Generally speaking, we Kiwis are a pretty relaxed bunch. We’re known for our laidback attitudes and typical summer dress: shirt + shorts + jandals. But Kiwi etiquette isn’t so straightforward. How should you react if you pass somebody on a hiking trail? And what is the one thing you should look for after showering in a Kiwi household? It’s time to put on your gumboots and see how many of these 8 Kiwi customs you know!

1. Pedestrian crossings

New Zealand law says that motorists should stop at zebra crossings to let pedestrians cross, even if they don’t feel like it. The general public says ‘yeah-nah.’ If you want to make a successful crossing, you first need to wait tentatively on the footpath until a motorist feels sorry for you, halts, and motions you across with a wave or two raised fingers. Next: while you’re crossing, you must give the driver a smile, nod, or polite wave. Deviate from this at your own risk…

2. Gumboots

Muddy gumboots? Before entering a building, whether it be a house, cafe, or pub, pop your gumboots outside the front door. It’s true that many New Zealanders’ enjoy being ‘one’ with nature, but nobody likes cleaning up tracks of mud from the carpet. In rural areas like Taihape, you might spot anti-gumboot signs for this reason.

3. Kiwi etiquette for driving in NZ

If a motorist gives you a gap to merge, lets you out of a tight park, or otherwise does anything nice, make sure you give them a friendly nod and wave. Otherwise, you might notice a car tailgating you manically for the next few kilometres…

4. Weather Chat

‘Bit breezy today,’ says the shop lady hunched by the till as you stumble inside the dairy, feeling wrecked by the wind. ‘Yeah, it was sunny-as this morning, but it’s certainly turned now! Nice to be in the warmth again,’ you reply and rub your hands. The lady nods enthusiastically. ‘Glad we got a new heat pump last month. I heard it’s gonna snow tomorrow…’

And on it goes. Small talk like this may seem pointless and can be exhausting to sustain. But if there’s a Kiwi custom to help you in conversation, it’s this: if in doubt, talk about the drought.

5. Lollipop People

At roadworks there’s often a worker wearing a Fluro vest holding a stop/go sign, directing traffic. As you drive past them, it is customary to give them a smiley nod or wave.

6. Sharing is caring

Ordered chips as a snack? If you’re out with friends, it’s Kiwi etiquette to offer them around saying ‘help yourselves’ (as much as you don’t want to). You’ll be reminded to say this when the eyes of your pals glaze over and become fixated on the bowl of salted chippies.

If you’re on the receiving end, eat a ratio of 1 chip for every 2 the host eats (approx). When it gets to the last chip, act virtuous by offering it to everyone else. You can only eat it if they all emphatically decline.

7. Walkie – talkies

Kiwis tend to enjoy the outdoors, and most seem happier walking in natural bushland than the city streets. At least, they’re likelier to greet you when walking in the wilds. When you pass other walkers on an outdoor trail, nod, eyebrow flash (the Taranaki wave), smile, or say ‘hi’.

I wouldn’t recommend doing this in crowded city streets, as people will think you’re a bit weird. But country laneways? Yep. Neighbourhoods? Yep* (*depends on the neighbourhood). Basically, the fewer the people, the more enthusiastic you should be about seeing another human face.

8. Shower squeegees

When you visit Kiwi households, you may notice a strange, mini-windscreen wiper hanging inside the shower. What is it?

It’s a shower squeegee. Water around New Zealand is often mineral-heavy and coats glass doors/walls in a white crust over time. To keep your Kiwi hosts happy, use it to scrape away water residue on the glass after you shower.

Conclusion: Kiwi etiquette

Having been isolated in New Zealand for so long, we Kiwis have evolved a unique etiquette which influences how we see the world. Many of these are based on ‘politeness’ – of putting yourself in another person’s gumboots, so to speak. The customs featured here are the sort you experience on a day-to-day basis, but there are plenty of others depending on the occasion. What customs do you know? Comment below!

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