New Zealand

Location
Flag
Quick Facts
Capital	Wellington
Government	Representative parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Currency	New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Area	267,710 km2
Population	4,450,000
Language	English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language
Religion	Unspecified/none 43%, Anglican 17%, Roman Catholic 14%, Presbyterian 11%, Methodist 3%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9%, other 3%
Electricity	230V/50Hz (Plug Type I - "Australian")
Calling Code	+64
Internet TLD	.nz
Time Zone	UTC +12 (Chathams UTC +12:45)
Emergencies	Dial 111

New Zealand [6] is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones. These islands form a unique bioregion inhabited by flightless birds seen nowhere else, such as kakapo and kiwi. New Zealanders have adopted the kiwi as a national symbol, and have even taken the word Kiwi as a name for themselves.

These islands are sparsely populated, particularly away from the North Island, but easily accessible. There are sparklingly modern visitor facilities, and transport networks are reasonably developed. New Zealand often adds an adventure twist to nature: it's the original home of jet-boating through shallow gorges, and bungy jumping off anything high enough to give a thrill.

Māori culture continues to play an important part in everyday life and government and corporate symbolism with abundant opportunities for visitors to understand and experience the history and present day forms of Māori life.

Understand

New Zealand is increasingly known, both in the indigenous Māori language and in New Zealand English, as Aotearoa, often translated as "land of the long white cloud". Originally, Aotearoa was a name for just the North Island, the South Island being known as Te Wai Pounamu or Te Waka a Maui.

Geography

New Zealand consists of two main islands and many smaller ones in the South Pacific Ocean approximately 1,600 km (1,000 mi) south east of Australia. With a population of four million in a country about the size of the United Kingdom or Japan, many areas are sparsely settled.

Be sure to allow sufficient time to travel in New Zealand. It is possible to tour for three or four weeks on each island, although you can certainly see highlights in far less time. Roads wind along the coast and through mountain ranges, particularly in the South Island.

Auckland, with a population of around 1.4 million people, is both the largest city in New Zealand and Polynesia.

Settlement and history

New Zealand was the last significant land mass to be inhabited by humans, both in terms of indigenous settlement and European colonization. This, combined with geological youth and geographical isolation, has led to the development of a young, vigorous nation with a well-travelled, well-educated population. One in four New Zealand-born people (one in three between the ages of 22 and 48) currently live overseas.

The Polynesian Māori settled New Zealand around 750 years ago. "Nieuw Zeeland" appeared on Dutch maps from as early as 1645, after the explorations of Abel Tasman in 1642. It is possible that other European explorers knew of the existence of New Zealand as early as the mid-14th century. Captain Cook rediscovered, circumnavigated and mapped the islands in 1769.

Some sealers, whalers, traders and missionaries settled over next 80 years, with many encountering fierce resistance from the local Māori people. In 1840, with the assistance of missionaries, the Māori agreed to accept British sovereignty over the islands through the Treaty of Waitangi. More intensive settlement began that same year. Initially annexed to the colony of New South Wales, New Zealand was split off to form a separate colony in 1841. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872, coupled with political manoeuvring and the spread of European diseases, broke Māori resistance to land settlement, but left lasting grievances. In recent years the government has sought to address long-standing Māori grievances, and this is a complicated process. In 2005, the Māori Party [7] was formed, in part in response to the Government's law on the Foreshore and Seabed but also to promote an independent Māori perspective at a political level.

When the six British colonies federated to form Australia in 1901, New Zealand decided not to join the federation. Instead, the British colony of New Zealand became a self-governing dominion in 1907. It was offered complete independence under the 1931 Statute of Westminster, although it did not adopt this until 1947. All remaining constitutional links with the United Kingdom were severed with the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act by both parliaments in 1986, though the British queen remains the Head of State with an appointed Governor-General as her representative in New Zealand. New Zealand supported the United Kingdom militarily in the Boer War of 1899–1902, as well as both World Wars. It also participated in wars in Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan, and in several peacekeeping actions.

New Zealand's population has strongly opposed the testing and use of nuclear weapons. The United States refusal to declare whether its visiting ships were carrying nuclear weapons led to them being banned from New Zealand ports in the 1980s. In response, the US suspended its commitments to New Zealand under the joint US-Australian-New Zealand defence alliance.

People

A former British colony, it has a population mainly of European descent, with a sizeable indigenous Māori minority and significant Asian and Polynesian groups growing rapidly in proportion.

Time zones

New Zealand leads the world, time wise!

The Chatham Islands, part of New Zealand but 800 kilometres (500 mi) east of Christchurch, keep Chatham Islands Standard Time (CIST) by adding twelve hours and forty-five minutes to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) resulting in UTC+12:45. The only other official time zone with a 45-minute increment from UTC is Nepal. The Line Islands of Kiribati is the only time zone further in advance from UTC.

The main islands of New Zealand are 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+12 = NZST = New Zealand Standard Time) and 20 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Daylight Saving (UTC+13 = NZDT = New Zealand Daylight Time) begins on the last Sunday in September and ends on the first Sunday in April.

Sport

The unofficial national sport in New Zealand is rugby union. Other popular sports include soccer, rugby league and netball in winter, and cricket in summer. The two main rugby union competitions are Super Rugby, a regional competition incorporating regional teams from South Africa and Australia, and the domestic ITM Cup (formerly the National Provincial Championship from 1976 to 2005, and Air New Zealand Cup from 2006 to 2009). The Super Rugby season begins in February and normally ends in August (in Rugby World Cup years, the season ends in July); the ITM Cup starts in July and runs through to October. The national team, the All Blacks, generally play matches at home during June through to September, mainly in The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri Nations) against South Africa, Australia and, since 2012, Argentina.

Climate

New Zealand weather is influenced by fast moving weather systems and the strong westerly winds – often referred to as the roaring forties – that predominate over southern parts of the country and seas to the south. There tends to be a seven day cycle associated with these westerlies as a cold front sweeps over the country associated with a couple of days of rain. These westerlies are often disrupted by large high pressure systems or by storm systems.

During the summer and early autumn months from about December to April, the westerlies tend to move south giving more settled weather. Always be prepared for a change though. Also, during this time, weather systems from the tropics can make their presence felt, mainly over the North Island, with a period of warm wet windy weather.

In the winter, May to August, the weather tends to be more changeable. Cold fronts often bring a period of rain to western areas followed by a cold wind from the south bringing snow to the mountains and sometimes to near sea level over eastern parts of the South Island. When the weather turns cold and wet in the east, to the west of the mountains it will often be fine. At this time of the year it is not uncommon for high pressure systems and clear skies to park over the whole country for long periods bringing crisp frosty nights and mornings followed by cool sunny days. Winters are fairly cold in the south of the South Island but mild in the north of the North Island. The nature of the terrain, the prevailing winds and the length of the country lead to sharp regional contrasts. Daytime maximum temperatures sometimes exceed 30°C (86°F) and usually only stay below 0°C (32°F) in the elevated inland regions. Generally speaking, rainfall and humidity is higher in the west than the east of the country due to the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges and the prevailing westerly/northwesterly winds. In the winter, southerly gales can be severe but they also bring snow to the ski-fields and are usually followed by calm clear days.

In spring, from August to November, the westerly winds are typically at their strongest – these are called the equinoctial westerlies. It tends to rain more in western areas, and especially on the South Island, at this time, while in the east, warm dry winds can give great cycling weather. Once again though, a cold front and its accompanying south winds can give you a taste of winter at any stage.

The unsheltered areas of the country can get a bit breezy, especially in the centre, through Cook Strait and around Wellington.

New Zealand is one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to forecast the weather. Although the weather is changeable, there is certainly more sunshine and warm temperatures to enjoy in summer. It is not uncommon, especially on the South Island, to experience four seasons in one day. A complicating, but often beneficial factor on the day to day weather, is the steep mountain range running down the spine of New Zealand orientated in a southwest-northeast direction. These mountains often shelter eastern parts of the country from an onslaught of westerly winds and rain.

Metservice [8] has weather forecasts for five days in advance.

Temperatures in (°C)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
North Island	23	24	23	20	17	15	14	15	17	18	20	22
South Island	22	22	19	17	14	11	11	12	15	17	19	21

Regions

New Zealand is a very diverse country with many regions that are worth seeing, but at a high level it's easiest to break it down according to its two main islands and the smaller offshore islands.

Regions, major cities and other destinations in NZ

North Island Mild, with scenery ranging from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland and forests to active volcanic peaks with bubbling mud pools.

South Island Spectacular mountains and fjords, large beech forests, beautiful beaches, large glaciers, motorcycle mecca.

Stewart Island Covered in native forest and abounding in birdlife, most of the island forms a national park.

Chatham Islands Remote islands far in the east, traditional home of the Moriori people.

Subantarctic Islands Very remote, uninhabited and rarely visited, cruises now go to view the subantarctic flora and fauna.

Cities

Nature takes pride of place in New Zealand; consequently we list only nine of the most prominent settlements.

• Wellington – the national capital, with the Parliament and Beehive buildings, and the wonderful, free Te Papa museum
• Auckland – the City of Sails with east and west coast harbours, by far the biggest city with 1.5 million people and all a big city offers
• Christchurch – the Garden City and the Air Gateway to Antarctica as well as Gateway to the South Islands famous motorcycle rides
• Dunedin – the Edinburgh of the South, proud of its Scots heritage, chocolate factory, Southern Albatross colony and its wonderful tramping tracks within a short drive from the central business district
• Hamilton – leafy centre of the rich and fertile Waikato on the banks of the mighty Waikato River south of Auckland, home of the Mooloo rugby mascot
• Napier – one of the best concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the world, famous as a wine region and close to Cape Kidnappers gannet breeding colony and wildlife sanctuary
• Nelson – thriving arts culture, varied cuisine emphasising local produce, craft brewing, with New Zealand's highest sunshine hours, and surrounded by incredible coastal and mountain scenery, three stunning national parks, vineyards and orchards
• Queenstown – adrenalin and adventure capital of the world, where you can ski, skydive, bungy jump, jet-boat and thrill yourself to your hearts content
• Rotorua – famous for Māori culture and geothermal activity, including geysers, fascinating boiling mud pools and beautiful hot pools and springs

Other destinations

Cable car above Wellington.

