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How New Zealanders do business

If you’re a migrant entrepreneur starting out in the New Zealand market, recognising Kiwi values and learning the culture will help you start a successful business.

3 minute read

New Zealanders pride themselves on their openness to other cultures when doing business – both offshore and at home. But like all nations, New Zealand still has its own ‘way we do things around here’. So if you’re relatively new to New Zealand and thinking of starting a business, here are some insights on how Kiwi do business that may help.

Kiwi are a friendly and open-minded bunch

New Zealand has a relatively small population and its business environment is largely made up of companies with fewer than 20 employees. Hierarchies within companies – big and small – are often quite flat. These factors mean making connections that can help you start a business, can be achieved quite easily. When it comes to networking, New Zealanders like to help people in business and reach out to others if they need help, so people are generally open to meet with new connections or make introductions to others.

New Zealanders can be reserved

Kiwi generally don’t like hype, preferring people who ‘can do’ rather than those who ‘can say’. Actions speak louder than words in business circles. The reserved nature of many New Zealanders also means some find it difficult to say ‘no’ directly, so if you’re unsure of an answer, it pays to ask for clarification.

Authenticity and honesty are important

There’s no bargaining in Kiwi culture, so there is an expectation that any negotiations will begin at realistic levels. New Zealand also consistently ranks highly for its low levels of corruption – a reputation its business community highly regards. If you get caught on the wrong side of the law, not knowing the rules and regulations is not a good enough defence, so it pays to be familiar with the regulatory and legislative landscape. For people who find communicating in English a challenge, some services – such as BNZ’s Asian Business Banking team – offer assistance in other languages.

Recognising Māori culture and values

The Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document, was signed in 1840 by representatives of the indigenous Māori and the British Crown. As such, Māori culture and values are recognised in many contexts, including in some business situations. So when looking into how to start a business, it’s helpful to gain some understanding of how these can be recognised, respected and integrated into your vision.

Striking a work/life balance

New Zealanders love the great outdoors and value their leisure time. The Kiwi lifestyle, which puts a high emphasis on work/life balance, is one of the great attractions for many people who move here. It’s polite, therefore, to respect business hours and pre-arrange an appointment if you’d like to meet with someone. And if you do schedule a meeting, it’s expected you’ll turn up on time.

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This article is solely for information purposes and is not intended to be advice with respect to any matter discussed in it. If you need help, please contact BNZ or your professional adviser. Neither BNZ nor any person involved in the material accepts any liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance on, all or any part of the content.