New Zealand is a relatively new country, with its only inhabitants being flightless birds for millennia, before the Polynesians arrived in the 1300s and later English settlers. Its large amount of tectonic activity shaped its rugged landscape. Today, New Zealand is vastly underpopulated, peaceful, safe, and outdoorsy, often ranking very highly on quality-of-life surveys. Its ties to its former English coloniser are strong, but its connections to other Pacific New World countries are even stronger, with real small-town US vibes throughout its urban settlements. It’s a country with a split personality and a big love for the outdoors. In this shoot, I drive north to south in a rental campervan to capture this small but amazing country.