Greeting

The traditional form of greeting is a handshake. It should be short and firm. Direct eye contact is important.

Physical contact during formal communication (hugging, pat on the shoulder, kissing) is not welcome.

A warmer greeting, where people kiss each other on the cheek, is possible between people who know each other well and for quite some time.

In companies, common greetings are "Hello", "Good morning", "G'day", "How are you doing?"

Widespread in New Zealand you can hear the greeting "Kia ora", which comes from the Maori language and has several meanings at once: "Hello", "Good day", "I wish you well", I wish you health".This greeting comes from the Maori language and is already firmly rooted in New Zealand English.

Widely known is also hongi, a ritual Maori greeting in which two people press their noses and foreheads against each other. These greetings are exchanged by participants in official and/or formal events in New Zealand involving Māori.

Hongi is a ritual greeting in which two people hold each other's noses and foreheads.

Introduction

In New Zealand, people quickly become "you" and call each other by their first names, in keeping with the egalitarian values of society. This often happens during the first meeting. You might also get this kind of suggestion from someone who is older or in a position of authority.

When addressing people who are senior in rank/rank or in authority, use (before the last name) the formal Mr, Ms or Mrs.

If you have titles and/or titles, try not to use their first names when introducing yourself in a business setting. It is not acceptable.

Academic degrees and titles, and professional qualifications and positions should be used when referring to members of the medical and military professions (e.g., Doctor Wilson).

Exchange of Business Cards

Business cards are generally designed simply and contain the basic information about their owners: name, company name, postal and email addresses, telephone, website (if available).

A special procedure or formal protocol for business card exchange

Small Talk: Overview

New Zealanders in general are very friendly and enjoy small talk. In business situations, informal conversation usually precedes discussion of business matters proper.

But New Zealanders' communication with foreign partners can be described as polite, reserved, and rather formal.

But be patient, as New Zealanders are not immediately ready for open and trusting communication. Your partner will prove to be a polite and hospitable host. This is a welcoming culture.

When speaking, be careful what you say and never try to mention any of your own successes or achievements, professional or otherwise. This may be seen as too directly "promoting" yourself or your company.

It is not uncommon to hear New Zealanders call themselves a "kiwi," after the bird, which is the national symbol of the state. The nickname is not offensive or derogatory, and on the contrary, New Zealanders like it, even when said by a foreigner.

Preferred Topics

The history of New Zealand, its culture, achievements, landmarks, and local events. New Zealanders love to discuss what's happening in the country and will certainly appreciate your knowledge of topics and events that are important to the country.

One of your favorite topics is the film and film industry and, in particular, the film Lord of the Rings, which was filmed in New Zealand. The film epic is a source of national pride.

Main sporting events tend to be hotly debated in New Zealand society, especially if the national rugby team does well.

Other popular sports are cricket and sailing. Before making initial contact with a potential partner from New Zealand, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with local sports news. These topics help to start a less formal conversation, thereby melting the ice during the meeting.

Topics related to work to some degree.

Family without mentioning personal issues.

Travel, hobbies, vacations.

The home towns (regions) of the interviewees.

Taboo Topics

Controversial political and religious topics are taboo topics.

New Zealanders don't really like to be compared to Australians or to have the whole region generalized as Australian.

There are certainly many similarities between these countries, including language, some aspects of historical development, cultural values, etc. But what is important to New Zealanders are those traits that distinguish them and are unique to them.

Personal Space

New Zealanders feel comfortable standing at arm's length to the person they are talking to. For men, this distance may be slightly greater than for women.

It is not a good idea to reduce the distance New Zealanders are comfortable with. This may be seen as aggressive behavior.

Avoid physical touching, with the exception of handshakes. Only people who are old acquaintances or friends should hug or pat each other on the shoulder, back or arm when they meet.

Containing direct eye contact indicates the speaker's sincerity. However, it should not be too prolonged, or it will be perceived as overly insistent.

It's a good idea to keep a direct eye contact.

Communication Specifics

Business practices in New Zealand have generally been influenced by British business culture. However, there are also some elements of the Maori communication style.

The communication style of Maori and New Zealanders of European origin differs in a number of ways. The Maori are more oriented to the group to which they belong, their communication is somewhat evasive and personal. On the other hand, New Zealanders of European descent are more straightforward in expressing their attitudes.

It could be said that rather open communication is prevalent, which manifests itself in the fact that New Zealanders get to the point without being blunt, without trying to convey some additional information through the use of ambiguous expressions, gestures, looks, body language, etc.

At the same time, New Zealanders exercise a certain care in their speech, choosing their language so as not to provoke conflict and to maintain a polite and welcoming tone throughout the discussion. In this regard, some of their remarks may not sound direct enough at times, but still not so convoluted that you have to find out what they really mean.

New Zealanders are careful in their choice of language so as not to provoke conflict.