[jpollock]

In New Zealand, there is typically no tipping (it reflects excellent service, instead of expected), it's already built into the price - not even listed as a fixed service charge percentage.

Perhaps the complaints have more to do with seeing something listed on the bill that you didn't order. If it was removed entirely instead of being presented as a tax, that might change the response.

[discodave]

But then the prices of the food would be more expensive to compensate, which is arguably the reason that the tipping culture has been created in the first place.