The Most Peaceful Country in the World - New Zealand

The Global Peace Index ranked New Zealand the most peaceful nation in the world for the second year in a row. 149 Countries were ranked based on crime rates, corruption, military spending, and other variables. 

To celebrate New Zealand, the video above is from New Zealand band Split Enz. This is the first song I ever heard from a New Zealand band. It was released 30 years ago, in 1980. I was just a kid at the time, and never knew they were from New Zealand until 15 years later when I met a guy from New Zealand. I asked him about New Zealand music, and that's when I found out that this song was from a New Zealand band. I also found out that Crowded House, who I had always thought were from England, were also a New Zealand band. Here's Crowded House performing "Don't Dream It's Over": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHjT3CHvg-c&feature=related

I remember in the song "Don't Dream It's Over" I had always noticed the way he sang the word "paper" in the line "In the paper today tales of war and of waste..."

It had always sounded like "pie-pah" to me, and it was my favorite word to sing in the song because of that. So, I asked the New Zealand guy to please say "paper". He said "pie-pah." His New Zealand pronunciation perfectly matched the "pie-pah" in the song. The perfect New Zealand accent match fit like a glove. 

So, we got married! And the rest is history!

Okay, well, the way he said "pay-pah" wasn't why we got married, although I certainly liked his accent. 

I also liked that he was sweet, intelligent, funny, patient, kind, creative, and... peaceful!

There's that word - peaceful! Peaceful New Zealand and it's peaceful people!

When people ask me what my impression of New Zealand is, the first word that always comes to mind is "peaceful". And yet, I had no idea until this month that it ranked as the most peaceful nation in the world. That truly is the strongest impression I have of that country. 

Here's what seemed peaceful about New Zealand to me:

1, People still hitchhike there. True, people still do it in the US a little, but in New Zealand it seems much more common. That struck me as very laid back and carefree. I would never consider hitchhiking in America these days. Never. But, in New Zealand there seems to be much less risk of horror movie type situations to those who hitchhike. New Zealand isn't perfect, of course. Crime does happen there, and there are still risks to hitchhikers. But, clearly people don't feel the danger of it there like we do here. 

2. During a six month stay in New Zealand I never once heard of a shooting happening there.

3. New Zealand LOVES books. LOVES 'em! Every country in the world has book lovers. But, New Zealand seems to have people reading everywhere you go. In cafes, at bus stops, on buses - everywhere. And there are heaps and heaps of bookshops for a population that size. I was so certain that New Zealand was a nation of book lovers that I decided to look it up on the internet, and I discovered that New Zealand has more book shops per capita than any other country. Libraries are peaceful, and so is New Zealand. People just aren't committing crimes while they have their noses buried in books. 

4. People in New Zealand get lots of vacation time.

5. Hot tea. It seems to have a calming effect on people. 

6. Sheep. New Zealand has more sheep than people. As you hike the countryside, you see sheep peacefully grazing around you. Don't even try to count them. It will put you straight to sleep. Zzzzzzzz too relaxing

7. Beautiful scenery everywhere you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sEZ-wdFegU&feature=related

Those are just some of my own observations about what seemed peaceful to me about New Zealand, although I'm sure the Global Peace Index doesn't rank countries based on how many books they read or how much tea they drink. :-)

Other cool, peaceful facts about NZ:

New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote. 

New Zealand is a nuclear free zone.

I love the United States dearly, and I believe it has many peaceful traits of its own, but I couldn't help but take some time to give credit to another country that also has a special place in my heart. Stay peaceful, New Zealand.

Thank you to nzoz1980 for posting the Split Enz video on YouTube. Peace, mate!