Guía Del Expatriado. Auckland (En Inglés)

Guide for expatriates
Auckland
Update: 6/12/2009 EasyExpat.com
Auckland, New Zealand
Table of Contents
About us 4 Finding Accommodation, 32

Flatsharing, Hostels
Map 5
Rent house or flat 34
Region 5
Buy house or flat 35
City View 6
Hotels and Bed and Breakfast 35
Neighbourhood 7
Work 38
Street View 8
Social Security 39
Overview 9
Work Usage 39
Geography 10
Pension 40
History 11
Benefits package 41
Politics 11
Tax system 42
Economy 12
Unemployment Benefits 43
Find a Job 14
Moving in 45
Volunteer abroad, Gap year 15
Mail, Post office 46
Summer, seasonal and short 16
term jobs Gas, Electricity, Water 46
Internship abroad 16 Telephone 47
Au Pair 17 TV & Internet 47
Adverts and Recruitment 18 Education 49
Departure 24 Schooling system 50
Before you leave 25 International Schools 50
Customs 25 Courses for Adults and 50

Evening Class
Passport, Visa & Permits 25
Language courses 51
International Removal 27
Companies Health 52
Accommodation 31 General Practitioner, Doctor, 53

Physician
2 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Medicines, Hospitals 54
International healthcare, 54
medical insurance
Practical Life 56
Bank services 57
Shopping 57
Mobile Phone 58
Transport 58
Childcare, Babysitting 63
Entertainment 65
Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants 66
Cinema, Nightclubs 67
Theatre, Opera, Museum 68
Sport and Activities 71
Public Services 74
Consulate 75
Emergency 78
Return 79
Before going back 80
Credit & References 81
Guide for expats in Auckland - 3

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Map: Region

Map: City View

Map: Neighbourhood

Map: Street View

Overview
1. Geography
2. History
3. Politics
4. Economy

Geography
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island in the south-western Pacific Ocean. It is made up of two large landmasses
(commonly known as North Island and South Island), with many smaller islands off of its coast. The
island is located about 2000 km (or 1250 miles) south-east of Australia. Its neighbors consist of New
Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. Comparable in size and shape to Great Britain, Colorado or Japan, New
Zealand has a population of only 4 million.
Auckland
Known for the slogan "thirty minutes to anywhere", Auckland has been ranked as one of the best
cities in the world to live in. The Auckland region actually includes four cities: Auckland, Manukau,
North Shore and Waitakere. There are also three districts: Franklin, Rodney and Papakura. Auckland
is the world's largest Polynesian city with around 1 million residents. Around 62% of its residents
are of European descent, 12% are M?ori, 11% are of Pacific Island descent. There is also a growing
Asian population of around 9%.
Auckland is settled on volcanic lands on the Auckland Volcanic Field. This area has produced
approximately 50 volcanoes. The most recently active and largest volcano, Rangitoto Island, was
formed within the last 1000 years. The individual volcanoes are all considered extinct, although the
volcanic field itself is listed as dormant. Earthquakes still occur frequently, but most are not serious
and don't cause any damage.
The land mass the city is set on is an isthmus that spans between Mangere Inlet and the Tamaki
River. More water besieges the city in the form of two harbors. Waitemata Harbour to the north
opens to the Hauraki Gulf and Manukau Harbour opens to the Tasman Sea. Because of this plethora
of water, bridges mark the look of the city, most notably the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Auckland has a warm-temperate climate consisting of warm, humid summers and mild, damp
winters. This is the warmest, sunniest spot in New Zealand with an average of 2060 sunshine hours
per year.
The average daily maximum temperature is 23.7 degrees Celsius in February with the absolute
minimum at -2.5 degrees Celsius. The warmest months are December, January and February, and
the coldest are June, July and August. High levels of rainfall occur year-round keeping the area lush
and green. Snowfall is exceedingly rare with the only recorded incident occurring on July 27th,
1939. Contrary to the Northern hemisphere, summer brings Christmas Day barbecues, lazy days at
the beach, and warm weather fun.
Partially because of these geographical factors, paired with a culture devoted to car ownership,
there are issues of air pollution. There are regular breaches of guideline levels of carbon monoxide.
The city's seaside location allows the wind to blow away some of the pollution, but it remains a
problem. On calm winter days a layer of smog can hang over the city.

History
The first people of New Zealand were the indigenous Maori. They named the North island
"Aotearoa", commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud, which has since become the
word for the entire island in the Maori language. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman arrived in 1642
and named it Staten Landt.
However, "settling" the island for the white immigrants did not come easily as some of the original
Dutch crew was killed by the Maori and Europeans were unsure about returning. The British
explorer James Cook tried again in 1768. This time, the European immigration was successful and
opened the floodgates of European trade of metal tools and weapons for Maori timber, food,
artefacts and water. Christian missionaries followed and furthered changed the ways of the
indigenous people. New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses to be settled.
Auckland's isthmus was settled around 1350 for its rich and fertile land. The Maori had used this
area as productive farm land for many years, but the introduction of guns began a brutal inter-tribal
war. The openness of future Auckland's terrain made it difficult to protect the tribe and it was
largely abandoned for more sheltered coastal areas. On January 27th, 1832 Joseph Brooks officially
bought the land and Europeans began to make their home in Auckland. As more and more white
settlers came to New Zealand, land disputes became common and the New Zealand Land Wars of
the 1860s and 1870s resulted in severe land loss for the Maori.
Originally, part of the colony of New South Wales was under British rules. It became a separate
colony in 1840. The area developed and grew with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and
Auckland was distinguished as the new capital. The new Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson,
named the city after George Eden, Earl of Auckland. Representation came in 1852 with the passing
of a new Constitution Act by the United Kingdom. The 1st Parliament meeting occurred in 1854.
In 1863 the Premier, Alfred Domett, became concerned that division on the island would lead to the
South Island creating a separate colony. Wellington was chosen as the new capitol in 1865 for its
harbor and central location to counteract this movement. It was also at this time that New Zealand
became fully independent in 1907. In 1947 the Statute of Westminster was ratified.
The country experienced great growth following World War II, but suffered along with the world
market in the 1930s. Social unrest was also a problem as the Maori had begun to immigrate to the
city and criticize the European supremacy. Many Maori felt that earlier treaties had not been
adhered to and in 1975 the Waitangi Tribunal was established to investigate alleged breaches.
Today, the country has somewhat reconciled with its past and features a confident and laid back
people. The area's mild climate, bountiful employment and many leisure activities have
distinguished it as a pleasant place to be. It currently ranks as the 4th best place to live in terms of
quality of life for 215 major cities of the world.
Politics
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Wellington is the
capital city. The Constitution Act 1986 provides the country's governmental framework. Queen
Elizabeth II is the head of state and is titled Queen of New Zealand under the Royal Titles Act 1974.

The Governor-General acts for her and is appointed on the exclusive advice of the Prime Minister.
The current Governor-General is Anand Satyanand.
The New Zealand Parliament consists solely of the House of Representatives. This is about 120
Members with elections held every 3 years under a form of proportional representation called Mixed
Member Proportional.
The parties that usually rule the country are the conservative National Party and the left-leaning
Labour Party. The two have vied for power ever since the Labour government came to power in
1935. Despite these rival sides, the country has been quite progressive on issues like gender
equality. In 1893, New Zealand was the first nation in the world to grant women the right to vote. It
is also the first country in the world in which all the highest offices were occupied by women.
Between March 2005 and August 2006: the Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand,
Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Speaker of the New Zealand
House of Representatives Margaret Wilson and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias all held office.
Auckland
The city is officially divided into Auckland City (excluding the Hauraki Gulf islands), North Shore
City, the urban parts of Waitakere and Manukau cities, and Papakura District and some urban parts
of Rodney and Franklin Districts. The Auckland Regional Council is the regional council with
jurisdiction for the area.
This form of localized government has caused some Aucklanders to complain of the city's limited
progress and fragmentation of the city into various councils. In 2007, the government set up a
Royal Commission on Auckland Governance to decide how the system should be restructured. On
March 27, 2009 it was announced that a "super city" would be created and would include the full
metropolitan area with a central mayor and 20-30 local boards. This plan is set to be implemented
in the 2010 elections.
Auckland Town Hall is a sight to be seen and actually serves as a concert hall as well as a
government building. The 1911 building has some of the finest acoustics in the world.
Economy
The countries ties to the British Empire have both aided and hindered the island nation. Trade with
Britain was profitable as the area had many valuable products and materials not native to the
British. In the 1890s, refrigerated shipping allowed New Zealand to base its entire economy on the
export of meat and dairy products to Britain.
However, when the world economy suffered during the Great Depression of the 1930s, so did New
Zealand. This led to the creation of the first Labour government which established a comprehensive
welfare state and a protectionist economy. The inclusion of Britain into the European Economic
Community further deteriorated the dependence of New Zealand upon it's motherland.
Auckland serves as the economic capital of the nation (Wellington is the capital city). Most major
international corporations hold an office within the city. Lower Queen Street and the Viaduct Basin
in the Auckland CBD hold some of the biggest corporations. The technical and trades workforce are

located a bit outside the city in the industrial zones of South Auckland.
New Zealand has been able to quickly evolve into a sophisticated, unrestrictive business
environment that is globally competitive. This is vital as it joins the native agriculture-based
economy with international trade. This has led to a decrease in unemployment, a strengthening
New Zealand dollar, soaring stock values and business confidence at an all-time high.

Find a Job
1. Volunteer abroad, Gap year

2. Summer, seasonal and short term jobs
3. Internship abroad
4. Au Pair
5. Adverts and Recruitment

Volunteer abroad, Gap year

Volunteer service contributes to the well-being of an individual or the community, and is usually
coordinated by a non-profit or public sector organization, and usually it does not pay any salary or
wage. However, there are programs where volunteers (especially for international programs) in
which accommodation, meals, flights, and sometimes a small amount of money is provided.
Volunteering is encouraged in New Zealand and there are a variety of places for interested parties
to volunteer. The website, www.volunteernow.org.nz, is an excellent place to find positions in your
area. You can also call 0800 VolCntr (0800 865 268) for your nearest centre.
Auckland's Volunteer Center 70 Khyber Pass Rd, Grafton

PO Box 8814, Symonds St
AUCKLAND
Ph (09) 377 7887
Fax (09) 377 9915
volunteer@volunteeringauckland.org.nz
There are also some notable organizations that can help you find the right volunteer experience for
you:
New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) runs conservation projects throughout New
Zealand. Addresses and Calendar of Volunteer opportunities are listed on the web site (i.e.
volunteers needed to carry out wildlife surveys and clean up remote beaches.
New Zealand Trust for Conservation Volunteers is a national organization that maintains an online
register of conservation projects throughout New Zealand for the benefit of volunteers including
international volunteers. Many project organizers provide free transport and accommodations.
Contact info:
343 S.H.17 R.D.3,
Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
Tel./fax. 011-64-9-415 9336
conservol@clear.net.nz
If you are interested in something a little less outdoorsy, there are many more academic options.
Being a volunteer at the Auckland Museum helps support the treasures of the Museum's collections.
Your voluntary commitment will bring greater knowledge, more understanding, and the pleasure of
new encounters that enable you to share this heritage with others.
Tel: (09) 306-7070 ext: 756
Email: volunteers@aucklandmuseum.com
Auckland's Zoo also accepts volunteers. Volunteers support the Life Sciences department by
collecting grass and leaves for our animals. Plant identification is important. Responsibilities also
include cleaning windows on the outside of enclosures, driving duties outside the Zoo, golf cart
deliveries inside the zoo (full NZ driving licence is required) and making popcorn as an animal
enrichment item. The applicants must be physically fit, reliable and be able to work independently.
This organization asks for a commitment of 6 months and uniform costs of NZ$45.00.

