10 things NOT to do in New Zealand 😬

- Don't do these 10 things when coming to New Zealand. New Zealand is an amazing place but you must respect the culture, the environment and learn the lingo! As Americans who have moved to New Zealand, sometimes we have learned this the hard way.

There are still cultural differences, and things that can catch you out if you're not careful... 🙃

In this video I break down ten things to be careful of when you're in NZ:

0:00 - 10 things not to do in NZ
0:36 - Don't compare to Aussie...
0:58 - Offer tea
1:20 - Keep to speed limit
1:59 - Respect Maori culture
2:41 - Don't bring dirty shoes
3:19 - Stores closing early
4:06 - Restaurants open from 5.30pm
4:49 - Don't expect chain restaurants
5:56 - No tipping
6:23 - No crowds
6:59 - One last thing...
7:20 - Thanks for watching!

About Kiwiamericans 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

We are a family of 6 Americans who are living and working in New Zealand and documenting our journey! Our family moved here 5 years ago and love sharing our journey with you.

Join us for weekly videos as we explore what it is like moving to New Zealand, things you should know about where to go, and the cultural differences to expect - should you decide to come here.

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Thanks to my editor:

[bhanani]

Top tip: Don't mess up the onion dip 😂

[Kiki-csxv]

Another tip for restaurants: don't expect your server to bring the bill to your table unless you explicitly ask for it. Most restaurants in NZ expect you to go up to the counter to pay. Most NZers would be a bit offended if their server just brought the bill to the table.

Also, don't expect to just hand your credit card to your server and have them take it away. That isn't a thing here. You should just go to the counter as you're leaving and pay through the eftpos terminal. Your card stays in your hand. That's how we do it.

[fjbutchbragg]

Good tips.. I'm an Aussie living in NZ.. and loving it.. One important tip I should add is if you are driving through tight country roads and you have a whole lot of traffic behind you, try and pull over safely somewhere and let them all pass..

[DrFingers]

The thing that stood out to me, from UK, on my last trip in NZ, was how people are so open and friendly. People started conversations with me all the time. Rather like rural Ireland. Talking seemed a national pass time. It was wonderful and welcoming. Sincere and straightforward.

[ayladesilva]

Hi I’m a kiwi and I just want to add that it has become polite to offer a drink to guests when they visit your home but it’s not always tea that they want. We don’t all drink tea, a lot of us like coffee too. So I recommend you have a few choices of types of drinks to offer not just tea.

[valgrey]

An addition to Meg’s comment, especially in the bush and nature reserves ‘Take only photos, leave only footprints’

[meg]

Don't litter🚮 or take it with you and only leave footprints in the sand if your visiting beaches, cheers

[suzieq]

New Zealanders highly value family time hence why shops close at 5. Traditionally, dinner was at 7pm which gave ample time to prepare, talk about our day and destress

[rhysfirth]

When invited to dinner and asked to "bring a plate" it doesn't mean the host or hostess is short of cutlery, it means it's a potluck dinner where everyone brings a different food item to stock a buffet table. Usually in a smaller community who brings what is pretty settled already, everyone has some speciality, so it's not a case of ten lasagnas and a bowl of bean salad... As a newcomer, try bringing something from back home, like pumpkin pie or smoked BBQ brisket as an american maybe.

[afpwebworks]

No Crowds: In the late 1970s my wife's sister and her fiance from New York came to New Zealand so they could marry with her family around her. My wife and I arrranged to stay a few days at a beach house with the two of them and it was a simply glorious time. My new brother-in-law went berserk. He wouldn't ocme inside except for meals and to go to bed. He was sooo excited. He kept saying "I"ve never been on a beach before where I couldn't see a single other person!!! No one!!! And no one charging me money to get down to the sea!!" He was giggling and dancing around like a mad thing.

[teinajayleef]

One more tip always take your shoes off when entering other people's houses unless they say leave your shoes on

[martinemartin]

I'm a kiwi and I love your videos. Another one of those hidden rules lots of Kiwis observe, is don't sit on a table, or any surface where food is ever prepared.

[ahorsewithnoname]

A big no no in NZ when out in the countryside, there are few cars about and we don't have interstate highways. Don't stop your car in the middle of the road to take a photo. Park it on the side of the road where it can be seen and avoided. I have come round a corner and found a group of tourists milling around taking photos with their car parked in the middle blocking the road.

[johnallison]

As a Kiwi living in Australia I find your advice balanced and entertaining, and should be absorbed by any visitor, either tourist or potential immigrant. Keep up the good work .

[catherinekilgour]

Also remember that the price you see is the price you pay, for pretty much everything, as the taxes have to be included on the price tag. The exception would be concert tickets or tickets for any live show as there will be a booking fee added to it.

[jacobhernandez]

My girlfriend is from NZ and I'm from Fresno California. We are planning on living half the year in the US and half the year there. I'm a bit nervous for her being in CA from what she tells me she's never experienced violence like we have here in the US. I was showing her something that happened live and she was in complete shock. She was like " it's like in the movies" I started laughing and thought she was joking. Well if they don't have crime like we do here then I just might want to live there permanently. I would hate to raise another child in a country that is filled with so much hate..

[anemptyskye]

I moved here when I was five, and the funniest part is that I didn't even realise many of these things seemed unusual to people out of New Zealand.

[ChristoKiwi]

Tipping encourages business owners to not pay staff a living wage.
If you want to tip, keep it subtle.

[Satyabtrue]

Basically we look at chains as a lower quality or type of food.

[francesoconnell]

I'm a kiwi and this is all absolutely correct, I would also add that kiwis are generally super polite and friendly so it's important and appreciated to greet people in general including staff anywhere warmly with a hello and a smile.