New Zealand has a wealth of national parks, rural areas and other out-of-the-way places that are worth a visit. Only nine of the best are listed below (in alphabetical order), but you'll find many more as you browse our pages!

• Abel Tasman National Park — golden sand beaches, kayaking and the Abel Tasman Coastal Track
• Aoraki Mount Cook National Park — lots of hiking opportunities and New Zealand's highest mountain
• Bay of Islands — pretty spot in the North Island with historical significance
• Coromandel Peninsula — rugged coastline with plenty of beaches and hiking opportunities just one and a half hours from Auckland
• Hawke's Bay — wineries in the hills and art deco architecture in Napier
• Milford Sound — beautiful fiord in Fiordland National Park
• Taupo — trout fishing and adventure activities in the central North Island
• Tongariro National Park — three volcanoes, two skifields and one of the most popular hikes in the country
• Westland National Park — home of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

Get in

Arrivals are by plane or occasionally by boat (typically cruise ships through Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch and a few private yachts).

By plane

New Zealand is a long way from anywhere else in the world, so for most visitors, the only practical way to enter New Zealand is by air. Even the shortest flights between Australia and New Zealand take over 3 hours.

There are international airports at Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. The main gateways are Auckland and Christchurch, with Auckland servicing more than 20 destinations and a dozen airlines, and direct connections from Christchurch to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Tokyo. The others are largely restricted to flights from Australia. If you do take a flight through Australia, make sure that you have transit visa in case you need to get one. You'll not be able to get on your flight otherwise. [9]

Due to its large Polynesian and Melanesian expatriate communities, New Zealand has extensive direct flight options to South Pacific nations such as Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Departure tax is included in the ticket price.

Passports, visas and documentation

Minimum validity of travel documents New Zealand and Australian citizens and permanent residents need only present a passport which is valid on the dates they arrive in and depart from New Zealand. Otherwise, if you are entering NZ as a visitor, student or temporary worker, you must present a passport valid either for at least 3 months beyond the date you intend to depart NZ, or for 1 month beyond the date you intend to depart NZ if the issuing government has consular representation in NZ that is able to issue and renew travel documents (you should check with your issuing authority before travelling). More information about the minimum validity of travel documents is available at this Immigration New Zealand webpage.

Foreign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter New Zealand visa-free as a visitor as long as they present a valid passport:

Indefinitely: Australia (both Australian citizens and permanent residents)

For up to 6 months: United Kingdom (British citizens and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the UK)

For up to 3 months: All European Union member states, Andorra, Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong SAR (including British National (Overseas) passports), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, United States and Vatican City

With the exception of Australian citizens and permanent residents, entry as a visitor does not permit employment in New Zealand.

For more information, check the list of Visa Free Countries [10]. All these visa waivers, including the one for Australians, can be refused. In particular, potential visitors with criminal records or who have been refused entry to or deported from any country should check with Immigration New Zealand if they need to apply for a visa.

Visitors from countries not in the visa-free list or those wishing to stay longer than the maximum visa-free period for their nationality will need to apply for an appropriate visa. Check the Immigration New Zealand [11] web page for details.

If you require a visa to enter New Zealand, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no New Zealand diplomatic post. For example, the British embassies in Belgrade [12] and Tripoli [13] accept New Zealand visa applications. British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a New Zealand visa application and an extra £70 if Immigration New Zealand requires the visa application to be referred to them. Immigration New Zealand can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

If entering as a tourist you must have a return ticket or evidence of onward travel to enter NZ and even check-in with airlines. If you do not then you will have to purchase one at the airport to be allowed to check in.

For those who need visa and are travelling in a group (having same travel plans and itinerary), it may be better to apply for the considerably cheaper Group visas [14]. While applying for such a visa, apart from individual application forms, a separate group visa application form (only one form for the entire group) also should be submitted.

Quarantine

New Zealand has very strong bio-security laws. The economy is based on agriculture and importing even small quantities of food, as well as unprocessed animal or plant materials is tightly controlled. These restrictions are designed to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant diseases and pests. Do not think you can get away with bringing items in by not declaring, all hand and checked luggage will be x-rayed on arrival as part of the entry procedures.

Take care with any items of food that you have obtained during your travel, many people have been caught and fined as they did not declare fruit items they were given as part of an in-flight meal and retained for later consumption. The best advice is to declare any item you think may cause problems — bio-security control border staff may confiscate and destroy the item, but you will not have to pay a fine or even face criminal prosecution. Even if you haven't declared an item on your arrival card, you can still advise staff when you get to the border check of any item without incurring any fine.

At ports of international entry, both the Agriculture and Customs Services may inspect passenger baggage and confiscate and fine for any prohibited items. There are air-side amnesty bins available to cater for accidental importation.
Items that must be declared include:

• any kind of food
• any plant material
• any animals
• animal material or biological specimens
• dirty or soiled sports gear, footwear, and used camping gear and anything that may have been in contact with soil, been used on a farm or has been used with animals. If declared, the owners of dirty items are often required to clean them thoroughly, if not declared fines are often applied.

Expect random inspections by sniffer-dogs - you may need to have your luggage inspected if you have had food in it recently that the dogs can smell.

Commercially-packaged or processed food is usually allowed through by the Agricultural services, but you can still be fined if you do not declare them. If you are unsure it is best to declare any questionable items as the immigration officers will be able to tell you if it needs to be cleaned or disposed of before entry. Some items may be allowable such as wooden souvenirs but be taken for sterilization or fumigation before being released to you. You may be charged a fee for this.

On the spot fines of $200 are issued for not declaring controlled items. The law provides for deliberate breaches to receive a fine of up to $100,000 or a prison term of up to five years. Either declare items as required or dump them in the amnesty bins before you reach customs. If you have difficulty with the arrival card, most airline staff are able to assist you, there are also officials at the major airports air-side who can assist.

In addition, importation or possession of most recreational drugs, including cannabis, is illegal and results in arrest. If found guilty, you would be subject to a range of penalties from hefty fines for minor offences to lengthy imprisonment for larger offences, after which you would be deported and prohibited from re-entering.

Get around

By bicycle

You can bring your own bike, as well as hire a bike in some of the larger cities. By law, you must wear a helmet while riding, otherwise you may be fined. When hiring a bike you should be supplied with a helmet. Also remember to ride on the left. You cannot ride on motorways in New Zealand - be aware that the only bridge over the Auckland Harbour is a motorway, so you'll have to take a ferry or cycle around the harbour.

Cycling in New Zealand can be fun, but be aware that because of the geography and small number of people cycling between towns there are very few cycle lanes and limited shoulder space on roads. Beware of buses and trucks on main highways as many drivers will not give you sufficient overtaking clearance; proportionately, five times as many cyclists are injured and killed on New Zealand roads as in the Netherlands or Singapore! You should also be prepared for the large distances between towns and cities and the generally windy weather. While some areas of New Zealand are flat, most tourists cycling in New Zealand will find that they need to be able to cope with long periods of cycling up hills, especially in the Coromandel. Be prepared for any weather and for all seasons in one day.

You can choose to get a bike on arrival in New Zealand, or to use a self-guided or guided cycle tour operator. Christchurch had the largest number of guided and self-guided tour operators [15] and there are a number of bike rental companies based there also. There are also several tour operators who incorporate cycling with tours such as Pedal Tours [16] as well as specialist cycle tour companies like Adventure South [17].

Currently, there is a network of cycleways being built around New Zealand, with some safe and beautiful routes already constructed: NZ Cycleways

By bus

Buses are a relatively cheap and environmentally friendly way to get around New Zealand. Services are usually only once a day, even between major towns. Most roads in New Zealand are quite narrow and winding (when compared to the highways of the USA), and travelling a long distance in a bus can be a safe and relaxing way to travel. Booking in advance on some lines can get you great bargains.

• Flying Kiwi Adventures . New Zealand’s original adventure bus tour company offering "beyond the tourist trail" experiences. The company was listed in National Geographic's Best Adventure Travel Companies for 2009 and recently received a Qualmark enviro award [1]. Trips range from 3–27 days and cover both islands. The tours focus on enjoying the outdoor beauty and excitement of New Zealand with numerous hiking, cycling and activity options. There are also options to take extended breaks in your favourite places. Discounts are available for holders of YHA, VIP, ISIC and NOMADs cards.

• InterCity Coachlines . New Zealand’s national coach company, with services connecting over 600 destinations nationwide. InterCity Group has voluntarily adopted European Emission standards across its fleet of modern coaches to operate InterCity Coachlines, Newmans Coach Lines and also operates a modern fleet of vessels and coaches to operate GreatSights New Zealand [2], Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands [3] and awesomeNZ [4]. In May 2007 InterCity Group signed up to Landcare Research's carboNZero programme [5] which has a core focus on working to reduce harmful emissions at source. They have used a range of activities to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 50% over the five years. Tickets can be purchased from the InterCity ticket counters at bus stations or i-SITE information centres and a discount is given to students or youth-hostel membership card holders (e.g. BBH, YHA, Nomads, ISIC). Fares start from just $1 (plus a booking fee) on all InterCity’s national services and they’ve even been known to give away free seats at various times of the year. A limited number of heavily discounted “Cheap-as-Seats” for travel that week are released via the company’s Facebook and Twitter feeds every Monday. Online fares are often sold at a cheaper rate.