You might also look at our other articles on Summer Jobs and Internship abroad in this
section.
Summer, seasonal and short term jobs

There are many opportunities for short-term and seasonal work within New Zealand. Many of these
jobs are menial tasks and labor intensive, but are readily available.
Work in the New Zealand fruit industry is year-round, although the majority of jobs are available
between December and May. There are many different companies that can help workers find
seasonal work:
Www.hortnz.co.nz, www.hbfruitgrowers.co.nz, and www.saiviticulture.com are some of the most

popular sites for fruit harvest work.
Seasonal Work NZ publicizes short-term vacancies for travelers with a valid working holiday visa,
mainly in the fields of fruit harvesting and processing, but also in restaurants, construction, etc.
Working In Ltd (011-64-9 3020 977) is a web-based employment resource aims to put people who
are arriving in Australia or New Zealand in touch with employers who are seeking skilled and
professional people.
Traveller's Contact Point (011-61-2-9221-8744) has an office in Melbourne, but is affiliated with
offices around Australia and New Zealand. Services for members include job search and mail
forwarding; working holiday starter package costs AU$275 ($217) and includes first 2 nights
accommodation. Also operates a recruitment agency for travelers, www.taw.com.au.
Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA) offers a low cost program for a year's stay which includes all the
fees and insurance for four months.
BUNAC (1-800-GO-BUNAC) offers an easily navigated web site and helpful support both in the U.S.
and in New Zealand. Program requirements: age: 18-30; application fee: $475; insurance:
mandatory; funds: $2,000 and proof of round trip airfare.
HELP Exchange offers free info exchange for people who want to work for free accommodation and
meals in Australia and New Zealand.
You will find information on voluntary jobs or internship abroad in our other articles in
this section.
Internship abroad
Internships are an excellent tool for advancing your skills in a field of interest. These positions can
help young adults find a career path, test their aptitude for certain kinds of work, and develop their
talents. Internships are almost always unpaid as applicants are expected to be gaining career

development and experience while the company gets cheap labor. It is important to find the right
match of company or project because a lot of effort goes into an internship and you have to be
getting something back.
Internship New Zealand offers quality programmes and services to students and professionals
looking for international or New Zealand work related experience to further enhance their skills and
study or career related knowledge. The organization finds an employer willing to employ an intern
and pay a reasonable wage. At the end of the internship period, if both the employer and the intern
request an extension for a further six months, this may be approved, with your university's
agreement.
AustraLearn (800-980-0033) works to place suitable candidates in professional development

internships in Australia and New Zealand lasting 6-16+ weeks. Fees from $3,660 for 10 weeks.
Au Pair
An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children and usually lives within the home of the family.
The au pair is usually provided accommodation and meals and a stipend of spending money. The
family gains a loving caretaker for their children and an addition to the family.
What the au pair must know

Criteria differ from agency to agency, but there are several typical requirements:
Be able to communicate in the family's preferred language

Be willing to share your culture and learn about others
Be willing to commit to 12 months with the family
Agree to having a background check performed
Have at least 6 months childcare experience
Be able to provide 3 non-family local references regarding your experience and character
Be in good physical condition as evidenced by a Physician's Report
Pass a psycho-metric test given by the Agency
In addition to these requirements, it is common for families to ask for non-smoking, responsible or
non-drinkers, and for females.
What the family has to do

The family has to welcome the au pair in thinking that she is not just an employee, but an
important part of the family. Therefore they will make sure:
The au pair must have her own bedroom.

The au pair will work to a maximum of 35 hours per week She should have minimum 2 days
off during the week.
They understand that having an au pair doesn't mean someone who is going to do the
housework, the dishes....etc. However au pairs may be asked to do some housework as
agreed upon in the contract.

It may be of benefit to register the au pair at the family doctor.

The family pay an allowance (pocket money). Some people pay as much as 25,000 rubles a
month for live-in nannies (this is the high end).
Some addresses...
The Kiwi Connection is based in Auckland, New Zealand.
PO Box 20564, GLEN EDEN, AUCKLAND
Telephone: 649 8260083 or 649 8134423
Au Pair link is a New Zealand owned and operated company that is committed to placing fantastic
Au Pairs in New Zealand Host Families. Since establishing Au Pair Link in November 2006 we have
grown rapidly and today we have Au Pairs enrolled in our programmes throughout New Zealand.
PO Box 137 006

Parnell, Auckland 1052
Telephone: +64 9 309 4444
Great AuPair has been a trusted source for families & caregivers since 2001.
Agencies may ask registration fees from the family, the au pair or both.
Adverts and Recruitment

CV
When responding to a job advertisement in writing, you will be required to submit a curriculum
vitae (CV)/professional resume, along with your letter of application.
A CV should be brief, about two to four pages. It should provide a concise summary of your:
contact details: name, phone number, address, and email address should all be prominently
listed.
Objective: Some career experts recommend describing your objective just below the contact
information. This should describe your long-term goals in a concise statement.
Professional Experience: Usually this information is listed chronologically. List your work
experience with: 1. your title 2. the name of the company you worked for 3. the dates of your
employment 4. a brief description of your achievements in that job
Education: This section can come before work experience if you are in school or have been out of
school for one to three years, depending on your level of work experience and how relevant your
education is to your career. If you have a high Grade Point Average (3.5 or above, equivalent to an
A- or A), you may want to include it on your resume. If you attended college, list the name of the
college and what you got your degree in. If you recently graduated or have taken courses highly
relevant to the job for which you are applying, list those.

Certificates & Diplomas: Courses, seminars, congresses or conferences that are relevant in
relation to the position. Some employers require you to have professional registration even if this is
not a legal requirement. List these in a chronologically inverse order.
Languages: Since this may be relevant to an international job, you should list which languages
you speak and your level: advanced, intermediate or beginner. Point out if you can translate, speak,
or write in each language and list any associated degrees.
Computer Skills: Programs, applications, etc. Word processing, database, Internet, etc.
Personal Information: At the end of the resume you may include a brief section where you can
list personal information such as hobbies or interests. It's great if these are relevant to your job, but
if they aren't these hobbies can simply reveal something about your personality. Interviewers
commonly use this section as an icebreaker and as a source for starting a more relaxed, less formal
conversation.
References and academic/professional certificates may be listed as "available upon request".
Although you may be professionally qualified in your home country and have practised for a
number of years, this does not mean your experience and qualifications will be recognized
automatically in New Zealand. If your qualification does not gain comparability with the New
Zealand professional or trade qualification, you may have to undertake extra study or re-training to
secure the job you want.
Many professional and trades people (such as doctors, lawyers, plumbers and electricians) need to
register with a Registration Board before they can work in New Zealand.
Find Work
Newspapers
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday editions carry the most extensive job vacancy sections. The
largest listings can be found in:
New Zealand Herald offers a section of top jobs, as well as trends in the employment
market of Auckland.
The Press is another excellent resource.
Websites
www.nzrecruitme.co.nz - This is a free recruitment service for people who are outside New
Zealand. They connect your skills with the needs of New Zealand employers. You can
register as a job seeker and put your CV/resume online for New Zealand employers to
browse.
www.newkiwis.co.nz - Is a nation-wide website free to all migrants who are resident in NZ

and eligible to work here. NZ Employers (including recruitment companies) post vacancies

and/or search the database for the skilled staff they require. You register your CV and
employers will contact you directly or via us. You can also access job vacancies on the
website as well as employment tips and techniques, and other useful information.
www.newkiwis.co.nz/ is a partnership project between the Auckland Chamber of Commerce

and the Department of Labour.
www2.careers.govt.nz/home_page.html offers information about work and training in New

Zealand.
Immigration work resources offers links to websites for immigrants looking for work as well
as information about immigration.
Professional Journals
Accountants
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA)
PO Box 11 342, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 474 7840
Facsimile: 64 4 473 6303
Architects
New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB)
PO Box 11106
Manners Street
Wellington, 6142
New Zealand
Telephone: 64 4 471 1336
Email: info@nzrab.org.nz
Barristers and Solicitors

New Zealand Law Society
PO Box 5041, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 472 7837
Facsimile: 64 4 473 7909
Chiropractors
Chiropractic Board NZ
PO Box 10-140, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 499 7979
Facsimile: 64 4 474 0709
Email: chiropractic@regboards.co.nz
Clinical psychologists / Educational psychologists

NZ Psychologists Board
Telephone: 64 4 471 4580
Facsimile: 64 4 471 4581

Dentists / Dental Therapists / Dental Hygienists / Dental Technicians

Dental Council of New Zealand
Telephone: 64 4 499 4820
Facsimile: 64 4 499 1668
Dietitians
New Zealand Dietitians Board
PO Box 10-140, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 474 0746
Facsimile: 64 4 474 0709
Email: dietitians@dietitiansboard.org.nz
Electricians / Electrical Service Technicians / Line Mechanics

Electrical Workers Licensing Group
Telephone: 64 4 472 3636
NZ Freephone: 0800 661 000
Facsimile: 64 4 473 2395
Email: info@ewrb.govt.nz
Engineers
The Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)
Telephone: 64 4 473 9444
Facsimile: 64 4 474 8933
Medical Laboratory Scientists / Medical Laboratory Technicians

Registrations Manager
PO Box 7242
Wellington South
Telephone: 64 4 801 6250
Facsimile: 64 4 381 0270
Medical Radiation Technologists

Registrations Manager
PO Box 7242
Wellington South
Telephone: 64 4 801 6250 Extension 6
Facsimile: 64 4 381 0270
Email: mrt@medsci.co.nz
Medical Practitioners
Medical Council of New Zealand
Free Phone: 0800 286 801
Telephone: 64 4 384 7635
Facsimile: 64 4 385 8902

Midwives
Midwifery Council of NZ
PO Box 24448, Manners Street, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 499 5040
Facsimile: 64 4 499 5045
Email: info@midwiferycouncil.org.nz
Nurses
Nursing Council of New Zealand
Telephone: 64 4 385 9589
Facsimile: 64 4 801 8502
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
PO Box 10 202, The Terrace, Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 918 4740
Facsimile: 64 4 918 4746
Email: enquiries@otboard.org.nz
Osteopaths
Osteopathic Council of NZ
PO Box 10-140
Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 474 0747
Facsimile: +64 4 474 0709 Email: registrar@osteopathiccouncil.org.nz
Pharmacists
Pharmacy Council of New Zealand
PO Box 25 137
Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 495 0330
Facsimile: 64 4 495 0331
Physiotherapists
The Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand
Telephone: 64 4 471 2610
Facsimile: 64 4 471 2613
Podiatrists Podiatrists Board of NZ

Telephone: 64 4 499 7979
Facsimile: 64 4 474 0709
Email: podiatrists@regboards.co.nz
Real estate / Real Estate Agents Licensing Board

PO Box 99 881, Newmarket, Auckland

Telephone: 64 9 520 6949

Facsimile: 64 9 520 6995
Surveyors
New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
Telephone: 64 4 471 1774
Facsimile: 64 4 471 1907
Email: nzis@surveyors.org.nz
Veterinarians / Veterinary surgeons

Telephone: 64 4 473 9600
Facsimile: 64 4 473 8869
Email: vet@vetcouncil.org.nz
Career opportunities in Education

There are many job opportunities in the educational field. Primary and secondary school posts are
advertised in The Education Gazette, published by the Ministry of Education. This site republishes
and archives editorial content, notices and vacancies, and allows readers to submit notices and
vacancies online.
Teachers Council New Zealand Teachers Council PO Box 5326, Wellington Telephone: 64 4 471
0852 Facsimile: 64 4 471 0870
TEACHNZ (0800 832 246) offers information on training for teachers and vacancies.

