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In the 1950's the Government of New Zealand and the Netherlands assisted
Dutch immigrants to migrate to New Zealand. These immigrants were bonded to
a job in New Zealand for two years. The Netherlands in the 1950's was
overcrowded. There was a shortage of land, housing and a lack of jobs. The
end of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) meant that former Dutch colonists
were returning home.
In New Zealand in the 1950's there was a shortage of labour. The New
Zealand government saw the Dutch as ideal immigrants who would adapt to live
in New Zealand easily.
The Dutch had an impact on their new land. They introduced different foods
to New Zealand, such as salami, Edam and Gorda Cheese. They made a
different style of bread cakes and biscuits, which were less sweet than New
Zealanders, were used to, with ginger and cinnamon. The Dutch were very big
on cut flowers. Today over 60% of flower growers in New Zealand are of
Dutch descent. Many of our words have a Dutch origin: Drill, coleslaw,
cookie, cruise, deck, gas, gruesome, lottery, measles, Spa, Zealand snack,
yacht, bully, Easter, mate, scone.
This material has been produced by UNITEC Institute of Technology
under contract to the Ministry of Education.
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