Reciprocal driving rights exist between New Zealand and most other countries.
Most rental car companies will ask for an International Driver’s Licence.
The driver must be 21 years of age.
Postal
services
Most Post Offices are open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am
- 4.00pm (Sunday closed). A full national and international postal service
is available.
Email
and facsimile services
Most hotels offer these services. There are also internet cafes and business
service centres in many NZ major towns and cities.
Electricity throughout New Zealand is supplied at 230 volts, 50 htz. Hotels
and motels provide 100 volt 20 watt sockets for electric razors only. Most
power sockets in use in New Zealand accept three-pin plugs.
Water
All New Zealand cities and towns have excellent public water supplies; tap
water is fresh and safe to drink.
Time
New Zealand is close to the International Date Line and is 12 hours ahead
of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight Saving Time – clocks are advanced 1
hour in summer - is observed from early October to late March.
Population
New Zealand has a population of 4.1 million. Around 13% of the population
is Maori.
Size
of Country
New Zealand is similar in geographic size to the State of Victoria in Australia,
California in the U.S.A. and Britain.
Language
English is the native language of New Zealanders.
Arrival
Every person arriving in New Zealand must complete an arrival card.
Passports
Passports are required for all visitors to New Zealand and must be valid for
at least three months after the date the visitor intends to leave New Zealand.
Visas
Most nationalities do not require visas to visit New Zealand. Check with the
New Zealand Immigration Service, PO Box 3705, Wellington or www.immigration.govt.nz
Customs
allowances
A detailed leaflet, "Customs Guide for Travellers", is available
from New Zealand Embassies and Consulates or from the Controller of Customs,
PO Box 11-746, Wellington, New Zealand or www.customs.govt.nz
Agricultural
restrictions
New Zealand is free from many animal and plant diseases. Restrictions are
imposed on the importation of some animal and plant materials to maintain
this situation. A declaration will need to be filled out before arrival in
New Zealand. Detailed information is available from the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries (MAF), PO Box 2526, Wellington.
Air
transport
International flights into Queenstown are made by: Air New Zealand and Qantas
Airways. International flights into Christchurch and Auckland connect to Queenstown
through domestic airlines Air New Zealand National, Origin Pacific and Qantas
New Zealand.
Money
New Zealand has decimal currency - NZ dollars. Banks: Trading hours for banks
are Monday - Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm. Bureaux de Change are open 7 days a
week, 9.00am to 9.00pm. Banking facilities at international airports provide
foreign exchange services for international arrivals and departures, including
weekends (occasionally closed for late night departures).
Credit
Cards
Payment by credit card is widely accepted throughout New Zealand. Common cards
include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB.
Travellers
Cheques
Travellers Cheques can be changed at trading banks, hotels and many other
trading establishments.
Taxes
A Goods and Services Tax (GST) in New Zealand is applied: rate is 12.5% Goods
and Services Tax (GST). Departure Tax: An airport departure fee of between
$20 and $25 is levied when departing New Zealand.
What
to wear
New Zealand's relaxed lifestyle lends itself to an informal style of dress.
Even in restaurants and nightclubs, casual clothes are acceptable.
Medical
and emergency services
All emergency services can be contacted throughout New Zealand by dialling
111. New Zealand's medical and hospital services are both public and private.
Please note - medical services are not free to visitors. It is strongly recommended
that visitors purchase health insurance.
