Monday September 06, 2010
A basic guide to New Zealand
The two islands have surprisingly different characters. The North Island has dramatic volcanic landscapes and highly active thermal areas, long stretches of beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient indigenous forests and a strong Maori cultural influence. The South Island has a slower pace of life dominated by a magnificent spine of mountains, the snow-covered Southern Alps, and the spectacular scenery of the southern waterways of the fjord lands, with glaciers, deep lakes and verdant forests.
The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was New Zealand's founding document, an attempt to settle disputes between the European settlers and the Maoris, conceding the country to British rule while guaranteeing the Maori people possession of their land and cultural identity. Today, integration has been replaced by a policy of upholding two different cultures alongside each other. Their shared love of sport, most notably the revered national sport of rugby union, and their enthusiasm for adventure and the outdoors is the unifying factor among the whole population.
New Zealand offers a huge variety of action-packed and laid back activities, from bungee jumping to skiing, swimming with dolphins, scenic flights and boat cruises on the fjords, as well as several world famous walking trails with unrivalled scenery. Alternatively visitors can immerse themselves in culture at the museums and galleries of the country's main cities - Auckland and the capital Wellington in the North, and Christchurch in the south.
New Zealand is an easy and compact place in which to travel and its spectacularly dramatic landscape alone, famous for its setting for the 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy, makes the long trip to these southern islands more than worthwhile.
The basics
Time: Local time is GMT +12 (Daylight savings - GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).
Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Oblique flat blade plugs are standard.
Language: The official languages are English and Maori.
Health: There are no health risks associated with travel to New Zealand. New Zealand's accident compensation scheme (ACC) covers emergency treatment for visitors, but health insurance is recommended to cover any additional charges and for those not entitled to free emergency treatment. Those intending to participate in adventure activities, such as bungee jumping, white water rafting, etc should ensure that their travel insurance covers these types of activities.
Tipping: Gratuities are not expected and service charges are not applied to bills, but it is acceptable to tip at your discretion.
Safety: New Zealand has a reputation as one of the safest destinations in the world, however sensible precautions against petty theft are still advised.
Customs: Quarantine procedures mean that strict bio-security regulations are in place at immigration points into the country. It is illegal to import most foodstuffs, and care should be taken when importing wood products, golf clubs and shoes (which may have soil and dirt attached), and items made from animal skin. The immigration arrivals card has full details.
Business: Business in New Zealand is usually conducted formally and conservatively. Standard business etiquette applies; punctuality is important, business attire is formal (for men and women suits are appropriate), meetings begin and end with a handshake and business cards are exchanged. Business hours are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for New Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular holiday areas. Internet cafes are widely available.
Duty Free: Travellers to New Zealand over 17 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 litres or 1 litre spirits or liqueurs, and 4.5 litres wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 litres beer. Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects not dutiable include items such as jewellery, binoculars, portable radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras. Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals, plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone, Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products manufactured from such shells).
Source: Wordtravels
More information...
Visit any one of these websites for more information about New Zealand and it's cities
- 100% New Zealand -Official Tourism New Zealand website
- Auckland Tourism - The city of sails
- Wellington - New Zealand's capital
- Christchurch - The garden city
- Dunedin - A city rich in heritage and architecture
- Queenstown - Adventure capital of New Zealand
- Air New Zealand - you have to get here somehow!
Great New Zealand Survey
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