Here’s a brain teaser. Picture a pile of sand. Take away one grain. Is it still a pile? Remove another. And another. When does it stop being a pile? Known as the Sorites paradox, this head-scratcher has kept philosophers up at night for centuries. 

This ancient puzzle has a modern application, displaying a pressing question in our globalised world: How do we define a Kiwi? 

Take the case of Wimbledon semi-finalist Lulu Sun, who was recently convinced by Tennis New Zealand to play for her birth country. All this is despite having moved away at the age of four and spending her life overseas. 

There are other celebrities born here who gave their formative years to other countries, including Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and musician Rosé from K-pop icons BlackPink. Crowe himself says he’s half Australian, half New Zealander. Yet we claim these people as our own. Should we? 

Perhaps the very act of questioning what makes up our identity is quintessentially Kiwi.

Sentiment around the world is mixed. Eighty per cent of Swedes say that country of birth is not important for national identity, while 82 per cent of Brazilians say that it is. 

What about the reverse? Individuals who grew up in other countries who made a conscious decision to move here and become citizens. This seems more straightforward: immigration is driving our population growth. 

Perhaps the very act of questioning what makes up our identity is quintessentially Kiwi. Instead of measuring influence or fame, let’s consider what people have given us and the world. One doesn’t exclude the other. 

Think of Kate Sheppard, who helped us become the first nation to give all women the right to vote. Or “the father of nuclear physics,” Lord Ernest Rutherford, considered the greatest scientist since Newton. Or novelist Witi Ihimaera, regarded as “one of the world’s leading Indigenous writers.” 

Despite feeling more divided than ever, a reputable survey declares that our national character is “driven by notions of equality, fairness and honesty.”

Instead of trying to solve our version of the Sorites paradox, let’s ask, “What sort of people do we want to be?” Many of our closest allies don’t think place of birth is vital to national identity; why should we? 

Instead, we should focus on qualities that are deeper than our charming accent and idioms. 

Despite feeling more divided than ever, a reputable survey declares that our national character is “driven by notions of equality, fairness and honesty.” Granted, these can be weaknesses. Many migrants find it difficult to “integrate easily” into our workplaces. But migrants often bring something unique. Take Cliffy and Indranee Reddy. They came from South Africa and started a community programme called Te Whakaora Tangata Trust. Over more than 14 years in the community, Te Whakaora Tangata has worked with over 2,000 families, helping up to 7,000 vulnerable children. 

That’s adding character to who we are. Just as removing grains of sand from a pile doesn’t have a clear tipping point, defining Kiwi identity is about embodying the spirit of our nation. Let’s seek out those people, mimic, and celebrate them.