He developed an idiomatic Kiwi bloke style of writing over the years that perfectly captured the rhythmic lilt of colloquial New Zealand. Nothing says "I'm a Kiwi man" more than the quintessential black singlet hanging loosely over a pair of stubbies and gum boots, brazenly indifferent to their appearance. Fred Dagg: The farmer blokeBlokes don't come more Kiwi as than John Clarke's satirical character, he had it all: singlet, stubbies, gummies and a bucket hat that he never changed. Outside of sport, these are the main characters that have influenced and defined the singlet culture the most over the years. Barry Crump: The outdoors blokeHis novels and acting typified the outdoorsy Kiwi bloke: a bushman, hunter and fisher and he is probably the main reason the Toyota Hilux is one of the best-selling cars in New Zealand today.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 01, 2016 01:29 UTC