New Zealand International Rugby Seven’s Tournament (February); Wellington Dragon Boat Festival (March); Womad (March); Savour New Zealand (April).
Visas:
Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa:
• Citizens of New Zealand including persons born on the Cook Island, Niue and Tokelau Island
• Citizens of Australia and other nationals holding a current Australian resident return visa
• British citizens and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom, for leisure or business visits of up to six months
• For leisure or business visits for up to three months: Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (residents travelling on the Hong Kong Administrative Region or British National Overseas passports only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kiribati, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Norway, Portugal (applicable if holder has right of entry to Portugal for permanent residence), Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Sultanate of Oman, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City and Zimbabwe.
Health requirements:
No compulsory vaccinations are required. However, you are advised to ensure that your tetanus and polio immunisations are valid.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover. We also recommend that water sports enthusiasts cover themselves in case of an accident while skiing or participating in any other water sport. An extra premium is required for these covers.
Currency:
New Zealand Dollar (NZD) divided into 100 cents.
Notes in denominations of NZD100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.
Coins in denominations of NZD2 and 1 and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = NZD0.36
EUR1 = NZD2.1
USD1 = NZD1.32
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours - 0900 to 1630 hours, Monday - Friday.
There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign and local currency. However, cash amounts in excess of NZD10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared.
US Dollars are accepted in major hotels and department stores.
All major credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in most stores, hotels and restaurants.
Automated teller machines (ATMs) are available at airports, the main shopping streets and suburban malls. Travellers cheques can be encashed at most banks and are accepted in hotels, banks and some stores.
Clothing:
Light to mediumweight clothes for summer and mediumweight clothes with a topcoat for winter are required. Warmer attire is recommended for the mountainous areas. Rainwear is required all year round.
Airport information:
Auckland - Auckland International Airport is approximately 22 kilometres south of Auckland. The airport telephone number is 09 275 0789. Christchurch - Christchurch International Airport is 10 kilometres north-west of Christchurch. The airport telephone number is 03 353 7774.
Customs:
Duty free allowance for persons of 17 years of age and above: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco or a combination of these products up to a maximum weight of 250 grams; 4.5 litres of wine or beer and three 1,125-millilitre bottle of spirit; and goods up to a value of NZD700.
The following items are prohibited:
• Drugs and narcotics
• Flick knives, swordsticks and knuckle-dusters
• Firearms and weapons are strictly controlled and require a police permit
• Food, plants or parts of plants, whether dead or alive, or their products, biological specimens and equipment used for animals
• Objectionable publications, videos and CD ROMs
• Products covered by the CITES agreement for endangered, threatened or exploited species Camping and golf equipment and used bicycles must be declared for agricultural purposes. Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Refund Scheme:
All goods and services in New Zealand are subject to 12.5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is included in the displayed price. Goods bought at duty free shops are exempt from GST. Visitors cannot claim refunds on this tax. However, when a supplier agrees to export a major item to a visitor’s home address, GST will not be charged on either the goods or the freight. With many imports carrying very low or no tariff/duty, you may find that many consumer goods are less expensive here.
Departure tax:
Christchurch International Airport - NZD25 for international flights. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from this.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. An International Driving Permit or a licence issued by the following countries, which is valid for one year, is acceptable: Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City, Yugoslavia and Zaire.
Also recommended is car rental. Emirates’ associate car rental company is Budget Rent a Car.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Police, fire and ambulance - 111
Hours of work:
Business: 0900 to 1700 hours, Monday - Friday.
Shopping:
0900 to 1730 hours, Monday - Friday,
1000 to 1700 hours, Saturday,
1100 to 1500 hours,Sunday.
Public holidays (fixed):
1st January - New Year’s Day
2nd January - New Year Holiday
6th February - Waitangi Day
25th April - ANZAC Day
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day
Public holidays (moveable):
Good Friday Easter Queen’s Birthday (June)
Labour Day (October)
Time zone:
GMT + 13 hours.
GMT + 12 hours (from March 17 to October 5).
Language:
English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand. Maori is also an official language of increasing importance.
Tipping:
Service charges are not applied, neither are gratuities necessary.
Dress code:
In keeping with New Zealand’s relaxed lifestyle, dress is informal on most occasions. Fashionable, casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and nightspots. In summer, in the coastal areas, it is usually warm enough to go out in the evenings without a jacket. However, warmer waterproof clothing should be carried if you plan to visit the mountainous areas or to visit New Zealand between May and September.
Electricity:
230 volts, 50 cycles.
Safety tips:
New Zealand is a safe destination. However it is advisable to keep your passports and valuables in the hotel’s safety deposit box.