8 Things New Zealanders don't do! Americans living in New Zealand and loving it!

Regarding pricing, you forgot to mention that in NZ the price includes all taxes. So annoying in the US to buy something, and the stated or listed price is not the actual price.

Never haggle in op shops, it's for a charity, and already at an amazing price.

Im a Kiwi and I HATE that whole no price on the real estate thing. Its insane.

I think that much of the reason to use real plates and cutlery is also because of etiquette/tradition. Like disposable things can be seen as 'cheapening' an occasion and taking away from the specialness of it. But it's not a hard and fast rule. We certainly use it, but usually it's planet friendly/recyclable.

about the negotiation thing, yes lol. i work at an op shop, and it's common for people from other cultures to try and haggle, and it pisses us all off, especially when stuff is so cheap. we have signs but no one reads them. the price is what it is. also, because we (op shops) are CHARITIES, it seems particularly rude because we're not getting the money, it's going to a charitable cause, so it's seen as immoral to try to haggle. we're just like 'ma'am, the adidas jacket is literally just $7 :| '

As a Pommie I had fun with the Kiwi accent. Tent “pig” and “Swumming lissons”. In Auckland I actually saw “Fush and Chups” on a sign. Kiwis have a great sense of humour and they and Aussies are always ribbing one another with good humour (humor) 😅 about their countries and rugby.

I am really surprised that tipping wasn't on this list. In New Zealand it is very, very rare to tip restaurant staff. We just pay the amount listed on the menu and we don't haggle them down or pay extra in the form of a tip.

Things we do: Vowels, we switch between English & Māori vowel pronunciation. Things we don't: Ever say Fush& Chups.

When I lived in Japan years ago, I used to have a lot of American friends and they couldn't believe that if I said pen or pin that my NZ friend (I am a Kiwi too) could actually tell the difference between the two words because to them it sounded exactly the same. It is true, we do pronounce the vowels differently. I tried very hard as a language teacher there but struggled to teach vowels to my poor Japanese students. The worst was ee and ea (ge: beer vs bear). They pretty much sound the same the way I pronounce them. I did try to teach my students about using context to guess the meaning of words they didn't know anyway, but they did get some extra practice at that with my vowels!! Absolutely, I did also learn with my American friends not to talk about big decks! Other linguistic confusion included talking about cardys (cardigans), brekkies (breakfast) etc. And I will never forget the look on his face after my American boyfriend apologised as he had to head away without spending much time with me that day and me telling him "No worries, give me a ring tomorrow". I meant a phone call, he thought I meant a marriage proposal. The panic on his face was truly something to behold! By the way, your copy of Kiwi vowels was pretty good!!

Our daughter have been living in NZ for around 20 years on our firsts visit we notice some differences but by now we are all used to it . We visit every year except for the last two , hopefully can visit and see them this coming summer .

After moving here from the States, I listened to an interview with an American. He was describing how willing Americans were to relinquish quality in their daily lives. McDonald's or Starbucks find paper cups cheaper, easier to use, customers seem very happy and willing with decreasing their quality of life. He couldn't understand it, why people would accept a lower quality of life. It really struck me and I have never used a paper plate, nakin or cup since. And I love it. 'I am worth it' is just a slogan in the US but now I live it. If a Cafe here has just paper cups I leave.

The thing is,, kiwis don’t scam on prices that’s why negotiating isn’t a thing, it’s a fair price for labour, GST etc.. you are expected to pay what the retailer prices their product for. NZ is a small place we take care of our resources hence paper plates are only for kids parties

re: vowel sounds as a kiwi, i've always found american accents to be weird with vowels too. you mentioned Auckland, and to me when you say it, it sounds like Ockland i've noticed it's mainly with 2 vowels together - like whenever i hear an american say the name Craig, to me it sounds like you're saying Creg

Lol lol our Kiwi accent 😆😄Btw in Ohio, I almost died when i went to someone's house for dinner and we ate primerib off paper plates , AT THE DINNER TABLE!!.... wth sacrilege & I was gobsmacked lol 😂..dumbie me thought they couldn't afford plates SO I BOUGHT them some lol lol 😆

Nor sure I totally agree with the idea that these things are "never" done. 1) This is mostly due to the current very high house prices as most properties are either auctioned or tendered at the moment. You will see more than the occasional listing with a price on it though, it's just a bit rarer these days. 2) Totally disagree with this one. It has been getting better, but you'll still see a lot of things for $9.95 or for $79 for example. Just look at the petrol prices... 3) This one is true only if you are going to another person's house to eat. If you're just going around to visit then going empty-handed is fine. 4) Not as much as it is in the bigger cities in the USA, but is certainly increasing. Where I am has quite a few electronic billboards now, though it's not going to compare with Times Square. 5) Mostly true, though most bigger restaurants will ask if you want water and bring it over. Cafes do so less though will often bring it over if asked. Something you missed here is that Kiwis don't tip their waiters. 6) Paper plates are for informal gatherings. If you are doing a dinner party for adults, weddings, Christmas, etc, then real plates and cutlery should be used. Paper plates are for when you're doing a BBQ (sausage sizzle not Texan), picnic, or a kid's Birthday. Basically, if you're going to dress up nice and/or eat at a table then paper/plastic plates should not be used. Most homes also have paper towels, but they are mostly used for things like cleaning or cooking. 7) About the only things you negotiate for here are houses and cars. 8) The only thing I can say here is that you have weird ears that hear funny. And it's Aussies that have issues with the work "six"!

You have to get a kiwi on one of your videos and do accent differences would be crack up 😂

I worked in California and my boss was a Kiwi and it was hilarious. I would get emails from my colleagues asking what our boss was saying as they didn't understand our colloquialisms. A classic one was the boss was ringing in to get out sales numbers and he was tired and calling from his hotel room on the east coast. He said to one of my colleagues that he was 'knackered'. She said in a very loud voice in her Oklahoma accent..."You are what? Naked in your hotel room." :face-blue-smiling:

I'm a Kiwi living in the UK - been here for nearly 40 years but my NZ accent still prevails. I was in Bala, North Wales, recently eating at a cafe and asked for a bottle of the local pale ale called "Shedhead". Not quite the way the word came out to my friend's delight and the waitress's confusion. Playing badminton, if the score involves a "ten" I am invited to voice the score - that one's getting very old. We visited home a few years back - my sister is a primary school teacher in Auckland and showed us around her school. On her home classroom wall was the usual plethora of teaching reminders issued one presumes by the local education authority. One of these related to homophones. Hair, hare, hear, and here - all being taught as having the same pronunciation. The English side of me sees the issue, the Kiwi side not so much.

Must admit ALOT of real estate ads don't have house prices but I would say 70% do have prices advertised but expensive houses or unique house don't or say POA (price on approval) or Auction.

I remember when they phased out the .95 and .99 in pricing. It was when they got rid of the 5c piece and giving change was made easier with whole numbers rather than rounding up and down if someone pays in cash.