Culture
Contemporary New Zealand has a diverse culture with influences from Anglo-Celtic, American, Australian and Mâori cultures, along with those of other European cultures and – more recently – non-Mâori Polynesian and Asian cultures. Large festivals in celebration of Diwali and Chinese New Year are held in Auckland and Wellington, as is the world's largest Polynesian festival, Pasifika. Cultural links between New Zealand and the United Kingdom are maintained by a common language, sustained migration from the United Kingdom and the fact that many young New Zealanders spend time in the United Kingdom on their "overseas experience" (OE). The music of New Zealand and cuisine of New Zealand are similar to that of Britain and the United States, although both have some distinct New Zealand and Pacific qualities.
Mâori culture has undergone considerable change since the arrival of Europeans; in particular the introduction of Christianity in the early 19th century brought about fundamental change in everyday life. Nonetheless the perception that most Mâori now live similar lifestyles to their Pâkehâ neighbours is a superficial one. In fact, Mâori culture has significant differences, for instance the important role which the marae continues to play in communal and family life. As in traditional times, karakia are habitually performed by Mâori today to ensure the favorable outcome of important undertakings, but today the prayers used are generally Christian. Mâori still regard their allegiance to tribal groups as a vital part of personal identity, and Mâori kinship roles resemble those of other Polynesian peoples. As part of the resurgence of Mâori culture that came to the fore in the late 20th century, the tradition-based arts of kapa haka (song and dance), carving and weaving are widely practiced, and the architecture of the marae maintains strong links to traditional forms. Mâori also value their connections to Polynesia, as attested by the increasing popularity of waka ama (outrigger canoe racing), which is now an international sport involving teams from all over the Pacific.
Use of the Mâori language (Te Reo Mâori) as a living, community language remained only in a few remote areas in the post-war years, but is currently undergoing a renaissance, thanks in part to Mâori language immersion schools and a Mâori Television channel. This is the only nationwide television channel to have the majority of its prime-time content delivered in Mâori, primarily because only 4% of the population speak Te Reo Maori.
Although films have been made in New Zealand since the 1920s, it was only from the 1970s that New Zealand films began to be produced in significant numbers. Films such as Sleeping Dogs and Goodbye Pork Pie achieved local success and launched the careers of actors and directors including Sam Neill, Geoff Murphy and Roger Donaldson. In the early 1990s, New Zealand films such as Jane Campion's Academy Award-winning film The Piano, Lee Tamahori's Once Were Warriors and Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures began to garner international acclaim. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jackson filmed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in New Zealand, using a mostly New Zealand crew and many New Zealand actors in minor parts. Many non-New Zealand productions, primarily from Hollywood but also from Bollywood, have been made in New Zealand. Film industry insiders are divided on whether this benefits or harms the New Zealand film industry; however some New Zealand actors, such as Lucy Lawless (Xena) have clearly benefited from these overseas productions.
The New Zealand media industry is dominated by a small number of companies, most of which are foreign-owned. The Broadcasting Standards Authority and the New Zealand Press Council can investigate allegations of bias and inaccuracy in the broadcast and print media. This combined with New Zealand's harsh libel laws means that the New Zealand news media is fairly tame by international standards, but also reasonably fair and impartial. New Zealand television is dominated by American and British programming, with a small number of New Zealand shows.
Business Customs
New Zealand business customs are similar to those practiced in the United States. It is common and courteous practice to make and keep appointments in a timely manner. Senior level officials are as accessible for relevant business consultations as their peers in the United States.
Travel Advisory
Normal commercial travel agency assistance is appropriate for travel and hotel arrangements while traveling in New Zealand. New Zealand maintains stringent biosecurity standards to protect its agricultural industries. Arriving international travelers should be careful to make an accurate declaration of any food or plant items in their baggage. Quarantine officials can impose immediate fines for infractions, starting at NZD 200. For more information consult the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) www.maf.govt.nz. For longer stays, the New Zealand Embassy or Consulate should be contacted for information pertaining to workers’ and permanent residency permits. For more information consult NZ Immigration www.immigration.govt.nz.
Visa Requirements
The United States and New Zealand enjoy a visa waiver pilot program allowing travel without a visa for stays up to 90 days. For this program, possession of a return or onward ticket is required. U.S. citizens should carry a valid passport with an expiration date at least three months beyond the date of departure. The program allows the traveler to work but not receive employment payments during the stay. U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should allow sufficient time for visa issuance if required.
Telecommunications
New Zealand has modern telecommunications infrastructure. Mobile phones operate on GSM and CDMA systems. Internet access, either broadband or dial-up, is available in most city hotels, as well as through wireless hotspots and Internet cafes. New Zealand's telephone line density ratio is slightly over 477 lines per 1,000 persons, which is comparable to U.S. and European ratios. The switchgear and line qualities are more than satisfactory for facsimile transmission. The country supports many long distance billing services (Telecom, MCI, AT&T, Sprint, and more). There are two cellular networks, Vodafone and Telecom. Both networks offer rental services for visitors.
Transportation
New Zealand is well equipped with both public and private transportation options that can be booked through the Internet or travel agents. Automobiles are right hand drive and traffic travels on the left side of the road, as in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Health
The standard of public health is very high. The New Zealand health system consists of public, private and voluntary sectors that interact to provide and fund health care. The public sector provides free treatment at hospitals for emergency and major problems, including maternity and geriatric care and free dental treatment for those less than 18 years of age. American travelers to New Zealand are encouraged to obtain supplemental health insurance prior to entering the country to provide coverage against unforeseen health problems or accidents.
Climate
Weather is changeable, but because New Zealand is surrounded by ocean, the climate is temperate. The Southern Hemisphere’s seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere with summer weather during the five-month November to March period. Temperature extremes are generally confined to the mountainous areas in the North and South Islands. http://home.nzcity.co.nz/weather/
Local Time, Business Hours & Holidays
New Zealand business operates on a five-day (Monday through Friday) workweek. Retail outlets are open until 6pm with extended hours common on Thursday. There are many supermarkets and gas stations open 24 hours a day.
