Where on Earth is...
Apparently, New Zealand has been left out of a number of world maps!
NEW Zealand has had it with being left out of world maps – so much so that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is now on a crusade to #getNZonthemap.
A light-hearted campaign by Tourism New Zealand – featuring Ardern and comedian Rhys Darby – is highlighting the frequent omission of the country from world maps.
The pair stars in a tongue-in-cheek video that has gone viral since Ardern shared it on her Facebook page on May 2.
“Admit it. You’ve noticed the absence of New Zealand on world maps before too. Some call it a conspiracy, some call it negligent ... either way it’s time for a wee campaign!” Ardern wrote in a status accompanying the video.
In the hilarious clip, Darby suggests that New Zealand’s frequent absence on world maps might be a conspiracy that’s “bigger than the moon landing and the Loch Ness combined”.
He then proceeds to call Arden to voice his theory about possible perpetrators.
“Australia wants our tourists, England wants to get rid of the All Blacks and the wine industry can’t beat our pinot,” he says.
Throughout the years, many maps have missed out on New Zealand. Some notable examples include the Smithsonian Museum, United Nations and even the globe water feature at Universal Studios.
Atlas Obscura reported that the Mercator projection, which is used in most world maps, could be why New Zealand is often left out of maps.
The projection places New Zealand in the bottom right-hand corner of the world. The spot in the hinterlands of the Pacific makes it easy to leave the country on the cutting room floor.