New Zealand

Southshore beach, Christchurch in the wintertime

Auckland and Christchurch are the biggest cities. Wellington is the capital. The major International Airports are located in Auckland and Christchurch with smaller international airports in Queenstown, Wellington, Palmerston North, and Dunedin. There is a wikipage for New Zealands new couchsurfing members

Places

North Island

Auckland, Gisborne, Hamilton, Rotorua, Hastings, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Taupo, Wanganui, Tauranga, Wellington

Provinces

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Cape, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington

Te Wai Pounamu (South Island)

Blenheim, Christchurch (Otautahi), Dunedin, Kaikoura, Oamaru, Nelson, Golden Bay, Picton, Arthurs Pass, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Queenstown, Wanaka, Invercargill, Banks Peninsula, The Catlins, Fiordland

Provinces

Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, Southland

Rakiura (Stewart Island)

Internet

Free Wireless Internet:

Christchurch:

Canterbury Public Library, Central Library, Gloucester Street, Christchurch.

Hoyts Movie Theatre, Riccarton, Christchurch has free wifi for Hoyts' patrons but no power points available (i.e. battery power only)

Elsewhere:

Many of the Esquire Coffee Houses offer free wifi for their customers. Store locator guide

A lot of bars sell wireless internet for $10 an hour.
Internet cafes are plentiful in all the big cities and Internet access is available for around $2 - 4 per hour. Public libraries also offer internet access. Hostels and backpackers all over the country usually offer internet access for around $2 per twenty minutes.

Free internet at Arc Café, High Street in Dunedin

Cheap transport

Elsa's and amylin's Kiwi hitching experience, from Christchurch to Nelson

The cheapest form of transport is of course by thumb.

InterCity Coachlines provide New Zealand's national transport network with over 140 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide. They also offer NZ's most flexible transport pass Flexi-Pass which can be used on the Interislander ferry between the North and south Islands.

The cheapest bus fares may be available through Naked Bus. If you book in advance you can find bus tickets from $1 on many routes through both the north and the south island. HELPFUL HINT: You are more likely to find $1 fares on shorter routes. For example if you are wanting to travel Christchurch to Picton try two separate bookings: Christchurch - Kaikoura and Kaikoura - Picton rather than Christchurch - Picton.

Loads of companies sell bus passes that can be used to get all over the country, but these aren't always worth the money (they aren't cheap), especially considering how easy it is to hitch here. The bus companies such as Magic, KiwiExperience and Stray, all try to organise your activities and accommadation - they can make you feel like you're on a school trip, and they will ensure that you feel like a tourist.

Flying into New Zealand

When flying into New Zealand on a one-way ticket with a Working Holiday Visa you need to make sure that you have a printout with information about your visa. It's titled "NEW ZEALAND IMMIGRATION SERVICE - ELECTRONIC VISA", contains your name and information and it states "Outward passage waived." This is for the airline company when checking in. Also print the phone number of the NZ Customs just in case.

Obtaining an IRD Tax Number for a Working Holiday Permit

In order to work and to get taxed properly in New Zealand you need to obtain a tax number from the Inland Revenue/Te Tare Taake. You can apply for this whilst in New Zealand or before you leave your home country. Don't worry this isn't as hard as it sounds:

1. Download the Tax Number Application Form (IR596) from the Inland Revenue/Te Tari Taake website
2. Print out and complete the application form you have downloaded. Please note you need to have a permanent address in New Zealand to get your tax number.
3. Get a photocopy of your passport and attach to the application form.
4. Either post or fax your application to NZ Inland Revenue. To fax send to (0)3-3536691 or 03-3536649. To post to send to one of the office below:

South Island Inland Revenue Southern Processing Centre PO Box 3752 Christchurch

North Island Inland Revenue Northern Processing Centre PO Box 1454 Hamilton

Your IRD number confirmation will be sent to the address you supply within 8-10 days

Failure to pay tax on income you receive while in New Zealand may result in a heavy fine. IRD takes a very hard line on tax evasion and tax fraud.

Emergency Information

Police

111 is the the emergency phone number for police (also for ambulance and fire) anywhere in New Zealand. All phone calls go to a national call centre.

Embassies

All foreign embassies are located in Wellington, the NZ capital city.

Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Help

Most cities in NZ have Rape Crisis or Sexual Abuse Centres.

Check out the Personal Emergencies section of the Telecom White Pages for your nearest sexual assault agency. Or else the Auckland Rape Crisis website has a list of the Sexual Assault Centres in NZ.

In addition to sexual assault being illegal, Sexual Harassment is also against the law. Under the Human Rights Act two types of sexual harassment are prohibited. They are:

1. A request for sex together with an implied or overt promise of preferential treatment or a threat of detrimental treatment.

2. Sexual behaviour, language or visual material which is unwelcome or offensive and either repeated or significant enough to have a detrimental effect on the person subjected to it.

Sexual harassment of either kind is unlawful when it occurs in any of the following areas of life: · Employment · Access to education · Access to public places, vehicles and facilities · Provision of goods and services · Land, housing and accommodation · Industrial and professional associations, qualifying bodies and vocational training bodies · Partnerships

Check the Human Rights Commission website for examples of sexual harassment.

HealthLine

Healthline is a free 24 hour, seven days a week telephone health advice line supported by the Ministry of Health, St John and the Plunket Society. A callers health needs are assessed by nurses to decide on the type of health care they need. This service is available to all areas of New Zealand by land line and mobile phone. 0800 611 116

Other Help Lines

Helpline national numbers:

• Gambling Problem Helpline Service 0800 654 655
• Alcohol Drug Association 0800 787 797
• Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 229 6757
• Alcohol Hotline 0800 787 797
• Lifeline 0800 543 354
• Youthline 0800 376 633 or urge.co.nz
• Samartians 0800 726 666 (free call number for lower North Island)
• Gay Line / Lesbian Line 0800 802 437 (HIV line staffed by Gay Line / Lesbian Line counsellors)

General Tips

• Stores open at 9am and close at 5pm. Shopping malls have late night (9:00pm) closing on Thursday and Friday evenings. Malls are open Saturdays and Sundays but many other shops will be closed Sundays (and possibly Saturdays after 1:00pm.) Most grocery stores are open until 9:00 or 10:00pm and all the major cities have 24 hour convenience stores.

• The NZ customs are very strict: do not keep any food/organic product with you, they won't enter the country anyway. Ensure your boots, bicycle and camping gear is free of mud or soil from another country before you arrive. Be prepared to spend some time at the airport waiting to go through customs upon arrival.

Tramping/Hiking

Tracks

In the summer time, it is essential to book huts in advance. You can check bookings with the Department of Conservation. You should also ask them about camping possibilities. Hut prices will differ depending on the tracks. You can also buy a One Year Hut Pass.

Transportation

wikitravel:New Zealand hitch:New Zealand