In examining the history behind each, it is clear the kiwi bird received its name well before the kiwi fruit. The flightless bird endemic to New Zealand had been known as the “kiwi” for over a century. Chinese gooseberries only came to be known as “kiwifruit” in the late 1950s after a successful rebranding campaign tied the unfamiliar fruit to New Zealand’s iconic national bird. Capitalizing on the kiwi’s fame transformed the gooseberry into a commercial success. So while they share a name and connection to New Zealand, the kiwi bird undoubtedly came first!
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