40 Memes That Prove New Zealand Isn’t Just Sheep and Lord of the Rings (But Mostly)
Let’s be honest—whenever someone says “New Zealand,” three things come to mind: sheep, Hobbits, and maybe… more sheep. But for those of us lucky enough to live here—or spend more than five minutes Googling—it’s clear that Aotearoa is way more than just Middle-earth with excellent wool.
New Zealand is a place where people wear jandals year-round, call flip-flops “jandals” without apology, and treat a meat pie like a sacred object. It’s where you can surf, ski, and get sunburned by lunchtime—all while arguing over whether “yeah nah” means yes, no, or maybe. It’s home to pavlova debates, $12 coffees, and seagulls with the aggression of a rugby forward.
So in the name of Kiwi pride (and a little international confusion), we’ve rounded up 40 memes that capture the true essence of New Zealand: chaotic, chill, proud, sheep-filled, and just a little bit weird. Whether you’re a born-and-bred Kiwi or someone who once mistook New Zealand for part of Australia (it’s okay, we forgive you—this time), these memes are for you.
Scroll on, laugh loud, and remember: it’s not “New Zealand,” it’s Nu Zilland, bro.
#1 Perfect vacation
Source: Warren_Harding_1920
#2 He does have a point though
Source: Slinglives
#3 Oof
Source: Scoobersnaxxx99
#4 Charge
Source: Scoots291
#5 New Zealand loses first naval ship since WW2
Source: TristanaGOLD
This isn’t a joke: New Zealand has about 5 million people… and over 25 million sheep. That’s five sheep per person! Naturally, this stat has become the internet’s favorite fun fact. Memes poke fun at it all the time—jokes like “New Zealand elections are basically just sheep vs. sheep” or “You haven’t really lived until you’ve been outvoted by farm animals” flood Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). The sheep obsession is real, and the internet is all over it.
Even the locals joke about it. In fact, one popular Kiwi meme shows a sheep in a suit behind a news desk with the caption: “Breaking: Farmer’s opinion doesn’t matter—Sheep to rule Parliament.” It’s absurd. It’s accurate. It’s peak New Zealand.
#6 Balls
Source: ColonCancer
#7 Discovery of New Zealand meme
Source: pirush
#8 Poor bird
Source: Illrandom
#9 New Zealand meme
Source: exonx5
#10 I don’t know this story ngl
Source: PacBooty
Let’s talk about the elephant—or rather, the hobbit—in the room. Ever since Peter Jackson filmed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies in New Zealand, the country has proudly embraced its Middle-earth identity. You’ll see real road signs that say “Welcome to Hobbiton” and memes like “New Zealand: Where getting lost on a hike just means you’ve entered Mordor.”
Tourists love to dress up and visit filming locations, and of course, that leads to viral content. One popular meme reads: “Came to New Zealand for the hiking, stayed because Gandalf told me to.” Another classic shows a group of sheep with wizard hats Photoshopped on, captioned: “The Fellowship of the Fleece.”
If you’re a Tolkien fan, New Zealand isn’t just a destination—it’s a meme dreamland.
#11 Giant toothbrush
Source: Dutta0101
#12 WAIT!!!!
Source: STUMPYBEANS010
#13 Get hi = no just die=yes
Source: Scoots291
#14 did i ask
Source: sweden.memer
#15 Best friends
Source: French_Eater
One of the most lovable things about New Zealanders (a.k.a. “Kiwis”) is how relaxed they are—even when things go sideways. When earthquakes hit Wellington in 2016, residents responded with classic dry Kiwi humor. One viral post read: “Bit of a shake last night. Cup of tea didn’t spill. We’re sweet.”
That attitude makes its way into memes all the time. You’ll see photos of shattered plates captioned “Tuesday in Wellington” or footage of a small tsunami with a Kiwi saying, “Might go surfing later.” This kind of no-drama approach to real chaos is what makes the memes so authentic and laugh-out-loud funny.
New Zealand might shake, but its memes stay steady.