Departure
1. Before you leave

2. Customs
3. Passport, Visa & Permits
4. International Removal Companies

Before you leave

Preparing to go abroad includes securing important documents, making copies, and a lot of
planning.
Passports: check expiration - must not expire within 6 months of your arrival. Make at least
2 copies and keep one in a safe place separate from your original passport.
Secure medical insurance and possibly travel insurance to prevent unmanageable medical
bills and enable entry into other countries.
If you are staying long enough that you need a Visa, research and begin the process before
you leave.
Save enough money to support your cost of living and lifestyle plus travel costs with enough
of a buffer to be prepared for the unexpected.
On the home front, make sure all bills are paid or have a means of being paid. If you are retaining a
residence while abroad, make sure the rent is taken care of and that utilities are being paid while
you are away. Forward your mail and change any subscriptions you may have. Be sure that
important institutions like your bank and business are able to reach you.
Customs
New Zealand has strict quarantine laws and all arriving passengers are subject to screening. During
non-peak hours, passengers with no baggage can expect to exit the airport within 10 minutes. For
passengers with baggage it will take some extra time to go through the screening and during peak
times it may take up to 1 hour. A NZ$200 instant fine applies for risky items not being declared,
while a fine of up to NZ$100,000 and ten years in prison are possible for the importation of certain
specifically risky goods.
You must declare if you have any of the following:
food of any sort

plants and parts of plants (alive or dead)
animals (alive or dead) or products of animals
equipment used with animals
camping gear, golf clubs and used bicycles
biological specimens
Certain items cannot be brought into New Zealand at all or can only be brought in with written
permission given beforehand. These include fruit, meat, honey, bird nests and reptiles.
There's no restriction on the amount of foreign currency you can bring in or take out of New
Zealand. However, if you carry more than NZ$10,000 cash in or out of New Zealand you'll be
required to complete a Border Cash Report.
Passport, Visa & Permits

You must have a valid passport to travel abroad. The process and cost associated with getting a

passport can be high so start the process at least six months before you plan to leave. Different
countries have different processes for obtaining a passport so contact your local government to find
out the process.
A visa is permission to apply to enter a foreign country. Foreign citizens must apply for a visa at a
New Zealand embassy or consulate.
Citizens of certain countries may be able to travel without a visa as these countries have a visa
waiver agreement with New Zealand. This means a Visitor Visa is not needed if the visit is for 3
months or less. You may apply for a permit at the border by filling in your arrival card. The card is
handed out to passengers before they arrive in New Zealand. You have to supply information
related to immigration, biosecurity and customs requirements.
The following countries have an agreement with New Zealand which allows for travel:
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Ireland, Portugal, Israel, Qatar, Italy,
San Marino, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea (South), Singapore, Kiribati, Slovenia, Kuwait, South Africa,
Canada, Liechtenstein, Spain, Chile, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Malaysia, Switzerland,
Finland, Malta, Tuvalu, France, Mexico, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Germany, Monaco, Uruguay,
Greece, Nauru, USA, Hong Kong, Norway, Vatican City, Hungary, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Iceland,
and Oman.
British citizens and other British passports holders who have evidence of the right to live
permanently in the United Kingdom, may be granted a Visitor's Permit valid for 6 months on arrival.
Visitor Visa
If you are not from one of these countries, you can acquire a visitors visa. The maximum stay under
a visitor visa is 9 months. You must prove that:
you have a valid passport

you are in good health
you are of good character and have plans and the means to leave within the period of your
permit.
the visa you are applying for matches your intentions for your visit.
Show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay. (A minimum of
NZ$1000 per person per month of the visit, or NZ$400 per person per month if
accommodation has already been paid for -proof of prepayment, such as hotel prepaid
vouchers is required.)
In addition, you may not work while you are in New Zealand if you do not have a work visa. You
may not study for more than three months while you are in New Zealand (unless you apply for and
are granted a student permit). You must only stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your
permit.
Work Visa
The draw of the outside is strong here and every year New Zealand loses many of its youth to

Australia and the world at large. This offers a more friendly environment for immigrants as New
Zealand is constantly looking to replenish the work force. Work Visas can be applied for before you
travel to New Zealand and the total stay may be up to three years. If you are already in New
Zealand as a visitor, you may apply for a Work Permit for a total stay of 9 months from the date of
your arrival as a visitor. If you enter New Zealand on a Working Permit or Immigrant Visa,
remember that you will be limited to work within your specific profession (unless you become a
resident).
You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit if you:
Hold an offer of employment for which you are qualified

There are no suitable New Zealanders available
You meet one of the special categories
Exchanges the Government has approved.
Skilled Migrant Category

The Skilled Migrant Category is the main path to residency in New Zealand. This works by a point
system. Points are earned on the basis of your qualifications, work experience and job, or job offer,
in New Zealand.
Working Holiday Visa

This is an excellent way to go abroad and make money in a new place. It is only for temporary
work.
The requirements:
Between the ages of 18-30

Restricted to temporary work
The Working Holiday Visa is free for U.S. citizens, although not for the British.
International Removal Companies

The price of moving depends on the how much is being moved, the value of the goods, and the
distance to be moved. Compare companies because the prices and assurances they offer can be
quite different. The first step is ascertaining that the company is approved by an international
remover network like the International Association of Movers or the AMSA for example, so you will
have recourse if something is damaged. Also, be meticulous in keeping records of what you are
shipping and their values if possible.
If possible, ship only the truly indispensable items and try to buy when you arrive to abate some of
the cost. Shipping costs are calculated on the amount of volume (Cubic Feet) that your packed
goods will take up in one of our shipping containers. Volume is calculated by multiplying the length
x depth x height. An example would be a full size refrigerator/freezer that is 3ft wide, 2 feet deep,
and 6 feet high would be 36 cubic feet. A 20 foot container total cubic capacity is 1172 ft 3 and a 40
foot container capacity is 2392 ft. A standard 2 to 3 bedroom house or condo should fit into 1 x 20ft

container. A larger 4 to 5 bedroom house would need 1 x 40ft container.
Different options: ground, sea or air

The three options are to go by ground, sea or by air, or a combination of the three.
To move by sea takes longer (6-8 weeks), but costs less. If moving by sea, your household goods
will be packed into containers that are usually loaded at your residence. Once your home is packed
into the containers, they are then shipped by rail or transport to the port where they are then
loaded on to a steamship container. The container is then loaded on the boat as cargo. Once your
goods have arrived in the new country, the container is unloaded and must pass through customs.
International movers will be able to help you with the custom forms and are responsible for clearing
your goods.
Moving household items by air is becoming increasingly popular, despite a much higher price tag
than shipping by boat. Heavy cardboard boxes are normally used to pack your goods, although
some air freight companies will use containers. You may find that shipping items by air is less
expensive than renting a furnished place to live or hotel costs. Most companies offer both options
so inquire about the price difference and decide which method is best for you.
Some basic factors in determining the best shipping method are:
Determine the volume of your personal belongings (for road and sea shipments); the weight
and volume of your personal belongings (for air shipments).
The final destination of your shipment. If you are looking to move across the globe (e.g.
from New Zealand to the USA or Australia), you might want to ship the majority of your
personal belongings by sea container and a small portion of things you will need upon your
arrival by air.
Your personal moving schedule. How soon do you need or want to receive your personal
belongings at your destination? Do you already have accommodation (i.e. a house or
apartment) at destination? Will you be going on vacation before taking up your new position
at destination? Will intermediated storage of your personal belongings be required?
Your budget. Who is paying for your move? Your present or new company, or yourself? What
is your allowance for the move?
Ground Shipping
To save money, you can ship your items with other people's belongings. Known as "groupage", your
personal belongings will be shipped on a large truck together with the personal belongings of one
or more customers. Depending on the final destination of your shipment, your personal belongings
may be unloaded at a central warehouse somewhere in Europe, for instance, and then shipped to
their final destination on another truck departing to your destination country from that central
warehouse. A groupage truck option is usually less expensive than a direct truck option, but
door-to-door transit times are longer.
If your household goods shipment is large or cost is not as much of an issue as time, direct shipping
might be a better option. The truck will contain your personal belongings only and will go directly to

its final destination without stopping at any other warehouse. A direct dedicated truck is usually
more expensive than a groupage truck shipment, but the door-to-door transit time can be
significantly shorter.
Sea Shipping
Sea shipments are normally used for mid-sized to large moves to and from North America, South
America, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For some destinations, both groupage sea
shipments and direct dedicated container shipments are available. Some rare destinations are only
served by direct dedicated containers.
The transit time for sea shipments from and to New Zealand can vary significantly depending on
the destination or origin of your shipment. You should take this into consideration when planning
your move. Transit times for groupage sea shipments normally are a little bit longer than those for
direct container shipments.
Air shipment
If your shipment is small and/or you want to receive your personal belongings at your destination as
soon as possible, an air shipment might be the ideal choice for your move. Often people who are
moving to a far-away destination send the majority of their personal belongings by surface and opt
for an additional air shipment for the most urgently needed items, such as extra clothing and toys.
If you want to ship large or bulky items (e.g. beds, sofas) by air, dimensions are important as not all
airplanes flying in and out of the city can accommodate such items. The transit time for a
door-to-door air shipment is normally between seven and fourteen days, all depending on the origin
and destination country's customs regulations. Some countries require that the owner of the
personal belongings be present in the country before import customs clearance can take place,
which means that your shipment can only be dispatched once you have arrived in your destination
country.
Most companies offer a free quote for the move if you submit your information to their webpage
"free quote" section.
(For example: compare-international-movers.com/quotes)
Companies include:
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The Moving Company

Auckland Movers

Allied Movers.

Accommodation
1. Finding Accommodation, Flatsharing, Hostels

2. Rent house or flat
3. Buy house or flat
4. Hotels and Bed and Breakfast

Finding Accommodation, Flatsharing, Hostels

Cost of Living
New migrants usually find that New Zealand offers a better balance between cost of living and
lifestyle than they had before. Groceries are reasonable but if you wish to purchase anything from
outside the country, the price is inflated due to a high import tax.
An example of prices in New Zealand dollars:
Supermarket per week : NZ$65.00

Big Mac: NZ$4.45
Movie ticket: NZ$16
Pair of jeans: NZ$80-200
Litre of petrol: NZ $1.55
(Prices fluctuate) New Zealand uses the metric system so a US gallon is just over 3.5 litres.
Currently, the price for a litre is around NZ$1.55 so a gallon would be around NZ$5.425 but
prices do fluctuate. In New Zealand, gas is a slang word for petrol.
Round of golf - 18 holes: NZ$20-100
How to find an accommodation in Auckland

Housing prices in New Zealand are often found to be more reasonable than in many parts of Asia,
Europe and North America. Much of Auckland is dominated by a very suburban style of building as
the city is more of a sprawling metropolis then one that is upwardly growing. Aucklanders are still
able to live in single-family dwellings similar to the rest of the New Zealand population, although lot
sizes are smaller. Because of this, the city has a very low population density. Aucklanders' housing
preferences resulting from a lack of high-density apartments and poor public transport has resulted
in a reliance on motor vehicles.
In some areas, the Victorian villas are being increasingly torn down to make way for large plaster
mansions with tennis courts and swimming pools. The demolition of the older properties is being
combated by the Auckland City Council passing laws that cover heritage suburbs or streets.
Auckland has been described as having 'the most extensive range of timbered housing with its
classical details and mouldings in the world', many of them Victorian-Edwardian style houses.
To get the area you want for a price you can live with a simple formula may be employed. Divide
your monthly income (after tax) income by three. Not much more then a third of your income
should go to rent to insure that you can pay for the cost of living. If this figure doesn't net you the
desired lifestyle you still have options. Make more money, consider a different neighborhood, or
consider a different living arrangement by taking a roommate.
There are many different methods of finding housing in Auckland.
Here are a couple of options:
BROKER: If you are arranging a rental from out-of-town, or have more money then time, using a

real estate broker can be a pain-free way of getting the job done. A broker is responsible for finding
apartments that fit your criteria and making appointments to fit your schedule. This convenience
has a price, usually one can expect to pay about a half month's rent as a fee, but this varies and it
is recommended to shop around before selecting a broker. If you are employed with a company
they may have a broker they work with and you may be able to use them by contacting your
human resources department to use the broker your company uses. Pay attention to reviews by
former customers to make sure you get your money's worth.
ON-LINE LISTING: There are a variety of on-line forums and community listings in which people
will list their places or larger companies offer their apartments. Some examples are:
www.apartments.co.nz, auckland.craigslist.org/hhh, and www.city-apartments.co.nz.
Flatsharing
An important trait in any roommate situation is having boundaries and a clear understanding of
what each roommate requires. To protect yourself against potential problems should the worst
happen, try to arrange it so that your roommates co-sign the lease. This makes all the roommates
responsible for whatever happens to the property. If the worst was to happen, such as your
roommate losing their job and not being able to pay rent, they will be held financially responsible-
not you.
FLATSHARING : A NEW WAY OF LIFE
Instead of living in a pokey attic room with huge rent, why not try shared accommodation?
Frequently associated with students, sharing is spreading nowadays towards older established
workers and covers people from 18 to 49 years old. Without falling into a community style of life
such as in the 70's, you can choose to share an accommodation for a bigger space, less expense.
Flatsharing is a way to meet more and more followers who choose to break a lonely life, save
money or just find an affordable acommodation in a difficult market. This way of life has
numerous advantages in term of money, practicality or social life.EASYEXPAT in partnership
with EASYROOMMATE number one for flatsharing, offers this service to its users to present all
the chances to find the ideal flatmate or to join an existing household.
Here are other places where you might find a roommate: www.nzflatmates.co.nz,
www.trademe.co.nz.
Hostels
Nomads Fat Camel Auckland
Offering comfortable as well as high quality budget accommodation, Nomads Fat Camel is

designed for backpackers and travelers who desire a pleasant stay, in the heart of Auckland City.
NZD $70.
BK Hostel
Our central location Hostel has been rebuilt Dec. 2003 with large windows in most rooms. We
guarantee clean, comfortable secure and safe accommodation. Enjoy your stay in Auckland!
The Brown Kiwi

