New Zealanders are more likely than most to eat dinner early and away from a dining table, according to IKEA’s 2026 Cooking & Eating Global Report, which includes local data for the first time.

The survey finds 12% of people here don’t have a dining table, more than double the global average of 5%. Dinner often happens somewhere else: 38% say they eat on the sofa (18% globally), 7% standing in the kitchen (4%), and 4% on the floor (2%). IKEA links the shift to smaller homes and multifunctional spaces.

New Zealanders also tend to eat earlier. The average dinner time is 6:13pm, with 44% sitting down right on 6pm. That’s ahead of Australia (6:24pm) and the global average (6:44pm). Once it starts, dinner doesn’t linger: people here spend about 28 minutes on the evening meal, similar to the global average of 27 minutes, and 29% finish within 10–19 minutes.

Despite the flexible setups, mealtimes are still shared. Seventy‑three percent of respondents report eating weekday dinners with someone else, compared with 68% globally.

In the kitchen, the report points to strong confidence and a practical approach. Forty‑four percent of New Zealanders say they’re confident cooks (34% globally) and 71% prioritise taste at dinner (64% globally). More people here cook from scratch (62% vs 46%), plan meals in advance (44% vs 32%), and cook for several meals at a time (40% vs 32%). A connection to where food comes from also stands out: 36% say they grow their own food, compared with 21% globally. IKEA says earlier findings from the same study show New Zealanders outperform global counterparts on cutting food waste.

“What stands out in this year’s findings for me is just how uniquely adaptable New Zealanders are,” said Edward Hincks, Home Furnishing and Retail Design Manager for IKEA New Zealand. “Smaller homes, multifunctional spaces and busy lives haven’t limited how people cook and eat — they’ve inspired it.”

The 2026 Cooking & Eating Global Report is based on more than 30,000 interviews across 31 countries, including 1,001 in Aotearoa. IKEA positions the findings as input into how it designs products for everyday home life. The full report is available from the company.