Life in new zealand

High School Year

Social Customs

Life in New Zealand:

New ZealaNd attitude New Zealanders are open, friendly and hospitable. Their lifestyle is also relaxed and informal. New Zealanders (or ‘Kiwis’) would discuss leisure activities and family interests, rather than occupations, incomes and career objectives with their friends and collegues. They are on the whole, self-reliant andpractical people. They are noted ‘do-ityourselfers’ and love to work around the home and garden. New Zealanders are also intensely proud of their country. Aware of their country’s small size and profile on the world political stage, national achievements (particularly world-beating sporting achievements) are greeted with great fanfare. New Zealanders take great pride in the Maori (indigenous people)culture and heritage which emphasizes humility, truth and a strong sense of community. While Maori are integrated within NZ society, they still retain strong connections to the land and have a strong cultural presence and influence within NZ society. New Zealand values its independence and is not afraid to take on the world (as they have in their anti-nuclear stance). New Zealanders

value hard work,resourcefulness, honesty, fairness, independence and ruggedness - all legacies of their pioneering history. But for the visitor, perhaps the most immediately obvious trait of all New Zealanders is their friendliness. As an increasing number of New Zealand women participate in the workforce (accounting for 40% of all workers), it is common for both parents to work. Almost no New Zealanders havedomestic help, so household chores are shared by all family members. Teenagers usually have to do such chores as: washing dishes, hanging laundry on clothes lines, ironing laundry, cooking dinner occasionally, and caring for younger children. These chores are generally done without the parents asking, often without pocket money being given. Many New Zealand teenagers have after school jobs and alsobelong to a sports club. Most New Zealand towns are very small communities and you will find people know one another very well. It is important not to criticize your host family or school publicly as your comments could cause a lot of damage. Publicly criticizing and talking about your family is seen as gossip.

New Zealand - Life in New Zealand

Forms oF address New Zealanders normally justsay ‘Gidday’ or a simple ‘Hi’ for hello. After an initial introduction, most people use first names with each other. School teachers are addressed by their surname by students. The Maori greeting ‘Kia ora’ is also used by many New Zealanders as a way of saying ‘hello’. Among the Maori, they may also greet each other with a kiss and a hug or the traditional ‘hongi’-greeting, which is a pressing ofnoses together with eyes closed, while making a low ‘mm-mm’ sound. This greeting is generally not used with non-Maoris. Gestures Rules of basic etiquette are strongly adhered to in New Zealand. Winking or calling out to women is considered inappropriate behaviour. When yawning, New Zealanders cover their mouth and excuse themselves. People excuse themselves after they have sneezed and say ‘blessyou’ to someone who has sneezed. Sniffing more than once in public is considered offensive and when people have colds or hay fever, they blow their nose in a tissue or handkerchief. New Zealanders do not readily display affection amongst one another, especially with people they do not know well. On the first meeting, they generally greet each other with a handshake. If you do not notice opendisplays of affection, this does not mean that your host family or friends do not care about you. In the beginning, they will show their affection in other ways – by cooking food you like or taking you places in New Zealand. If a member of your host family takes you somewhere special, show some enthusiasm for what you have seen, and express your appreciation at the end of the trip. Families New...