Leadership in New Zealand : the impact of gum boots, the haka, buzzy bees and number 8 wire

This is an exploratory study of leadership behaviours within New Zealand. This paper discusses the environmental factors which impact on the approach and style adopted by leaders in New Zealand. It suggests that approaches to leadership are closely linked to the society in which they operate. A review of the literature compares research undertaken by those living within Australasia and that undertaken on a global basis. The review finds that research undertaken globally clusters New Zealand with countries which share its’ Anglo-Saxon heritage the local research distinguishes differences between Australian and New Zealand leadership styles. This paper discusses environmental factors which impact on the approach and style adopted by leaders in New Zealand. It suggests that approaches to leadership are closely linked to the society in which they operate. It argues that leadership in New Zealand is influenced by; the nature and size of its organisations, bi-culturalism; woman role models and isolation, these are represented by the Kiwi icons: gumboots, the Haka, buzzy bees and number 8 fencing wire.