Australia and New Zealand share three main commonalities. Firstly, the urban societies of both countries were created by the British in the last three centuries and built on the invasion of a population that didn't live in cities. Secondly, around 20 per cent of the population of both countries are migrants. Thirdly, both countries are in the same part of the world.

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Title
The Culture, Etiquette and Customs of Australia and New Zealand
Introduction
Australia–New Zealand relations, also referred to as Trans-Tasman relations due to the
countries being on opposite sides of the Tasman Sea, are extremely close with both
sharing British colonial heritage and being part of the Anglosphere. New Zealand sent
representatives to the constitutional conventions which led to the uniting of the six
Australian colonies but opted not to join; still, in the Boer War and in World War I and
World War II, soldiers from New Zealand fought alongside Australians. In recent years
the Closer Economic Relations free trade agreement and its predecessors have
inspired ever converging economic integration. The culture of Australia does differ from
the culture of New Zealand and there are sometimes differences of opinion which some
have declared as symptomatic of sibling rivalry. This often centres upon sports such as
rugby union or cricket or in commercial tensions such as those arising from the failure of
Ansett Australia or those engendered by the formerly long-standing Australian ban on
New Zealand apple imports.
Both countries are Commonwealth realms sharing the Head of the Commonwealth as
Head of State in universal suffrage supported systems of Westminster representative
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy. Their only land border
defines the western extent of the Ross Dependency and eastern extent of the Australian
Antarctic Territory. They acknowledge two distinct maritime boundaries conclusively
delimited by the Australia – New Zealand Maritime Treaty of 2004.
Australia is an Oceania country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the
island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country
by total area. Neighbouring countries include Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East
Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New
Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century,
Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages grouped into
roughly 250 language groups. After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch
explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and
initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26
January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was
explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies were established. On 1
January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia.

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Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system
that functions as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
comprising six states and several territories. The population of 23.6 million is highly
urbanised and heavily concentrated in the eastern states and on the coast. Australia is
a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world's 12th-largest
economy. In 2014 Australia had the world's fifth-highest per capita income. Australia's
military expenditure is the world's 13th-largest. With the second-highest human
development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of
national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and
the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United
Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation, and the Pacific Islands Forum.
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country
geographically comprises two main landmasses – that of the North Island, or Te Ika-a-
Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu – and numerous smaller islands. New
Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman
Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New
Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be
settled by humans. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive
biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country's varied topography and its
sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of
land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most
populous city is Auckland.
Polynesians settled New Zealand in 1250–1300 CE and developed a distinctive Māori
culture. Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to sight New Zealand in
1642. In 1840, representatives of the British Crown and Māori Chiefs signed the Treaty
of Waitangi, making New Zealand a British colony. Today, the majority of New
Zealand's population of 4.5 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the
largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New
Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent
broadening arising from increased immigration. The official languages are English,
Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, with English predominant.
New Zealand is a developed country with a market economy that is dominated by the
exports of dairy products, meat and wine, along with tourism. New Zealand is a high-
income economy and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance,

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such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life. Nationally, legislative
authority is vested in an elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive political power
is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, who is currently John Key.
Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-
General. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67
territorial authorities for local government purposes.
The Purpose of our study is to determine the possible differences and analyse the
profile of the country regarding its Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
(SWOT). This is useful for anyone researching Australian culture, customs, manners,
etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better.
The Objective of our study is to create a definite information about the country’s profile
and make a final overview of the topic.
The study is important because it minimizes the risk of negative social and cultural
impact, and sustains the need of students in their learning. Also, makes positive
contributions to the conservation of cultural heritage to the maintenance of the world‘s
diversity and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
provides access for physically challenged people, and is culturally sensitive, engenders
respect to every people, and builds local pride and confidence.
Executive Summary
English is the primary language used in Australia. Yet their colourful vocabulary, accent,
phonetics system and slang ('Strine') can take a lot of getting used to. In 1788, there
were about 250 separate Aboriginal languages spoken in Australia, plus dialects.
Today, only two thirds of these languages survive and only 20 of them (eight per cent of
the original 250) are still strong enough to have chance of surviving well into the next
century. In addition to these there are also the languages of immigrants from Europe,
the Middle East and Asia.
Since 1788, the basis of Australian culture has been strongly influenced by Anglo-Celtic
Western culture Distinctive cultural features have also arisen from Australia's natural
environment and Indigenous cultures. Since the mid-20th century, American popular
culture has strongly influenced Australia, particularly through television and cinema.
Other cultural influences come from neighbouring Asian countries, and through large-
scale immigration from non-English-speaking nations.
Australia is a wealthy country; it generates its income from various sources including
mining-related exports, telecommunications, banking and manufacturing. It has a

