New zealand Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in new zealand, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Business Customs

New Zealand business customs are similar to those in the United States.  However, business attire is less formal. Punctuality is important for business appointments, and senior level officials are as accessible for relevant business consultations as their peers are in the United States.  Gifts are not standard practice.  Business cards are commonly shared, although digital business cards are gaining in popularity. 

Travel Advisory

The State Department consular information sheet for New Zealand provides U.S. travelers safety and security information to help assess any risks of travel to New Zealand. 

Visa requirements

Under the Visa Waiver Program, U.S. passport holders can visit New Zealand for 90 days or less without a visa. However, they must apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).  NZeTAs require 72 hours for processing.  Citizens with Global Entry membership traveling to New Zealand may use a dedicated lane when arriving to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch International Airports.  These 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. consular services are provided at the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland.
U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should visit State Department Visa Website for more information.

Currency 

New Zealand’s unit of currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).  All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand. MasterCard and Visa are accepted nationwide.  ATMs are widely available in New Zealand’s urban centers.  Electronic transactions dominate over cash.  New Zealand banks no longer accept any checks, including travelers’ checks.

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 (US$6,054) 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 coverage is nationwide and integral to everyday life.  Free internet access is available in most hotels and through wireless hotspots and internet cafes, and international roaming is available.  More cellular phones are linked to the main providers than landlines, which are declining in popularity. 2degrees, One and Spark are the three main cellular networks. 
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 and voltage converter are necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option.

Transportation

Most travelers to New Zealand arrive by air.  With the addition of new routes between the United States and New Zealand, flight connectivity has reached an all-time high.  Airlines such as Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Qantas, and United Airlines provide regular flights between the two countries, with most departing from Auckland.  Notably, United Airlines offers a direct route from San Francisco to Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.
Air New Zealand has introduced a program to weigh volunteer passengers for international flights, gathering data to optimize aircraft weight and balance calculations. New Zealand offers a variety of public and private transportation options, easily bookable online or through travel agents.  Automobiles are right-hand drive, and traffic flows on the left side of the road.

Language

New Zealand is an English-speaking country.  Te Reo Māori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand,  is an official language legally.  New Zealand sign language is the third official language.

Health

The New Zealand health system consists of public, private, and voluntary sectors that interact to provide and fund health care, but the public health system provides approximately 80% of healthcare requirements. The public sector provides free and good quality 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 no longer required to by fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
 

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.  In New Zealand’s urban centers, some supermarkets and gas stations are open 24 hours a day.

Public holidays and regional holidays in New Zealand are popular for domestic travel and can be the cause of traffic congestion in and out of Auckland, Wellington, and at holiday spots.  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. This is the opposite of daylight savings in the northern hemisphere.  Thus, during New Zealand Daylight Time, New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of U.S. EST; during New Zealand Standard Time, New Zealand is 16 hours ahead of U.S. EDT.  Because the time changes take place on a slightly different schedule than in the United States, it is advisable to confirm times on specific dates.

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 and 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 imported to New Zealand on a temporary basis may be able to be imported without paying duty, including Goods and Services Tax (GST) via a Temporary Import.