The New Zealand Workplace
Experience shows the single most important thing that leads to new migrants settling well and staying in New Zealand is having work they enjoy.
However what makes work enjoyable is not just the work you do - it’s also about how people get on together.
When you get a job, one of the things you’ll immediately notice is New Zealanders’ informal approach to work. We very rarely refer to people by their title, we dress more casually than you’re probably used to, and we regularly mix socially with our work colleagues.
New Zealanders have a reputation for being friendly, however there may be differences in the ways some things are done that can be confusing.
For example, in New Zealand eye to eye contact is a mark of respect. Avoiding eye contact is a signal that the listener would prefer to be somewhere else. This is the exact opposite of some countries.
Understanding the basic building blocks of informal communication in New Zealand can greatly reduce workplace misunderstanding, and provide both new migrants and other employees with confidence that they are understood.
Newcomers guide
The Guide for Newcomers helps newcomers to understand the Kiwi workplace and gives some tips for fitting in.
View the booklet below [PDF 369KB], or save and print the individual cards.