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market economy, a relatively high GDP per capita, and a relatively low rate of poverty.
In terms of average wealth, Australia ranked second in the world after Switzerland in
2013, although the nation's poverty rate increased from 10.2% to 11.8%, from 2000/01
to 2013. It was identified by the Credit Suisse Research Institute as the nation with the
highest median wealth in the world and the second-highest average wealth per adult in
2013.
The Australian dollar is the currency for the nation, including Christmas Island, Cocos
(Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of
Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu. With the 2006 merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and
the Sydney Futures Exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange became the ninth
largest in the world.
Ranked third in the Index of Economic Freedom (2010), Australia is the world's twelfth
largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP (nominal) at $66,984. The
country was ranked second in the United Nations 2011 Human Development Index and
first in Legatum's 2008 Prosperity Index. All of Australia's major cities fare well in global
comparative livability surveys; Melbourne reached top spot for the fourth year in a row
on The Economist's 2014 list of the world's most liveable cities, followed by Adelaide,
Sydney, and Perth in the fifth, seventh, and ninth places respectively. Total government
debt in Australia is about $190 billion – 20% of GDP in 2010. Australia has among the
highest house prices and some of the highest household-debt levels in the world.
In New Zealand the three official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori and NZ
Sign Language. English is the language of day-to-day business within New Zealand, a
remnant of ties to the British Commonwealth. Maori is a Polynesian language similar to
the languages of other Pacific Island cultures, such as Hawaiian, Tongan, and Samoan.
Over 157,000 people in New Zealand speak Maori (2006 Census).
The Maori language has been part of New Zealand and its culture since the first people
came to the Islands. However, Maori has only been recognised as an official language
of New Zealand since the Maori Language Act of 1987. English-Maori bilingualism and
the development and use of the Maori language is encouraged by Te Taura Whiri i te
Reo Maori-the Maori Language Commission.
Maori and English are used throughout the country in various television and radio
programs. As with other regions in the world where two cultures have been mixed,
English has influenced Maori and Maori has influenced English. A number of words in
each language have crossed in to the vocabulary of the other. English has introduced
motuka (car) and Maori has replied with taboo (tapu).

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Many places in New Zealand have been christened with two names - one English, one
Maori (the original Maori name and the adopted English one). And, in some cases,
these names are used interchangeably
There can be marked differences between Maori and NZ European (Pakeha) societies
and culture. This is particularly apparent when moving in tribal (Iwi) circles. Due to
colonisation and tribal differences, there can also be subtle but important variations in
protocols. The following sections outline aspects most likely to occur when doing
business with tribal groups but can also equally apply to any group that includes Maori.
Early Māori adapted the tropically based east Polynesian culture in line with the
challenges associated with a larger and more diverse environment, eventually
developing their own distinctive culture. Social organisation was largely communal with
families (whanau), sub-tribes (hapu) and tribes (iwi) ruled by a chief (rangatira) whose
position was subject to the community's approval. The British and Irish immigrants
brought aspects of their own culture to New Zealand and also influenced Māori culture,
particularly with the introduction of Christianity. However, Māori still regard their
allegiance to tribal groups as a vital part of their identity, and Māori kinship roles
resemble those of other Polynesian peoples. More recently American, Australian, Asian
and other European cultures have exerted influence on New Zealand. Non-Māori
Polynesian cultures are also apparent, with Pasifika, the world's largest Polynesian
festival, now an annual event in Auckland.
New Zealand has a modern, prosperous and developed market economy with an
estimated gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita of
roughly NZ$47,784. The currency is the New Zealand dollar, informally known as the
"Kiwi dollar"; it also circulates in the Cook Islands (see Cook Islands dollar), Niue,
Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. New Zealand was ranked sixth in the 2013 Human
Development Index, fourth in The Heritage Foundation's 2012 Index of Economic
Freedom, and 13th in INSEAD's 2012 Global Innovation Index.

