National Identity and Geography in New Zealand

This assignment examines the concept of national identity in New Zealand, focusing on its relationship with geography and how it is socially constructed. It analyzes questions like how nationalization of nature contributes to New Zealand's identity, the role of cultural homogeneity in shaping ethnic self, and the influence of banal and spectacular nationalism in constructing national imaginaries using examples like paid patriotism.

Running head: GEOGRAPHY
Geography
Name of the student:
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Author note:

1GEOGRAPHY
Q.1 how is nationalisation of nature part of New Zealand’s national identity?
Answer: In the year 1907, New Zealand’s status changed from colony to a dominion. National
identity is mostly used as a phrase that has gained mobilization in public discourse however, it is
not only a construct but is mainly a colonizing concept. Determining national identity is harder
without having knowledge about the nation (Edensor, 2009). Many nations have the ‘notion’ of
placing themselves in the existence of nation and for that; they focus on appealing their culture
towards other nation. Nationalisation mainly focuses on the distinctive features of the nation and
New Zealand had to welcome both the history of the people and start a new world with equal
participation. National identity of New Zealand is mainly the formation of the identity, which
will give the people a social origin. Though it has many strands, still it is the understanding of
the people of New Zealand to what they are and what relation they have with each other. Though
the definition of national identity in New Zealand will change with due course of time still the
people of New Zealand has a different personality, which the global people notice (Jazeel, 2016).
The change in New Zealand’s national identity is due to the changing relationship with other
countries.
Q. 2 examine the social construction of national identity through culturally homogenous ethnic
self
Answer: The formation of nation is a dynamic process of social construction. Nation is always
constructed based on constituting and negotiating the social practises (Gruffudd, 2014).
Designating people in a state is far easier than providing the appropriate definition of national
identity. Investigating social construction of national identity argues that the earlier the poor
people were represented as a primitive contrast. With the changing constructions, the national

2GEOGRAPHY
identity focuses on drawing the nationalism and the ethnicity. The indigenous people are
exploring the success due to this changing concept of national identity. The people of the nation
critically focus on informing about the national identity. The image of national identity generates
through many discourses and denies citizenship in many aspects as well. The struggle of freedom
is a result of the political unrest and anyhow having the understanding of social construction
does not always provide national identity. Collective consciousness is an effective word to define
the national identity and people are always searching for the same having a clear concept about
social construction. The exchange relationship and the communication with other states are
enough to help the people understand about the national identity and hence it results to a political
resolution among the people regarding the national identity (Rose, 2016).
Q.3 using paid patriotism as example, discuss the role of banal and spectacular nationalism in
constructing national imaginaries
Answer: Banal nationalism always set a new idea about nationhood. Despite of the traditional
aspects, the historical origin of banal nationalism has many features. It offers a proper analysis of
its existence and informs the social psychology (Flint, 2016). The pervasiveness of a nation
divides the world into two and on the production of nationalism; the idea of everyday nationhood
will provide more relative measures to the interaction of human agency. A nation and a national
here always emerge different factors and rely on the ethno cultural diversity. Defying banal
nationalism unwittingly produces nation and initiates the homogenous ethnic self. There is a
need to articulate a process of national reproduction within every state to capture the context of
ethnic self and cultural diversity. An example of banal nationalism is an unnoticed flag on a
public building. This creates a dual entity of ideas among every person who is watching this. It
provides the idea that this world is full of nations and this image says that every person needs to

3GEOGRAPHY
have a nationality. Investigating banal nationality many people argue that the earlier the poor
people were represented as a banned. With the changing constructions, the banal nationalism
focuses on drawing the nationalism and the people betterment. The indigenous people are
exploring the success due to this changing concept of national identity. In this context, the
mostly believed notion is that nations are a facet of nature and it is very similar to national
identity. Second, we are all reminded of our national place with the help of the familiar national
symbols and ways of interacting and writing. This occurrence makes us stop deliberately record
this, so that nationalism becomes banal, and has non-impulsive presence in our lives. ‘Banal’ has
gained considerable force as an analytical type to highlight the diverse ways through which
nations have identification. Among others, many geographers have largely organized this
category, studying the ‘banal’ role of coins as well as other things like the banknotes and stamps.
Banal nationalism overlooks the human agency and mainly focuses and attempts on the
mundanely artifacts of the nation (Flint & Taylor, 2007).

4GEOGRAPHY
References:
Edensor, T. J. (2009). National spatialities.
Flint, C. (2016). Introduction to geopolitics. Routledge.
Flint, C., & Taylor, P. J. (2007). Political geography: World-economy, nation-state, and locality.
Pearson Education.
Jazeel, T. (2016). Between area and discipline: Progress, knowledge production and the
geographies of Geography. Progress in Human Geography, 40(5), 649-667.
Gruffudd,P. (2014).Introducing human geographies.Third edition.Routledge
Rose, G. (2016). Rethinking the geographies of cultural ‘objects’ through digital technologies:
Interface, network and friction. Progress in Human Geography, 40(3), 334-351.