Do you tip in New Zealand?

No, tipping is not customary or expected in New Zealand. Hospitality workers are paid at least the minimum wage ($23.95/hour from 1 April 2026) and prices on menus and bills include GST and the full cost of service. While some restaurants have tip jars and a few high-end establishments may accept tips, there is no social obligation to tip and staff will not expect it. This is a significant cultural difference from countries like the United States where tipping is standard.

How much GST is included in my restaurant bill in NZ?

All prices displayed and charged in New Zealand must include 15% GST by law. To find the GST component of any bill, divide the total by 23 and multiply by 3. For example, on a $100 bill, the GST is $100 / 23 x 3 = $13.04. The remaining $86.96 is the amount before GST. GST-registered businesses must provide a tax invoice showing the GST amount if you request one.

What is the fairest way to split a restaurant bill?

The most common approach in New Zealand is to split the bill evenly among everyone at the table. Most restaurants and cafes are happy to split payment across multiple cards. If some people had significantly more expensive meals or drinks, splitting by what each person ordered is fairer. For groups with a mix of drinkers and non-drinkers, many Kiwis split food evenly and have each person pay for their own drinks separately.

Can I ask a restaurant to split the bill in NZ?

Yes, almost all New Zealand restaurants and cafes will split the bill across multiple cards without any issue. Simply tell the waiter how you want to split it (evenly, or specific amounts per card). Some places may have a minimum EFTPOS transaction amount, but this is uncommon. It is also increasingly common for groups to use bank transfer apps to settle up afterwards, with one person paying the full bill and others transferring their share.

How do I split shared household bills fairly between flatmates?

For ongoing household bills like electricity, internet, and water, the most common approach in NZ is to split evenly between all flatmates. Some flats adjust for couples sharing a room (who might pay 1.5 shares instead of 2). For electricity specifically, if one flatmate uses significantly more power (for example, running a heater all day), some flats agree to adjust shares. It is a good idea to agree on the split method before moving in and record it in your flat agreement.

NZ Bill Split Calculator

This calculator works out exactly how much each person owes when splitting a restaurant bill, a flat's power and internet costs, or any shared group expense. Enter the total bill amount (GST inclusive), the number of people, and choose a split method: an even split across everyone, custom amounts if people spent different amounts, or weighted shares where some pay more than others, such as a couple paying 1.5 times a single flatmate's share. You can also pick a bill type for context, set how the per-person amount rounds (exact, nearest dollar, $5 or $10), and exclude an amount someone already paid separately, such as drinks bought by one person. The results show the total bill, the amount each person pays, and a GST breakdown showing the 15% GST component and the amount before GST, both overall and per person. For custom or weighted splits, a table shows what each person owes and their share of the GST. A summary line explains the result in plain terms, including how far the rounded total differs from the actual bill when you round up. Tipping is not customary in New Zealand, so the bill total is the full amount owed with nothing extra to add. Use it to settle up fairly after dinner, agree a fair flatmate split, or check the GST hidden in any shared cost.

Updated April 2026 GST at 15%. No tipping required in New Zealand.

1. The Bill

Total bill amount (incl GST)

Number of people

Split method

Bill type (for context only)

2. Rounding and Extras

Rounding

Exact

Nearest $1

Nearest $5

Nearest $10

Any shared items to exclude? (e.g. one person paid for drinks separately)

Who paid the excluded amount?

Split Result

Total Bill

Including GST

Per Person
-
Even split

GST in Bill

15% (incl in price)

Before GST

GST-exclusive amount

Person	Amount Spent	Share of Bill	GST Portion
Total	-	-	-

GST Breakdown

Total bill (incl GST)-

GST rate15%

GST amount-

Amount before GST-

GST per person-

GST formulaTotal / 23 x 3

Quick Reference

Tipping in NZNot required or expected

Minimum wage$23.95/hr (from 1 Apr 2026)

GST in pricesAlways included by law

Split paymentMost places accept multiple cards

EFTPOSWidely accepted, contactless common

CashAccepted but less common

Summary: Enter a bill amount above.

Splitting Bills in New Zealand

Splitting bills is straightforward in New Zealand. There is no tipping culture, so the amount on the bill is the full amount owed. GST at 15% is always included in the displayed price by law, meaning there are no hidden taxes or service charges added at the end. Most restaurants, cafes, and bars are happy to split payment across multiple cards.

Tipping: Not Expected in NZ

Unlike the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe, tipping is not customary in New Zealand. Hospitality workers are covered by the minimum wage ($23.95/hour from 1 April 2026), and prices are set to include the full cost of service. While some restaurants have tip jars and occasional international visitors may leave a tip, there is absolutely no expectation or obligation to tip. Staff will not be offended if you do not tip, and service will not be affected.

How GST Works on Your Bill

New Zealand's Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set at 15%. All prices displayed to consumers must include GST by law (Goods and Services Tax Act 1985). To calculate the GST component of any bill:

GST amount = Total / 23 x 3
Amount before GST = Total / 23 x 20
Or equivalently: Amount before GST = Total / 1.15

For example, a $100 bill includes $13.04 in GST, with $86.96 being the pre-GST amount.

Common Scenarios

Scenario	Best Split Method	Notes
Restaurant dinner (similar orders)	Even split	Quickest and simplest. Most common in NZ.
Restaurant (big differences)	Custom per person	Fairer when one person had steak and another had a salad.
Drinkers and non-drinkers	Split food even, drinks separate	Common Kiwi approach: split food equally, pay own drinks.
Flatmate bills (equal rooms)	Even split	Most common for power, internet, water.
Flatmate bills (couple in one room)	Weighted shares	Couple pays 1.5x a single person. Or per-person even split.
Group activity	Even split	E.g. escape room, bowling, boat hire.

Settling Up

New Zealanders commonly settle shared expenses through bank transfers. All major NZ banks offer free instant transfers between accounts. Simply ask the person who paid for their bank account number and transfer your share. Many groups also use the "one person pays, others transfer" method for regular shared expenses like flat bills.

Related Calculators

Sources: Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 (legislation.govt.nz). Employment New Zealand minimum wage (employment.govt.nz). Consumer NZ price display rules.

This calculator is a simple bill-splitting tool. GST calculations use the standard 15% rate. All NZ consumer prices include GST by law.