New research has found that Kiwis eat dinner earlier than anywhere else in the world, and tend to do it anywhere but the dinner table.
New Zealanders are redefining how the world eats at home, according to new insights from the 2026 IKEA Cooking & Eating Global Report. For the first time, New Zealand has been included in the global study, revealing distinctive dining habits shaped by smaller homes, multifunctional spaces and a uniquely Kiwi approach to everyday living.
The report shows that 12 percent of New Zealanders don’t have a dining table, more than double the global average of five percent. Instead, Kiwis are far more likely to eat dinner on the sofa (38 percent vs 18 percent globally), standing in the kitchen (seven percent vs four percent), or even sitting on the floor (four percent vs two percent).
New Zealanders also eat earlier than most countries, with an average dinner time of 6:13pm. Nearly half (44 percent) eat right on 6pm, earlier than Australians (6:24pm) and well ahead of the global average (6:44pm). When it comes to how long dinner lasts, Kiwis spend an average of 28 minutes eating an evening meal, which is on par with the global average (27 minutes), with 29 percent saying they finish dinner in just 10 to 19 minutes.
New Zealanders also index higher than the rest of the world in eating together, seeing mealtimes as important points on connection in their way. 73 percent report eating their weekday dinners with someone else, versus 68 percent globally.
Based on more than 30,000 interviews across 31 countries, including 1,001 in New Zealand, the report highlights how New Zealanders’ cooking and eating habits reflect a practical, flexible and comfort-driven lifestyle. These findings build on the report’s earlier insights showing that Kiwis outperform global counterparts on sustainable food habits, including reducing food waste and cooking with homegrown produce.
Kiwis also show a strong connection to where their food comes from, with many incorporating homegrown ingredients into everyday cooking, a behaviour far more common here than in most countries. In fact, 36 percent of New Zealanders prefer homegrown ingredients, compared with 21 percent globally.
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