A cosy travelers hostel offering you warmth, hospitality and local character.
"Home-away-from-Home", see our Hostellers Comments. Come and experience our peaceful garden
and maybe enjoy a drink from reception. We are just a two minute stroll from Auckland's premier
Ponsonby Road with some of the best cafe's, restaurants and clubs in the city.
City Garden Lodge

For people who like to be in the centre of things without heavy traffic outside, this is the real
backpackers' experience in one of Auckland's oldest residential areas, full of historic architecture
and character. Located in Parnell on the fringe of Auckland's business centre with not a high rise or
apartment building in sight, City Garden Lodge Backpackers has the city's finest restaurants, cafes,
art galleries and upmarket shopping all within easy walking. Next door to Auckland's largest city
park with its museum and twice daily Maori concert performancesand with "Vector Arena"
Auckland's newest concert venue and sports stadium just 20 minutes walk away.
HOSTELS IN AUCKLAND
EasyExpat.com has set up a partnership with Hostelworld.com - the market leader for hostel
and budget accommodation reservations - to bring you a fantastic selection of over 20,000
properties across 170 countries worldwide.
They offer a selection of youth, independent and backpacker hostels worldwide - including
all sorts of unique & unusual properties such as a hostel on a Jumbo jet, in a tree house, on a
houseboat, even a bed in an old jail!
Rent house or flat

Rent in Auckland ranges from NZ$300 per week for a 1 bedroom to NZ$600 for a very nice
apartment in an excellent neighborhood. A room to rent costs much less, about NZ$90.00 - 180.00
a week.
It is important to know some of your rights as a tenant. It is always best to have a written lease so
all the terms are understood by both parties. Always try to read and understand every aspect of the
lease because later misunderstandings can be costly. Rent is usually paid one month in advance,
and a security deposit and last month rent are usually required to move in. Rents are not generally
index-linked, except if it is mentioned in the lease contract.
Try to make a good impression when looking at apartments. Arrive on time, dress neatly, and be on
your best behavior. If you are interested, let the person showing you the apartment know by asking

relevant questions:
1) How long is the lease?
2) When is the move-in date and how long is the lease?
3) How much is the security deposit?
4) Are utilities included in the rent? If not, how much are they?
5) Are pets allowed?
Buy house or flat

1 bedroom homes in Auckland cost about $300,000 with homes outside of the city costing much
less. Nationally, the average 2 bed flat in NZ costs (as of September 2006) less than NZ$200,000.
It is important to peruse available homes before buying. A good way to do that is to look for listings
of "open homes". Anyone is welcome to look around an "open house" without making an
appointment first. Visiting open homes is a great way to learn about the property market in your
area. Another way to see lots of houses quickly is to go on a tour with a real estate agent. Agents
are usually happy to spend an hour or two driving migrants around, hoping for a sale. Agents earn
significant commissions on house sales so most are willing to show you plenty of houses.
Most New Zealand property is offered at a fixed asking price. It is normal to offer less than the
asking price. Research comparable homes in the area to make an appropriate offer.
Another popular way of selling houses is by auction. Occasionally a bank forces an auction when
borrowers cannot keep up with their mortgage payments. More often, auctions are used when
sellers think buyers will bid the price up. Sellers pay extra fees for auctions and agents earn more
money than fixed price sales. Even if a house doesn't sell, the seller still has to pay auction fees.
For this reason, agents are often keen to persuade homeowners to sell by auction.
A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is an extremely important document when buying a house.
The LIM contains information from the local council about a property's zoning, boundaries, building
consents, etc. For a copy of a LIM, local councils charge anywhere between $100 to $400. This is
expensive, particularly if you do not buy the property. LIMs are also not fool-proof. They may
contain unreliable information. Once you've got the LIM, it's a good idea to visit the local council's
building department to discuss it. You can ask for any additional information they have on the
property - often they have more than they've included in the LIM.
To learn even more about any house that interests you, you can pay a fee to the government's
Quotable Value. For around $5, QV will tell you the prices other properties in the neighbourhood are
selling for, For $4 they will report on how much a house sold for previously.
Some websites to help you find available houses: www.realestate.co.nz, www.harcourts.co.nz, and
www.bayleys.co.nz.
Hotels and Bed and Breakfast

There are a variety of options for temporary housing in New Zealand.
Expensive

SKYCITY Grand Hotel Auckland

Located in the city of Auckland, this property is just across the road from the main SkyCity complex,
including all its restaurants and casino outlets. The hotel is just a kilometer from the Train Station
Britomart and 35 kilometres away from the Auckland Airport. Rooms run around NZD $234.
Copthorne Hotel Harbourcity Auckland

Situated in one of Auckland's finest locations, right on the waterfront, this property offers quick and
easy access to Auckland's bustling Viaduct Basin, Auckland's Central Business District, shopping,
bars, restaurants and the Vector Arena. Rooms are about NZD $158.
Langham Hotel Auckland

Set in the vibrant heart of Auckland, this elegant property is within walking distance to the
spectacular waterfront, beautiful Domain and the Auckland museum. This property is also close to
the key motorway access points, fashion houses and local tourist attractions. NZD $287.
Ascott Metropolis Hotel

Auckland's old Magistrate's Courthouse was transformed into an elegant lobby with a stunning onyx
ceiling, restaurant, and bar for this all-suites hotel. The guest rooms are in a Manhattan-inspired
tower built just behind the court. Though most rooms have decent views, the best sea views are
higher up on the east side of the hotel, at a slightly higher price.
Mid-Range
Quality Inn Manukau Auckland
Guests looking for a hotel near Golf courses or accommodation close to shopping centres, the
Quality Inn Hotel Auckland is a perfect spot. NZD $118.
The Kiwi International Hotel

Offers affordable accommodation in the heart of New Zealand's largest city. All of the city's major
attractions are within walking distance, including the Viaduct basin - home to the America's Cup.
NZD $87.
Bed & Breakfast

If you are looking for something more homey, a B&B might be the perfect option.
Chalet Chevron
A favorite place to stay with tourists, artists, writers, academics and travelers from around the
world. As the first Bed and Breakfast hotel in New Zealand, this home away from home has
received great reviews from Lonely Planet, who said:
Eden Park Bed & Breakfast

Built in 1905 by a wealthy banker, the house has been immaculately restored to it's former
elegance, yet sympathetically combined with modern comfort. We offer luxury bed and breakfast
accommodation in four beautifully appointed bedrooms Guests receive superior accommodation
with unparalleled attention to their comfort, including the use of our well appointed Guest Lounge.
We offer a free wifi internet service throughout the property and include a laptop computer for

guest use.
Moana Vista
A stylish and comfortable boutique guest house is situated in the quiet leafy suburb of Ponsonby
close to award winning restaurants/cafes, shops, beaches and city. Buses to downtown Auckland
are 5 minutes walk away. With the grace and elegance of the 1890s this modernized Victorian villa
has 2 furnished rooms upstairs with superb seaviews/verandas and ensuite/private bathrooms.
EasyExpat has set up a partnership with HotelClub to provide a wide range of cheap hotels and
high quality customer services in the city of your choice. This site is for you to make your trip
here easier. You will get discount hotel rates, last-minute deals, hot deals, special offers ,
with a real-time reservation and on-line booking.
You can also query other locations in the world by searching directly with our partner HotelClub.
Hostels and budget accommodation in Auckland
EasyExpat.com recommends Hostelworld.com to bring you online bookings at thousands of

hostels worldwide and cheap accommodation for your travel.

Work
1. Social Security
2. Work Usage
3. Pension
4. Benefits package
5. Tax system
6. Unemployment Benefits

Social Security
Social security is largely non-contributory in New Zealand, and officially neither employees or
employers make contributions.
However, employees and the self-employed must contribute to the Accident Compensation
Corporation (ACC) scheme. This provides compensation in the event of an accident, either at work
or elsewhere. ACC contributions are deducted from salaries usually via the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE)
system at the rate of $1.20 per $100 of liable earnings up to an earnings limit of $85,795. These
rates are reviewed annually.
Receiving any sort of government benefits, which are collectively known as "government transfers",
isn't conditional upon having contributed to the scheme. Unemployment and sickness benefits, for
example, are available to all New Zealanders and permanent residents irrespective of their
employment history, although there may be other eligibility criteria and means testing.
For further information, contact:

Work and Income National Office
Level 8, Bowen State Building, Bowen Street, PO Box 12-136, Wellington
freephone 0800-559 009 or 09-916 0300.
Work Usage
The usual hours of operation for shops and businesses are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. In the
cities and larger towns shops stay open until 5:30pm and more shops are open on Sundays. In
tourist areas shops may be open for longer hours - particularly in the high season.
New Zealanders tend to be flexible and informal in business and in life. People are rarely addressed
by their title, dress tends to the informal and people regularly mix socially with work colleagues.
While most are not afraid to work hard, high value is put on leisure time too. Family activities,
sports, and community involvement is very respected.
Though many young New Zealanders trade their quiet country for the excitement of Australia and
other areas, getting a job in New Zealand may be a challenge if you have not arranged work before
arriving. The more experience and qualifications you have to offer, the better your chances will be
in securing a position. However, even well qualified migrants may take six or more months to find
suitable employment and will often need to be open to different job opportunities. It is common for
highly qualified migrants to accept more junior positions than they held at home.
Most employers will require that you understand and speak English. The standard of English
demanded by most employers is much higher than the qualifying International English Language
Testing System (IELTS) score required for permanent residence. The more skilled your job, the
better your language skills must be.
Once you find a job in New Zealand, you'll be offered an Employment Agreement. All employers
must offer their workers either an individual or a collective Employment Agreement written in plain
language.

