Do's and Don'ts in New Zealand?

Forums › Off topic › Do's and Don'ts in New Zealand?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

8232 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#841420 22-Jun-2013 11:10

nate: Anyone else think SaltyNZ should be our NZ ambassador? Dress him up in a suit made from the NZ flag, and he can answer all and every question when people step off a plane.

Except you people don't know how to draw the Australian flag. The stars are white, not red, the Southern Cross has 5 stars, and there's a big one under the union jack. It's not that hard.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

wongtop

565 posts

Ultimate Geek

#841456 22-Jun-2013 12:35

SaltyNZ: Don't mistake the Pavolva for a Kiwi desert. We Aussies invented it. Also, Phar Lap was an Australian race horse, and we won the America's Cup long before the Kiwis ever did.

That's not what the fine print on your latest add suggests.

SaltyNZ

8232 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#841473 22-Jun-2013 13:31

wongtop:
SaltyNZ: Don't mistake the Pavolva for a Kiwi desert. We Aussies invented it. Also, Phar Lap was an Australian race horse, and we won the America's Cup long before the Kiwis ever did.

That's not what the fine print on your latest add suggests.

Yeah, but that's marketing guff. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#841523 22-Jun-2013 15:08

DarthKermit:
Oooh, bad form! . . . The Japs . . ..

speaking of bad form . . .
This term is usually considered an ethnic slur these days.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#841591 22-Jun-2013 17:12

wmoore:

1. Always remove shoes before stepping inside someone's house. If they don't mind you keeping shoes on they will say so.

I hate taking my shoes off because I've got smelly feet. I only know of one friend that likes to have shoes off in her house. She is Asian by the way. It's not a rule, but if you see lot's of shoes by the door, and see no one else wearing shoes then remove them.

If you come to my house you will never see shoes beside the front door unless other guests are also visiting. This is the same as with all my family and most of my friends. Shoes are taken off and put away. Looking at our feet won't give you clues either since some people wear slippers, others have house shoes, and some may be wearing sheepskin boots. The difference is that that footwear never, ever goes outside and outside footwear is never worn inside.

If people are coming to my home for the first time and the weather is cold I'll tell them they can bring their slippers. But, nobody, ever, wears outdoor footwear inside my house.

I always remove mine before entering someone else's house. Sometimes they say not to bother but often, especially if its a first visit, I get a "thank you". Kiwis tend to be gracious hosts in their own homes and you won't necessarily know if you have offended them. Unless someone is comfortable asking for shoes to be removed they will just note it and say nothing to spare you discomfort. That doesn't mean they are not offended though.

This is why I say to take them off and that if the hosts don't mind you keeping them on, they will say so.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#841592 22-Jun-2013 17:14

Klipspringer: Oh yes ...
My favorite

May have been mentioned already. Have not read the whole thread.

In NZ we cook tea. If somebody asks you over for tea it normally means come for dinner/supper. Nothing to do with Tea.

That seems a very English thing to me. I've never been invited to tea, except in England or when someone was offering a drink of a cup of tea. I wonder if this has more to do with region than with NZ as a whole?

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#841594 22-Jun-2013 17:17

jarledb:
SaltyNZ: Ah, right. Apparently koala is similar.

How is that compared to kangaroo?

Kangaroo tastes great but has a horrible smell when it's cooking. It is very lean - almost no fat- but smells very strong and almost oily as it cooks. Some supermarkets in NZ stock kangaroo meat and the mince can be used in any recipe that you would usually use minced meat for. It makes great tacos.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

SaltyNZ

8232 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#841677 22-Jun-2013 19:37

Elpie:
jarledb:
SaltyNZ: Ah, right. Apparently koala is similar.

How is that compared to kangaroo?

Kangaroo tastes great but has a horrible smell when it's cooking. It is very lean - almost no fat- but smells very strong and almost oily as it cooks. Some supermarkets in NZ stock kangaroo meat and the mince can be used in any recipe that you would usually use minced meat for. It makes great tacos.

Good pizza too.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

jarledb

Webhead
3257 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#841753 22-Jun-2013 21:57

If people are coming to my home for the first time and the weather is cold I'll tell them they can bring their slippers. But, nobody, ever, wears outdoor footwear inside my house.

Should make sure to get myself slippers for when I am out visiting then perhaps?

Not part of the culture here to walk around with shoes on when you are inside someones home. Did not have to say anything to any of the more than 12 people that was here looking at the apartment when we had a viewing.

Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#842085 23-Jun-2013 21:13

SaltyNZ:
kiwitrc:
SaltyNZ:
jarledb:
SaltyNZ: Horses are pets, please don't eat your friend's horse. It is ok to suggest they get a donkey go with it as they make the sausages taste better, as long you are good at acting surprised when they tell you the horse is a pet.

If you go to your friends place and they say 'bring a plate,' they mean for you to bring it with food on it. Try not to put horse on it though.

I can bring som whale meat maybe?

Good question... what does it actually taste like?

Salty, it tastes a lot like Kiwi or Takahe, but without feathers obviously.

Ah, right. Apparently koala is similar.

Soo.... in summary, it tastes like chicken

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#842118 23-Jun-2013 22:36

jarledb:

Should make sure to get myself slippers for when I am out visiting then perhaps?

Not just slippers.
Make sure you get a good pair of pajamas. And gown.
Its not uncommon to see people in their slippers and pajamas at the shops at night. Particularly Pack n Save.

Most kiwis don't see a problem with it. Personally I have never gotten use to it.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#842121 23-Jun-2013 22:59

Elpie:

If people are coming to my home for the first time and the weather is cold I'll tell them they can bring their slippers. But, nobody, ever, wears outdoor footwear inside my house.

I always remove mine before entering someone else's house. Sometimes they say not to bother but often, especially if its a first visit, I get a "thank you". Kiwis tend to be gracious hosts in their own homes and you won't necessarily know if you have offended them. Unless someone is comfortable asking for shoes to be removed they will just note it and say nothing to spare you discomfort. That doesn't mean they are not offended though.

This is why I say to take them off and that if the hosts don't mind you keeping them on, they will say so.

WOW. I find the removal of shoes a pain and honestly I tend to forget most times to ask if I should remove them or not, Why worry about offending somebody here? If somebody wants me to remove my shoes I will, they just need to ask and I will happily comply. If they not comfortable enough to ask, then I probably wont remove them. But I will never ask them if I should remove my own shoes, and worse worry about if I have offended them? Its not my house, and I would expect the person whom I'm visiting to ask me to remove them like some do.

If somebody asked me to bring my slippers I would not have taken that as a hint as to not wear shoes in your house. I would not have shown up in my slippers because I would never leave the house in them. I probably would have not taken my shoes off in your house either because I would not have caught the hint. Sorry, so you would probably have been offended. I think your posts very interestingly highlights the difference between some cultures. But at least its going to make me think twice next time.

Elpie:
Klipspringer: Oh yes ...
My favorite

May have been mentioned already. Have not read the whole thread.

In NZ we cook tea. If somebody asks you over for tea it normally means come for dinner/supper. Nothing to do with Tea.

That seems a very English thing to me. I've never been invited to tea, except in England or when someone was offering a drink of a cup of tea. I wonder if this has more to do with region than with NZ as a whole?

I think you you may be right about the English and regional thing. We in Wellington, and have heard this mentioned to us numerous times.

Here is an interesting article from the NZ Herald, What's for tea? Or should that be dinner?

michaelmurfy

meow
13257 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#842122 23-Jun-2013 23:08

Hotdog (quoted at a fish + chip shop or food stall in NZ) = Battered Sausage on Stick
Hotdog (quoted at a fish + chip shop or food stall in Auzzie) = Processed Mystery Meat Log in Bun

Also don't complain it's cold, ever.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Journeyman

1187 posts

Uber Geek

#842141 24-Jun-2013 01:31

michaelmurfy: Also don't complain it's cold, ever.

Dude is from Norway so... probably not gonna complain about it being cold.

jarledb

Webhead
3257 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#842143 24-Jun-2013 04:53

Journeyman:
michaelmurfy: Also don't complain it's cold, ever.

Dude is from Norway so... probably not gonna complain about it being cold.

Someone else commented earlier about Canadians thinking its cold in NZ. The problem in NZ seems to be that you guys seem to think you are on a tropical island when you build your houses, truth is its pretty cold in the winters and some places also pretty windy. Add no or bad isolation and is going to be a cold house.

Here in Norway it can be -25 degrees outside, we are still going to have a house that is heated to +22 degrees or more. We insulate, and we have good ways of dealing with the cold.

Same thing when we go out, we wear multiple layers of cloths that are made for the weather, so you survive pretty good. We have a saying: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing ;)

I have been on a snowmobile in the north of Finland at -40 degrees and not been freezing my nuts off, its about clothing I can tell you from experience :)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11