An American tourist has gone viral for a heartfelt tribute to New Zealand, commemorated in a tattoo inspired by his recent visit to the country following a near-death experience.
The man, based in San Diego, shared an image of his new tattoo—a koru design—on Reddit, explaining its deeply personal meaning. Just one month before his trip to New Zealand, he suffered a major heart attack that required CPR to revive him.
“The beauty of the country and our realisation that life is way too short inspired me to get this tattoo,” he wrote in the post.
The koru, a spiral motif based on the unfurling silver fern frond, is a powerful symbol in Māori culture, representing new life, growth, strength, and peace. The tattoo, which took around two and a half hours to complete, now serves as a daily reminder for the man.
“It’s a reminder for me to not squander my second chance and to keep working at recovery,” he added. “Your country is beautiful and inspiring.”
His post quickly attracted praise from New Zealanders, with many expressing appreciation for the gesture and the sentiment behind it.
“The artist did a great job,” one user commented. “It looks so good, and I love the meaning behind it.”
Another wrote, “Very happy that you felt welcome in NZ and you wanted to honour your time here. It’s ātaahua (beautiful).”
“I’ve seen hundreds (at least) of koru tattoos, but that is the nicest drawn one I can remember,” added a third.
Despite its cultural origins in Aotearoa, the tattoo was inked in San Diego by artist Holly Ennis, who was praised for her ability to capture the essence of the design from afar.
The story stands in contrast to a previous viral post involving a U.S. tourist, who faced backlash after planting an American flag atop Mount Maunganui—an act criticized as disrespectful to the culturally significant site.
This latest story, however, has resonated with many for its sincerity and admiration for New Zealand’s culture and landscape.
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