Dismissal
There must be good reason for a dismissal and the dismissal must be carried out fairly. If the
employee believes they have been treated unfairly in their employment, whether they have been
dismissed or not, they may take action against their employer in the form of a 'personal grievance'.
The New Zealand Department of Labor can help you understand your rights and rectify difficult
work situations.
Pay
In New Zealand, you are entitled to at least the minimum wage as set by law if you are 16 years of
age or older. Employment agreements cannot offer a wage less than the minimum rate. Trainees
undergoing recognized industry training while at work must be paid at least the minimum youth
rate regardless of their age.
Current rates of pay (April 2009) are:
The new entrants minimum wage and the training minimum wage are NZ$10.00 an hour.
Thats NZ$80 for an eight hour day, and NZ$400 for a 40 hour week.
The adult minimum wage is $12.50 an hour. Thats NZ$100 for an eight hour day, and
NZ$500 for a 40 hour week.
For more information about the rates of pay, check out:

http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/pay/
Holidays
On all 11 public (also known as statutory) holidays all banks and businesses are closed. Some shops
may also close or have shorter opening hours than normal. On Christmas Day, Good Friday,
New Year's Day and on the morning of Anzac Day, almost all shops and businesses are
closed.
New Years Day - 1 January
Day after New Years Day - 2 January
Waitangi Day - 6 February
Good Friday - varies
Easter Monday - varies
ANZAC Day - 25 April
Queen's Birthday - 1st Monday in June
Labour Day - 4th Monday in October
Christmas Day - 25 December
Boxing Day - 26 December
Pension
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund is a pension paid by the government. Established under the
New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, the New Zealand Superannuation

Fund was created to reduce the tax burden on future New Zealand taxpayers of the future cost of
funding New Zealand Superannuation payments. Like many countries around the world, New
Zealand has an ageing population, with the number of retired people expected to double by 2050.
Accordingly, the cost of providing New Zealand superannuation is also expected to double in this
period.
New Zealand does not have an official retirement immigration category. You may nevertheless still
be able to retire to New Zealand provided you qualify for permanent residence in one of the
country's normal immigration categories. A significant number of people have obtained permanent
residence as skilled workers while in their 50s with a view to working for a short time and then
retiring in New Zealand. If you do obtain residence in New Zealand, the following applies:
In order to qualify for New Zealand superannuation, you must have lived in New Zealand for
at least 10 years since you turned 20. Five of those years must be since you turned 50.
Time spent overseas in certain countries may be counted for New Zealand Superannuation.
New Zealand has social security agreements with Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece,
Ireland, Jersey/Guernsey, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom. People from the UK, for
example, can use time spent in the UK (with UK National Insurance payments) to make
themselves eligible for New Zealand Superannuation. If you are from one of the countries
listed, you can download a NZ government guide to your eligibility for New Zealand
superannuation.
Superannuation is currently worth NZ$18,954 gross per annum if you're single or
NZ$14,228.76 gross for each person in a married/civil union/de facto couple.
Superannuation is part of your taxable income and the amount you are paid will be reduced
by the impact of income tax paid at your normal rate.
New Zealand Superannuation is maintained between 65% and 72.5% of average full-time
net earnings.
By law, you can work to any age you want to in New Zealand.
If you qualify for New Zealand Superannuation and work beyond the age of 65, you will
receive both your pay and your NZ Superannuation payments.
Any pension you get from an overseas government will probably be deducted from your NZ
superannuation.
Any pension you get from a former employer overseas will probably be paid in addition to
your full NZ Superannuation.
Benefits package
Benefits are normally paid only after a minimum period of residence, usually two years. National
superannuation (state pension) usually requires a ten-year residence period. However, New
Zealand has reciprocal agreements with certain countries (including Australia, Canada, Denmark,
Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, the Netherlands and the UK), under which those migrating from
these countries can apply for New Zealand social security benefits as soon as they arrive to take up
permanent residence.
Its important to note that a reciprocal agreement entitles you only to apply for benefits. Whether
benefits are paid depends on other criteria. Not all residents are eligible for all benefits.
Benefits are paid at a flat rate, irrespective of your previous income. They are taxable (assuming

you earn enough to pay tax) and the Department of Social Welfare deducts the tax due before
paying benefits. If you receive a benefit for the first time and aren't registered for tax, you should
contact your local Inland Revenue Department, or IRD office.
Tax system
Taxes are collected in New Zealand by the national organization of the Inland Revenue Department,
or IRD. National taxes are levied on personal and business income, as well as on the supply of
goods and services. Local property taxes (rates) are managed and collected by councils. Some
goods and services carry a specific tax, referred to as an excise or a duty eg Alcohol excise or
gaming duty. These are collected by a range of government agencies such as the New Zealand
Customs Service.
All goods and services are subject to a 12.5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), included in the
displayed price. Visitors cannot claim this tax back, but if a supplier ships a major purchase to your
home address the GST won't be charged.
Income tax is dependent on income levels in any specific tax year (personal tax years run from 1
April to 31 March).
Income Tax rates (2009)

$0 - $14,000: 12.5%
$14,001 - $48,000: 21%
$48,001 - $70,000: 33%
Over $70,000: 38%
No-notification rate: 45%
The income is taxed by the amount that falls within each tax bracket. If a person earns $70,000,
they will only pay 33% on the amount that falls between $48,001 and $70,000 rather than paying
this on the full $70,000. The corresponding income tax for that specific income will accumulate to
$16,150 or about 23% of the entire amount. In most cases employers deduct the relevant amount
of income tax from salary and wages prior to these being paid to the individual. This system, known
as Pay-as-you-earn, or PAYE, was introduced in 1958, prior to which employees paid tax annually.
As a New Zealand resident you will be required to pay tax on all the income you receive, whether
this is generated in New Zealand or overseas. To do so you will need to apply to Inland Revenue for
an IRD number. This is generally issued within a few days and is required to start a job or open a
bank account. It also ensures that personal tax records are recorded properly.
Where an individual is tax resident in more than one country they may be liable to pay tax more
than once on the same income. New Zealand has double taxation agreements with various
countries that set out which country will tax specific types of income. The following countries have
such an agreement with New Zealand: Australia, Indonesia, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland,
Canada, Italy, Taiwan, China, Japan, Thailand, Denmark, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Fiji, Norway,
The Philippines, Finland, Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates, France, Russian Federation,
Germany, Singapore, United States of America, India, South Africa, Mexico, Austria, Poland, Spain,
and Chile.

Unemployment Benefits
The country's unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in the December 2008 quarter to 5.0
percent in the March 2009 quarter, the highest for six years. Traditionally, the only countries to
have a lower unemployment rate than New Zealand were Switzerland and Korea.
Employment growth in Auckland city has been trending downwards over the past few years, falling
from an average annual growth of 2.7 per cent in March 2006 to 1.2 per cent in March 2007 and
-0.5 per cent in March 2008. Auckland's unemployment is currently 6.5 per cent.
Who can get it?

You may get the Unemployment Benefit (or "dole") if you are not in full-time work.
You must be:
available for, and looking for full time work

18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or in a de facto
relationship and have one or more children you support).
be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years at any one time since becoming a New
Zealand citizen or resident (unless you are a refugee).
People who apply for the benefit may be asked to develop a Job Seeker Agreement with Work and
Income where he/she agrees to look for work or prepare for work.
How much you can get

This depends on your current circumstances. Current benefit levels are between $115.94 and
$249.10 a week depending on the applicant's age and living situation
Category Gross Weekly Rate (NZ$)
Single, 20 to 24 148.73
Single, 25 or over 178.49
Single parent 249.10

The benefit payment can reduce due to any income the person or their partner earns.
How to apply
Work and Income provides financial assistance and employment services throughout New Zealand
and operates the service for unemployment benefit.
If youre aged 16 to 64, you need to:
complete an application form

meet the Work and Income service to provide the necessary supporting documents.
You have 20 working days from when you first contacted them (submitting your online application
form counts as contacting them).

Moving in
1. Mail, Post office

2. Gas, Electricity, Water
3. Telephone
4. TV & Internet

Mail, Post office

New Zealand Post is responsible for the national mail service. If you're expecting mail to arrive
before you have established a permanent address, mail can be held at a Post Office. Letters will be
held for up to three months, at no charge.
Sending a letter within New Zealand costs $0.50. Shipping a letter overseas costs at least $1.80
depending on size and weight. Stamps can be purchased on KiwiStamps or Standard Post Postage,
or call our Product Ordering Centre on 0800 501 701.
To find local post office Post Shop Locator can be used.
Gas, Electricity, Water

Gas
Vector Gas Company that owns natural gas pipes in Auckland and delivers natural gas on behalf of
gas retailers.
There are several different retailers including:
The Auckland Gas Company (0800 764 764),

Contact Energy (0800 764 764),
Genesis Energy (0800 764 764),
Mercury Energy (0800 764 764), and
E-Gas (0800 764 764).
Electricity
Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230 / 240 volts, 50 hertz. Most hotels and motels
provide 110 volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment,
you'll need an adapter / converter, unless the item has a multi-voltage option. Power outlets only
accept flat three or two-pin plugs.
Vector Electricity is a company in Auckland, Manukau and parts of the Papakura district. This
company delivers power to nearly 250,000 homes and 33,000 businesses in the region.
Vector has different pricing schedules depending on where you live and what type of customer you
are. On a fixed charge, the price is 0.1667/day. The controlled rate is 0.0637/day. The night charge
is 0.0220/day.
Water
Metrowater is Auckland City's water and wastewater utility company, 100% owned by Auckland City
Council. Metrowater provides water and wastewater services to over 142,000 homes and
businesses, reaching 420,000 people across Auckland City. Our area of operation covers 153
square kilometers with a water and wastewater network of more than 3,600 km of pipes.

There is a service charge of $79.92 per year, with water charges at $1.562 per m3 and wastewater
charges at $3.745 per m3. These charges cover the cost of operating, maintaining, and renewing
Auckland Citys pipe networks. They also cover the cost of bulk water and wastewater services
provided by Watercare.
Telephone
New Zealand's telephone numbers are arranged by country code, area code, telephone number.
New Zealand's country code is 64.
To make an international call to New Zealand, dial your local international access code (typically
00) followed by the New Zealand country code (64) followed by the area code for Auckland (9)
followed by the seven-digit telephone number. For example, 00 64 9 123 4567.
To call internationally out of New Zealand, you need to dial New Zealand's international access
code (00) followed by the country code (followed by the area code for where you are calling if
necessary), followed by the telephone number. For example (for the USA), 00 1 212 123 4567.
To make a call to Auckland from anywhere within New Zealand (but outside of Auckland itself) you
need to dial the national access code (0) followed by the area code for Auckland (9) followed by the
seven-digit telephone number. For example, 09 123 4567.
When calling within New Zealand, the area codes are:

9 - Northland, the Bay of Islands, Auckland
7 - Coromandel, Bay of Plenty (Tauranga), Waikato (Hamilton)
6 - Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wairarapa
4 - Wellington
3 - The South Island (Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Invercargill)
To make a local call (to a number located in the same town or city that you are in) you just need to
dial the seven-digit telephone number. For example, 123 4567.
Phone directory: yellow.co.nz/whitepages

European directory: www.numberway.com/
TV & Internet
TV
There are four free to air TV channels and two pay per view networks delivering another 30
channels. Television New Zealand, more commonly known as TVNZ, is a government-owned
corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates
TV1, TV2 and new media services. On the site, shows can be watched, tv guides are available, and
TV chat lines are open.

Internet
To connect a computer to the Internet in New Zealand, a RJ45 type plug is necessary. An adaptor
with a flat two or three-point power plug to connect to the power supply is also necessary.
New Zealand's major telephone company, Telecom New Zealand is the only provider of digital
subscriber lines (DSL). This is distributed wholesale to their subsidiary Xtra (the largest Internet
service provider in New Zealand), as well as many of Telecom's "competitors", with varying speeds
and download limits.
Download speeds can range from 256 kbit/s to 7.6 Mbit/s depending on the distance from the
exchange and quality of the copper telephone line, however, most households receive an average
of 1Mbit/s to 3 Mbit/s per line.
There are also many internet cafes and wifi areas in which you can use your own computer and
connect to the Internet wirelessly.

