New Zealand Kiwi culture - expect strangers to speak to you,

we are not being weird 😄

When I go hiking probably around 60% of the people I pass on the track in the opposite direction will look me in the eyes, smile and say hi or they will respond to me doing it first. Welcome to New Zealand where it is common to speak to strangers.

We will speak to strangers in the queue at the supermarket, in the lift and on the street if we are in the mood to do so.

Paradoxically although we are friendly and outgoing on the surface, we are also quite private and reserved, and we can be really hard to get to know well. Immigrants can find it challenging to make true Kiwi friends and be invited back to their homes for a meal.

Although it is easy to start a conversation with us about the weather, sport or what we are doing on the weekend we do not like sharing a lot of personal information.

Topics to avoid include; how much people earn, what their age is, why they do not have any children or are not married, their weight, their looks etc. So don't be surprised if you get rebuffed or Kiwi's withdraw from you if you try to talk about these things, which are common topics in your country.

We expect you to accept us as we are, and we will do the same for you ☺