Etiquette in Australia and New Zealand

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As expectations regarding good manners differ from person to person and vary according to each situation, no treatise on the rules of etiquette nor any list of faux pas can ever be complete. As the perception of behaviors and actions vary, intercultural competence is essential. However, a lack of knowledge about the customs and expectations of people in Australia and New Zealand can make even the best intentioned person seem rude, foolish, or worse.

1 Shared expectations
2 Australia
3 New Zealand
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Shared expectations

Australia and New Zealand share certain cultural characteritics,

Australia and New Zealand are separate countries, each with its own distinct national identity that includes particular customs and rules of etiquette. Nevertheless, points of etiquette that apply to both coutries include the following:

Handshakes are widely expected when meeting friends or new people and when leaving the company of friends or people who one has just met. Unlike in America, the grip is not expected to be firm/tight. A quick clasping of hands is enough.
Requesting a fanny pack can be considered obscene due to the use of "fanny" as a slang term for female genitalia. "Bumbag" is the acceptable local variation. ^[1]
When using public transport, it is rude to board before letting other passengers disembark.
When paying a cashier, always place the money in their hand. Placing the money on a surface is considered rude. When paying at a restaurant, however, it is acceptable to leave the money in the tray on the table, if one is provided.
When riding alone in a taxi, it is considered more polite to sit in the front passenger seat next to the driver. ^[2] However, it is not considered impolite for women to choose the back seat if the driver is male, especially at night.
Queuing is expected when there is any demand for an item. The only exception to this is a pub. However it is still rude to accept service from a barperson before someone who has been waiting longer. A simple nod or subtle gesture towards the person who has waited longer will be understood by any experienced server.
When out with friends, co-workers or relatives, it is customary for people to take turns buying rounds of drinks, this is referred to as a 'Shout'. ^[3]
Tipping is not expected. Some employees are forbidden from accepting gratuities and tipping face-to-face can be create an awkward situation. However, it is okay to reward good service with coins in a "tip jar" when one is visible, or to add a tip to restaurant bills. It is also acceptable to suggest that taxi drivers or waiters "keep the change", especially if the difference is small. Tips may be as large or as small as you feel appropriate.
The request to "bring a plate" to a gathering means to bring a food item.
On busy escalators, particularly those in major train stations it is expected that standing is done on the left, and overtaking on the right. Similarly in a stairway it is expected that one should walk on the left hand side.
Not waving as a gesture of thanks to drivers that stop to allow you into their lane, driving out of the driveway or merging into the lane, is viewed as very bad manners.

[edit] Australia

Australians are rarely amused by attempts to imitate the distinctive sounds of Australian English, especially the somewhat exaggerated versions propagated by celebrities such as Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin.
It may be impolite to remark on Australia's history as a penal colony. The vast majority of immigrants to Australia arrived under better circumstances.
Compared to many people from the UK and the United States, Australians may be more casual in various social situations. Those who resist this attitude may be viewed as snobbish.
Fierce rivalry exists between the individual States in sport and other matters. Making complimentary remarks about the particular state one is in may endear one to locals.
Australians commonly use colloquialisms in their speech. For example, one may say "I hear your grandmother carked it the other day" as opposed to a more gentle "passed away". This is a part of the very direct Australian dialect.
"Indigenous Australian" and "Aboriginal/Aborigine" are polite terms. "Abo" is considered offensive as is the use of "Coon" and "Boong" or "Boonga".
State preferences for specific names for groups of Indigenous Australians have also arisen in recent years: The term Koori (or Koorie) is often polite referring to Indigenous Australians from New South Wales or Victoria (Australia). Those from Queensland use the term Murri (pronounced the same as "Murray"). Nunga is used in most of South Australia. Noongar is used in southern Western Australia. Anangu is used in northern South Australia, and neighbouring parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory and Palawah is used in Tasmania. However, there were over 200 different languages at the time of European settlement, which means these terms are very specific.

[edit] New Zealand

Māori culture is a part of life in New Zealand and an effort should be made to pronounce Maori words and place names correctly. Here the All Blacks, New Zealand's international rugby union team, perform their haka.

Correct pronunciation of Māori words and place-names, and the word "Māori" itself, is often important to Māori, although usually less so to non-Māori. However it is definitely incorrect to pluralise "Māori" by adding an "s".
Sitting on or resting one's backside against a table or desk can offend Māori. A table is where food is served and should not be touched by the “unclean” regions. Outside of the Marae or other majority-Maori setting this is usually not considered important.
Shoes should be removed before entering a Maori sacred building, such as a marae.
Always remove your shoes before entering a house, unless it is a) yours, b) a close relatives/close friends house and you know they do not remove their own shoes/ tell you to keep your shoes on. If they tell you to keep them on it is assumed you will tell them if your shoes are dirtier then would be normal, and then take them off.
Avoid using the term "mainland" for either the North or South Islands of New Zealand as this is a sensitive issue. Referring to Australia with this term is even worse.