Education
1. Schooling system
2. International Schools
3. Courses for Adults and Evening Class
4. Language courses

Schooling system
Auckland has a number of important educational institutions, including some of the largest
universities in the country. As of 2007, there are around 50 NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications
Authority) certified schools and institutes in the Auckland area. The NZQA co-ordinates
qualifications in secondary schools and in post-school education and training.
All children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. Government-funded (state) schools
provide for the individual learning styles of children and for different philosophies of education.
Some of the most famous schools are Mount Roskill Grammar School, Mount Albert Grammar
School, Auckland Girls' Grammar School and the Epsom Girls' Grammar School. The city also has
several private schools such as St Cuthbert's College, King's College, and Diocesan School for Girls.
All universities receive around 70 percent of their funding from the government. The balance is
charged to students by way of course and student association fees.
Amongst the most important tertiary educational institutes are the University of Auckland which
was founded in 1883. It is New Zealand's largest university with over 40,000 students.
International Schools
Auckland is a major centre of overseas language education. Large numbers of foreign students
(particularly East Asians) come to Auckland to learn English or study at universities.
ACG International School is located within Auckland and is of the Academic Colleges Group. The
ACG Senior College is also part of this group which has international connections beyond the
Asia-Pacific region.
Auckland Grammer School is a boarding school for boys from 9-13 years old and caters to students
from all over the world.
New Zealand International School offers a top-quality international education to children of all
nationalities, aged 3 - 18.
Kirsten School is an expansive school with separate divisions of Junior, Middle, and High School.
Bilangual section (French/English) at the Richmond Road School (primary school - 50 pupils in 2
classes):
Email: contact@frenzschool.org.nz
Web: http://frenzschool.org.nz
Courses for Adults and Evening Class

There are a range of courses and schools for adult students from beginner to advanced. Most are at
polytechnics and universities.
The University of Auckland's Centre of Continuing Education established in 1936, offers lifelong

learning opportunities to the University's regional, national and international communities and
professional bodies.
Massey University offers certificate, diploma and degree courses by correspondence.

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand (TOPNZ) offer certificate, diploma and degree courses by
correspondence.

See also our article on Language courses.
Language courses
Language courses, with the majority involved in English, are offered by a wide range of institutions
and community organizations. Some migrants pay Immigration New Zealand for English language
tuition before they arrive in New Zealand. This is often referred to as 'pre-paid ESOL'. The Tertiary
Education Commission (TEC) then works with migrants to manage their English language tuition
when they arrive.
Auckland Language School offers a variety of programs for students interested in language.
Courses range from 4 weeks to several months. Fees vary.
Kaplan International has English courses and is accredited by NZQA.
The Correspondence School also offers a range of ESOL courses.
Euroasia Language Academy features a variety of language courses including English, German,
Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
A national network of volunteer home tutors also offers free elementary ESOL tuition for adult
migrants. The volunteer tutors visit homes and provide migrants unable to attend formal language
classes with individual tuition.
Libraries
Auckland City Library has a strong community focus, offering many opportunities to join in events
and activities. These include author talks, book clubs, kids story times, school holiday programmes,
concerts, heritage exhibitions, and much more take place here.
The Alliance Franaise dAuckland: This is a non-profit network of associations whose goal is to
promote French language and culture. It is located very close to the city centre (5 minutes drive), at
9A Kirk Street, Grey Lynn.

Health
1. General Practitioner, Doctor, Physician

2. Medicines, Hospitals
3. International healthcare, medical insurance

General Practitioner, Doctor, Physician

People from the United Kingdom or Australia may receive the same medical coverage as a New
Zealand citizen or resident thanks to a Reciprocal Health Agreements.Other medical services are
not free to visitors.
If there is an accident while in New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Scheme (ACC) helps cover
care. The ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents
and visitors to New Zealand. Hospital stays, doctors, physiotherapist's or any specialist treatment
are covered. If the injury is serious, payment will also be made to offset the loss of wages.
Ministry of health offers life-long medical care for everyone. All essential health care is provided
free through the public health system. This means that while some routine services, such as visits
to local doctors and dentists, have to be paid for, more costly services, such as hospital treatment
are, with minor exceptions, available free to all residents. Costs to visit a doctor are around
NZ$45-55 for adults, and NZ$20 for children aged 6 to 17. The government also funds subsidies for
visits to the local doctor and prescriptions for young children, people who require frequent health
care and those on low incomes.
This includes:
Free Public hospital treatment
Free treatment at hospital 24-hour accident and emergency clinics
24-hour accident and emergency (A&E) clinics
Subsidized fees for visits to General Practitioners (GPs)
Subsidized fees for specialist care such as physiotherapist's, chiropractors and osteopath's
when referred by a GP for an accident case
Free or subsidized health care for those suffering from acute or chronic medical conditions
No charge for most laboratory tests and x-rays, except at privately operated clinics
No charge for health care during pregnancy and childbirth, unless provided by the private
medical sector
No charge for GP referrals to a public hospital for treatment
Subsidies for children under six for visits to the doctor and for prescriptions
Free Breast cancer screening for woman aged between 45 and 69.
Doctors and General Practitioners (GP)

General Practice is very similar to what you might know in other countries with most GPs having
patient list sizes between 500 to 2000 and providing a full range of primary care services to them.
In some practices, some GPs may choose to provide obstetric services, minor surgery clinics and
may even provide some anaesthetic services to local hospitals.
Most GPs are salaried by the publicly funded Primary Care system and are employed on contracts
where they are offered hourly rates and they can elect to work as many hours as they choose.
The care provided by family doctors or general practitioners (GPs) is partially subsidised by the
Government but in most cases you will still need to pay a copayment. This fee is set by the GP and

can vary from clinic to clinic.
You can find a GP in Auckland on everybody.co.nz
Medicines, Hospitals
Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) offers information on vaccinations, health warnings, and
travel advice.
Hospital
Auckland City Hospital (09-379 7440; Park Rd, Grafton; 24hr) The city's main hospital; has an
accident and emergency section.
Auckland Metro Doctors & Travel care (0508 306 306; Level 1, 125 Queen St; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri,
10am-5pm Sat) Specializes in health care for travelers, such as vaccinations and travel
consultations.
Starship Children's Hospital (09-367 0000; Park Rd, Grafton; 24hr) Emergency care.
Pharmacy
Prescriptions are subsidized for citizens and residents. Charges are usually NZ$15 max.
For a complete list of pharmacies in your area in Auckland:

www.nzs.com/region/auckland/health/pharmacies
International healthcare, medical insurance

Private health insurance is not a necessity in New Zealand as the government provides a public
health service. As the scheme is funded for New Zealand residents, people who are not permanent
residents can be charged for their healthcare.
In anycase, there is often a shortfall between the amount of the refund from the public health
service and the actual cost. While this sum may be small for some services (for example, a visit to a
GP), for major surgery the shortfall may be very large and therefore many residents choose to
complement the state scheme with private insurance.
There are many companies in New Zealand that offer healthcare and it will depend on the risk you
want to cover and your financial capabilities: medical insurance products range from expensive
comprehensive plans to budget hospital only plans.
Below is a list of some of the most popular insurance companies:
ACE Insurance Ltd

AIG New Zealand
AMI Insurance Ltd

Combined Insurance Company of New Zealand

Farmers' Mutual Group
NZI
Southern Cross Healthcare
Sovereign
State
Tower Insurance Limited
Vero Insurance New Zealand Ltd
Travel Insurance can help protect you while you are away. Some popular companies include: Travel
Guard and Insure My Trip.

Practical Life
1. Bank services
2. Shopping
3. Mobile Phone
4. Transport
5. Childcare, Babysitting

Bank services
New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). There are coins with values of 10,
20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2, and notes with values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Banks are open from 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. They are usually closed on weekends
and public holidays. Some banks are opening in the main centres on Saturday.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available at banks, along main shopping streets and in
shopping malls.
International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded.
Check with your bank before leaving home and let them know about your travel plans. Foreign
currency can easily be exchanged at most banks, some hotels and bureau de change kiosks. You
can find these at international airports and in most city centres. Traveller's cheques are accepted at
hotels, banks and some stores.
You may open a bank account very easily in New Zealand. You do not have to be a resident but you
do need to have a permanent address, a hotel or motel is not acceptable.
Shopping
For traditional New Zealand souvenirs or gifts, Maori carvings in wood, bone and pounamu
(greenstone) are an excellent example. Jewelry and ornaments made from the iridescent paua shell
(abalone) are also a popular trinket. There are also fine works of pottery with artisans working in
stone, wood, glass and metals. Wool is one of the country's greatest commodities and hand-knitted
wool sweaters, wall hangings, homespun yarns and top-quality sheepskins are also desirable.
Otara Market is the largest Maori and Polynesian market in the world. You'll find island-style floral
print fabrics, Maori carvings and all kinds of tropical fruit and vegetables. It is located on Newbury
St Auckland (09 274 0830),
High end shops

Britomart is filled with stores of beautiful and exquisite things. Designer clothing is available at
MADE, Debut, Storeroom and Federation.
Chancery is a highlight of Auckland's central city fashion district. Chancery is a fascinating, eclectic
mix of world-leading fashion, beauty, cuisine, gift ware and vibrant cafes.
Smith & Caughey's is one of New Zealand's oldest and best loved department stores, offering a
huge selection of the world's best brands. With international fashion labels such as Max Mara,
Missoni, Armani and Hugo Boss and beauty brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel.
Workshop is a boutique clothing store located on the corner of High Street and Vulcan Lane.
Housing international brands such as Miu Miu, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Vanessa
Bruno and See by Chloe with their own label Workshop and Helen Cherry, Workshop is a one-stop.

Karen Walker is a New Zealand-born fashion designer with a reputation for her original, effortless
and unpretentious style. In addition to her main womenswear collections Karen also designs Karen
Walker Jewelry and eyewear.
Shopping areas
High Street, Queen Street, Ponsonby Road, and Karangahape Road are very popular with urban
socialites.
Newmarket and Parnell are up-market shopping areas
Otara's and Avondale's flea markets offer a colourful alternative shopping experience.
Newer shopping malls tend to be outside city centres, with Sylvia Park (Sylvia Park, Auckland City),
Botany Town Centre (Howick, Manukau City) and Westfield Albany (Albany, North Shore City) being
the three largest.
Mobile Phone
Like most of the rest of the world (excluding USA), New Zealand has the GSM cellular system. If
your cell phone does not work on this system, you may buy a phone in New Zealand or obtain a
pre-paid SIM card or plan from a service provider.
Mobile phone coverage in New Zealand is very good with all towns and cities receiving mobile
phone coverage from the two main players. However if you plan to visit the countryside, you must
be aware that there are large areas with no coverage: in many National Parks you are unlikely to
get coverage.
Vodafone is an accepted provider in New Zealand, along with XT Mobile Network (Telecom New
Zealand) but you might need to buy a specific phone for using this provider. Vodafone can supply
you with a pre-paid sim card for your phone on a pre pay or Pay As You Go solution.
Transport
Auckland is highly dependent on private vehicles as the main form of transportation. In 2007,
approximately NZ$5.3 billion worth of large-scale projects were underway. More recently, the
National government has encouraged more highway construction and removed the provision of a
regional fuel tax that was to pay for ARTA's public transport upgrades. This has further decreased
the chances of better public transportation.
Privatization during the 1980s resulted in Auckland's public transport system run by many different
operators. They do not seem to work well together and there are few integrated public transport
passes. The Auckland Regional Council is trying to sort out the system. ARC runs the Maxx(09-366
6400), the most comprehensive transport system of buses, trains and ferries.
Metro

