How to adjust to the local culture in Auckland
Auckland is a very cosmopolitan city, with residents from every corner of the globe, so its residents are used to interacting with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Out of all New Zealand's cities, Auckland is by far the most multicultural, with a growing Asian population and the largest Polynesian population in the world. Depending on the context you are in, there may be specific cultural etiquettes to respect. However, there are some cultural nuances that should generally be upheld by expats in Auckland – and New Zealand as a whole.
How to behave in Auckland
Respect Māori traditions
The indigenous people of New Zealand are the Māori. Māori culture is visible throughout New Zealand, but some areas have much higher Māori populations than others. Many places in New Zealand have Māori names, and most towns/areas will have a marae (meeting house) affiliated with a particular iwi (tribe). You might see facial tattoos called tā moko on men or chin tattoos called moko kauae on women. The Māori language, or te reo Māori, is also experiencing a resurgence. More and more reo is being used on the radio, in signage, in the workplace, and in general conversation, with the Pākehā (European New Zealanders) learning Māori.
At work, you might be expected to go through a pōwhiri or to learn a mihi (formal introduction). If you plan on living in New Zealand in the long term or are interested in learning more about Māori customs, it might be a good idea to enroll in a te reo course or find other ways to educate yourself about tikanga (customs and values).
Be a tidy Kiwi
For anyone who grew up in Auckland, this motto is very familiar. It is important to remember to dispose of your rubbish in a rubbish bin and recycle plastic, aluminium and paper wherever you can. New Zealand cafes are generally pretty good at supplying biodegradable or recyclable packaging for takeaways, and there are usually recycling bins alongside rubbish bins to make disposing of waste easier.
Don't spit on the ground
Spitting in public is considered incredibly rude and distasteful. If necessary, it is best to find a toilet to spit into.
No tipping
Some restaurants might have the option to do so, but there is no expectation as service workers are paid the same minimum wage as everyone else. Tipping when you have a great experience at a restaurant or want to show appreciation is always welcomed, and there may be a tip jar at a cafe counter. However, there is no obligatory tipping system, and you will not be scrutinized or judged for not tipping.
Haggling is uncommon
While there may be some occasions where you can haggle a price, most shops will stick to their posted price. It can never hurt to ask: “is that the best price you can do?”, but generally, shops will stick to the posted amount. Flea markets, second-hand shops, and purchasing something online (Facebook Marketplace) are general settings that are more receptive to haggling.
Be polite
Remember to say please and thank you, and try to help out those around you. Make room for people on the footpath and speak to everyone with respect, no matter what they may do. Aucklanders are not big on class divisions.
Have a laugh
Don't be afraid to have a laugh and make jokes. Aucklanders have a very dry sense of humor and love to poke a little bit of fun at themselves and others. In general, being laid back, having a sense of humor, and possessing a willingness to joke around are encouraged in kiwi culture.
Slang in Auckland
Something expats often struggle with in Auckland (and New Zealand in general) is the slang – especially if it's combined with particularly thick accents, it can be hard for immigrants to understand. Some vernacular is borrowed from the US, Australia, or the UK, but there are some distinct Kiwi-isms that can be confusing.
If you aren't sure what something means, feel free to ask. Here are a few to get you started:
- Sweet as – This is a general use positive response, e.g., “How's the food?” “It's sweet as!”
- Chur – Means ‘thank you', ‘you're welcome' or ‘I understand'
- Yeah nah – Can mean ‘yes', ‘no', or ‘maybe'. It is generally used to show that it's not entirely a yes or no. Context is key.
- Ay? – By itself, it means “what?” It can be used to show disbelief, lack of understanding, or as a request to repeat what you said. When it is at the end of a sentence, it means “isn't it?” asking for your confirmation of what they just said. For example, “that burger was good, aye?” confirms the burger was delicious.
General advice for expats in Auckland
Aucklanders admire people who are sociable, friendly, and hard-working. If you feel that something is not right, you are welcome to speak up, but complaining for the sake of it is generally frowned upon.
You should feel free to ask someone to come over for dinner or out for drinks if you get on with them and want to see if they might be a friend, but don't get too offended if they are unable to; it is probably nothing personal as Auckland is a busy city.
Equality in Auckland
People of any gender, sexuality, race, or religion are welcomed in Auckland.
If you are a man, there is no room for treating women as unequal. New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote, and it has a long history of strong women who have made it what it is, including two recent Prime Ministers.
In terms of dating, men and women can both approach each other to ask each other out on a date. This should always be done in a respectful way outside of work hours. Any inappropriate behavior can be met with serious consequences.
LGBTQ people are generally treated with respect and acceptance. While there may be some lingering negativity amongst certain Aucklanders, most people understand that everyone is allowed to make the choices that best suit them. Auckland has a thriving queer scene, and there are a number of club nights and bars that cater to a specifically queer scene.
The same goes for religion. Human rights and equality are at the core of what makes Auckland great, and Auckland has places of worship for all major faiths. New Zealand is a secular country by world standards (48% of New Zealanders identify with no religion) but Kiwis generally adopt a “live and let live” approach to religion, and most Aucklanders are tolerant and respectful of other religions.
