be fine too.  If you're touring around New Zealand on a tour bus with other travellers it won't be a problem anywhere.  On the whole I don't think there would be any problem, just be wary of Christchurch & don't walk alone at night there.

I worked with a guy from Africa for years and he had quite a few African friends here & he had never had any problem (he was a smiley friendly type of guy).  He had also lived in Christchurch and said he had no problem but I think he didn't walk alone at night there.  If I went to lunch with him certainly no one stared at him when we walked down the street or anything.

Also try and visit a marae (Maori meeting house) while you are here.  They will welcome you there, but ring first to tell them you'd like to visit, I'm sure they would be interested in a non white overseas visitor.

Answer 10

As long as you don't walk around saying that GWB is wonderful and the greatest gift to the global community we could ever have had, you'll be fine.  :-)  Some NZers would probably agree with you if you did say that, but many would react strongly and negatively to such a comment.  Oh, and probably best not to say anything like 'you'd all be speaking Japanese if it weren't for us Americans'.  

As for the racism - yes, there is definitely racism here.  However, I can honestly say that it is nowhere near as bad as racism in other parts of the world - London, for example.

I'm white (pakeha), and my daughter's father is Ugandan.  My daughter is four, and yes, she stands out (because polynesian skin tone is more olive and mediterranian than African skin) but there's not been any racism directed towards her.  The only issue is that people always want to touch her hair and she gets annoyed with it. :-)

Answer 11

You will be fine here, our native people (Maoris) are black and have no problems

Answer 12

No worries mate, see you soon.

Answer 13

For the most part people in NZ like Americans, as long as they are not judging of the locals.  NZ is a multi-racial society with a lot of polynesians and asians.  There are not so many blacks, and many of those that are here came as refugees.  I don't think you will encounter racisim, and when people discover that you are a black american they  may regard you as a novelty.

Answer 14

They would be safe but they probably will not be allowed to move there. They don't let foreigners take their jobs in N.Z. like they do in America. They would rather let the people in poor countries starve, then provide them with homes like America does.

However as long as you bring enough money they will be glad to let you stay there as a tourist, until your money runs out.

Answer 15

yea totally, you have to come to new zealand lol. well any who umm there really is not as much racism as you would expect here, it is very low. and because you are american african everyone will probably want too know if it really is like what they see on tv lol. the people are very welcoming and new zealand is really laid back. the racial groups are very diverse actually now there most populated race is Asian in new Zealand, then maori, then pacific islanders then European. there are more asians than new zealanders but i dont mind. anywho you will surely have a great time if you come and you will fit in well.

Answer 16

Yup. Safe and accepted. I'm an American, been living in NZ for 16 years, and although I'm not black, I've got two friends here who are (black American) and I don't think they've ever had any problems. I live in the 2nd largest city - Christchurch - and while we are a predominantly European-descent community, there is a large multi-racial mix and positive trend across the country.