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Day to Day Living in New Zealand

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Day to Day Living in New Zealand

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Day-to-day Living in New Zealand

What's the television like?

There are five free television stations in New Zealand. Television One and Two are state-run, channels Three and Four are privately run, and there is also now a Maori channel - a government initiative to try to help encourage the Maori language and culture.

Most news and documentaries can be found on channels one and three. There are also some English soaps (albeit a little behind).

Sky television is also very popular, especially as they have the rights to many sports events - such as rugby.

And radio?

There are many national and regional radio stations. Newstalk ZB is the main information station which is nationwide. BBC worldwide is also available in some parts of the country.

The newspapers?

New Zealand has several major papers - although most of them are regional (even if the regions some of them cover are large - the New Zealand Herald covers a lot of the North Island). Most small towns also have a local paper which comes out once or twice a week. There are two major Sunday papers and these are both national. The more distinguished and serious of the two is the Sunday StarTimes.

Is the water safe to drink?

New Zealanders are quite environmentally conscious, so there aren't many problems with pollution. The water is fine to drink, but it will be treated unless you are in the country, and then it is usually pumped straight from the ground or from a natural source - delicious.

Will my English appliances work in NZ?

The electricity supply is 230/250 volts. Plugs have 3 prongs, so you will need a few adaptors.

How about internet and phones?

The internet is everywhere in New Zealand. Internet cafes are usually found even in the smallest of towns. There are several home internet suppliers, all offering broadband.

There are also choices of telephone companies and call plans for fixed lines. The international code for New Zealand is 0064. Most telephone companies have very good deals for calls back to the UK - you just need to ask them.

Mobile phone coverage is fine in towns and cities, but in some more remote parts of the country there can be limited service.

What are the hours of shops and businesses?

All shops have to be closed on Christmas day and Good Friday. Apart from that, shopping hours are very good in New Zealand:

  • Banks are open until 4.30pm Monday to Friday
  • Businesses and offices are usually open from 8.30am until 5.00pm
  • Shops are usually open from 8.30/9.00am until 5.30-6.00pm - later if you're in a main centre, and most large shopping or commercial centres have one late night per week where they are open until 9.00pm
  • Supermarkets are generally open from about 8.00am until 8-9.00pm 7 days a week. In the larger centres you will find 24 hour supermarkets

How do I get around?

You're most likely to fly into either Auckland or Christchurch airports. There are shuttle buses from the airports into the cities, or taxis if you prefer. All of the airports are slightly out of the city centres.

As far as public transport is concerned, New Zealand lags far behind Europe - there is a lot of work to do in this area.

Trains run between the major centres, there are usually a few each day.

Planes are a better bet if you are travelling a major distance. All of the major centres have airports, and the plane is definitely the best option if you were wanting to go from Auckland to the South Island, as otherwise you will have to drive about 8 hours to Wellington, get a three hour ferry, and then continue driving…..Have a look on the Air New Zealand, Qantas, Freedom Air, Origin Pacific, websites.

Buses - the major centres have buses or trams, but they usually all head into the centre, which makes things more difficult when you want to head across town. There are also buses to and from major centres, and they make stops at smaller towns. The main national bus service is called 'Intercity Coachlines', which service over 600 towns.

Cars are probably your best bet. Have a shop around for car rentals, and because of the distance between towns, most of them cater for people who want to pick up a car in one town and leave it in another. The other option if you're staying, is buying a car. Cars in New Zealand are not very expensive. Second hand cars are usually affordable, as the majority of second-hand cars are imported cheaply from Japan.

How do I get to New Zealand?

It's going to be a long trip. Usually about 25 hours, with a stop-over either in Los Angeles, Dubai or Asia. You usually have a higher baggage allowance via LA. If you have the time, these stop-overs are a great opportunity to see another country all within the price of your ticket. Flights usually land in Auckland or Christchurch.

How do I move myself and my belongings to New Zealand?

There are several companies which specialise in moving belongings from the UK to New Zealand, from a few t-boxes to a household.

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