At one point there was a series of trams that connected areas of Auckland, but this was dismantled
in the 1950s. Public transport outside of buses,trains, and ferries is currently non-existent.
Metro/Bus:www.maxx.co.nz/how-to-travel/take-the-bus
Bus
Bus services provide the bulk of public transport, but only around 5 percent of all journeys in the
Auckland region are undertaken by bus. Bus services in Auckland are mostly radial rather than
ring-routes, due to Auckland geography on an isthmus. Service is also limited after hours (past
midnight) and on weekends.
The Maxx website offers a trip planner and time tables for bus transport. Bus fares are charged on
the distance traveled. Distance is based upon stage points that are set at specific points along a
bus route, approximately every four kilometres. These points are set within stages and moving
between stages (like from Manukau City to central Auckland) costs more money. Moving around the
inner city is NZ$0.50, with moving between one stage costing NZ$1.60, two stages NZ$3.20, three
stages NZ$4.30, four sages NZ$5.40, five stages NZ$6.50, and six stages NZ$7.50. One day pass,
including transit on all Waka Pacific, North Star, GO WEST, Metrolink, LINK buses and North Shore
and Downtown Fullers ferry services, costs NZ$11 while a three-day pass costs NZ$25. For a
complete list of prices, go to MAXX list of bus fares.
Upon boarding the bus, have your fare ready to give to the bus driver. All buses accept cash for
payment of fares. Exact change is appreciated but small notes can usually be accepted, and
change given. Books of 10 ride tickets can also be purchased from ticket agents as well as on the
bus. Most transport operators have smart cards, which can also be used to obtain discounts on cash
fares. Depending on the type of card, you either insert the Smartcard directly into the driver's ticket
machine or place it on the reader on the top of the machine as you board - make sure you take
your card back when the ticket is issued.
There have been efforts to increase the use of public transit with 20 new 'Link' city route buses built
in 2007 and the introduction of bus rapid transit on the Northern Busway (opened January 2008).
The Link Buses are environmentally friendly and affordable with prices at $1.60 and stops every 10
to 15 minutes, 6am to 11.30pm. Unfortunately, these efforts haven't been completely successful as
there can be long delays and many people still consider riding the buses with distaste.
The main long-distance bus company in Auckland, as for the rest of NZ, is InterCity (09-623 1503).
There is also the travel and sightseeing arm Newmans Coach Lines.
Naked Bus travels along SH1 as far as Whangarei (three hours) and Wellington (12 hours), as well
as further off destinations. Fares start from $1.
Go Kiwi (0800 446 549) has daily door-to-door shuttle services to/from Auckland, Rotorua,
Tauranga, Hamilton, Waitomo and the Coromandel Peninsula.

Trains
Auckland has three main railway lines, serving the general western, southern, and central eastern
directions from the Britomart Transport Centre in downtown Auckland. It is the terminal station for
all lines, and connects them to ferry and bus services. There are just three train routes: one runs
west to Waitakere, while two run south to Pukekohe. Services are at least hourly and run from
around 6am to 8pm (later on the weekends). A $14 Discovery Pass allows a day's travel on most
bus, train and North Shore ferry services. Otherwise, pay the conductor on the train. All train
carriages have wheelchair ramps.
The MAXX also provides time tables and information on riding the trains. Service runs along the
west and southeast of Auckland, with longer-distance options becoming more scarce. Auckland`s
suburban rail network extends from Waitakere to the north-west of the city centre through to
Papakura, south of the city.
Fares work much like bus fares with price dependent on distance. For a complete listing of prices,
go to MAXX train fares.
Train: www.maxx.co.nz
Airports
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a
year. The airport is about 21 km south of Auckland City centre. It is the central hub for Air New
Zealand. It has a capacity of about 45 flights per hour.
New Zealand has tough quarantine laws and all arriving passengers are subject to screening.
During non-peak hours, passengers with no baggage can expect to get from plane to exit within 10
minutes; for passengers with baggage about 15-20 minutes. A NZ$200 instant fine applies for risky
items not being declared, while a fine of up to NZ$100,000 and ten years in prison are possible for
the importation of certain specifically risky goods.
Taxis
New Zealand taxis are usually very reliable with fair meters. Bargaining or tipping for taxi services
in New Zealand is not generally acceptable.
Fares are $3, plus $2.40 to $2.60 per kilometre. There's a surcharge for transport to and from the
airport and cruise ships.
Auckland's many taxis usually operate from ranks, but they also cruise popular areas. Auckland
Co-op Taxis (09-300 3000) is one of the biggest companies. Alert Taxis, Discount taxis, and
Auckland Combined Citicabs Taxis are other well known taxi companies.

Boats
Auckland's port is the largest in the country. Freight usually arrives at or is distributed from the port
via road, though the port facilities also have rail access. Auckland is a major cruise ship stopover
point, with the ships usually tying up at Princes Wharf.
Fullers has been the leading ferry operator in Auckland for over 20 years and offers a range of ferry
trips, tours and charters around Auckland Harbour and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.
Prices are around $55. Tickets can be purchased from the Downtown Ferry Terminal. For Waiheke
Island services tickets need to purchased at the Downtown or Waiheke ferry terminals. Gulf Harbour
Ferry can be purchased on the ferry or from the Downtown Pier 3 ticket office. Tickets for the Pine
Harbour Ferry can be purchased on the ferry or from the Pine Harbour marina. Tickets for the West
Harbour Ferry can only be bought on the ferry.
SeaLink offers Great Barrier Island service from Auckland.
Car
Auckland is extremely geared to a driving community. The city has engaged in some of the most
pro-automobile transport policies anywhere in the world. New Zealand is now has the
second-highest vehicle ownership rate in the world, with around 578 vehicles per 1000 people.
Auckland has also been called a very pedestrian- and cyclist-unfriendly city, such as the inability for
pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Waitemata Harbour. This focus on driving has resulted in
substantial traffic congestion during peak times.
If you have a driver's licence in your home country or an international driving permit (IDP), you can
drive in New Zealand for a maximum of one year. If your overseas licence or permit isn't in English,
you must carry an accurate translation. After one year you'll need to apply for a New Zealand
driver's licence. By law you must always have your licence with you when you're driving.
It's easy to underestimate traveling times in New Zealand. Although distances may seem short on
paper, New Zealand roads may be narrower than you are used to, cover hilly terrain and vary from
motorways to unsealed gravel roads. On most of New Zealand's main roads the speed limit is 100
km/h unless a sign says a lower speed applies. In urban areas, the speed limit is usually 50 km/h
unless a sign says otherwise.
If you intend to drive in New Zealand, make sure you're familiar with our driving rules before you
arrive.
In New Zealand, all motorists drive on the LEFT side of the road.
When turning left, give way (or yield) to traffic crossing or approaching from your right.
When the traffic light is red, you must stop.

The speed limit on the open road is 100km/h (approx 60m/h) but in some areas close to
towns and cities 80km/h or 70km/h applies - watch for signs that tell you this.
In built up urban areas the speed limit is 50km/h.
Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times
Always use your indicators when turning.
At an intersection where one vehicle will cross the path of another, and both are waiting on
stop or give way signs (or where there are no signs), special give way rules apply.
if you're turning, give way to all vehicles that are not turning
in all other situations, give way to vehicles crossing or coming from your right.
In New Zealand you're not allowed to turn left at an intersection when the traffic lights are
red.
Most roads in New Zealand have a single lane each way, but provide passing lanes at
regular intervals - these should be used where possible. You must not cross a solid yellow
line on your side of the centre-line, as this indicates it's too dangerous to overtake.
For more rules of the road, use the Helpful Road Code guide.
Parking is a problem in central Auckland, but there are plenty of car parks off Beach Rd, which is at
the eastern end of Customs St. They cost around $8 for 12 hours. Most on-street parking meters
(from $1 an hour) do not have to be fed money between 6pm and 8am or on Sunday - check the
meters and parking signs carefully.
Roads
The State Highway network connects the cities in the Auckland urban area through the Northern,
Southern, Northwestern and Southwestern Motorways.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge (Northern Motorway) is the main connection to North Shore City, and
also a major bottleneck. The Harbour Bridge does not provide access to pedestrians or cyclists,
which in 2008 led to calls for and investigations into retrofitting the structure. Harbour Bridge -
connecting Auckland and the North Shore, an iconic symbol of Auckland.
The Central Motorway Junction, also called 'Spaghetti Junction' for its complexity, is the intersection
between the two major motorways of Auckland (State Highway 1 and State Highway 16).
Two of the longest arterial roads within Greater Auckland are Great North Road and Great South
Road - the main connections in those directions before the construction of the State Highway
network.
You'll only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you're licensed to drive in your home
country. The minimum legal age to rent a car in New Zealand is 25 years.
Rental, Car Hire

Apollo Car Rentals offer rental cars in Auckland, including a wide range of quality rental cars
available at great rates. Branches in Auckland and Christchurch with complimentary airport
transfers.

Britz Campervan, Car and 4WD Rentals has an impressive range of rental cars from handy
compacts to 4WD's, all reasonably priced to let you discover NZ your way.
Budget Rent-A-Car is one of New Zealand's largest rental companies. They offer cars, 4-wheel
drives and minivans.
Ezi-Rent Car Hire has affordable cars and friendly personal service at our 12 branches nationwide.
City Map:travel.nytimes.com/.../auckland/maps
Road Map: www.zoomin.co.nz/map/auckland
Childcare, Babysitting
Entrusting your child to a caregiver can be frightening, but necessary. Childcare is frequently
advertised, but before trusting your child to anyone's care make sure they have the proper
accreditation and licensing. You need to feel comfortable that your child will be safe and taken care
of appropriately.
Prices range greatly from area to area, but in general price per day is around $60 per child. It can
be difficult to find an open care center so plan in advance.
Childcare online is a helpful site for finding care givers, researching daycares, and finding advice
from fellow parents.
NZ Childcare offers tips on finding the right daycare center, as well as advice on child rearing. there
is also an extensive listing of facilities.
Kinder care is an excellent resource for childcare with establishments around the globe.
Babysitting
Babysitting is often done by family, a neighbour, or a family friend. Family is often expected to
watch children for free, and babysitter's are usually paid less than professional care.
Young women, often in high school or college, may offer their services on-line service sites such as:
www.babysitme.co.nz,
auckland.gumtree.co.nz, and
www.finda.co.nz/.../nanny-babysitting/.
Hotel chains will often offer childcare for visitors of the hotel.
Prices and skill levels vary greatly along with prices, but it is best to hire someone with some CPR
skills and references. Prices very greatly depending on the area and experience. Many of these jobs

are unregulated however so prices can be much lower then minimum wage.

Entertainment
1. Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants

2. Cinema, Nightclubs
3. Theatre, Opera, Museum
4. Sport and Activities

Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants

Eating in New Zealand
New Zealand's features a Pacific Rim cuisine style that is inspired by Europe, Thailand, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Polynesia, Japan, China and Vietnam. This unique blend of influences offers a range of
flavours and is available throughout the country.
For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style, look out for:
meat - lamb, pork and venison

seafood - salmon, crayfish, Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and scallops
vegetables - kumara (sweet potato)
fruit - kiwi fruit and tamarillo
dessert - pavlova, our national dessert, made from meringue with fresh whipped cream and
topped with fresh fruit or berries.
Fitting with the more casual island lifestyle, there are more relaxed cafe-bar dining rather than
formal high dining experiences. Tipping is not generally expected.
Locally produced New Zealand wines are of an international standard with some ranking among the
best in the world. A good selection of local and imported wines is available at most supermarkets,
restaurants and cafes. There are also many award-winning wineries.
Casual Dining
Sky Lounge - Coffee, light refreshments, and more are available at the highest caf in the Southern
hemisphere.
Wagamama - With more than 90 restaurants around the world, Wagamama offers authentic Asian
cuisine on a budget. The restaurants are modeled after the Japanese ramen bars, and offer a huge
variety of Asian cuisine.
Sale St Brewery - SFood is offered an a la carte menu, 'up-market grazing' bar snacks, gourmet
pizzas, weekend brunch, morning tea and an array of sizzling hot plates.
Westfield Downtown Foodcourt - With a huge variety of food stalls to choose from, this is a great
place to enjoy a meal to dine in or take away. Muffin Break, Chinese at Orient Express, noodles at
Noodle Express or sushi at Minato Sushi are among the many options.
The White Lady - This has been an iconic eatery in Auckland since 1948. From burgers to toasted
sandwiches to milk shakes, The White Lady is a take away experience not to be missed.
Revive - Fresh and healthy, Revive is a vegetarian haven. The meals change daily and the salads
weekly.
Burger Fuel - Offers an array of gourmet burgers ranging from chicken, vegetarian, vegan, beef