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SWOT analysis (Australia)
Strengths
1. Australians are very down to earth and always mindful of not giving the
impression that they think they are better than anyone else.
2. They value authenticity, sincerity, and loathe pretentiousness.
3. Australians place a high value on relationships.
4. With a relatively small population, it is important to get along with everyone, since
you never know when your paths may cross again.
5. The initial population of Australia was made up of Aborigines and people of
British and Irish descent.
6. After World War II there was heavy migration from Europe, especially from
Greece, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, and Turkey.
7. In the last thirty years, Australia has liberalised its immigration policy and opened
its borders to South East Asia.
8. This has caused a real shift in self-perception as Aussies begin to re-define
themselves as a multi-cultural and multi-faith society rather then the old
homogenous, white, Anglo- Saxon, Protestant nation.
9. Small gifts are commonly exchanged with family members, close friends, and
neighbours on birthdays and Christmas.
10.Trades people such as sanitation workers may be given a small amount of cash,
or more likely, a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer.
11.Arrive on time if invited to dinner; no more than 15 minutes late if invited to a
barbeque or a large party.
12.Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is
served.
13.Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in
the right while eating.
14.Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating.
15.Australians are very direct in the way they communicate.
16.Punctuality is important in business situations. It is better to arrive a few minutes
early than to keep someone waiting.
17.Meetings are generally relaxed; however, they are serious events.
18.If an Australian takes exception to something that you say, they will tell you so.
19.If you make a presentation, avoid hype, making exaggerated claims, or bells and
whistles.
20.Australians get down to business quickly with a minimum amount of small talk.
21.They do not like high-pressure techniques.

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22.Decision-making is concentrated at the top of the company, although decisions
are made after consultation with subordinates, which can make decision making
slow and protracted.
23.Business dress is conservative in Melbourne and Sydney.
24.Men should wear a dark coloured, conservative business suit. Women should
wear a smart dress or a business suit.
25.In Brisbane or other tropical areas, depending on the job function and company
culture, men may wear shirts, ties and Bermuda shorts.
Weakness
1. They do not draw attention to their academic or other achievements and tend to
distrust people who do.
2. They often downplay their own success, which may make them appear not to be
achievement-oriented.
3. Australians are not very formal so greetings are casual and relaxed. A
handshake and smile suffices.
4. While an Australian may say, 'G'day' or 'G'day, mate', this may sound patronizing
from a foreigner.
5. Aussies prefer to use first names, even at the initial meeting
6. If invited to someone's home for dinner, it is polite to bring a box of chocolates or
flowers to the hostess. A good quality bottle of wine is always appreciated.
7. Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your
plate with the handles facing to the right.
8. Aussies often use colourful language that would be unthinkable in other
countries.
9. There is often an element of humour, often self-deprecating, in their speech.
10.Present your business case with facts and figures. Emotions and feelings are not
important in the Australian business climate.
11.They are quite direct and expect the same in return. They appreciate brevity and
are not impressed by too much detail.
12.If you are not given a business card, it is not an insult; the person simply may not
have one.
13.Business cards are exchanged at the initial introduction without formal ritual.
Opportunities
1. Australians prefer people who are modest, humble, self- deprecating and with a
sense of humour.

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2. This leads to a win-win negotiating style, since having everyone come away with
positive feelings helps facilitate future business dealings.
3. This was in response to the Australian policy of proactively trying to attract
immigrants to boost the population and work force.
4. Negotiations proceed quickly. Bargaining is not customary. They will expect your
initial proposal to have only a small margin for negotiation.
Threats
1. The hot weather and drought is the main problem when going to Australia.
2. Dangerous animals, bugs and other creatures are typically found in Australia.
3. Excessive urban development.
4. Australia is one of those countries that commit taboos and deviance which are
culturally shocking.
5. Successive death reports from jellyfish sting and snakes.
6. Shark attacks
SWOT analysis (New Zealand)
Strengths
1. New Zealanders are friendly, outgoing, somewhat reserved initially yet polite, and
enjoy extending hospitality.
2. They are quite easy to get to know as they say hello to strangers and will offer
assistance without being asked.
3. Kiwis dress casually, but neatly.
4. Maori are generally friendly and reserved and place great value on hospitality. .
They will generally offer (often to the point of going without) assistance to their
guests and will attempt to hide the inconvenience as much as possible.
5. Even though they may not have met each other, they will know many songs they
can sing together and often use these to close or enhance speeches.
6. Wealth and social status are not important to Kiwis.
7. They take pride in individual achievements and believe that opportunities are
available to all.
8. As a 'welfare state' unemployment benefits, housing and access to health is all
available free of charge to those who can't afford it.
9. Greetings are casual, often consisting simply of a handshake and a smile.
10.It pays to be vigilant and to follow the lead of others, or to discreetly ask
questions if unsure.