• Travelpass [18] - A transport pass offered by InterCity Coachlines. Brings together an extensive range of “hop on and off” fixed itinerary passes, based on the most popular touring routes throughout New Zealand. National passes include the Interislander ferry as well as a scenic boat cruise in Milford Sound. Passes are valid for 12 months.

• Flexi-Pass [19] - Utilising the combined national networks of InterCity, Newmans and GreatSights, Flexi-Pass is sold in blocks of time, just like a prepaid phone card, and enables the holder to travel anywhere on the company’s network. Passes start at 15 hr, which is enough to travel from Auckland to Wellington in the North Island. Flexi-Pass hours can also be used to travel on the Interislander ferry [20] and on Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Dolphin Watching cruises and tours [21] to Cape Brett and the famous "Hole in the Rock". Passes can also be on sold and are valid for 12 months.

• flexitrips [22] - A simple trips based transport pass offered by InterCity Coachlines which enables the holder to travel anywhere on the company’s network and includes selected tour options with awesomeNZ.com [23]. Passes start at 5 trips with greater savings the more trips you pre purchase. Like flexi-pass, flexitrips provides options on the Interislander ferry [24] and on Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Dolphin Watching cruises and tours [25] to Cape Brett and the famous "Hole in the Rock". Passes can also be on sold and are valid for 12 months.

• Naked Bus . New Zealand's low cost city to city bus company provides daily point-to-point services across the country and at low prices. Naked Bus is often the cheapest option for travellers who plan ahead. Some Nakedbus services code-share with other bus companies, including Atomic.

• Nakedpassport [26] - Nakedbus' passport, sold in bundles of trips. Also an unlimited trip pass available (valid for 12 months). Note this pass cannot be used as a commuter pass but is ideal for travellers wishing to see the whole country. You can get on and off when you please - but bookings are required. This pass also allows purchase of selected tourist activities at discounted prices. With this pass you travel on naked buses, so you are travelling with both travellers and locals.

• Atomic Shuttles [27] operate a no-frills shuttle service in parts of the South Island.

• Southern Link [28] offer a limited South Island network.

• West Coast Shuttle [29]. Daily transport from Greymouth to Christchurch (via Arthur's Pass) return at more affordable prices than some of the larger firms.

• Backpacker buses - KiwiExperience Backpacker Bus [30], Stray Travel Bus [31] and The Magic Bus [32] offer bus trips around New Zealand where you can get on and off as you please after purchasing a pass.

By ferry

There are two ferry operators which cross Cook Strait with passenger and vehicle carrying ships. The journey lasts just over three hours. It is a spectacular trip, but can be rough in windy weather.

The Interislander has three ships which are slightly larger than the two ships operated by Bluebridge but both operators offer full meals and entertainment on board.

To get your car between the North and South Islands you will need to take a ferry across Cook Strait. There are several sailings daily between Wellington and Picton. But be prepared for a delay or a change in sailings if the weather is stormy.

The ferry terminal at Picton is close to the railway station, and the Coastal Pacific train connects with Interislander sailings.

It is essential to book vehicle crossings in advance. The busiest period is from late December to February. Foot passenger traffic is also heavy at this time, and it is advisable to book well in advance.

Harbour ferries, for commuters, operate in Auckland and Wellington. A number of communities are served by boat, rather than road, while charter boats are available for expeditions in several places. There are regular sightseeing cruises in several tourist destinations, particularly in the Southern Lakes and Fiordland area.

By plane

Domestic flights in New Zealand are often cheaper than driving or taking the train, especially if crossing between the North and South Islands is required.

Airlines operate an electronic ticket system. You can book on-line, by telephone, or through a travel agent. Photo ID will be needed for travel.

Check-in times are usually at least 30 minutes prior to flight departure. Cabin baggage and personal scanning are routinely conducted for services from the major airports that have jet landings.

• Air New Zealand, [33]. Has the most extensive domestic network, serving most cities over 20,000 people, with jet services between main centres and smaller aircraft elsewhere. Free baggage allowance is 1 piece of baggage weighing 25 kg, with 7 kg carry-on.
• Jetstar, [34]. Budget no-frills carrier, filling most Qantas routes.
• Pacific Blue, [35]. Pacific Blue ceased flying within NZ on 18 October.

Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington airports have timetabled buses to the airport. Regional airports generally have only on-demand shuttle services and taxis.

By rail

Main article: Train travel in New Zealand

Both Auckland and Wellington have commuter rail services. These services are operated by Veolia [36] in Auckland and Tranz Metro [37] in Greater Wellington.

Inter-city rail passenger services are operated by Tranz Scenic [38], but have become increasingly limited due to the dysfunctional services, and the focus is now on popular tourist trains. However the remaining train services pass through spectacular scenery and have a running commentary, panoramic windows and an open-air viewing carrige.

• The Overlander - between Auckland and Wellington, departing each city in the morning, daily in summer, Friday-Sunday the rest of the year has been retained in the mean time but could be cancelled in the near future.

• The Capital Connection - Commuter service leaves from Palmerston North to Wellington in the morning, returning in the evening.

• The TranzCoastal - from Christchurch to Picton (via Kaikoura) and return daily. Travels along the rugged north-east coast of the South Island. Meets the Picton-Wellington ferry.

• The TranzAlpine - from Christchurch to Greymouth and return daily. Classed as one of the world's great train journeys, this trip crosses the South Island, passing through spectacular mountain scenery, some of which is inaccessible by road, as well as the 12 km Otira tunnel. Many visitors disembark at Arthur's Pass National Park and spend four hours exploring the mountains before catching the return train.

Trains run at low speed, sometimes dropping to 50 km/h in the summer due to the lack of track maintenance following privatisation in the 1990s. Most New Zealanders prefer to drive or fly, as train fares are comparatively expensive. Trains are more suited to tourists as they are more scenic and more comfortable than other forms of travel.

By road

Main article: Driving in New Zealand

You can reach most of New Zealand's sights in a two-wheel-drive car, motorcycle or even a small camper van. The volume of traffic is normally low and drivers are usually courteous. Traffic drives on the left in New Zealand. Outside of cities roads are usually only one lane in each direction. Typical New Zealand highways are one lane in each direction, so allow time to be caught behind slower moving traffic until it is safe to overtake. Expect drivers behind you to become impatient if you don't keep up with the speed limits.

To legally drive in New Zealand then you need to be at least 16 years of age and hold a valid drivers licence from your home country. If you plan on staying and driving in country for over a year then you need to get a New Zealand licence.

Campervan

See also: Renting a motorhome in New Zealand

Motorcycle

New Zealand is a motorbike rider's dream country! New Zealand Motorcycle rentals of many makes are available throughout New Zealand. The South Island is the main attraction for an motorcyclist and New Zealand motorcycle tours base most of their time here.

South Pacific Motorcycles [39] offer both New Zealand motorbike rental and New Zealand motorbike tours (Harley-Davidson, BMW, Honda, Triumph & other late-model motorcycles)as well as self-guided New Zealand motorcycle tours and based in Christchurch "The Garden City" in the South Island of New Zealand, motorcyclists have easy access to some of the best motorcycling in the world.

Rental

Car rental firms range from the familiar multi-national big brands through to small local car rental firms. The advantage of the big name rental firms is they can be found throughout New Zealand and offer the biggest and newest range of rental vehicles. The disadvantage is that generally they are the most expensive. Occasionally rental firms offer free rental in the direction from south to north due to the majority of tourists travelling in the opposite direction, creating a deficit of cars in the north.

At the other end of the scale are the small local operators who typically have older rental cars. Whilst you may not end up driving this year's latest model the advantage is that the smaller car rental firms can be substantially cheaper, so leaving you more money to spend on the many exciting attractions New Zealand offers. Between these extremes you will find a wide range of NZ car rental firms catering to different needs and budgets.

Other things to note are that you drive on the left in New Zealand and that most car hire firms require you to be over 20, hold a full licence and it will help if you have an International licence too.

Self-drive holidays are a great way to travel around New Zealand as they offer independence, flexibility and opportunities to interact with the locals. A number of companies offer inclusive self-drive holidays with rental car & accommodation, pre-set itineraries or customised to suit your interests.

Purchase and sale

If you want to have an extended holiday in New Zealand and you would prefer to have your own transport, it may be cheaper to buy a car or van and resell it just before leaving. If you use this method, travel across Cook Strait can be expensive. If purchasing a car for $500 or less it may be cheaper to buy and sell a car in each island separately. However, if you buy your car in Christchurch, tour the South island and then travel North to sell in Auckland, you can take advantage of the buyers market in Christchurch and the sellers market in Auckland and possibly even make a small profit. In addition to the usual ways to look for a car (newspapers, accommodation noticeboards, car markets etc.) New Zealand's biggest online auction website Trademe [40] and biggest free classifieds Trade and Exchange [41] have many listings. You can also try the backpackers car market [42] where there are usually people selling their cars off cheaply. Car auctions can also be a suitable option if you are looking to buy a car. Turner's Auctions [43] have regular auctions and are based in many cities. Look out for "Repo" auctions, where the cars being sold are as a result of repossession. Should any previous ownership problems have existed, these will have been resolved before auction commences.

The following things need to be checked in order to safely purchase a vehicle in New Zealand:

• there is no debt on the vehicle. In NZ, if a loan of money is used to purchase a vehicle, then the debt is associated with that vehicle even if it is sold, in which case the new owner then has the problem of the debt. Selling a vehicle with debt associated with it in NZ is illegal. Checking for debt is an easy process as a central register is kept.
• the vehicle has not been stolen. Contact the police with the registration plate and VIN (vehicle identification number).
• legally, the vehicle must have a Warrant of Fitness valid for at least 30 days (unless advertised "as is, where is"). The expiry date will be written on the inside of the car window sticker.
• the Registration expiration date is not in the past. This label is usually on the left side of the car window.
• the vehicle needs a physical check for faults, there are companies in main centres that provide this service.

