Essential Information
Climate
Auckland sits on the equivalent latitude to San Francisco or Athens in the northern hemisphere. It has a ‘maritime subtropical’ climate. Summer (November – March) ranges from 20° to 30° Celsius. Winter temperatures range from 10° to 17° Celsius.
Commercial business
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.
Currency
New Zealand dollars ($) and cents (c). There are five notes ($5, $10, $20, $50, $100) and five coins (10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2).
Customs allowances
Visitors over 17 years may bring in 200 cigarettes, 4.5 litres of wine or beer; 1125 millitres of spirits or liqueur. Goods over NZ$700 may attract duty and tax.
Departure tax
Departure Tax is NZ$25 payable at the airport.
Driving
Most rental car companies will ask for an international driver’s licence. Drivers must be over 21 years.
Electricity
240 volts, 50 hertz, with Australian/New Zealand pattern three-pin sockets.
Emergency services
111 is the emergency number for Police, Fire and Ambulance.
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
New Zealand has a 12.5% goods and services tax. Overseas visitors cannot claim this back. Some stores may waive GST if you show onward or return air tickets, or international shipment is arranged.
Health
No vaccination certificates are required. Public and private hospitals provide a high standard of treatment and care. Medical services are not free to visitors. Health insurance is recommended.
Mobile telephones
New Zealand operates on a 900 or 1800 MHz network, as do most countries except Canada and USA. Mobile telephones from these countries will not operate in New Zealand. You can buy or rent a New Zealand compatible phone or SIM card upon arrival.
Postal services
You can buy stamps and post items at Post Shops. Stamps can also be purchased from stationers and convenience stores. Look for red, black and white post boxes to post letters.
Shopping
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Late nights Thursday or Friday to 9pm.
Saturday and Sunday – most large suburban shops in
shopping malls are open all day. Other shops usually
open 10am to 2pm.
DFS Galleria in Customs Street in Auckland Central is
open 9am to 10pm daily.
Trading banks
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Telephone directory services Most phone boxes require a phone card. These can be bought at convenience stores and service stations.
Telephone Directory Services
Dial 018 for local directory assistance or 0172 for international directory assistance.
Time zone
New Zealand Standard Time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight saving time (an advance of one hour per day) is observed from the end of September until early April.
Tipping and service charges
Tipping is not expected, but you may wish to tip for extra-special service or kindness.
Visas
Currently travellers from more than 50 countries do not require a visitor’s visa for stays of less than three months. For further information about visas, please visit www.immigration.govt.nz