Outspoken rivals Australia find New Zealand's charm offensive more the latter than the former.
But Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum reckons they won't be dropping their "Mr Nice Guy" approach to cricket any time soon.
Just don't call it an act.
Not that the non-confrontational Kiwis would take issue with it.
How polite is the New Zealand cricket team?
McCullum said his side was so nice that they wouldn't penalise any teammate who reacted to rival Australia's inevitable sledging in the first Test starting in Brisbane on Thursday.
"Absolutely not. It (polite approach) has got to be authentic," he said.
"We're not trying to put up an act.
"We just want to be part of a team which gives it a good crack and be the best that we can.
"It's not forced upon anyone."
Yet New Zealand's unofficial claim as "the world's most polite team" looks set to be put to the test in the three-match, trans-Tasman series.
Even without Brad Haddin.
The Australian wicketkeeper dubbed New Zealand "too nice" - a theory he appeared to exploit by rattling his opposition with some memorable sendoffs behind the stumps as the Kiwis crashed to a seven-wicket World Cup final loss in March.
Australian spearhead Mitchell Johnson renewed the one-sided hostilities on social media on Wednesday.
"I find it strange when someone keeps telling the world how nice they are! You wouldn't need to say anything if it's true?! #ausvsnz," Johnson tweeted.
McCullum's reaction?
More love for the Aussies, funnily enough.
"Only admiration for a guy like him. It doesn't mean we're not trying to score runs against him," McCullum said when told of Johnson's tweet.
McCullum admitted it was an approach that probably would not have been embraced by past teams but claimed it was working for them.
Stats back him up.
New Zealand is unbeaten in their last seven Test series - a record run for the Black Caps.
"For a long period of time we were searching for a bit of a soul in our team, and we stumbled on the fact that sledging has never worked for us," McCullum said.
"We're not very good at it and we're not skilled enough to take our eye off the ball.
"It sits comfortably with this current group of players."
It was no surprise then that McCullum gleefully accepted Australian captain Steve Smith's offer to join them for a post-first Test beer to honour the Gallipoli landing's 100th anniversary.
"Forget all the buildup of rivalries," McCullum said.
"Ultimately you've got cricketers trying to do the same thing - represent their country to the best of their ability and afterwards sit down and have a beer.
"I'm not surprised by it (Smith's offer). We get on well with them."
Well, until New Zealand's nice guy approach is mentioned it seems.
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