When you sell a vehicle it is very important to go to a Postshop outlet to record the transfer otherwise any subsequent speeding fines, parking tickets etc. will be recorded in your name.

Car insurance is not compulsory in New Zealand but at least third party insurance is recommended. Diesel vehicles have additional requirements, as diesel is significantly cheaper than petrol but there are additional charges based on distance travelled.

By thumb

Hitchhiking around New Zealand is generally possible on most inter-city and major rural roads. It is illegal to hitchhike on the few motorways (except on the on-ramps) and illegal for motorists to stop there to pick you up. Try to get out of the middle of town, especially where public transport operates. Wear your pack and look like you're touring the country rather than just being a local looking for a lift. You have as much chance of being picked up by another tourist as a local, particularly in tourist areas.

Rideshare and carpooling is increasing in New Zealand as fuel prices rise and people recognise the social and environmental benefit of sharing vehicles and travelling with others. While some systems are quite informal, others have trust systems which give greater security when choosing a ride.

• Jayride, [44]. A New Zealand ridesharing and hitch hiking website. Their focus is providing a variety of ride options, for flexibility and cost savings.

See

Wild lupins growing on Lake Ohau near the Southern Alps on the South Island.

Milford Sound

Mountains, lakes and glaciers

It can be said that in New Zealand it's the countryside that's magnificent, and perhaps no more so than the Southern Alps of the South Island. In the Mackenzie Country, the snow-capped jagged peaks rising above turquoise lakes have provided the inspiration for many a postcard. Tucked in behind is the country's highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook. The lakes and mountains continue south, becoming a stunning backdrop for the towns of Wanaka, Queenstown and Glenorchy.

Another region where mountain meets water with striking effect is Fiordland National Park where steep, densely forested mountains rise from the sea. The most accessible, and perhaps one of the most beautiful, spots is Milford Sound. The road in is spectacular and the view even more so when you arrive.

Glaciers may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of an island in the South Pacific, but New Zealand has several. The most notable are the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers in Westland National Park. These glaciers are unique in how close they get to sea level and are sustained by the enormous amount of precipitation that falls on New Zealand's west coast.

Volcanoes and geysers

New Zealand is a geological hotspot and has many dormant and active volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. The best place to start is Rotorua, where the smell of sulphur lets you know you're close to the action. The surrounding countryside has many parks with geysers and hot springs, and Mount Tarawera, the site of one of New Zealand's more famous eruptions, lies a short drive away.

South of Rotorua is the town of Taupo, on the shores of the country's largest lake, which was formed in a massive volcanic explosion 26,500 years ago, and expanded by an equally massive explosion 1800 years ago (it reputedly turned skies over China and Rome red). Beyond Lake Taupo is Tongariro National Park, dominated by its three volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. All three mountains are still active (Tongariro last erupted in 2012) and Ruapehu has a crater lake that can be viewed with a bit of hiking. Ngauruhoe is famous for filling in as Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Northeast of Rotorua is Whakatane, with tours to White Island, a volcanic island not far off the coast. The island is truly a different world with its smoke plume, green crater lake and the pohutukawa trees clinging to a fragile existence on the volcanic rock.

Dormant and extinct volcanoes help define the landscape in many other regions, including Taranaki and three of the largest cities (Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin). Hot springs are sprinkled across the country, and are often popular bathing spots.

Flora and fauna

Being so remote, New Zealand has very unique plants and animals. One of the most impressive is the kauri tree, one of the biggest species of tree in the world. Few of these giants are left (a result of overlogging), but a visit to the Waipoua Forest in Northland will afford a glimpse.

The beaches of the South Island, particularly The Catlins and the Otago Peninsula, are good places to see marine animals such as penguins, seals and sea lions in their natural habitat. The Otago Peninsula is also noted for its albatross colony.

Unfortunately, many of New Zealand's most unique animals are endangered and can only really be seen in captivity. This includes the kiwi, a common national symbol, the flightless takahe and the tuatara (a small reptile believed to have existed at the time of the dinosaurs).

New Zealand's National Parks are maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and various local governments. Access is usually free but may be restricted in some parks during some parts of the year due to weather (e.g.: avalanche risk) or farming needs (e.g.: lambing season). It's best to check with local tourist information centres for up to date information on access.

Urban fare

While the countryside is the main attraction of New Zealand, it's worthwhile to spend some time in the cities. Auckland is a pleasant city with its waterfront districts like the Viaduct Harbour and Mission Bay, old volcanoes (Mt Eden and One Tree Hill), a handful of museums and the Sky Tower, the tallest free standing building in the Southern Hemisphere. The more interesting architecture and the fine Te Papa museum can be found in Wellington, the capital. Napier is worth a stop, if you have the time, for its Art Deco CBD and Christchurch was interesting for its English character.

Itineraries

• Nine days in New Zealand's North Island
• Two weeks in New Zealand's South Island
• Eighteen Day Small Group Tour Covering Both Islands

Do

Outdoor and adventure activities include:

• Abseiling Waitomo
• Aerial sightseeing (helicopter and fixed-wing)
• Birdwatching
• Black water rafting (cave rafting)
• Boat Tours
• Bungy Jump Queenstown, Auckland, Taupo - the modern bungy jump was invented here by New Zealander A.J. Hackett.
• Canoeing and kayaking on rivers and lakes
• Canyoning
• Caving: Waitomo, Nelson, South Island West Coast, Te Anau
• Climbing
• Diving
• Fishing: both Freshwater (some of the finest trout-fishing in the world) and Gamefishing (some of the best sport fishing in the world for marlin, broadbill, sharks, tuna, kingfish and many other salt-water species)
• Fly by wire (invented here)
• Four-wheel driving
• Gliding - Omarama is one of the best places in the world for gliding
• Golf - New Zealand has over 400 registered golf courses, from local clubs to internationally renowned resorts, offering uncrowded golfing & superb scenery.
• Hang-gliding
• Heli-hiking at Fox Glacier
• Hiking - New Zealand has a number of national parks and other wilderness and forested areas, much of which is managed by the Department of Conservation [45]. The activity known in other countries as hiking, trekking or bushwalking is known as tramping in New Zealand and is a very popular activity for visitors and locals.
• Horse trekking
• Hot-air ballooning
• Hunting - several species of deer, wild pig (wild boar), tahr, chamois, goat, wallabies (they are protected in Australia but a pest here), game birds.
• Ice-climbing
• Jet-skiing
• Kite surfing
• Luge (on concrete not ice) Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua.
• Mountaineering - this was the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first two people to climb Mt Everest.
• Mountain biking
• Museums
• Nature tours
• Paragliding/Parapenting
• Quad biking
• Rafting
• Rap jumping
• River jetboating - the Hamilton jet was invented by New Zealander William Hamilton.
• Rockclimbing
• Rugby - the national game. Major tournaments include Super Rugby, Tri Nations and ITM Cup. New Zealand hosted the last Rugby World Cup in 2011
• Sailing - New Zealand has produced many world-champion yachties and is the only country apart from the US to have won and successfully defended yachting's ultimate prize, the America's Cup.
• Scuba diving and snorkeling, especially down to the sunken Rainbow Warrior at Matauri Bay, not far from Kerikeri.
• Sea kayaking Abel Tasman Marine Reserve and the colder waters of Milford Sound
• Shark cage diving Kaikoura
• Skiing and snowboarding including heli-skiing Queenstown
• Skydiving
• Stand up paddleboarding, especially in the warm and sheltered waters of Tasman Bay
• Surfing
• Swimming with dolphins Kaikoura, Bay of Islands
• Swimming with seals
• Whale watching Kaikoura
• White water rafting Fox Glacier
• White water sledging / dam dropping
• Windsurfing
• Zorbing (invented here) Agrodome in Rotorua
• Zoos

Talk

English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages of New Zealand. English is universal, and is written with Commonwealth (British) spelling.

New Zealand English is one of the major varieties of English and is different enough from other forms to justify the publication of the Oxford New Zealand English dictionary.

Word usage may also differ occasionally, in potentially embarrassing ways for the traveller. Several words that Americans may consider offensive, or have euphemisms for, are considered acceptable usage. For example: A New Zealand bathroom refers to a room containing a bath while the other facilities that an American might refer to as a bathroom or washroom are known as a toilet. The American habit of "bleeping" swear words from broadcasts is considered quaint and rarely done in local programming. The New Zealand broadcasting media are unusually tolerant of swear words when used in context.

The New Zealand accent is somewhat nasalised with flattened vowel sounds and vowel shifting. New Zealanders consider their accent to be markedly different from the Australian one and are often mildly offended when mistaken for or confused with Australians. New Zealand terminology and slang are also different from Australian usage. Americans find New Zealand accents easy to understand, so do Australians and British. Some European dialects find it slightly harder and Asians may find it rather hard to understand; New Zealanders are quite happy however to repeat what they just said if necessary.

Māori is actively spoken by a minority of both Māori and language learners. Māori is available as a language to study in, instead of English, at many educational institutes. The Māori language is spoken by some, but not all, Māori and a few non-Māori, especially in the far north and east of the North Island. Most travellers would not need to learn Māori, as all native Māori speakers are also able to speak English. Nevertheless, as many place names are in Māori, some knowledge of Māori pronunciation can be useful.

New Zealand Sign language was given status in 2005 as an official language.

Common expressions

Generally, New Zealand English expressions follows British English. However, New Zealand English has also borrowed much from Māori and there are a number of other phrases that are not commonly encountered elsewhere or may confuse the visitor.

• Bach (pronounced as "batch") - Holiday home; often by the beach and comprised of fairly basic accommodation. In the South Island often called a crib.

• Bring a plate - (see also; "Ladies a plate") means each attendant of the event should bring a plate of food to share with the other guests.

• BYO - Bring Your Own. An addition to the name of a restaurant that may not have a liquor licence means that it is okay to bring your own wine to enjoy with your food, but they often charge a small corkage fee.

