New Zealand values and customs: info for international students

Just like many parts of the world, New Zealand is a very diverse society. Therefore, it’s difficult to define “typical” New Zealand customs and values. Even so, New Zealanders do share some common values and ways of living.

The following are considered important:

Tolerance

New Zealanders are friendly and accepting of different religions and cultures. They abide by the principle of freedom of speech.

Equality

New Zealand does not have a class structure or separate gender roles. Everyone is equal and everyone is treated the same regardless of race, religion, culture, gender, financial position, or personal circumstances

Hospitality and generosity

Many New Zealanders like to socialise at home. When a New Zealander invites someone to their home for a barbeque, lunch or dinner, they like to cook for you and take care of you.

It’s polite to bring a small contribution, for example wine, flowers or something sweet; but nothing too big.

Family

Family is very important to New Zealanders. Families eat together, spend regular time together, and celebrate special occasions together.

Sport

New Zealanders are passionate about sport, especially rugby union. People gather in numbers to attend games or view them in social areas and people will talk about them regularly.

The New Zealand Rugby Union team is known as the All Blacks and are highly successful, along with their female counterparts, the Black Ferns, who are World Cup champions.

Other sports that are nationally popular are cricket, sailing, and touch rugby in summer, or soccer- (football), rugby league, basketball and netball in the winter.

Cleanliness

New Zealanders mostly keep themselves, their homes, and their country clean. Littering or showering less than once a day is considered dirty.

New Zealanders often talk to strangers in public areas. This is a great way to practise English, but caution should be taken. Be sensible about the information you share, for example don’t give out your address and phone number or accept inappropriate invitations.

Manners

‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are very important words. Always use them if you ask someone to do something for you, or if they help or give you information.

Spitting and urinating in public are considered highly offensive.

Queues

Always stand in line and wait your turn when buying tickets, in a bank, post office or waiting for a bus. Keep to the left when standing on escalators.

Punctuality and appointments

You need to make an appointment to see most professionals, for example doctors or teachers.

For formal meetings or celebrations such as lectures, performances, weddings, or funerals, it’s important to be on time.

If the occasion is more informal and you are meeting friends or family, it’s OK to be about 10 minutes late. If you’re going to be late, it's respectful to let people know.

Privacy

It's often considered impolite to make comments about someone’s age, money, or physical appearance (unless it’s a nice comment) to people who are not family or close friends.

Pets

Many New Zealanders have pets (usually cats and dogs) and take them walking in public places. Be careful around pets you don’t know and only pat them with the owner’s approval.

If you buy a pet, be aware that some pets need to be licensed and are only allowed in designated areas.

You may find that laws are enforced differently in New Zealand than they are in your home country. You must obey our country’s laws and respect its customs. It’s important that you understand them to help keep you safe and others around you.

We suggest you familiarise yourself and understand topics that include:

Age-restricted goods and services and their use

• No one under the age of 18 may buy alcohol, including wine and beer.  Proof of age must be shown on request.
• If you are under the age of 18, only a parent or guardian can give you alcohol
• No one under the age of 18 may buy or smoke tobacco or vaping products, including cigarettes.

Censorship

Some films, videos and publications may be restricted to people of a certain age (such as 13, 16 or 18).

Safety

It’s illegal to carry weapons like guns or knives or similar objects for self-defence or personal security. This includes stun guns and mace or pepper spray.

Smoking and vaping

• Indoor workplaces including restaurants and bars are smoke-free; vaping is at the discretion of employers

Same sex relationships (between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman) in New Zealand are legal and mostly accepted as a norm by New Zealanders.

Anti-discrimination laws protect gay and lesbian people.

AUT is the first New Zealand tertiary provider to get the Rainbow Tick that commits our organisation and those who work here to ensure a safe and welcoming space for our LGBTQIA+ (rainbow) students and staff is provided.

Women in New Zealand are legally and culturally equal to men and should always be treated fairly.

Interaction and affection between men and women is completely normal.

Men and women are not segregated anywhere except in public bathrooms or changing rooms, for example at swimming pools.

Men and women share equally in household work and childcare.