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11.If invited to a Kiwi's house, bring a small gift such as flowers, chocolates, or a
book about your home country to the hosts.
12.The more formal the occasion, the more strict the protocol.
13.Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in
the right while eating. They will not look askance, however, if you adopt American
table manners.
14.Following a Powhiri, the visitors will be asked to the dining room (a separate
building to the carved meeting house) to sit to eat at long tressle tables. . They
should not eat until the food has been ‘blessed’ or an acknowledgement said by
an elder of the home people even if the food is getting cold.
15.Often, younger people will be serving and older people will be working in the
kitchen.
16.It is important to realise that in most cases they are working voluntarily and it is
appropriate to formally and publicly thank them near the close of the meal before
leaving the dining room to begin the meeting
17.Once they develop a personal relationship, they are friendly, outgoing and social.
18.They respect people who are honest, direct, and demonstrate a sense of
humour.
19.Appointments are usually necessary and should be made at least one week in
advance by telephone, fax or email.
20.Arrive at meetings on time or even a few minutes early.
21.Maintain eye contact and a few feet of personal space.
22.Agreements and proposals must state all points clearly. All terms and conditions
should be explained in detail.
23.Kiwis appreciate honesty and directness in business dealings.
Weaknesses
1. Because they do not stand on ceremony and are egalitarian, they move to a first
name basis quickly and shun the use of titles.
2. Most restaurants do not have dress codes and except in business, dress is
decidedly casual.
3. The country has no formal class structure.
4. Never underestimate the value of the smile as it indicates pleasure at meeting
the other person.
5. Although New Zealanders move to first names quickly, it is best to address them
by their honorific title and surname until they suggest moving to a more familiar
level or they call you by your first name.
6. Gifts should not be lavish.

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7. Gifts are opened when received.
8. New Zealanders are casual as is reflected in their table manners.
9. Wait to be told where to sit.
10.Meals are often served family-style.
11.Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating.
12.Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your
plate with the handles facing to the right.
13.New Zealanders can be somewhat reserved, especially with people they do not
know.
14.They trust people until they are given a reason not to.
15.They are quite direct and expect the same in return. They appreciate brevity and
are not impressed by more detail than is required.
Opportunities
1. They will often call for visitors to do the same and it would be wise to have 2-3
practised songs from your own country to reply with.
2. Visitors should try to enable the home people to sit amongst them to chat and
get to know them while eating.
3. As a result of this, the visitors may be light-heartedly asked to sing. . To sing a
song from your home country would show respect and thanks.
4. It is generally easy to schedule meetings with senior level managers if you are
coming from another country if the meeting is planned well in advance.
5. Present your business case with facts and figures. Emotions and feelings are not
important in the New Zealand business climate.
6. Demonstrate the benefits of your services or products rather than talking about
them.
7. Start your negotiations with a realistic figure. Since this is not a bargaining
culture, New Zealanders do not expect to haggle over price.
Threats
1. If possible, the speaker should prepare a learned opening in Maori – it is critical
that he/she focus on the pronunciation. Mispronounced words often result in
whispers and sniggers and are considered disrespectful. It is better to have a
very short opening said well, than a long one said badly.
2. The speaker’s reply should never be about the detailed purpose of the visit nor
should it be to self-promote as this would be considered arrogant.