• Clayton's - Describing something as a Clayton's means that the item lacks full functionality or is a poor imitation of the real thing. From the name of the unsuccessful non-alcoholic whisky that was briefly marketed during the late 1970s/early 1980s under the catch phrase The drink you're having when you are not having a drink.

• Dairy - Convenience store; corner shop, one few outsiders understand though heavily used by locals and find problems when travelling overseas and are surprised when asking where the dairy is.

• Entry by gold (or silver) coin (donation) - The admission charge to an event, exhibit, gallery or museum is by making a payment of a coin in the appropriate metal, often in the donation box at the door. The gold coins in NZ are the $1 and $2 coins, while silver are the 20c and 50c coins, and the 10c coin is copper. (See also "Koha" below).

• Half Pie - Usually a job or task not performed to satisfaction (cf Māori Pai = good)

• Jandals (=JApanese saNDALS) - Flip-flops to most of the world; Thongs to you Australians.

• Kiwi - Slang for a New Zealander, named after an endangered flightless bird that lays the largest egg relative to body size and is the national emblem. This is not a derogatory term and some New Zealanders will happily refer to themselves as 'a Kiwi'. Note that Chinese gooseberries are NEVER called Kiwis, they're always called Kiwifruits.

• Glidetime - Flexible working hours, often worked by public servants. Under this system, workers can start and finish work at hours of their choosing 07:00–18:00, although they must work the core hours of 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:30 and average 40 hours per week. Also the name of a comedy play about such workers.

Slang expressions

You may get a strange look if you use Kiwi slang in New Zealand, but it may be used inadvertently to in conversation. If you don't understand just ask and most New Zealanders will explain.

• Barbie - Short for barbecue

• Bro (rhymed with "snow") - short for brother, a form of personal address like mate, pal, or bud.

• Bush - Forest. Usually meaning a native forest as opposed to a plantation forest.

• Choice! - Cool, great.

• Chur - Thanks or Choice. Sometimes used as Chur Chur, which can also mean Christchurch.

• Gumboots - A.K.A. Wellington Boots or Rain Boots

• Sweet as! - Cool, good thing, No problem. Often abbreviated to just 'sweet'.

• mint - in tip top condition.

• Mate - any other person, male or female. Can be used on its own to express a number of different emotions based on delivery. A short 'Mate' combined with a slight head and eyebrow raise can be a greeting, whereas a longer 'Maaaaaate' combined with a cocking of the head and narrowing of the eyes can be seen as a scolding.

• chicks - girls.

• oi - hey. Can be meant as a warning or jokingly, derives from punk usage.

• eh - sometimes used at the end of a sentence to phrase it as a question, similar to Canadian usage.

• Lindi - Lindauer Brut (popular wine in New Zealand)

• pash - French kiss.

• Yeah nah This one can be VERY confusing for visitors. It generally means "I agree with you, that it isn't..." eg: 'Australian's can't play rugby eh?' 'Yeah nah, they're USELESS!'

Māori words and expressions

See also: Maori phrasebook

• Kia Ora - Hello, welcome, literally good health. Often used as an utterance of agreement, especially during speaking at a hui.

• Haere Mai - A greeting to a person arriving, while Haere Ra is a salutation to one leaving.

• Hui - A meeting or gathering to discuss and debate issues in traditional Māori fashion.

• Iwi - A Māori tribe or people, sometimes known as a Waka (canoe), as some iwi are named after the ocean going canoes that brought their ancestors to New Zealand.

• Koha - A Māori term for gifts or donations. Often an exchange of gifts takes place. (Sometimes the admission signs say, "Entry Koha", meaning gold coin or what you feel like donating.)

• Kai - Food. Common with both Māori and European.

• Mana - is defined in English as authority, control, influence, prestige or power. It is also honour.

• Marae - A traditional Māori meeting or gathering place. Also a community centre.

• Pakeha - The Māori word for New Zealanders of non-Māori descent. The term's origin is contentious; one theory suggests it arose from a Māori story about spirit creatures called 'pakepakeha'. Some New Zealanders do not refer to themselves as Pakeha because they find it offensive; others, however, see the name as part of their unique identity.

• Powhiri - A Māori ceremonial welcome. Especially to a marae, but now also may take place at the start of a conference or similar large meeting in New Zealand.

• Whanau - A Māori (extended) family. Kinfolk. Used often in advertising to alliterate with friends such as 'friends and whanau'.

• Wharenui - literally big house, is the meeting house on a marae.

• Wharekai - literally food house, is the dining room and/or kitchen on a marae.

• Wharepaku - literally Small house - Toilet

Buy

Currency used in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Other currencies are not readily accepted other than at some of the larger hotels and at banks throughout New Zealand. Attempting to make a transaction in a foreign currency may result in some light hearted bemusement.

The smallest coin is 10c, since New Zealand reduced the size of its silver (cent) coins in 2006, and eliminated the 5c piece. The 10c piece is a coppery colour similar to a U.S. or UK penny. The 20c piece is silver with a Māori carving depicted, as is the 50c piece with captain James Cook's ship the Endeavour. The gold $1 features a kiwi, whilst the $2 features a heron. Banknotes come in $5 (orange with Sir Edmund Hillary), $10 (blue with Kate Sheppard), $20 (green with Queen Elizabeth II), $50 (purple with Sir Apirana Ngata), and $100 (red with Lord Rutherford of Nelson).

On Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and before 13:00 on Anzac Day (25 April), all but a few essential businesses must be closed. While many traders flout this regulation, the matter has for many years been being reviewed by the government. If you are in New Zealand on one of these days, ensure you have all your needs met prior to the date.

Electronic banking/purchasing

New Zealanders are among the highest users of electronic banking services in the world. Automatic teller machines (ATMs), locally known as 'the hole in the wall', are available in just about every town, even those without a bank. Most shops have Eftpos (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale) terminals for debit and credit cards, so most purchases can be made electronically. Credit cards are not accepted by some merchants with Eftpos, especially smaller food retailers such as dairies, takeaways and cafes that do not serve alcohol. Also smaller retailers may often set a minimum purchase of around $10 when obtaining cash, if they agree to provide cash. Banks offer a wide range of telephone and Internet banking services. If you are going to be in New Zealand for a while it may be convenient to open a New Zealand bank account and set up a local debit card, to avoid carrying a lot of cash around.

New Zealand is a user of the CHIP and PIN credit card system which uses an electronic chip in the card and the holder's PIN number to allow a transaction to go through. Most merchants also accept the swipe and sign method which is mostly used by U.S. credit card holders; as they have not yet adapted to the CHIP and PIN system. However, automated machines may not accept credit cards without a PIN. Therefore, it is recommended that you have enough cash on hand to make purchase. These mainly appear in rural areas. If you are using a credit card with a magnetic strip (no chip embedded) at a staffed stand, then you shouldn't have problems using your credit card. After your card is swiped; the terminal will prompt you for your PIN. Just press "ENTER" and your transaction should be approved. After signing the printed receipt, the clerk is required to check that your signature on your credit card matches that of a valid identification before he/she can complete the transaction. This is to minimize fraud. A driver license or passport, from your home country, will suffice.

• Note: The Discover credit card is accepted by a limited number of merchants in Auckland. It is not known whether Discover is accepted in other parts of New Zealand.

Price negotiation

Because of strong advertising laws, the displayed price is normally the purchase price for most goods sold in New Zealand. The principle The price stated is the price you pay is strongly ingrained in New Zealand culture. Sales tax (GST) is legally required to be included in the displayed price unless the business primarily sells to other businesses.

Most retailers will not negotiate on price, though some have a formal policy of matching the competition and will match or even discount their prices for you if you can find a better price for exactly the same product elsewhere. However, this seems to be changing as there are stories about people finding appliance and electronics stores very willing to negotiate on price in order to get business, especially if you're looking at high-end items or have a shopping list of multiple high-priced items. Some places you have to ask for a discount, while others have salespeople that offer discounts on pricey goods as soon as they approach you. Other than high end appliance stores haggling is generally viewed as extremely rude. As a customer you are seen as wasting a shopkeeper's time because it is assumed that they have priced the good at a reasonable price and as a shopkeeper you would be wasting the customer's time if you overpriced the item expecting customers to haggle.

If you are in New Zealand for an extended period of time, the website Trademe provides a similar business model to overseas giant eBay. However Trademe has a greater focus on Direct Debit based trading and minimal to no fees required upon an item's initial listing.

Taxes and fees

Unless it says otherwise the price includes GST (Goods and Services Tax, or sales tax) of 15%. Some shops, especially in tourist destinations, will ship purchases overseas or make them available to pickup at the airport, as export goods are not subject to GST. Ask about this service before making your purchase. Goods purchased and taken with you will be subject to GST.

A few restaurants and cafes may charge a holiday surcharge of 15%, supposedly to cover the cost of higher wages for staff working on the holiday.

Tipping

In lodgings, restaurants, and bars the prices charged include the services provided and tips are not expected, though the practice is becoming more common, especially bars, cafes, and restaurants that cater for tourists. However, do not be surprised or offended if you receive bemused looks or if your tip is initially refused or questioned as tipping is still a relatively new phenomenon and it is also a form of courtesy in New Zealand culture to first decline such a gesture before accepting it. For some New Zealanders their unfamiliarity with tipping can make them ill-at-ease with it when travelling in countries where it is practised. It can be viewed very negatively by New Zealanders as being made to 'pay twice', or as a form of bribery. Staff in some establishments may risk their job in accepting a tip, although this is relatively uncommon. In the major cities, tipping tends to be embraced by workers, especially over the summer when students wait tables for part-time work. Tipjars may be placed on counters, but these are for loose change and although it is appreciated, you are not expected to place coins in them. It is common practice and polite to donate your spare change from the meal to what ever charity has a collection jar on the counter, and this acts as the standard substitute for tipping.

