^^^ with dog chasing a Kiwi.

Why not go for something of your own heritage if you don't feel Maori then?

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//I saw a guy once with a full map of NZ down his forearm which looked awesome.

Yeah Brad from Steriogram has a that exact tattoo. It does look awesome

Joanna - the curse of an uncommon last name has obstructed me again as my last name is not found on that website. It's funny though I have actually been looking for our family crest but have been unable to find it anywhere on the internet.

I found both my very common Scottish name and my I don't know how common Dutch mother's name on houseofnames.com, although the Dutch crest was different from what I thought it was. Actually come to think of it, so was the McLeod, which I thought was more bull-ish. Wacky Americans, what would they know about heritage?

//crosses the evil line into nationalism

//Nationalism is tacky in any shape or form

Just a thought but... the evil/tacky bit about Nationalism is the conflict that arises when arbitrarily constructed borders make people a stranger in their own land - right?

So is this such a problem in NZ where our borders are naturaly defined by the coastline?
I mean there's no line halfway through the north island where above which the Maoris are, say, French.
So do we indulge in Islandism?

^^^ Otara, Howick. :D

//I just find nationalism - or blind support for your country of origin - a bit stupid

That's Patriotism,

"and every ist and every ism" ©morrissey

//I would always hold my country as number 1. Is that stupid?

It's the "always" that could potentially make it dangerous - I mean this is not about cheering for the All Blacks, it's about if say New Zealand invaded Poland. Would you be like "YEAH! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!" or would you go "hang on, why the hell did we do that? That's not right!"

//I don't really follow any sport and I think that in most cases it's the individuals who we should be supporting and not the country that they come from - in most cases it's achievments of individuals and not country's

They are representing their country though IE All Blacks, Siver Ferns, Black Caps, All Whites etc they are all resresenting NZ in their chosen code. Thus when you support them you are also supporting NZ. Yes their achievements should be recognised as their own and not the countrys achievements I mean it's not like 4 million people played the rugby world cup final but the 15 men on the field wearing the All Black jersey are effectively representing the 4 million people that aren't on the field. (even if you don't like/watch/follow sport)

//I'd argue that the reason they are in the particular team is because it is the highest level that they can attain within the sport, and has less to do with representing the country and more to do with attaining the highest level in their field that they can - much like other professions.

When you first start playing sport ( I can only talk from my personal experience ) your ultimate goal is to play for your country, IF you achieve this - it says you are the best in your chosen sport or position in you chosen sport. This is what drives sports people ( well what SHOULD drive them anyway). Representing your country comes first and by doing that you have reached the highest level you can attain...the two go hand in hand pretty much.

If you ask kids who play rugby what they want to be when they grow up "an All Black" is the usual response, they don't say " I want to be the best I can and reach the highest level I can" because being an All Black IS to be the best.

//In fact for a number of sports players reaching those high levels also includes a substantially larger financial reward than other levels.

Yes but this is where professionalism comes in, you sacrifice a shit load of things to play in this professional era and your job is the first to go so they need some other form of income.
If you are a sportsman or woman who is just in it for the money no matter what your chosen sport is you get found out very quickly.

I would aruge that this is the same in the music industry. You strive to be the best you as a musician and/or band that you can be and if this pays off and you get signed and become a professional musician you need this larger financial backing so you can live off what effectively is now your full time job.

While NZers support the All Blacks and watch rugby as their chosen leisure activity you have to remember that playing rugby is their full time job and just like any employment position the higher up the chain you go the bigger the financial reward is.

I duno maybe I am just rambling on and not making any sense at all.