The Kiwi Attitude
Our openness and friendliness define who we are as a culture. We are a friendly and outgoing people who want to help and prefer not to say no if we think we can be of assistance. We are a people who love to get things done ourselves and are also easy-going/laid back. We are open-minded, innovative and proud of our country. Some quick tips regarding good manners in NZ: Don’t spit, walk on the left side of the footpath, take your shoes off when indoors, don’t sit on tables and if you are asked to ‘bring a plate’, that means you should take a plate of easily shared food (i.e. cake or chips).

Plate of food, meat, tomato

The Cuisine
We love the dishes that we can create from local produce and ingredients here in Aotearoa. New Zealand vegetables, meats and fruits are used by restaurants and home chefs alike, with each region providing something different. Cafes and restaurants have their own twists on traditional dishes or, using the bounty of Kiwi ingredients at their disposal, they use them to create something new and interesting. Many of NZ’s food/drink is highly sought after, including our; cheese, meat (i.e. lamb), wine, hāngī, crayfish, feijoa, and pavlova. Our innovative nature and environmental consciousness also means that the dishes will continue to evolve in the future.  

NZ Landscape, water, lake, mountains

The Landscape
One of our favourite things about Aotearoa is that it’s beautiful wherever you look. Our cities have a certain charm, but it is the natural landscapes, wild and untouched for so long, that really give our country its spark. Luckily, wherever you are studying or living across NZ there is always a stunning landscape and view to enjoy, as well as plenty nearby places to visit!

The Activities/Adventures
As we are comfortable in the outdoors and not far from the water wherever we are in the country, most New Zealanders love an adventure. That means bungy jumping, kayaking, tramping, rock climbing and finding other things to do that give us a buzz or an experience that we will remember. Whether you want to hop on a mountain bike, try skiing, hop in a jet boat or even jump in a zorb, there are plenty of things to do! With summer fast approaching, the outdoors beckons.

Starry sky, milky way

The Night Sky
On a clear night, the stars shine bright in New Zealand. Our light pollution levels in 2014 was low in 74% of the North Island and 93% of the South Island. Aotearoa is also home to three accredited dark sky sites, with plans to become the first country to be a ‘dark sky nation’ in modern times.

Kea bird

The Animals
We love the unique native animals that New Zealand has cultivated, from the flightless birds such as our country’s iconic Kiwi bird, to the cheeky alpine parrot Kea (pictured), to the insects named ‘God of the Ugly Things’ by the Māori, Wētāpunga. Aotearoa has some memorable creatures that thrive in the unique environment that NZ offers.

Blue pools

The Water
New Zealand’s water is known for being fresh and clean, with efforts to make it even better. Most tap water around the country is drinkable and many streams, rivers and pools hold fresh water. For Māori, fresh water is a taonga (treasured possession) considered essential to life and identity.

NZ blue sky and clouds

The Air
New Zealand has some of the crispest and freshest air in the world. When you first arrive in the country you may notice that air pollution levels here are low and our air quality is excellent.


Who are iStudent Complaints and what can we help you with?
iStudent Complaints is an independent dispute resolution scheme established by the New Zealand Government. Our objective is to encourage swift settlement of contractual and financial disputes between international students and their providers in New Zealand. As an independent and impartial service, we are not affiliated with any Education providers.

Why did we do this blog?
Even if we need to step in one day to help you resolve a dispute, we want you to enjoy studying and living in our amazing country as much as we do. To that end, we’ve created this content so that you may continue to explore and experience the best New Zealand can offer.