Eat

New Zealand does not have a culture of going out to eat: meeting for dinner at a restaurant is typically something that is done only on special occasions such as birthdays, or on romantic dates, although eating out is becoming more common.

New Zealand has a distinctive cafe culture, with arguably some of the best espresso on the planet. Cafes often have excellent food, serving anything from a muffin to a full meal.

In smaller towns food is always available at the local pub/hotel/bistro, although the quality tends to be of the burger-and-chips variety.

Fast food and convenience food outlets are plentiful. Most of the larger fast food chains are represented. There are a number of local burger chains – Burger Wisconsin and Burger Fuel are both worth trying. Petrol stations often sell pies that can be heated in-store.

Fish and chips are a local speciality. The fish is often supplied by local fishermen and of extremely good quality. The style is somewhat different to the English style: chips tend to be crisper, and vinegar is never used as a dressing. The menu consists of battered (or crumbed if you prefer) fish portions deep fried in oil together with chunky cut potato chips as well as a range of other meats, seafood, pineapple rings and even chocolate bars, all wrapped in newsprint paper – today it is unprinted but traditionally it was yesterday's newspaper, until someone decided it was unhealthy. A good meal can often be had for under $5; a poor one for the same price.

Cuisine

New Zealand's cultural majority, mainly British, do not have a definitive and recognisably distinct cuisine that differs markedly from the traditional British cuisine. However there are a number of small differences.

• Kumara or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) – roasted in the same manner as potatoes and often served instead of or alongside. May also be deep fried like potato chips and known as kumara chips – nice served with sour cream but rarely done well as kumara cooks at a different temperature than potatoes, so it needs a skilled chef for the dish to be done perfectly.

• Pavlova or pav – a cake of whipped egg whites baked to have a crusty meringue-like outside but soft in the middle, topped with whipped cream and decorated with sliced fruit. The dessert is also common in Australia, and while there is debate between the two countries as to where it was first invented, New Zealand is generally accepted as the origin.

• ANZAC biscuits – plain hard biscuits made primarily from oatmeal bound with golden syrup. Originally made for and by ANZAC troops during the First World War. Also found in Australia.

• Pies – New Zealanders eat large numbers of non-flakey pastry pies containing fillings such as beef, lamb, pork, potato, kumara, vegetables, and cheese that fit nicely in one hand (around 170 g/6 oz). Some companies now market ranges of "gourmet" pies and there is an annual competition for the best pie in a variety of categories.

• Kiwifruit – a plum-sized green fleshed fruit, with fine black seeds in the flesh, originating from China, selectively bred in New Zealand, and first known to the home gardener as a Chinese gooseberry. Now commercially farmed, with production centred on Te Puke but in many orcharding areas. Slices often served on pavlova. Known by its full name of kiwifruit and never shortened to "kiwi" in New Zealand, as "kiwi" refers to a type of bird or a New Zealander.

• Whitebait – the translucent sprat or fingerlings of native freshwater fish species that migrate from spawning in the sea each year. After being caught in coastal river mouth set or hand nets during November/December, this highly sought after delicacy is rushed to all ends of the country. Served in a fried pattie made from an egg based batter, they may be seasonally available from a local fish and chip shop and are cooked without gutting or removing their heads, as they are tiny (2-7 mm broad).

Māori have a distinctive cuisine.

• The hangi or earth oven is the traditional way that Māori cook food for large gatherings. Meat, vegetables and sometimes puddings are slowly steam-cooked for several hours in a covered pit that has previously been lined with stones and had a hot wood fire burn down in it.

• Kaimoana (sea food) – particularly shellfish gathered from inter-tidal rocks and beaches as well as crayfish (rock lobster) and inshore fish caught on a line or with nets. Species such as paua (blackfoot abalone) and toheroa have been overfished and gathering restrictions are strictly enforced, while green mussels are commercially grown and sold live, or processed, in supermarkets. Warning: While it is common to see people collecting shellfish, crustaceans and other kaimoana, there are a number of rules, for example minimum sizes or daily catch limits, which are usually posted on signs at the approaches to the collecting area. These rules are strictly enforced. If in doubt, check with a local. Rules may be seasonal or all-year catch limits set by the Ministry of Primary Industries, or they may be that certain areas are reserved solely for tangata whenua, or a combination. At times areas may have a prohibition against them for health reasons.

In addition to the above, New Zealand cuisine has taken a decidedly international turn over the past decade. Sushi is becoming increasingly popular (albeit in a somewhat different form to the Japanese original), as are many of the cuisines of the Pacific rim.

Drink

New Zealanders have a reputation for enjoying their beer. Although there are now only three major breweries, there are many regional brands, each with their own distinctive taste and staunch supporters.

Take care when and where you indulge in public. New Zealand has recently introduced liquor ban areas – that means alcoholic drinks cannot be consumed or even carried in some streets, such as city centres and popular beaches, at certain times of the day or night. Police can instruct you to empty bottles and even arrest you if you do not comply.

The New Zealand wine industry has developed into a significant export industry. New Zealand is now known as one of the top producers of Sauvignon Blanc. The Hawkes Bay region is well known for its Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and more recently Viognier varieties. Marlborough is the largest wine producing region and famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. Waipara in North Canterbury specialises in Riesling and Pinot Gris. Further south in Central Otago, Pinot Noir is produced in the most concentrated of styles. Many vineyards now offer winery tours, wine tasting and sales from the vineyard.

The minimum legal purchase age for alcohol in New Zealand is 18, and can only be supplied to under-18s via a parent or legal guardian. It is universal policy for bars and retailers to ask for photo identification from any patron who looks under the age of 25, and the only forms of identification accepted are a passport, New Zealand driver licence, or a Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) 18+ card.

Coffeehouses are a daytime venue in many of the larger cities and tourist destinations. The cafe culture is notable in downtown Wellington, where many office workers have their tea breaks. Most coffee styles, cappuccino, latte, espresso/short black, long black, flat white, vienna etc., are usually available. Flat whites are probably the most popular. Cappuccinos are usually served with a choice of cinnamon or chocolate powder sprinkled on top. Its usual to request which one you want. Fluffies are a small frothed milk for children, sprinkled with chocolate powder.

Tap water in New Zealand is regarded as some of the cleanest in the world; it is safe to drink from in all cities, most come from artesian wells or freshwater reservoirs - however, some are from rivers which can be chlorinated to be made safe but do not taste very nice. Some of the water in Auckland comes from the Waikato river, a long river that has its source in Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island. But by the time it reaches Auckland, it has been treated so that the quality is no worse than that of the Thames in London or the Hudson in New York. Auckland water is also drawn from run-off reservoirs in the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges. Tap water in places such as Christchurch and Hastings is not chlorinated at all as it is drawn from the pure artesian aquifers of the Canterbury and Heretaunga plains. Bottled water is commonly available if you prefer.

L & P or Lemon & Paeroa is a sweet carbonated lemonade style drink said to be "world famous in New Zealand". It is a sold in a brown plastic bottle with a yellow label similar to the traditional brown glass bottles it used to be sold in. It is now manufactured in Auckland by Coca-Cola.

Sleep

New Zealand offers a wide range of accommodation. International quality, luxury hotels can be found in the major cities.

New Zealanders seem to have perfected the art of the top-dollar home-stay. Hosted luxury lodges are the top-end equivalent of the bed-and-breakfast market and New Zealand has upwards of 40 internationally recognised lodges. Per capita, that's probably the highest in the world. They tend to be situated away from cities and can be difficult to get to, though some are right in the heart of the major centres. At the very top-end, helicopter transfers and private jets help the luxury traveller move between the lodges they've chosen for their visit.

Motels of a variety of standards from luxury to just adequate can be found on the approaches to most towns. Most New Zealand motels feature kitchenettes usually with cooking utensils, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery so the traveller can reduce the cost of eating-out by self-catering from their motel bedroom. Heating can be a problem in winter though, with few Motel rooms properly insulated and even fewer with double-glazing or heat pumps.

Bed and Breakfasts are popular with visiting Brits and Swiss as well as homestays, farmstays and similar lodgings - some of which are in the most unlikely places. These can be a good choice to benefit from local insider tips from the resident hosts and many visitors welcome the opportunity to sample the rural life. For uniquely New Zealand accommodation, there are Māori homestays and tourist-catering marae stays.

There is a wide range of backpackers accommodation around these islands, including a 50 strong network of Youth Hostels (these cater for independent travellers of any age) that are members of the Youth Hostels Association [46]. There are also two marketing networks of independent Hostels: BBH with 280+ listings [47] and the much smaller Nomads network [48].

Commercial camping grounds are strategically and conveniently located, as well as camping sites within all of the national parks. If you are travelling into the backcountry, the 'Department of Conservation ("DOC") has many backcountry huts that can be used under a permit system.
Freedom camping outside of recognised and marked camping areas is decreasingly available. It used to be common to find a tent or hammock pitched for the night in many picnic areas or in a grove of trees off the road or anywhere else there wasn't a "No Camping" sign. Due to growing local concerns about both rubbish and human waste not being disposed of properly together with Moteliers resenting their falling incomes, many local authorities are now introducing tough restrictions with on-the-spot penalty notices being issued. Always dispose of all waste properly and leave your camping spots exactly as you found them (if not in better condition). Please respect this privilege and avoid leaving more ammunition for the people who want to restrict Freedom camping even further. TIA [49], DOC and the i-SITE network of information centres have produced a useful on-line map resource featuring over 1500 pay and free sites: [50] based on Google maps.

Many visitors travel around New Zealand in hired minibuses and vans, including self-contained campervans, that can be driven by anyone who holds an ordinary car driver's licence.

New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world after the UK to develop a dense WWoOF [51] network. "Willing Workers on Organic Farms" pioneered the concept of travellers ("WWoOFers") staying as volunteers on farms and receiving food and accommodation in exchange for half a days help for each night they stay. The Nelson Tasman region in the South Island is particularly rich in WWOOFing possibilities. HelpX [52] which is similar to WWOOF but is not restricted to just organics, originated and has its largest country network in New Zealand.

