If a Kiwi does well at something, sooner or later there will be an attempt by the culture to cut him or her "down to size". I hate that - it's a hangover from the post-depression era.

Dear Cap ... The Kiwis are not alone in this one. The Hawaiians talk about crabs in a barrell... when one reaches the rim the others pull him back down. Then there's the Irish saying "Put an Irishman on a spit and you'll have no trouble finding two others to turn him." All reflective of the same trait in human nature. Why do we berate instead of boost? Jealousy? Or, dare I say, even (deadly sin) envy?
Then there is the whole phenomena of gossip ....