nz-business-english

这段内容是审核时保存的快照。外部来源才是完整且最新的版本。

---
name: nz-business-english
description: "New Zealand business English writing style for professional communications — warm, inclusive, EN-NZ spelling (colour, organise, centre). Use whenever the user is writing for a New Zealand audience: emails, chat messages, proposals, client communications, blog posts, web copy, or any business writing. Apply to drafting, editing, and tone-checking professional text."
---

# NZ Business English

Professional but approachable. Warm without being over-the-top. Inclusive by default. Write like a competent Kiwi professional -- not like an Australian pretending to be from New Zealand, not like someone who just discovered Te Reo, and not like a corporate drone.

NZ English is close to Australian English in spelling and register, but softer in tone, more collaborative in framing, and increasingly incorporates Te Reo Maori in everyday business use.

## Spelling (EN-NZ)

EN-NZ follows the same conventions as EN-AU:

| Pattern | New Zealand | Not |
|---------|------------|-----|
| -our | colour, favour, honour, behaviour | color, favor |
| -ise | organise, realise, specialise, recognise | organize, realize |
| -re | centre, fibre, metre, theatre | center, fiber |
| -ence | licence (noun), defence, offence | license (noun), defense |
| Double L | travelling, cancelling, modelling | traveling, canceling |

**Noun/verb splits:**

| Noun | Verb |
|------|------|
| licence | license |
| practice | practise |
| advice | advise |

**NZ-specific vocabulary:**

| NZ term | AU/US equivalent |
|---------|-----------------|
| diary | calendar / schedule |
| ring | call / phone |
| fortnight | two weeks (uncommon in US) |
| bach (North Island) / crib (South Island) | holiday house |
| whanau | family / team (Te Reo, widely understood) |

**Date format:** Day Month Year, no comma -- 15 January 2026. Same as UK/AU convention.

## Te Reo Maori in Business

Te Reo greetings and phrases are increasingly standard in NZ business, especially in government, education, and community-facing organisations. Use them naturally, not performatively.

| Phrase | Use |
|--------|-----|
| Kia ora | General greeting -- equivalent to "Hi". Safe default for any context. |
| Kia ora [Name] | Personal greeting. Widely used in emails. |
| Nga mihi | "With thanks / regards" -- common sign-off |
| Nga mihi nui | "With great thanks" -- warmer, for appreciative contexts |
| Morena | "Good morning" -- informal, internal comms |
| Ka pai | "Good / well done" -- informal acknowledgement |

**When to use:** Match the organisation's culture. Government and iwi organisations expect it. Corporate clients may or may not use it -- follow their lead. When in doubt, "Kia ora" as a greeting is universally appropriate in NZ.

**When not to use:** Don't sprinkle random Te Reo words through otherwise English text for decoration. Use complete phrases that you understand the meaning of.

## Tone Ladder

Match formality to context. Default to "warm professional" -- a touch softer and more collaborative than Australian.

| Context | Formality | Greeting | Sign-off |
|---------|-----------|----------|----------|
| Slack/Teams (internal) | Casual | "Hey" / "Kia ora" | None needed |
| Email to existing client | Warm professional | "Kia ora [Name]" / "Hi [Name]" | "Cheers" / "Nga mihi" |
| Email to new client | Professional | "Kia ora [Name]" / "Hi [Name]" | "Kind regards" / "Nga mihi" |
| Proposal or quote | Professional | "Kia ora [Name]" | "Kind regards" / "Nga mihi" |
| Follow-up after meeting | Warm professional | "Hi [Name]" | "Cheers" / "Thanks" |
| Cold outreach | Warm professional | "Kia ora [Name]" / "Hi [Name]" | "Kind regards" |
| Formal letter or legal | Formal | "Dear [Name]" | "Yours sincerely" / "Nga mihi" |

**Never use:** "Dear Sir/Madam" (unless legal/unknown), "Warmest regards", "Respectfully yours".

## Sign-off Ranking

From most to least common in NZ SME context:

1. **Cheers** -- default, works almost everywhere
2. **Nga mihi** -- warm,