In general, photographing people in public places in New Zealand is usually lawful without consent, including candid street scenes, provided the subject is not in a situation where they can reasonably expect privacy. You should not photograph or publish images of people in places like toilets, changing areas, or similar situations involving nudity or intimate activity without consent.

A key difference is location and expectation of privacy:

• Public places: usually OK for street photography.
• Venues open to the public (cafés/bars): rules may be set by the owner, so permission to be on the premises and photograph may be required.
• Private property not open to the public: you generally need the property owner's permission to be there and photograph.

Publication can also matter. If someone is in a place where they would expect privacy, publishing the image in a way that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person may create problems.

Using a photo as gallery art is different from using it to advertise or endorse something. Promotional or commercial use is more likely to require clear permission from identifiable people, ideally in writing.

If in doubt, get permission from both the property owner and any clearly identifiable subject.