Your Mobile Newsletter for September

Building a Business in New Zealand

New Zealand is an entrepreneurial playground. Given the size of the NZ market, there are still a lot of niches that are untouched, and Kiwis love innovation and resourcefulness.

Starting a new business - either a side hustle or a full-time gig - often appeals to expats. It's a clear way to share your ideas from overseas. When you're already starting over with building a life, why not consider pursuing a new career or business idea? And let's not forget that expats and entrepreneurs share a certain willingness to take a risk for the chance of great reward.

So where do you start?

Choose a business structure. Don't forget to get professional tax and legal advice that takes any and all of your citizenships into account.
Check to see whether you can use the name you have in mind.
Apply for an NZBN (New Zealand Business Number) to make doing business easier.
Make sure your compliance requirements are sorted, including registration with the IRD (tax authority) and for GST (goods and service tax).
Start talking! The very best way to get a business off the ground is to talk about it with anyone and everyone. Kiwis tend to be generous with helping people make connections, so you never know where a conversation might lead.

Job Search Resources

Whether you or your partner are looking for work now or will be eventually, it's good to know where you can go to learn about job opportunities.

It's worth repeating: New Zealand operates in large part on personal and professional networking. Human connections are worth a lot.

Coffee Power: If given the chance, invite a potential colleague or potential manager for a coffee (or tea or juice). Sometimes an informal meeting can take the place of a formal interview. At a minimum, these meetings almost always result in further introductions.

Connect with a Recruiter: Recruiting agencies often play a role in companies finding the right candidate, so you may want to connect with one. Learn more about how they work here.

Professional Organisations: Does your field have a professional organisation? If so, consider joining it and getting involved. This is a great way to get a feel for the field as it exists in New Zealand and meet potential employers/colleagues.

Personal Connections: Returning Kiwis should think about joining the KEA group on LinkedIn for connection opportunities that lean professional. The parents among us should also look for opportunities to connect with other parents in your school community, particularly who are in the same field. Mobile hosted events can be a great place to build local connections, too.

While engaging warm connections, you might also want to check job boards. Professional organisations often have profession-specific job boards. KEA host a job platform that spans fields and interests.

On the topic of work in NZ, don't miss our tips on landing a job in NZ, how Kiwi work culture compares to Germany, and how to adapt to Kiwi work culture.

HOW TO: Visiting a Kiwi Friend

Visiting someone's home is another one of those experiences that comes with a lot of unspoken expectations. Here are some tips to make it more familiar for you.

Bring something. When you get invited, ask the host what you can bring or offer to bring a specific thing. If they say that you don't have to bring anything, take something anyway: food to share (something from the supermarket is fine), some flowers for the host, or drinks to share. If they tell you a meal is 'bring a plate' style, it means you should bring some food to share.
Impromptu invitation. If you take something to a friend, don't be surprised if they invite you in for a cup of tea or coffee. You're not expected to bring anything to these meetings except for your charming self. You'll soon see why an electric kettle is a Kiwi kitchen essential because you'll have a warm beverage in your hand in moments. (Tip: Keep a package of biscuits and some tea in your pantry so that you can offer the same when someone stops at your home.)
Remove your shoes. Most Kiwi households are shoeless, and most Kiwis take off their shoes outside, before entering the home (not in the entryway).
Dress for the weather. If you're 'calling on' a friend in winter, be prepared that the home may be quite cold. If you're visiting a friend in summer, make sure you have a hat and sunscreen.
Arrive on time. Despite being a laid back society, New Zealanders tend to be very punctual. So you'll be expected to be on time and, when you're hosting, be prepared to receive guests at the exact time given.

Te Ao Māori

Māori languistic and cultural influence is the most important thing that distinguishes Aotearoa New Zealand from the rest of the world. Increasingly, both Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori (Māori cultural traditions) are being integrated into all parts of Kiwi life - from businesses to greetings amongst friends.

Two great ways to prepare for life in NZ are familiarising yourself with this part of Aotearoa and making yourself open to learning more about it.

Don't take our word for it. Check out this interview of Tiaki Hunia, Pouhere Māori – Director of Inclusion & Māori Strategy at Fonterra on Te Ao Māori.