New Zealand Culture: Exploring New Zealand

Exploring New Zealand Culture

New Zealand’s two islands are divided by Cook Strait. The North Island boasts volcanoes, hot springs, mud pools, geysers, and beautiful beaches, while the South Island has rugged Alpine mountains, glaciers, and access to activities like swimming with dolphins and whale-watching. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was filmed in New Zealand and showcases the country’s beautiful landscape. Kiwis pass their days with plenty of time outdoors having family barbecues, hiking to the nearest beach, or playing rugby.

New Zealand culture is heavily influenced by the Māori people, the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand. Māori people have been in New Zealand for over 800 years and make up about 15% of the population. Among the many nationalities living in New Zealand are a very large population of Polynesian people from the Pacific Islands, plus many from Asia and other countries throughout the world.

Study abroad in New Zealand Host a Kiwi student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic in New Zealand

The way of life in New Zealand culture is generally relaxed and informal. Overall, New Zealanders, (also known as Kiwis), are self-reliant, practical people. It is not uncommon for both parents to work outside the home. Children and parents share the housework. Almost all families have pets living in the house.

The average family in New Zealand has two children. Most families are a mixture of European, Māori, Asian or Polynesian descent. Kiwis are not influenced by Western culture alone. Fashion, jewelry, decorations and crafts reach deep into the Māori traditions. Māori are preserving their unique culture that contributes to New Zealand culture as a whole.

Among Polynesians, extended family connections are important. In some families, multiple generations live together in one house. Polynesian women traditionally play strong roles in their communities. For Māori, the marae (a sacred open space used for religious and social gatherings) is important for family bonding.

Teenage Life in New Zealand

Teenagers in New Zealand often hang out in cafes and go shopping, but most of all they enjoy playing sports and spending time exploring the beautiful landscape. Teenagers also go surfing and whale watching on some of New Zealand’s countless gorgeous beaches!

A love of sports and the outdoors is important in New Zealand culture. Almost every young person is involved in some form of sport. The favorites are rugby, cricket, soccer, basketball, netball, hockey and touch rugby (rugby without the physical contact). National pride is connected with the world’s best netball team, the Silver Ferns, and the world’s best rugby team, the All Blacks.

Maori traditional performance in New Zealand

Official Language

English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages of New Zealand.

Communication Styles in New Zealand

Kiwis are fairly indirect communicators, in that they avoid confrontation as much as possible. They may vaguely hint at their point without directly saying it, so as not to create conflict. However, they generally speak honestly enough that their intended meaning isn’t too cryptic.

Eye contact is maintained to show sincerity, but not held for too long, because this may seem aggressive. For older Māori people, direct eye contact may be interpreted as hostile, however. In New Zealand culture, people do not typically touch each other during conversation. They also stand about an arm’s length between one another while speaking. In Māori culture, the head is considered sacred and should not be touched.

The Kiwi Diet

Since there are so many farms in New Zealand, fresh meat, dairy, and produce are readily available. Fruits such as apples, kiwis, bananas, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, strawberries, and tomatoes are abundant. New Zealanders love fish and chips and pot roast, but Asian-style curries and stir-fries are also very popular. There is also a distinct Japanese influence in some of the cuisine. On special occasions, some people experience a traditional Māori feast, called a hangi, which is similar to a Hawaiian luau. Vegemite, peanut butter, honey, and jam are used as bread spreads. New Zealanders consider their dairy products as among the best in the world.

Explore the Programs Available in New Zealand

New Zealand Year High School

DestinationNew Zealand
DurationsYear
Cost$18,000
Program Dates
- Jan 17, 2025 - Dec 8, 2025

New Zealand

Māori culture and otherworldly beauty