New Zealand taboos often stem from Māori culture and general Kiwi politeness, focusing on respect for tradition, nature, and modesty; key taboos include disrespecting sacred Māori sites (like removing shoes in a meeting house), boasting (humbly down-to-earth is valued), insulting rugby, not tipping (staff are paid well), and being rude about the environment (littering, etc.) or punctuality.
7 Cultural Taboos You Should Avoid In New Zealand
Common taboos involve restrictions or ritual regulation of killing and hunting; sex and sexual relationships; reproduction; the dead and their graves; as well as food and dining (primarily cannibalism and dietary laws such as vegetarianism, kashrut, and halal) or religious (treif and haram).
More Do's and Don'ts in New Zealand
Many households don't wear shoes inside, so it is polite to ask whether your host would like you to take your shoes off before entering their home. Smoking is banned in public buildings, on public transport and in some outdoor public areas.
It is particularly crude to pick at your nose in public. Spitting in public places and/or in front of people is considered extremely rude. It is common for New Zealanders to greet people with a brief 'Hello' when you walk past them. It is expected you respond with a greeting in return or a smile of acknowledgement.
Beware deceptive mediums, those who set traps, and anyone who gets a kick out of defacing money – you're breaking the law. Archaic legislation means our country has some strange crimes such as bill sticking, peeping and peering, excreting in public, and publishing instructions on how to manufacture explosives.
Noa is the opposite of Tapu and refers to ordinary, everyday things such as food or alcohol. Those two should be kept separated. That's why you should avoid sitting on pillows and touching or passing food over a person's head, since it's considered very sacred by Māori people.
92-day rule
You do not have to apply for a certificate of exemption from withholding tax if you come from a country that has a DTA with New Zealand and you're eligible for total New Zealand tax relief under that agreement. You must also be present in New Zealand for a total of 92 or fewer days in any 12-month period.
All recreational drugs, including cannabis, are illegal in New Zealand and therefore prohibited from entering. Cannabis or methamphetamine utensils and vaporisers are strictly banned. Soil and sand are strictly prohibited from entering New Zealand due to the high biosecurity risks they pose.
You will need 6 skilled resident points from your skills and work in New Zealand. These are the points you need before you can apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. You can get: 3 to 6 points based on your occupational registration, qualification, or income.
Cannibalism. Since Homer and the Greeks, we have been taught that cannibalism is the ultimate taboo. Cannibalism, also called Anthropophagy, eating of human flesh by humans.
Of all the taboo meat, human flesh ranks as the most heavily proscribed. In recent times, humans have consumed the flesh of fellow humans in rituals and out of insanity, hatred, or overriding hunger – never as a common part of their diet, but it is thought that the practice was once widespread among all humans.
Cannibalism—the Ultimate Taboo—Is Surprisingly Common. It's a toad-eat-toad, spider-eat-spider, and yes, human-eat-human world.
And the name Fanny was rejected because it is slang for female genitalia in New Zealand (and elsewhere). Naming laws in the United States are comparably lenient and vary from state to state.
Visitors to New Zealand
Kiwi is not generally considered to be a derogatory term, but there are New Zealanders, particularly some with Māori heritage, who find the appellation jarring and prefer not to identify with it.
Why Is Honey Not Allowed in New Zealand? The Reasons Why Honey in NZ is Well-Protected (2025) New Zealand keeps a close watch on honey because imported honey can bring in risks. Strict rules help protect local bees, native plants, and the honey industry.
Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $500 who, in or within hearing of any public place, uses any indecent or obscene words.
In fact, fraud has become the most common offence with 10% of New Zealanders affected in the last survey - reflecting a global trend linked to increased online activity.
Yes, NZ$70,000 is considered an average to decent salary in New Zealand, hitting the national average but falling short of "comfortable" in expensive cities like Auckland, especially for families; for a single person, it's generally enough to cover basic living costs and some savings, but luxuries like frequent dining out or big travel might be tight, especially in major cities.
40+ hours: By law an employee can work no more than 40 hours (excluding overtime) over any five days of each week, unless they agree to more.
The living wage in New Zealand will increase to $28.95 per hour starting September 1, 2025, a $1.15 rise from the current figure of $27.80.
Spitting in public and chewing gum when speaking or interacting with someone is considered rude. Sniffing without using a tissue or coughing into your hand is also a no-no. While Kiwis are friendly, they also value personal space.
This is because it was believed that others could find these body parts and place makutu on you. Cutting your hair and fingernails at night time meant that it would be easy for others to get a hold of these body parts and do harm to you.
In Māori culture, sticking out your tongue during the haka dance is a sign of defiance and readiness for battle! It's a symbol of fearlessness and strength that's become an iconic part of New Zealand's heritage.