[Bill Douglas]

New Zealand is a no tipping country. The waiting staff get paid a proper wage for the job and that is built into what you pay for the meal.

However... If the waiter/waitress is a school kid or a student who would rather be out with their friends but doing the right thing and paying their way through tec/uni themselves I always give a tip. I always give them cash directly and tell them it's a "personal tip" meaning it doesn't get pooled with the other waiting staff.

A place where I drink coffee one of the waitresses has done first year vet school and is working for a year before going back for year two. I gave her a $100 tip last week knowing the money goes towards school.