Includes information on business customs, travel advisory, visa requirements,acceptable business etiquette, dress, business cards, gifts, etc.

Business Customs

New Zealand business customs are like those practiced in the United States:  corporate dress; business cards etc. It is a 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 are in the United States.  Gifts are not standard practice.

Travel Advisory

The State Department consular information sheet for New Zealand can be found at:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

Visa Requirements

Under the Visa Waiver Program, U.S. passport holders can visit New Zealand for 90 days or less without a visa.  U.S. citizens with Global Entry membership traveling to New Zealand may use a dedicated lane arriving at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch International Airports.  The lanes will streamline border processing for U.S. Global entry members.  To be eligible to use the lanes, U.S. Global Entry members simply present their Global Entry card, their U.S. passport and arrival documentation.  This initiative is the result of an agreement between New Zealand and the United States to improve the border experience for travelers flying between the two countries.  U.S. Global Entry members will still be subject to standard customs, immigration and biosecurity processes on arrival in New Zealand.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. 

In New Zealand, consular activities are undertaken at the American Consulate General, Auckland:  https://nz.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/auckland/

Currency

New Zealand's unit of currency is the dollar (NZ$).

All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand, with Visa and MasterCard accepted nationwide.  ATMs are widely available in New Zealand’s urban centers.

There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of New Zealand. However, every person who carries more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand is required to complete a Border Cash Report.  Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centers.

Telecommunications/Electronics

New Zealand has a modern telecommunications infrastructure.  Internet access is available in hotels and through wireless hotspots and Internet cafes.  Internet speeds can be slow compared to the United States.  (Some hotels charge a wi-fi access fee.)  The New Zealand Government is improving broadband services via two significant investments:  the Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative.  The Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative will bring fiber-optic technology to homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. The Rural Broadband Initiative will deliver broadband Internet to rural communities at a cost and service level comparable with urban areas.  

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, AT&T, Sprint, and more). 2Degrees, Vodafone and Spark are the three cellular networks.  Vodafone and Telecom offer rental services for visitors.  The three networks use the following technology:

2 Degrees:  GSM, UMTS and LTE
Vodafone:  UMTS, HSDPA and LTE
Spark (formerly Telecom):   GSM, UMTS, HSDPA and LTE

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 hertz), although most hotels and motels provide 110-volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option.

Transportation

Most travelers to New Zealand arrive by air.  Regular direct return flights to New Zealand are provided by American Airlines flies from LAX; United Airlines from San Francisco and Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu.  Air New Zealand, the national air carrier flies directly from Auckland-LAX; Auckland-San Francisco;  Auckland-Chicago; and Auckland-Houston. 

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.

Language

New Zealand is an English-speaking country.  Maori is the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand.  By law, Maori is an official language. New Zealand sign language is the third official language.

New Zealand’s literacy rate is 99 percent.

Health

The standard of public health is 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 medical problems, including maternity and geriatric care and free dental treatment for those less than 18 years of age.  U.S. 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.

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

New Zealand business operates on a five-day (Monday through Friday) work week. Retail outlets are open until 6 p.m. with extended hours Thursday/Friday and in December. Most supermarkets and gas stations open 24 hours a day.

2019 Holidays:
January 1              New Year’s Day
January 2              Day after New Year’s Day observation
January 21            Wellington Anniversary (Wellington only)
January 28            Auckland Anniversary (Auckland only)
February 6             Waitangi Day
April 19                  Good Friday
April 22                  Easter Monday
April 25                  ANZAC Day
June 3                   Queen’s Birthday
October 28             Labour Day
November 15         Canterbury Anniversary Day (Christchurch only)
December 25         Christmas Day
December 26         Boxing Day

Daylight Saving commences on the last Sunday in September, when 2:00 a.m. becomes 3:00 a.m.  It ends on the first Sunday in April, when 3:00 a.m. becomes 2:00 a.m.  New Zealand is 17 hours ahead of U.S. EST during Daylight Saving.

Ocean surrounds New Zealand, allowing for a temperate climate. The Southern Hemisphere’s seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere with summer weather during the five-month November to March period.  Temperature extremes are confined to mountainous areas in the North and South Islands. 

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

New Zealand admits samples of negligible value duty free.  Small shipments of trade catalogs and price lists printed outside New Zealand and advertising products produced abroad are admitted duty free if they bear the name and address of the foreign manufacturer and are not designed to advertise the sale of those products by any company, firm, or individual with a business established in New Zealand.

Goods exceeding US$500 (not including personal belongings) must be declared on entry as they may attract duty fees/GST. 

Travel Related Web Resources

2 Degrees:
Spark:
State Department Visa Website:
U.S. Embassy and Consulate, New Zealand: 
Vodafone New Zealand:

Prepared by the International Trade Administration. With its network of more than 100 offices across the United States and in more than 75 markets, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.