Unity walked through a busy Saturday market. Around her, families were sharing food from every corner of the world — dumplings, hangi, samosas, fried bread, pavlova. People were speaking English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Mandarin, Hindi. Kids were running between stalls, laughing in every language.

"Are all these people Kiwis?" a young sparrow asked Unity.

"Yes," said Unity. "Every single one."

New Zealand is home to people from many different cultures, countries, and backgrounds. Māori are the tangata whenua — a te reo Māori phrase that means the people of the land. They were here first, and their language, stories, and traditions are woven into the identity of our whole country.

People have also come to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands, from Britain and Europe, from Asia, from Africa, from South America, and from everywhere in between. Some families have been here for generations. Others arrived last year. Being a Kiwi is not about where you came from — it is about where you belong.

Some things connect almost all New Zealanders. We tend to believe in fairness — that everyone should get a fair go, regardless of who they are. We look out for each other, especially when things get hard. We love the outdoors, even when the weather is terrible. And we share a responsibility to care for this land and each other.

Our differences make us interesting. Our shared values make us one country.