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How has traditional culture been retained in some Croatian areas?
Food is one part of the culture that has been retained strongly. If you live in the north closer to Slovenia the food has an Austrian flavour. Chicken, beef soup and with the main meal of the day at lunchtime. If you live nearer to the coast and the islands the food is very Mediterranean with fish, pasta, risotto and lamb. All Croatians love strong coffee like Turkish coffee and drink plum and grape brandy. Customs like family celebrations and holidays are widely celebrated with the focus around food and enjoying the event. There is traditional music and folk dancing. The most common one called the Kola, which is a circle dance and widely used in special celebrations like Easter. There are many variations of all traditional cultures as each region has their own style – Bosnia, Serbia etc. The language has difference in dialect depending on whether you live city based or urban or coastal. **Did the Croatians bring their traditional culture to New Zealand?** Yes absolutely and these traditions vary between families. In 1930 the NZ Dalmatian society was established in Auckland. This was to bring together all the people in NZ who identified themselves as Croatian. This club is hugely popular and teaches language, traditional dances and has annual open days. My great-grandfather Ivan Raos was one of the original founders. There is even a radio station 104.6 which airs on Tuesdays. Food, family celebrations and traditions, history and folklore have all been important in bringing the Croatian people in nz together and keeping their culture alive. Important industries that are strong in NZ today that have Croatian heritage include the wine industry, fishing industry, farming , forestry and building and many entrepreneurial business people.

How did Croatian immigrants adapt to New Zealand?
The Croatian people like many of our early immigrants adapted well to NZ life. They landed, largely by boat and mostly north of Auckland. They began work immediately and quickly assimilated into NZ life. In fact they, like many other immigrants at the time from the UK are what NZ is made of now. Once settled many then sent for further family members to join them as helped pay the way. Gum digging and gold panning was huge and industry particularly in Northland became well established form the late 1800’s