Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit New Zealand. While there, I experienced multiple cities and discovered a common denominator among all in the service industry…a desire to please. This heartfelt service was evident everywhere, from the World War I Museum coffee shop to the five-star restaurant where we dined. Truly, friendliness and humility prevail in New Zealand! In today’s blog post, I will share my observations about etiquette from my travel experiences. I will also discuss how you can enroll in one of my business etiquette classes for adults or children.
Etiquette Tips from New Zealand
If you visit New Zealand this summer, keep these travel etiquette tips in mind.
- Greet people, smile and say “Kia Ora”.
- Never litter, but pick up behind yourself and throw trash away.
- No smoking.
- Do not rush while eating or sightseeing as a tourist. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery and kind people!
- Punctuality is a must. If you arrive five minutes late, this is considered disrespectful.
- Never disrespect nature. New Zealand is famous for its amazing landscapes (after all, The Lord of the Rings was filmed here) and locals want their homeland to stay beautiful for future generations.
- New Zealanders appreciate visual or verbal cues as to where to sit.
- Many meals in New Zealand are served “family-style”, where everyone helps themselves from communal dishes on the table.
- The Māori people expect to be greeted by surnames.
- When visiting someone’s home, bring a book, flowers or chocolate as a hostess gift.
- Always wait to be told where to sit.
- Table manners are Continental Style. Want to learn what this means? Enroll in one of my etiquette classes for adults, where you can learn proper dining etiquette and table manners for fine dining, afternoon tea or international dining.
- In the Māori culture, it would be polite to sing a song from your home country while visiting.
Business Etiquette in New Zealand
Here in Dallas, business professionals must learn how to interact with people from all cultures. One way to do this is to travel and observe those around you. Another way is to enroll in etiquette classes for adults with a focus on international etiquette. Here are some business etiquette tips I observed in New Zealand…
New Zealanders:
- Are very reserved when meeting for the first time.
- Respect people who are honest and direct.
- Expect you to dress your best in the business world (even though they have laid-back personalities).
- Value the importance of trust in doing business.
- Want all appointments to be made one week in advance.
- Interested in facts and not emotions.
- See eye contact as essential.
- Have a personal space perimeter of 2-3 feet. In the United States, this is 18 inches.
- Always express gratitude.
- Expect all presentations to be brief and straight to the point.
- Expect that managers treat all with equal respect.
- Promote chances in business.
From Queenstown to Hobbiton and Milford Sound, New Zealand is filled with lovely people who value trust, punctuality and a respect for nature. It truly was a pleasure to visit there!
Enhance your Professional Skills with Business Etiquette Classes for Adults
If you’re searching for “adult etiquette classes near me”, you’ve come to the right place. Lisa Burdette is a Dallas expert in dining etiquette and social graces. She offers private etiquette classes for adults as well as group training for business teams. Some of her clients include the Toyota Corporation, The University of Texas at Dallas, TEXO (The Construction Association) and others.
In addition to business fine dining etiquette, Lisa can also address international etiquette training, travel etiquette and how to interpret body language in social settings. She will help you learn how to dress appropriately, as your attire is an important way to show respect for the workplace and company culture you are a part of.
Ready to elevate your business social skills? Reach out via our Contact page or Book Online and request your session with Lisa today!