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3. The Powhiri can be daunting to visitors and can be fraught with traps that may
offend. This is why most visitors seek the assistance of a Maori person to ‘guide’
them.
4. Do not appear too forward or overly friendly.
5. If distrust happens in business the breach will be difficult to repair and business
dealings may cease or become more difficult.
6. It can be difficult to schedule meetings in December and January since these are
the prime months for summer vacation.
7. If you do not arrive on time, your behaviour may be interpreted as indicating that
you are unreliable or that you think your time is more important than the person
with whom you are meeting.
8. If you make a presentation, avoid hype, exaggerated claims, hyperbole, and bells
and whistles. New Zealanders are interested in what people 'can do' not what
they say they can do.
9. Do not make promises you cannot keep or offer unrealistic proposals. Kiwis do
not generally trust people who have to oversell

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Conclusion
Australia and New Zealand share three main commonalities. Firstly, the urban societies
of both countries were created by the British in the last three centuries and built on the
invasion of a population that didn't live in cities. Secondly, around 20 per cent of the
population of both countries are migrants. Thirdly, both countries are in the same part of
the world.
Although both countries share some commonalities, they have been subjected to
differing historical and environmental influences that have resulted in significant cultural
differences. Specifically, Australia was founded to be a penal colony while New Zealand
was founded to be a religious colony. Furthermore, Australia is a harsh land of
droughts, snakes and desert while New Zealand is a heavenly land of lakes, glaciers
and fertile soil.
Although there are differences between the two countries, there are lots of similarities,
too. Business is quite informal and friendly, and people make an effort to get along. But
if you thought Antipodeans were crude, beer-drinking chauvinists—you may be in for a
surprise. Today’s Australia and New Zealand are sophisticated, hi-tech economies, and
per head, New Zealanders are some of the highest mobile phone and internet users in
the world. Australia is now one of the world’s most multicultural societies, with around
220 nationalities, and there’s a growing Asian influence to be aware of. In New Zealand,
the indigenous Maori population is asserting itself, both economically and culturally. The
Maori language has official status, alongside English.
Both nations display a real sense of openness when communicating, although the Kiwis
may be slightly more reserved at first. Open, direct and frank communication styles are
the norm. This tendency to ‘call a spade a spade’ can cause offence but it should be
kept in mind that this is 1) merely an extension of their desire not to treat people
differently, 2) a reflection of their relaxed attitude and 3) their demand for honesty in
communication and dealings with people.
Derogatory jokes when the victim of the joke is present are common and should not be
taken seriously. Such jokes expect replies in kind and the British have plenty of
ammunition. Convicts, Rolf Harris, and voting to retain an English Queen give the
“Poms” good material to work with.
An over-arching cultural concept that is rooted within both cultures is egalitarianism. To
be a “tall poppy” (stand above and look down on others) as the Australians say is

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neither commendable nor desirable. As a result both peoples are relaxed when it comes
to etiquette, airs and graces. The “rules” do not relate to how a fork should be held or
how to greet someone but rather how you look upon and treat others. Self-praise,
showing off or belittling others are an instant turn-off. These egalitarian leanings were
famously displayed by cricketer Dennis Lillee when he greeted Queen Elizabeth with
"G'day, how ya goin'?" Interestingly this also manifests when taking a taxi, in that sitting
in the back would be interpreted as a statement of superiority over the driver.
Relationship building is important and this mainly takes places outside of business
either for a drink or to attend a party/gathering of some sort. If invited for a drink you
must adhere to the unspoken agreement that is the “shout” (the round). Not buying your
round would be the height of bad manners. Unlike in many other parts of the word,
when invited for dinner it is not the host or the wealthiest member who pays for the
entire meal. The bill will mostly be split amongst all the diners.
Meetings are generally relaxed; however, this does not mean one should not approach
them with the usual levels of professionalism. Greetings are casual and relaxed. A
handshake and smile suffices. First names are used from the off, and strong eye
contact is a sign of trust and confidence. Good conversation topics include sport, free-
time activities and your experiences of the country. If you make a presentation, avoid
hype, making exaggerated claims, or ‘bells and whistles’. Australians and Kiwis are
interested in what people ‘can do’, not what they say they can do. Honesty and integrity
are crucial. Present your business case with facts and figures. Emotions and feelings
are not important. Many Australians and Kiwis get down to business quickly with a
minimum amount of small talk. They are quite direct and expect the same in return.
They appreciate brevity and are not impressed by too much detail. Negotiations
proceed quickly. Bargaining is not customary. They will expect your initial proposal to
have only a small margin for negotiation. They do not like high-pressure techniques.
Remember that December-January is summer time so many people will be on holidays.