Contemporary New Zealand has a diverse culture with influences from English, Scottish, Irish, and Maori cultures, along with those of other European cultures and - more recently - Polynesian (including Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Cook Islands Maori, Tahitian, and Hawaiian), southern Asian (Indian), southeast Asian (Filipino, Malaysian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese), and east Asian (Chinese, Korean, and Japanese) cultures. There were many people from Scotland amongst the early British settlers and elements of their culture persist; New Zealand is said to have more pipebands than Scotland. Cultural links between New Zealand and the UK are maintained by a common language, sustained migration from the UK and the fact that many young New Zealanders spend time in the UK on their "overseas experience" (OE).

Twilight bagpipe band practice, Napier

Pre-European contact Maori culture had no metal tools, relying on stone and wood. Maori culture survives as Maori continue to support and develop their culture on their own terms and conditions - much as any other living and thriving culture does in the world.

Use of the Maori language (Te Reo Maori) as a living, community language remained only in a few remote areas in the post-war years, but is currently undergoing a renaissance, thanks in part to Maori language medium schools and a Maori Television channel after being set up from recommendations set down by the Waitangi Tribunal. Maori Television is the only nationwide television channel in New Zealand to have the majority of its prime time content delivered in Maori ( sometimes with sub-titles in English). Maori Television is also the only television channel that tries to generate new content in Maori and subtitles English programmes in Maori. None of the other television channels present a substantial number of Maori programmes, or subtitle English language programmes in Maori, despite the fact that it is an official language equal to English.

New Zealand's landscape has appeared in a number of television programmes and films. In particular, the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess were filmed around Auckland, and the film Heavenly Creatures in Christchurch. The television series The Tribe is set and filmed in New Zealand. New Zealand director Peter Jackson shot the epic The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in various locations around the country, taking advantage of the spectacular and relatively unspoiled landscapes, and Mount Taranaki was used as a stand-in for Mount Fuji in The Last Samurai. The latest movies shot in New Zealand are King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is the longest Maori word. It is the name of a hill in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island. The Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the longest geographical name in the world.