Good for using in ESL classrooms to teach students about what is polite and impolite in New Zealand society. This presentation explains the meanings of some commonly used expressions like 'bring a plate'

1. What’s polite in New Zealand?

2. Mobiles and Music
• Turn your phone and other
electronics off at the dinner
table!
• Don’t listen to music or use
your phone when you’re
talking to other people

3. Visiting a person’s house…
• Take something with
you
– Chocolate
– Flowers
– Drink
• Ask if you can help
• Thank the person for
their hospitality

4. Feet
• Take your outside
shoes off at the door.
• Don’t put your feet
on tables where
people serve food

5. Food
• Wash your hands
before preparing food
• Don’t sit on tables
• Finish your mouthful
before talking
• Use the utensils
provided (knife, fork,
spoon) to serve and eat
food with

6. • Wait until everybody is sitting at the table and
has been served before you start eating
• Wait until everybody has finished before
leaving the table
• It is rude to criticize food – if you don’t like it
leave it at the side of your plate

7. Bring a plate…
If someone invites you
around and asks you to
bring a plate, it means
that they are asking you
bring a plate of food that’s
easy to share.
It could be biscuits or cake
or fruit.

8. Behaviour in Public
• Don’t spit, belch or
scratch if you are in
public
• Maintain good personal
hygiene.
• Casual clothing is okay
for most occasions
• Dress up for weddings,
funerals and formal
events.

9. Out and about
• Wait your turn if there’s
a queue
• Wait for people to get
off a lift before getting
on
• On the sidewalk, keep
left and walk at the
same pace as others

10. • Respond promptly to personal invitations,
especially if you are asked to ‘RSVP’, and be
punctual.
• If you are in a group at a pub where people
are taking turns to buy a round of drinks, do
not leave before offering to buy a round.
• Do not talk during speeches or performances,
including film screenings.

11. Manners
New Zealanders are
polite people
•Use ‘please’ when you
would like something
•Use ‘thank you’ when
you get given
something

12. Questions
• What is different about being polite in New
Zealand compared to China? Why?
• What is the same between New Zealand and
China? Why?
• Which rule would you find most difficult if you
went to New Zealand?

13. Nancy Swarbrick. 'Manners and social behavior -
A guide to modern New Zealand manners', Te
Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated
8-Jul-13
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/manners-
and-social-behaviour/page-7