#16 New Zealand
Source: DaMusicGamer
#17 As an Aussie, NZ is pretty cool I guess
Source: TyranMcAllister
#18 Good luck Kiwis
Source: Erumakerofarda1
#19 times new Roman
Source: DaMusicGamer
#20 old zeal and
Source: DaMusicGamer
New Zealanders love to make fun of Australians—and vice versa. It’s all in good fun, but the memes? Ruthless. Aussies joke that Kiwis talk like their noses are blocked (“fush and chups”), while Kiwis roast Australians for having venomous everything: snakes, spiders, jellyfish, even trees.
One meme has a split screen: “Australia: Home of deadly creatures” and “New Zealand: Home of birds that can’t fly and sheep that rule the land.” Another classic shows a Kiwi saying, “No snakes here, mate. We just have flightless birds and a great healthcare system.”
If you’ve ever seen siblings bicker with love and sarcasm, that’s Australia and New Zealand in a nutshell.
#21 Why?
Source: Fernanlol5
#22 Noot
Source: supreme.omega
#23 New Zealand is kinda winning right now
Source: MaddyTheMadCow
#24 New Zealand is just a repost of Australia
Source: DangerousPizza
#25 bloody sheep shaggers
Source: thehungergames
New Zealand has no native snakes (bless), but it does have some pretty strange animals. The iconic kiwi bird is nocturnal, can’t fly, and looks like a fuzzy fruit with legs. There’s also the wētā, a cricket-like bug that looks like it was designed in a nightmare.
These creatures appear in dozens of memes, often paired with captions like “Evolution took a lunch break” or “When the assignment was due at midnight and you started at 11:59.”
#26 Anyone else in nz?
Source: Fralance
#27 Be real Nice to people.. you never know
Source: 13.sandhu
#28 New Zealand at its finest
Source: fletcherj491
#29 Saw this today
Source: kurtius888
#30 Kiwiside
Source: fastestfingers95
Even the official tourism boards have embraced meme culture. In 2021, Tourism New Zealand launched the “Stop the Scroll” campaign to encourage tourists to stop copying influencer-style selfies and discover lesser-known parts of the country. The memes exploded: “Come to New Zealand. Be original. Be weird. Be like a kiwi.”
The self-deprecating humor was refreshing, and the internet loved it. Memes popped up like: “Meanwhile in New Zealand: Taking selfies with sheep while being gently asked not to be basic.”
Props to a country that can make fun of itself while still making you want to visit.
#31 New Zealand is great
Source: BeyondSad6497
#32 New Zealand stuff.
Source: TwistedKoala35
#33 Life in New Zealand
Source: Kopfjaeger2142
#34 New Zealand tells a witty joke
Source: 4chan
#35 The New Zealand Navy on their way to invade Australia
Source: Rd28T
From Jacinda Ardern baking cookies on Facebook Live during lockdown to former PM John Key’s weird-but-iconic appearances in rap parodies, New Zealand leaders have always had meme-worthy moments. But they’re not embarrassing—they’re endearing.
Ardern became a global icon during the pandemic for her calm, relatable tone. Memes showed her as “World’s Coolest PM,” including one where she’s Photoshopped riding a sheep into battle holding a flat white (NZ’s coffee of choice). And people loved it.
Unlike stiff political memes from other countries, New Zealand memes just feel… chill. Like your government might also lend you a hoodie if it gets cold.
#36 Not a map but still an NZ meme
Source: Zilohipy
#37 Go New Zealand
Source: StaticSyCo
#38 “Product of New Zealand”
Source: you-look-cute-today
#39 This was one of the reasons why New Zealand didn’t want to join Australia
Source: unidentified_meat
#40 Hi people from New Zealand
Source: Kingscrubs12
New Zealand might be known for its peaceful vibe, breathtaking landscapes, and sheep overload, but the memes reveal a deeper truth: this country has personality. A lot of it. Whether you’re cracking up at Middle-earth references or laughing at a kiwi bird who looks like your awkward cousin, New Zealand’s internet presence is warm, weird, and 100% worth the scroll.
At Grumpy Sharks, we salute the meme lords of New Zealand. Your country may be small, but your memes are mighty.
Now pass the pineapple lumps and cue the Lord of the Rings soundtrack—we’re heading to Hobbiton (at least online).
