New ZealandđŁ
Country in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Official name is New Zealand. Population â 4.8 million (as of 2020). Capital â Wellington. Official languages â English and MÄori. Government type - unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Main religion â Christianity.
New Zealand
Greeting
A common way to greet someone is with a handshake. It should be short and firm, and making eye contact is important.
Physical contact, such as hugs, pats on the back, or kisses, isnât usually appropriate in formal settings.
A warmer greeting, like a kiss on the cheek, might happen between people who know each other well and have been close for a long time.
In workplaces, people often greet each other with âHello,â âGood morning,â âGâday,â or âHow are you doing?â
All around New Zealand, youâll hear the greeting âKia ora". It comes from the MÄori language and can mean âHi,â âGood day,â âAll the best,â or âWishing you good health.â Itâs now a regular part of New Zealand English.
Another well-known greeting is the hongiâa MÄori tradition where two people press their noses and foreheads together. This is usually done during official or formal events involving MÄori communities.
Introduction
In NewâŻZealand, people usually switch to first-name terms pretty quickly, which reflects the countryâs egalitarian values.
Colleagues almost always call each other by their first names.
Wait until your conversation partner invites you to use their first name â this often happens during the very first meeting. The invitation can even come from so...
Exchange of Business Cards
Exchanging business cards is pretty common â either during introductions at a first meeting or later on, when people feel itâs useful to share contact details for possible future meetings.
Business cards are usually simple and straightforward. They typically include basic information like the personâs full name, company name, mailing an...
Small Talk: Overview
In general, New Zealanders are very friendly and enjoy making small talk. In business settings, casual conversation usually comes before getting down to business.
At the same time, communication with international partners tends to be polite, reserved, and fairly formal.
During conversations, you might often hear New Zealanders refer to themselv...
Preferred Topics
New Zealanders enjoy talking about their countryâs history, culture, achievements, landmarks, and local events. Theyâll definitely appreciate it if you show some knowledge of topics and news that matter to them.
One of their favorite topics is film and the movie industry, especially âThe Lord of the Ringsâ, which was filmed in New Zealand. That...
Taboo Topics
Controversial political or religious topics are generally considered off-limits.
New Zealanders usually donât like being compared to Australians, or when the whole region is casually lumped together as âAustralian.â
While the two countries definitely share a lot â including language, parts of their history, and some cultural val...
Personal Space
New Zealanders are comfortable standing about an armâs length apart when talking to someone. Men might prefer a bit more space than women.
Itâs best not to stand too close, as getting into someoneâs personal space can come across as aggressive.
Try to avoid physical contact, except for a handshake. Only close friends or long-tim...
Communication Specifics
New Zealandâs business practices have been largely influenced by British business culture. However, there are also elements of MÄori communication style present.
The way MÄori and New Zealanders of European descent communicate differs in several ways. MÄori tend to be more group-oriented, and their communication can be a bit more indir...
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