Many OFWs and expats are looking to moving to New Zealand for a couple of good reasons. Some think that there are good career opportunities here. Some also look forward to earning their residence visas in this country. Whatever your purpose is for moving to New Zealand, you should do your own research with regard to the country’s dos and don’ts.
Also Read: 25 Fun Facts and Trivia about New Zealand
Every country has its restrictions. Some of them are not like your home country. Some may impose more strict restrictions while there are also countries that are more lenient. It’s important for you to understand their boundaries so that by the time you enter the country, for example, New Zealand, you will know exactly what to avoid. You will also learn about their restrictions in terms of law and culture. You can better adapt to the environment if you are aware of their restrictions.
To help expats and soon-to-be expats like you, we summarized the dos and don’ts in New Zealand in this blog. May this serve as your guide when traveling in and out of New Zealand. May this also help you prepare yourself in case you plan to work in this country. So, here are the dos and don’ts that you need to be aware of.
How to Behave when you Visit New Zealand
As part of your preparations, you need to learn how to behave in New Zealand. This is so you can easily adapt to your new environment. New Zealand has rules in terms of its law and culture. Follow these tips so you can have a smooth life when you move to New Zealand.
Do’s in New Zealand
In New Zealand, there are things that you can do. But, you have to use the country’s law and culture as your guide to know whether you are doing the right thing or not. For instance, it’s generally permitted to
- Greet people and shake their hands during meetings.
- Use the first name when greeting or addressing someone in New Zealand.
- Respect nationals and other expats. This is a basic do that you must always adhere to.
- Dress casually when your outside. Dress formally when you are meeting for business. Men usually wear dark suits with a tie and a white shirt. Dresses, suits, blouses, and skirts are for women.
- Respect the country’s dress code, especially if you are going to stay here for a while.
- Open your gifts after receiving them. People in New Zealand like receiving gifts especially if it’s from your country, such as books, flowers, chocolates, and liquor.
- Bring your own beer when someone invites you to a barbeque party. You may be asked to bring your own meat or salad during the party, which is normal in New Zealand.
- Visit Marae. This is a sacred place where people gather for religious or social purposes. You have to follow the protocols when visiting this sacred place. You will also learn more about this place when you join the Maori society.
- Keep your hands on the table either when eating or when waiting for someone to eat.
- Place your fork and knife parallel to your plate, with the handle facing the right side.
- Understand the word “kiwi” as this is popular in New Zealand. You and other New Zealanders will use this term.
- Follow the strict law on the road. When traveling around New Zealand, you have to be mindful of the traffic rules.
Dont’s in New Zealand
- Don’t smoke. Smoking in New Zealand is banned in public transportation, pubs, and restaurants. If you get caught, you will pay a fine or get other consequences.
- Don’t overstay when you’re in New Zealand. You have to comply with the period of your visa. Or else, you will illegally stay in the country, which is bad.
- Don’t give tips. This is not a part of New Zealand’s culture. But, you may give tips when the services you got are excellent.
- Don’t eat food unless it is already blessed in Maori.
- Don’t use “V” as a sign of victory.
- Don’t be late.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Don’t cause traffic by standing in the middle of the road and taking pictures like a tourist.
- Don’t eat without waiting for your companies to settle down. New Zealanders usually wait for others before eating.
Also Read: Cost of Living of an OFW Dairy Farmer in New Zealand
Tips when moving to another country
When moving to another country, you have to bear in mind that there are a lot of adjustments that you need to do. The struggles are normal at first. But eventually, you will get used to your new environment. Here, we also shared some tips when moving to another country.
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Embrace culture shock.
Culture shock is normal. You don’t have to be so worried about it. You don’t have to go back to your home country when you find it difficult to adapt. You will learn as you stay in a different country. You will learn about their culture. You will eventually embrace the new environment where you are in.
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Allocate time to learn the new culture.
Always allocate time to learn a new culture, new things. This will help you cope with culture shock. Again, you don’t have to get out of the country just because you are shocked by what people are accustomed to. If you want to grab the opportunities, you must blend in. You should be willing to learn.
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Expect that there will be a lot of changes.
To manage your culture shock, expect that there will be a lot of changes—in the environment, culture, tradition, and people. You will meet different people from different cultures. You will need to live in a new environment. You will need to blend in. When you expect that changes will come your way, you won’t be shocked too much. You will know how to handle things based on your expectations.
Final Thoughts
Moving to a new country is a challenge. But, by learning the dos and don’ts of that country, you can cope with the challenge. You will easily blend in without trying too much.