Couchsurfing is also popular in New Zealand with most major centres sporting active forums and groups as well as having hosts all around the nation. [53]

Learn

For many years, New Zealand schools and universities have educated foreign students from the countries of Southeast Asia and education has now become a major source of export earnings for the country. In recent years English language schools have been established for students from the region, particularly South Korea and China, but also many other countries.

Education in New Zealand is compulsory from age 6 to 16 years, though almost all children begin attending school at age 5 and often stay at school for thirteen years, until 17 or 18 years old. Primary schooling is from Year 1 to 8 while secondary schooling is from Year 9 to 13. In most major towns and cities, students progress through three schools: primary school for Years 1 to 6, intermediate school for Years 7 and 8, and secondary school for Years 9 to 13. In smaller towns, students progress through only two schools, a primary school and a secondary school, with one of the two (usually the former) serving Year 7 and 8 as well. In remote rural areas, a single composite school or area school delivers all primary and secondary schooling.

Secondary schools are also called high schools or colleges. A college does not refer to universities in New Zealand unlike in some other countries, though some specialised single-subject tertiary training-centres may also be called colleges.

Primary and secondary compulsory schooling is free for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, as well as Australian citizens at state schools (i.e. public government-funded schools), although quasi-voluntary donations and fees are generally requested to cover extra-curricular activities and consumable materials. State integrated schools are schools, often religious schools, that were once private but have since become part of the state system. They charge attendance dues to cover the cost of keeping the the still privately-owned school land and buildings up to scratch. Private schools are separate from the state system and charge tuition fees to cover the school's costs. Tertiary education is state assisted, with part of the tuition costs funded by the state. International students who are not Australian citizens will need to pay for their education; in some cases this includes a national profit margin.

The Ministry of Education has established a Code of Practice that New Zealand educational institutions enrolling international students need to abide by. This Code of Practice includes minimum standards for the 'PC 'pastoral care of international students. Primary school students, or those age 10 or under, need to either live with a parent or else board in a school hostel. Additionally, older students, who are under age 18, may live in home-stays, temporary accommodation or with designated caregivers. Where the institution arranges accommodation for students older than age 18 the code of practice applies to their accommodation situations also.

New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and refugees can receive financial assistance through loans and allowances, to pay the tuition fees and to attend tertiary education at Universities, Polytechnics, Whananga (Māori operated universities/polytechnics) and Private Training Providers. Overseas students will need to pay the full tuition fees and their own living costs while studying at a New Zealand institution.

Overseas students need to have a student visa and a reasonable level of cash to spend in order to undertake a course of study at a New Zealand based educational institution. Visas are generally valid for the duration of the course of study and only while the student is attending the course of study. New Zealand educational institutions will inform the appropriate immigration authorities if a student ceases to attend their enrolled courses, who may then suspend or cancel that student's visa. Educational institutions often also exchange this enrolment and attendance data electronically with other government agencies responsible for providing student assistance.

Work

To work in New Zealand you need to be a citizen or current permanent resident of either New Zealand or Australia, or else have a work permit or appropriate visa. If you are intending to work in New Zealand you should obtain a work permit along with any tourist visas you might apply for.

You will also need to have a New Zealand bank account, as most employers pay using electronic banking rather than in cash; an Inland Revenue Tax Number, as witholding tax or income tax will be deducted from your wages by your employer; and a tax declaration form, as tax will be deducted at the no declaration rate of 45% unless you have a tax code. More information about New Zealand's tax system, including appropriate forms, can be obtained from Inland Revenue [54].

The process of applying for an IRD number is between 8-10 working days. You will need to fill in the IRD number application form, and provide a photocopy of a passport or New Zealand birth certificate. It is possible to apply for the IRD number, then call the department around a week later to request the number by phone, however this will depend on the workload of the processing centres at the time. Calling the IRD requires several forms of ID, it is ideal to be able to provide your passport number and full address when requested.

New Zealand operates a simplified tax system that tends to collect more tax than people need to pay because employers pay their worker's tax when they pay their workers. The obligation is then on the worker to claim overpaid tax back, rather than declaring their income and paying any extra tax. Be careful though, if you choose to work in New Zealand and you stay more than 183 days in any 12-month period, your worldwide income could be taxed. New Zealand has double taxation agreements with several countries to stop tax being paid twice. A safe rule of thumb is to pay all tax demands and Not seek claims for redress on any matter.

Being a foreigner means that your New Zealand income is subject to local income tax at the fullest levels. Although many people believe that they can collect all their tax back when they leave the country, this is not true. It may be the case that filing an income tax return may result in a small refund if working for only part of the year; however, this is not likely the case. Tax in all its forms in New Zealand amounts to around half of a worker's income.

Short term

New Zealand is currently experiencing a period of relatively high unemployment as it feels the effects of the international monetary crises. Therefore, many positions are filled to capacity and many prospective employees are actively seeking work. Further disruptions in Christchurch in particular have resulted in business interruptions and workers leaving for other cities such as Auckland and Dunedin.

Seasonal work such as fruit picking and other agricultural work is sometimes formally available for tourists - and always available illegally. More information about legal seasonal fruit picking work can be found at Pick NZ [55].

New Zealand has a number of reciprocal Working Holiday Schemes, which allow people between 18 and 30 to travel and work in New Zealand for up to one year and vice versa. At present young citizens of a number of countries from Europe, South America, North America and Asia can apply. These schemes are enormously popular and in many instances participants can apply to stay in New Zealand longer once they have completed their one year stay. Information on all the various schemes and application details can be found at: [56]

Long term

If you want to stay in New Zealand long term, you should apply well ahead of time. New Zealand operates a points system for assessing applicants.

Refugee applications should be made before arrival since NZ has a formal refugee induction programme.

Those who turn up in a New Zealand airport arrival lounge without papers, claiming refugee status, may find themselves put on a return flight to their country of origin or in jail awaiting the outcome of legal proceedings.

Stay safe

The emergency telephone number in New Zealand is 111.

Ambulance, Fire, Police, Coastguard and Marine and Mountain Rescue can all be rapidly contacted via this one, FREE, emergencies only number.

This number (or 112 or 911) also works from mobiles - even when there is no credit available and even if no SIM card is present at all!

Dial *555 to report non-emergency traffic incidents from mobiles.

Full instructions are on the inside front cover of every telephone book.

   0800 161 610 - Deaf emergency fax (connects to police)
   0800 161 616 - Deaf emergency textphone/TTY (connects to police)
   0800 764 766 - Poisons and hazardous chemicals emergency
   0800 611 116 - medical advice ("Healthline", run by the Ministry of Health)
   0800 808 400 - railway emergencies (KiwiRail Network)

Crime and security

While difficult to make international comparisons, the level of crime in New Zealand is similar to other western countries. Dishonesty offences, such as theft, are by far the most frequent type of crime. Travellers should take simple, sensible precautions such as putting valuables away out of sight or in a secure place and locking doors of vehicles, even in remote locations, as much of this crime is opportunistic in nature.

Violent crime in public places is generally associated with alcohol or illicit drug consumption. Rowdy bars or drunken crowds in city centres, or groups of youths in the suburbs, are best avoided, especially late at night and in the early morning. New Zealanders can be somewhat lacking in a sense of humour when their country or their sporting teams are mocked by loud or drinking tourists.

There are occasional disturbing high profile media reports of tourists being targeted in random violent robberies and/or sexual crimes. These crimes tend to happen in more isolated places, where the chances of the offender being observed by other people are low. The chance of falling victim to such misfortune is still low. Although crime statistics reflect an increase in violent crime, the increase is entirely explained by increased detection of family violence, a key focus area for police. Tourists are unlikely to be affected, as such crimes usually take place in the privacy of New Zealanders own homes.

The New Zealand Police[57], a national force, are generally polite and helpful. Police regularly conduct drink-drive blitzes, often setting up screening checkpoints all around an area, including all lanes of motorways. Being caught drinking and driving will result in being invited to accompany the officer to a police station, or a roadside Booze Bus for an evidential breath test, blood test, or both. Being found with excess breath alcohol, or refusal to undertake testing will result in an arrest, appearance in Court, with a possibility of time in prison, as well as a hefty fine and disqualification from driving.

Fixed and mobile speed cameras as well as hand held and car speed detectors are used frequently. Police have no official discretion for speeding offences and will write tickets for all vehicles caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h. In some locations, such as near schools, even exceeding the speed limit by only 5 km/h will result in a ticket.

In New Zealand, armed police are highly unusual and usually rate a mention in the media. Traditionally, New Zealand police carry only batons and offender control pepper spray. Tasers are currently being introduced in Wellington and Auckland. Typically, situations where firearms are required are left to the specialist Armed Offenders Squad (AOS, similar to SWAT in the US) to deal with. However, all police officers have basic firearms training and first response patrols will generally have recourse to firearms locked in their vehicle to deter offenders until the AOS arrives.

Natural hazards

Severe weather is by far the most common natural hazard encountered. Although New Zealand is not subject to the direct hit of tropical cyclones, stormy weather systems, from both the tropics and the polar regions, can sweep across New Zealand at various times of the year. There is generally a seven to ten day cycle of a few days of wet or stormy weather followed by calmer and drier days as weather systems move across the country. The phrase four seasons in one day is a good description of New Zealand weather, which has a reputation for both changeability and unpredictability. The phrase is also a popular Kiwi song.

Weather forecasts are generally reliable for overall trends and severe weather warnings should be heeded when broadcast. However both the timing and intensity of any weather events should be assessed from your own location.

You should always seek advice from the Department of Conservation when trekking in alpine areas. There are annual fatalities of both foreign nationals and New Zealanders caught unaware by the weather.

