The Letter Zed

There is plenty of time to kill on the 13 hour plane ride to New Zealand. Click here to hear Lewis Black describe the journey. Dawn and I skim through the in-flight magazine. Every place we would normally use the letter Z, they use the letter S (organise, realise, etc). I wonder aloud, "maybe they just don't use the letter Z at all." Dawn gives me a quizzical look... "What about Zealand?" Touche', girlfriend.

After arriving in New Zealand, I learn the letter Z is pronounced "zed." The Kiwis proudly incorporate their initials into the names of everyday items. You can't buy beans in the supermarket, but you can buy beaNZ. They Kiwis are also quick to point out whenever they have the biggest/best/first [insert item here] in all of the southern hemisphere.