Just tell them you're really enjoying Otautahi, they love that ;)

I’m originally from Bangkok, Thailand. I’ve been here for over 25 years. Had experienced a fair share of racism in the past. I feel sorry for them. Their world is so small. They need to travel & explore other cultures.

The tale of two cousins, both from CHCH: One doesn’t know what Maori stuff is about and the other is bilingual. The bilingual one still looks the same as most of my family: blonde and blue-eyed. The key difference is that my bilingual cousin was in Auckland for her uni and career, and moved back to CHCH in her 40s to start her family. Her kids are also bilingual. Auckland in general is so multi cultural and yeah, that makes a big difference.

I'm a white American living in Chch and these are also the first questions I get asked. Lol

That's unfortunate 😞

🥝 have a deep curiosity in the "odd", which can be tiring when you want to be "same". And then there are racists. Ugh. I think too that 🥝 culture has adapted much of Māori culture like needing to ascertain another's origins over your actual name. i.e remember, pepeha never start with a first name but a place - your mountain, your river, your tribe, subtribe etc etc. So we all have grown up with this need to connect the individual to the collective & hope that in some way, you are a friend.

Yep that’s Christchurch. Come to Hawkes bay - they’re related you know.

I can relate, I’m in Southland. But I understand that if you have different skin color ( meaning not white) and living in a country with mainly whites ( not being skin color racism here, just want to make the point ), people are naturally curious about where you from. Same as in Asian, most of Whites are asked the same question.