There are other natural hazards you may encounter, though far more rarely:

• Strong earthquakes - New Zealand, being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, sits astride a tectonic plate boundary and experiences large numbers (about 14,000/year) of small earthquakes every year, a few (about 200/year) are noticeable and the occasional one causes damage and sometimes loss of life. The last big one causing serious loss of life was on 22 February 2011 10 km south east of Christchurch. It was a 6.3 magnitude with the depth only 5 km, the death toll was 185 people. The latest quake news is reported by GeoNet [58].

• Volcanic eruptions - New Zealand has a number of volcanoes that are classified as active or dormant. Only Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro, White Island and the remote Kermadec Islands have been active recently. Volcanic activity is monitored by GeoNet.

• There are almost no poisonous or substantially dangerous animals. The katipo and redback are the only two venomous spiders and bites from both species are extremely rare. Serious reactions are uncommon and unlikely to develop in less than three hours, though you should always seek help at your nearest hospital, medical centre, or doctor. The white-tailed spider can also deliver painful bites but is not considered dangerous to humans. [59] No large mammalian predators are present and no large predatory reptiles. Certain species of Weta (an insect, that looks a bit like a grasshopper or cricket) can deliver a painful but harmless bite.

Stay healthy

New Zealand has a very high level of ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer, around 40% more intense than you will find in the Mediterranean during the summer. Sunglasses and sunscreen are highly recommended, especially if you are of European descent.

Visiting the doctor will cost about $50 and may vary between practices and localities. The New Zealand public hospital system is free of charge to Australian, British and New Zealand citizens but will charge other nationals for treatment received. An exception to this is in the case of any accident when the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) will pick up the tab. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

New Zealand has high and equitable standards of professional health care comparable with Sweden or Australia. Tap water is drinkable. Precautions should be taken against Giardia when tramping: do not drink water from rural streams without boiling it first. Risk may be lower in the highlands of the South Island, especially where streams are strong and come directly from melting snow in the mountain.

Respect

Social behaviour

New Zealanders are generally warm and sociable, but will hold strangers at a distance.

• New Zealand is a country where "please" and "thank you" can be used more than once in a sentence without being out of place, and where an initial refusal of an offer is part of a polite banter. You should follow up a politely refused offer, with "Are you sure?", etc. Criticisms and compliments are often understated.

• If staying for more than a few days at someone's house, if they are younger than 35 it is considered polite to leave a token amount of money, say $20, to 'cover the power bill', especially if you are the guest at a shared flat/apartment/house.

• In conversations, if you want to contradict something someone has said, be *extremely* gentle.

• Some New Zealanders tend to swear a lot. Sometimes they may even use swear words to refer to friends. It generally isn't meant to be offensive.

• New Zealand society is understood by New Zealanders to be classless and egalitarian; this is mostly true, and largely functions by avoiding having discussions about money or by showing wealth. New Zealanders, even wealthy New Zealanders, tend to behave in a somewhat frugal manner. Talking about personal wealth isn't usually well received.

• Same-sex marriage will be legal in New Zealand from 19 August 2013.

Māori culture

Māori cultural experiences are popular tourist attractions enjoyed by many people but, as with any two cultures encountering one another, there is room for misunderstanding. Some tourists have found themselves more confronted than they expected by ceremonial challenges and welcomes. These are serious occasions; avoid chatter and laughter. Have jokes and laughs later. There will be plenty of time to relax later when the hāngi is uncovered.

Māori, Pākehā (Kiwis of European descent) and other New Zealanders (all-comers) are generally on good terms.

National identity

New Zealanders have a distinct and jealously guarded national identity. Although it has many similarities with other western cultures, it isn't a state of Australia, or still part of the British Empire. While Australia and New Zealand have close foreign policy ties, considerable inter-migration and overlapping cultures, saying New Zealanders are basically Australians will not gain you any Kiwi or Okker friends. It is pretty much the same relationship as with Canuks and Yanks or the Irish and Brits. In many ways, Australia and New Zealand have a similar outlook towards the other, with the same clichéd jokes being made.

Despite the jokes about New Zealand, most Australians have a genuine affection for New Zealanders. This can be traced back to ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp), participation in two world wars (particularly the Gallipoli and North African campaigns), Korea, Vietnam, the Malaya Crisis, Solomon Islands, etc.

Connect

EMERGENCIES

Dial: 111

Internet

Some places offer free Wi-Fi to their customers. Often it may be available for a charge.

Internet access is available in cyber cafes and there are generally many of these in the major cities. Some Internet (cyber) cafes may not be maintained properly, but there are places around that maintain a high level of security when it comes to their systems. If you have your own laptop, many cyber cafes allow wired and wireless access. It is slowly becoming more common to allow tourists to use their own laptops to access the Internet.

Many public libraries have public Internet access. There may be a charge. The Auckland City Public Library allows for two 15 min sessions a day at no charge. Hourly rates for are usually in the range of $4–8, with cheaper rates of around $2–4 at cyber cafes within the main city centres. Some providers, such as the Christchurch City Library network, offer free access to some sites, usually ones of interest such as Google, BBC and CNN and those in the .nz top level domain.

You can purchase vouchers for Wi-Fi access from many Starbucks cafes and many McDonalds fast food outlets have free Wi-fi . It is becoming more common to be provided at hotels and motels using vouchers, but it is seldom free as part of your room rate. Wireless Hotspots are located in many cities and towns all over New Zealand from dedicated Wireless providers from whom you can buy connect time. Many camping holiday parks also have such services available. Free Wi-Fi is not that common but the best free locations are at the libraries in many small and medium-sized towns.

As of December 2009, the airport at Wellington has free Wi-Fi but the airports at Christchurch and Auckland both charge a fee for wireless service in the terminals.

Telephone

New Zealand has a well developed and ubiquitous telephone system. The country's main phone company, Telecom, claims (as of 2009) to have about 4000 payphones in NZ which can be easily identified by their yellow and blue colours. All of them accept major credit cards and a variety of phonecards available from retailers. You may have to look hard for a payphone that accepts coins.

• The country code is 64. New Zealand telephone numbers can be looked up online at [60].

• The emergency telephone number from all telephones is 111 (you may need to use a prefix to get an outside line from business systems, usually 1). An emergency services call is normally answered with a voice request for Police, Fire or Ambulance, respond as appropriate and you will then be switched to the requested service. (Other common international emergency numbers like 112, 911 and 999 may also work, but do not rely on it)

Mobile phones

Mobile telephone coverage is good near urban areas although the mountainous terrain means that outside these urban areas, and especially away from the main highway system, coverage is patchy. Do not rely on mobile phones in hilly or mountainous terrain. Mobile telephone users can call *555 only to report Non-emergency traffic safety incidents, such as a breakdown, road hazard or non-injury car crash, to the Police.

There are currently three major mobile carriers in New Zealand.

• Telecom [61] operates a UMTS (3G) network, named XT Network, nationwide on 850 MHz with supplementary 2100 MHz in metropolitan areas. (the same frequencies as Telstra in Australia and AT&T in the U.S.)

• Vodafone [62] operates a GSM network on 900 MHz/2100 MHz and a UTMS (3G) network operates nationwide 900 MHz with supplementary 2100 MHz coverage.

• 2degrees [63] operates a UMTS (3G) network (2100 MHz) in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, with supplementary GSM coverage provided elsewhere by Vodafone.

Airports and shopping malls will have stores from Telecom and Vodafone available for purchasing access and getting information about their networks. A prepaid sim-card connection pack with $10 credit from Vodafone costs around $30, prepaid sim-cards from 2degrees cost $10, and a prepaid sim-card from Telecom costs $5. Telecom has broader coverage in remote areas away from major cities compared to Vodafone and 2degrees.

In regards to purchasing and using local mobile Internet broadband such as a USB mobile broadband card for a laptop or a micro-sim for an Apple iPad, Telecom seems to have the best data coverage in New Zealand outside of Auckland itself (where Telecom and Vodafone appear to be roughly equal). Telecom's mobile coverage and data network availability may even be the only option in certain areas such as Hawke's Bay, the southern part of the North Island and the South Island where Vodafone coverage can be spotty.

Mail

The national post office is New Zealand Post [64]. If you are staying in one place for a while, you can rent a PO Box from them. NZ Post also offer overnight and same day courier services across New Zealand. [65]

• New Zealand Post (Poste Restante), Is avaiable at Post offices across the country. This is an inexpensive service for receiving letters and parcels while you are visiting New Zealand from overseas.

• New Zealand Post (Counter delivery), Is available nationally at local PostShop and some PostCentre outlets. Use the Counter delivery service if you need a short term mailing address of up to three months.

Postcards cost 50c to send within New Zealand (2–3 days) and $1.80 to send internationally (3–10 days). Letters up to DL size (130mm×235mm) cost the same as postcards within New Zealand and to Australia and the South Pacific, with letters to other destinations costing $1.80 for economy service (10–25 days), and $2.30 for standard service (6–10 days).

Media

New Zealand has five nationwide free-to-air television channels, as well as some regional stations and several networks with sub-national coverage. Free-to-air digital television is being rolled out with a total of 18 channels to be broadcast initially. Cable television is not well developed, but direct broadcast satellite technology is available across the nation, with both free-to-air and pay television through the Sky network. Most hotels and motels have the national channels, some Sky channels and whatever else is broadcast in the local area. Teletext no longer provides an information service, but page 801 provides a caption text service for some TV programs which allows hearing impaired people to read subtitles.

New Zealand has many radio stations, on both AM and FM, with at least one local station and a number of nationwide network stations broadcast in each major city or town.

• National Radio is a government funded, non-commercial, spoken features style national network with some music. It broadcasts news and detailed weather forecasts, generally hourly, with detailed mountain and marine forecasts a couple of times a day on both AM and FM (around 101 MHz FM). Operated by Radio New Zealand [66].

• There are a number of FM visitor information stations around the country.