CORPORATE SERVICES

EXPENSE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS 1

Middle Market Customer Loyalty

Cultural Awareness Training

Australia and New Zealand

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Prepared by Ailsa Milne

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Australia – Map and Flag

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Australian History + Culture (1)

 The first human habitation of Australia occurred

approximately 40,000 years ago from present-day
Southeast Asia

 Lieutenant James Cook charted the East coast of

Australia claiming the land for Britain in 1770

 The British Colony of New South Wales was settled

primarily as a penal colony. As the population grew and
new areas were explored, another five self-governing
colonies were established over the course of the 19th
century.
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Australian History + Culture (2)

 The Indigenous Australian population declined steeply

for 150 years following settlement mainly because of
infectous diseases combined with forced re-settlement
and cultural disintegration
 A gold rush began in Australia in the early 1850s
bringing economic boom
 In 1901, federation of the colonies was achieved and
the Commonwealth of Australia was born. The
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was formed for the
new federal capital of Canberra
 After World War II, Australia encouraged mass
immigration from Europe and Asia leading to broad
cultural diversity
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Australian Climate

By far the largest part of

Australia is desert or semi-arid.

Only the south-east and

south-west corners of the
continent have a temperate
climate. The majority of the
population lives along the
temperate south-eastern
coastline.

The northern part of the

country, with a tropical climate,
has a vegetation consisting of
rainforest, woodland, grassland,
mangrove swamps and desert.
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Australian Language and Religion

 English is the official language of Australia. It is spoken by 95% of the

population. Grammar and spelling are a mix of British and American patterns.

 Christians, divided equally between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, make up

76% of the population. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists are also present. Almost 13%
claim no religious affiliation.
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Australian Population and Culture

 Population of Australia: 20.7 million

 Sydney 4.3 million

 Melbourne 3.5 million

 Brisbane 1.8 million

 compare with population of India 1,103 million and population of

Delhi approx 14 million

 Culture – what things come to mind when you think of

Australia….
 CORPORATE SERVICES
EXPENSE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS 8

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Prepared by Ailsa Milne

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Australian Economy

 Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per

capita GDP at the level of the highly industrialized West European countries.
Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products,
minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
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Australian Currency

The unit of currency is the Australia dollar which is divided into

100 cents.

The notes are: $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.

Coins: 5c 10c 20c, 50c, $1 and $2.
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New Zealand –
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New Zealand History + Culture

 The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an

epic journey from the legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia
to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great
explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand,
named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.

 The first documented European to discover New Zealand was

Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who came here in 1642 in
search of the fabled great southern continent. Over 125 years
later, Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769 and
produced a map of the country.
The Treaty of Waitangi

 The Treaty of Waitangi, seen as New Zealand's founding

document, established the country as a nation. It was signed in
1840 between leading Maori chiefs and representatives of the
British Crown at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, now one of the
country's most historic sites. The signing of the treaty began on
6 February, which has become New Zealand's national day,
known as 'Waitangi Day'.
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New Zealand Climate

The climate throughout the country is mild, mostly

cool temperate to warm temperate, with temperatures
rarely falling below 0°C (32°F) or rising above 30°C
(86°F).

Conditions vary from wet and cold on the West

Coast pf the South Island to dry and continental in the
Mackenzie Basin of inland Cantebury and almost
subtropical in Northland.

Of the main cities, Christchurch is the driest,

receiving only some 640 mm (25 in) of rain per year.
Auckland, the wettest, receives almost twice that amount.
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New Zealand Language and Religion

• English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand.

New Zealand is a multi-cultural society and you may hear many
other languages spoken, including Maori, which is also an official
language of New Zealand.

• New Zealand is nominally Christian, and three-fifths of the

population adhere to the Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman
Catholic, and Methodist denominations. Minor Protestant sects,
Eastern Orthodox, Jewish congregations and Maori adaptations
of Christianity make up the rest. Nonetheless, a significant
proportion of the population does not claim any religious
affiliation.
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New Zealand Population and Culture

 Population of New Zealand: 4.1 million

 Auckland 1.3 million

 Christchurch 0.3 million

 Wellington 0.2 million

 compare with population of India 1,103 million and population of

Delhi approx 14 million

 Culture – what things come to mind when you think of

New Zealand….
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New Zealand Population and Culture

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New Zealand Economy

• New Zealand has a modern

developed economy with an
estimated GDP of $97.39 billion
(2005).
The country has a high standard of
living with GDP per capita estimated
at $25,200 (comparative figures are
Australia $31,900 and United States
$41,800). The standard of living has
also been measured in other forms,
including being ranked 19th on the
2005 Human Development Index and
15th in The Economist's 2005 world-
wide quality-of-life index.
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New Zealand Currency

• The New Zealand Dollar is the official currency in New Zealand.

• 1 New Zealand Dollar (1 NZ$) = 100 cents.
• Notes are in denominations of NZ$5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.
• Coins are in denominations of and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
There are also coins for NZ$ 2 and 1.
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Australian & New Zealand Business Practices (1)

Equality – Australia and New Zealand have a very

egalitarian culture where people are treated equally
regardless of status. Often referred to as the ‘tall poppy
syndrome’, this creates a society that avoids differentiation
between individuals, or being a ‘tall poppy’ by standing out
from the crowd. Instead, modesty, parity and mutual respect
are preferred.
Openness – A highly valued aspect of Australian & New Zealand culture is
the open and direct manner in which daily life is conducted. Generally,
Australians and New Zealanders are literal and to the point in their
communication.
Individualism –Australian and New Zealander culture is one of
individualism where each person must be respected as an individual with their
own opinions and rights. Therefore, attempts at developing personal
relationships may be treated with caution and each person must be engaged
personally to achieve company engagement
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Australian & New Zealand Business Practices (2)

Business hours tend to be 9.00 am to 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Company structures are generally flat with little visible distinction between those of varying
rank and status.
The authority to make decisions is not always left in the hands of the high level executives.
Lower level employees often have a considerable amount of power and authority within the
company.
Australians and New Zealanders tend to initiate a first name basis with their fellow
business associates quickly. This is an indication of mutual respect and equality.
It is essential to establish personal relationships with those you
are conducting business with. It is important to make connections
with established representatives who are able to help build those
relationships.
The use of titles is not an essential part of Australian & New
Zealand business culture. Both cultures will move to a first name
basis quite quickly. However, when initially introduced, you should
address your Australian & New Zealand counterparts by their last
names preceded by “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, or “Miss.”, until they initiate this
informality.