New Zealand is the host nation to the 2011 Rugby World Cup 2011, being held this month and next. Scotland is there taking part, but it's more than a shared passion in rugby that link the two nations. The Scotland team have found plenty reminders of home there.
Did you know?
- The first Scots to set foot in New Zealand were among the crew of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour in 1769.
- Approximately 20 per cent of the original European settler population of New Zealand came from Scotland, and the Scottish influence is still visible throughout the country.
- Dunedin, the second largest city In the South Island of New Zealand, is Gaelic for Edinburgh and is known as the Edinburgh of the south. Dunedin is twinned with the Scottish capital city.
- Dunedin's main rugby team is the Otago Highlanders, reflecting the city's Scottish roots.
- Tartan Day in New Zealand is celebrated on July 1, the date of the 1792 repeal of the ban on wearing tartan.
- At the time of the 2006 New Zealand census more than 15,000 people indicated they were Scottish and just over 29,000 residents stated they were born in Scotland.
- The Otago Settlement, founded in 1848, was originally sponsored by the Free Church of Scotland after the arrival of two immigrant ships from Greenock on the Firth of Clyde.
- Two counties in Otago are named after Scottish independence heroes Wallace and Bruce.
- Four New Zealand Prime Ministers between 1844 and 1950 were born in Scotland.
- Many New Zealanders have played rugby for Scotland, being dubbed 'The Kilted Kiwis', including John Leslie and his brother Martin, and the original 'Kilted Kiwi' Sean Lineen, who all qualified through their paternal grandfathers who were Scottish.
- Scottish place names in New Zealand include Oban, Hamilton, and Napier.
- The main streets of Invercargill, one of the most southern cities in the world, are named after Scottish rivers Dee, Don, Esk. Tay, and Spey.
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