New Zealand Traditions and Culture: What to Know Before You Go

By Andrew Lewis on 15 Sep 2023

For a young country, New Zealand is rich in multiculturalism and full of traditions that have been woven into the fabric of this island destination. 

Visitors can experience New Zealand culture in many ways—by watching ceremonial expressions and sports activities, admiring artistic displays, and sampling culinary traditions. They all reflect the ethnic backgrounds that make up the country’s multifaceted identity.

As travelers, it’s important to be respectful of customs and traditions that are different from your own to avoid offending, upsetting, or disrespecting the local population. At best, you can embarrass yourself by making a mistake; at worst, you can commit a major cultural faux pas.

Researching the culture and traditions of your destination is a great way to avoid misunderstandings and interact more respectfully with locals. This guide covers all the essentials—the modern and traditional nuances and differences— you’ll need to know to experience New Zealand’s culture as a visitor.


New Zealand Languages and Greetings

While English is largely spoken, the Māori language of Te Reo is also recognized by the New Zealand government as an official language. So is New Zealand Sign Language, which is used by the country’s deaf community. Other languages that might be heard throughout New Zealand include Samoan, Hindi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tongan, Korean, and Punjabi.

Here are some basic beginner phrases in Maori:

  • Hello – Kia ora
  • Thank you – Tēnā koe (to one person), tēnā kōrua (to two people), or tēnā koutou (to three or more people)
  • Yes – Āe
  • No – Kāo
  • How are you? – Kei te pēhea koe?
  • My name is… – Ko (insert name here) tōku ingoa
  • How much is it? – E hia te utu?
  • Where is the bathroom? – Kei hea te wharepaku?
  • See you later – Ka kite anō

Greetings

In the Te Reo Māori language, kia ora is a greeting or a show of appreciation that can have many meanings, such as “hello” or “thank you.” Nau mai and haere mai can both mean “welcome,” and goodbye can be said as haere rā (to someone leaving) or hei kona rā (to someone staying).

A long-time tradition of the Māori is the hongi, a greeting used to welcome each other by pressing noses and foreheads together. It’s often practiced at ceremonies and within meetings at the marae, a traditional community gathering place.

In greeting guests visiting a marae, the Māori present a formal welcoming ceremony, known as pōwhiri. Note that it is considered very disrespectful to eat, drink or talk amongst others during the welcome.

Māori Culture in New Zealand

Travelers can learn more about the Māori through visiting cultural and heritage attractions around the country. Be respectful and honor their traditions, like removing your shoes before entering a marae.

The haka is a mesmerizing Māori performance of song, dance and chanting, in which a group lines up and presents traditional war chants and action songs known as waiata-ā-ringa.

At Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, Waitangi Treaty Grounds is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by 43 Northland chiefs in 1840. A founding document for New Zealand, its intent was to establish a British colony, and it overlooked the granted rights to the Māori (the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975 was to help rectify this). Today at the attraction, you can see the preserved grounds and buildings, along with a Māori war canoe.

Another site is Te Pā Tū, a re-created traditional village south of Rotorua and under the shelter of an ancient 200-year-old native Tawa forest. The village shows what life was like for the Māori communities before European contact.

New Zealand Cuisine

Seasoned by coastal waters and farmlands, along with the culinary backgrounds of those who came to settle here, food is a major part of New Zealand life. Here are some local customs and dishes to try.

Hāngī

The Māori practice a method of cooking known hāngī, which can be experienced at certain cultural sites. Traditionally, a hāngī consists of a big, slow-cooking earth oven or pit, filled with stones and heated with a large fire. Food such as fish and sweet potato would be wrapped in flax leaves and cooked in the fire until tender and imbued with an earthy flavor. Today, a hāngī can include a menu of pork, lamb or pumpkin prepared using aluminum foil and wire baskets.

Local Specialties

While the European-influenced fish and chips are a common dish, New Zealand’s own crayfish, green-lipped mussels, and King salmon are all must-try orders. Another specialty is roasted New Zealand lamb, a tender cut of meat that is also one of the country’s top exports.

Sweet Treats

After meals, New Zealanders enjoy a treat called hokey pokey—vanilla ice cream adorned with bits of crunchy honeycomb toffee. Mince pies have also been a tradition, but now the pie flavors can be just about anything a baker dreams up. In fact, these pies are so popular that there’s a competition called Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards, which honors pie makers across New Zealand and their creations.

During Christmastime, the pavlova is a part of holiday gatherings. This meringue-based dessert is decked out with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Sports in New Zealand

Rugby is not only a popular spectator sport, but it’s a source of nationwide unification. It made its first mark on New Zealand’s history in 1840, when it was brought over to the island country by the British, and the first official game happened in May 1870 in the South Island city of Nelson.

The sport would grow in 1884, when the first New Zealand representative rugby team was formed for a tour to Australia’s New South Wales, and again in 1892, with the formation of New Zealand Rugby.

The All Blacks are the New Zealand National Rugby Team, and, to date, the team has won three Rugby World Cups. Before their matches, the All Blacks are known for presenting the “Ka Mate” haka, which was composed by Ngati Toa Chieftain Te Rauparaha around 1820.

In August 2005, the team introduced and performed a new haka called “Kapa O Pango,” written by Derek Lardelli, an expert in tikanga Māori of the Ngati Porou iwi. Its wording honors New Zealand and its sporty warriors.

The ancestral Māori sport of kī-o-rahi is similar to rugby, with two teams playing against each other, but it’s played on a large circular field with , a ball made out of woven flax. Kī-o-rahi is said to be based upon a Māori legend: The story goes that Tiarakurapakewai, the wife of the warrior Rahitutakahina, was kidnapped by another tribe. Upon finding her, both sides decided not to fight each other but rather take up a game to end their dispute.

Why Are New Zealanders Called Kiwis?

It’s easy to assume that the New Zealand term “kiwi” applies to the greenish seeded fruit, but the term actually comes from the flightless, hairy-feathered bird of the same name, endemic to New Zealand.

It’s said that during World War I, New Zealand soldiers were referred to as “kiwis” and the name stuck—it’s now a beloved moniker.

Prepare for Your New Zealand Trip

Obtaining the proper visa is an essential part of planning your trip. At Entriva, we can easily and efficiently help you with every aspect of getting a New Zealand visa. Start your visa application process. 

Doing your research before traveling helps you avoid issues and be prepared in case of an emergency. For more information on other aspects of travel to New Zealand, including local laws, health and safety, and money and currency, visit our New Zealand content hub.