and gluten free.
Salad Works - Looking for a healthy lunch option? Fresh tossed salad from Salad Works are an
excellent way to ensure a delicious serving of fruits and vegetables daily.
Restaurants
Orbit Revolving Restaurant - Stunning food with 360 degree views to match. Located 190m up Sky
Tower, Orbit stands out as Auckland's top dining experience.
Guests also enjoy complimentary access to Sky Tower's main observation deck before or after
dining. (Observation level closes at 10.30pm)
The Observatory - also located in the Sky Tower, serves brasserie-style buffet with stunning seafood
specialties and the best view in town.
Guests also enjoy complimentary access to Sky Tower's main observation deck before or after
dining. (Observation level closes at 10.30pm)
Elliott Stables - An epicentre of style, tucked away in a neighbourhood of substance, Elliott Stables'
gourmet food village is rekindles the character of an earlier era.
The French Cafe - offers contemporary European cuisine in a sophisticated and intimate
environment. The restaurant has a relaxed bar for pre and post dinner drinks, conservatory room
over looking the courtyard and courtyard dining when weather permits.
O'Connell Street Bistro - Intimate dining room of twelve tables created in the theme of a modern
European back-street bistro. A fine dining experience not to be missed.
Mecca - Modern cuisine with a strong Mediterranean influence, and the ultimate in fresh roasted
coffee. Popular place offering a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Chow - Recently awarded 2008's Best Asian Fusion by Metro Magazine, Chow is conveniently
located on Pakenham Street East, over looking the Viaduct. Described as a restaurant with ego,
attitude and ambition, Chow has only been serving Auckland customers since the beginning of 2008
- but has been serving Wellington customers for over seven years. Highly recommended are the
lunch specials and deals on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Cinema, Nightclubs
Cinema
Despite the spectacular draw of the natural world, New Zealand has one of the highest cinema
attendance rates in the world.
Academy Cinema is a boutique cinema that features many foreign and independent films. It also
shows the World Cinema Showcase and Human Rights film festivals.
To find what is playing now, the newspaper New Zealand Herald has listings.

The on-line site, www.flicks.co.nz, has all the information you need to know about movies in New
Zealand.
Nightclubs
The people of New Zealand are happy to go out and have a good time.
Pub culture is king here.
Certain areas, like Karangahape Road (also known as "K' Road") is just one of many popular areas
for bars, clubs and smaller shops. Just about every neighborhood has a bar or pub where people of
all ages congregate, drink, and be merry.
The Classic Comedy & Bar is the only full time professional comedy club on the island. Opened in
October 1997, this is now an excellent spot for entertainment.
Theatre, Opera, Museum

There are multitude of tools to help people visiting Auckland make the most of their time. The city
is fairly easy to navigate, but there are street signs that show a large i logo that direct you to the
nearest visitor centre, which are identified by the same logo, if you get lost.
The Auckland Multipass offers combined entry to Kelly Tarlton's, Sky Tower, Rainbows End and a
Fullers cruise to Rangitoto Island for the great price of $99 for an adult and $59 for a child. Passes
can be purchased on the site or at any of the four attractions or from a participating i-SITE visitor
information centre.
There are also many tours to for people to choose from:

Flying Kiwi Adventure tours offers a unique, award winning, travel experience. The tours are
flexible, great fun, outstanding value and cover all areas of NZ. The buses do a continuous loop of
New Zealand, which means that you can join and finish at any point on the route. The tours on this
site have the most common departure city as the starting point.
Sightseeing from a small plane or helicopter will give you the ultimate view of New Zealand's
spectacular geography. Float Plane Services is located at the Ferry Terminal on Auckland Street in
Picton Marlborough 7220. Call for more information (021) 704248.
Touring by helicopter is also possible with several companies, including

www.helicoptershawkesbay.co.nz/scenicflights.
Adventure Cycles hires out road, mountain and long-term touring bikes. Per day is $20-35 and
hours are from 7:30am-7pm Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri. (0800 245 386; 1 Laurie Ave).
Maxx Regional Transport (09-366 6400) publishes an excellent free Cycle Map, available from
public buildings such as stations, libraries and i-SITEs. Bikes can be taken on ferries (free) and
trains ($1), but only folding bikes are allowed on buses.
For a self-guided tour, Auckland's City Walkor the Waterfront Sculpture Trail passes through one of
Auckland's historic quarters. The waterfront offers some of the finest sites for sculpture in the
central business district of Auckland city. The Auckland Domain Walk hosts sculptural works by
some of New Zealand's leading artists.

Attractions
Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the 13th tallest
member of the World Federation of Great Towers. It is 328 m (1,076 ft) tall and has excellent
panoramic views. A definitive feature of Auckland's skyland, this is a major landmark.
A trip up the Sky Tower is $25 per adult, which is complimentary if you have a lunch or dinner
reservation at Orbit or The Observatory.
Auckland's Sky City Casino is located within the magnificent Sky Tower.
SkyJump is one of New Zealand's most thrilling tourist attractions. SkyJump can be described as
Base Jumping while attached to a wire - just like a movie stunt man. You fall at approximately
85kph for around 11 seconds.
For the less daring, there is a spectacular view of Auckland while walking around the 1.2 metre
wide platform 192 metres up! A full body harness and overhead safety lines keep you safe as you
walk the edge of Sky Tower's pergola.
If you would prefer to climb 300 metres above street level up the Skytower. An exhilarating
experience with a breathtaking view!
Auckland is home to the world's first harbour bridge Bungy Jump. As part of the Bungy experience
you'll enjoy an exclusive bridge walk out to the specially-constructed and sensationally-suspended
retro 'Bungy pod'. It's here you'll build up the courage to leap out over the Waitamata Harbour.
Auckland Town Hall is a concert hall considered to have some of the finest acoustics in the world.
This 1911 building serves both council and entertainment functions.
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World is a well-known aquarium and Antarctic
environment in the eastern suburb of Mission Bay, built in a set of former sewage storage tanks,
showcasing penguins, turtles, sharks, tropical fish, sting rays and other marine creatures.
Auckland Zoo has 150 species and 500 animals. Zoo encounters, presented by zoo keepers, give
you the opportunity to come eye to eye with some amazing creatures
Open everyday from 9:30am to 5:30pm (except Christmas Day), with last admissions into the Zoo
at 4:15pm. During winter (1 June to 31 August), the Zoo closes at 5:00pm. Adults $19.00 Child (4 to
15 years) $9.00.
Sheep World & Nature Park presents the best of natural New Zealand. Located 45 minutes north of
Auckland's Harbour Bridge, this is the best of New Zealand.
Spas and springs are a vital part of enjoying New Zealand's natural beauty. Spa & Hot Springs
Waiwera Thermal Resort and Parakai Springs are some of New Zealand's natural geothermal
wonders. There is also YMCA's Tepid Baths offer the original male pool, a 25m 6-lane lap pool and
the original female pool, which is an 18m 4-lane leisure pool. Major renovations have included new
sauna and steam rooms, an upgraded Fitness Club, upgraded male and female changing rooms,
tiled reception entrance and cafe.

Howick Historical Village offers a 7 acre site with gardens and buildings in a Fencible settlement
during the 1840 to 1880 period. There are over thirty original colonial buildings collected on site,
including schools, a church, forge and general store. Costumed staff work in this living museum.
The museum, cafe and shop are open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm, all year round. Closed
Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day.
Rainbow's End is over 23 acres of fun, rides, attractions and entertainment. This top theme park is
located in Manukau City, just minutes from Auckland International Airport. There are all-day
superpasses that covers entry and all-day unlimited rides. Prices for children are $34, with adults
entry costing $44.
Parks
New Zealand holds a plethora of parks with a total of 22 conservation parks. In national parks there
are staff wearing Department of Conservation uniforms. They can help you with any advice and
answer your questions.
Auckland Domain is one of the largest parks in the city. Smaller parks close to the city centre are:
Myers Park, Western Park and Victoria Park.
Albert Park is one of Auckland's most important parks.
While most volcanic cones in the Auckland Volcanic Field have been affected by quarrying, many of
the remaining cones are now within parks, and retain a more natural character than the
surrounding city. Prehistoric earthworks and historic fortifications are in several of these parks,
including Mount Eden, North Head and One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie).
Ferries provide transport to parks and nature reserves.
Rangitoto- walk to the summit of this black lava volcanic island in the middle of the inner
Hauraki Gulf
Waiheke Island - wine tasting and beachcombing
Motuihe Island
Kawau Island - historic Mansion House, once the home of Governor George Grey
Tiritiri Matangi - wildlife sanctuary with many endangered birds, including the extremely
rare Takahe
Great Barrier Island - secluded natural hot springs and historic kauri dam
Theatre
Auckland Civic Theatre is a famous heritage theatre in downtown Auckland. The theatre was the
creation of Thomas O'Brien, who built a movie empire in Auckland's inner suburbs in the 1920s. It
was renovated in 2000 to its original condition.
Maidment Theatre is located in the heart of Auckland, on the University of Auckland city campus.
The theatre seats 450 and a studio theatre seats 105. Both theatres host a variety of professional,
community and campus performance throughout the year.

The Silo Theatre has many plays featuring some of New Zealand's finest local and national acting
talent.
SKYCITY Theatre hosts many of the best acts in Auckland. The 700 seat theatre features state of
the art technology in staging and cinema facilities.
Opera
The site, www.nzopera.com, offers a comprehensive view of opera in new Zealand and allows you
to buy tickets on-lie.
The Aotea Centre is a world-class performing arts centre in the Auckland and offers many different
events including opera.
Museums
Auckland War Memorial Museum - a large multi-exhibition museum in the Auckland Domain, known
for its impressive neo-classicist style. Auckland War Memorial Museum is the custodian of the finest
and most important collection of Maori treasures, or taonga, in the world
MOTAT - Auckland's Museum for Transport and Technology, at Western Springs.
New Zealand National Maritime Museum - features exhibitions and collections relating to New
Zealand maritime history at Hobson Wharf, adjacent to the Viaduct Basin.
City Art Room - located in the heart of Auckland's art district, neighbouring the Auckland Art
Gallery, in a loft-style venue occupying the entire first level of a 1930 historic building. The space
provides a welcoming experience for visitors, offering a reading room along with the two exhibition
areas.
Auckland Art Gallery - has the most extensive collection of national and international art in New
Zealand. Exhibiting work from its collection along with a programme of national and international
touring exhibitions.
Stardome observatory- in 1967 a bequest from Edith Winstone Blackwell enabled the installation of
a 50cm diameter Zeiss telescope - one of the largest in the world available for public viewing. Thirty
years later a modern planetarium was added, allowing 'virtual' night sky viewing regardless of the
weather.
Sport and Activities

New Zealand's diverse geography and mild climate make it a haven for outdoorsmen. Whether you
like to be in the water, in the mountains, or on the many playing fields, there is an activity for you
in Auckland.
Sailing

Auckland is popularly known as the "City of Sails" as the city's many waters are often covered in
yachts. There are more boats per capita than any other city in the world, with around 135,000
yachts. Of the 149,900 registered New Zealand yachtsmen, 60,500 come from Auckland.
Beware, conditions can change very fast. Always wear a life jacket, take plenty of fuel, and tell
someone where you've gone.
Hiking
Hiking through the numerous parks and trails is very popular. Watch out for signs forbidding
trespass and note that dogs are not allowed to enter national parks because of the risk to natural
flora and fauna.
For your own safety and for the safety of others, read all notices and follow the instructions. There
are many information centre in which you may ask about anything you do not understand. Weather
can change quickly, so bring warm clothing, a waterproof jacket, food and water.
Golf
Golf is very popular in this beautiful landscape. There are more golf courses per capita than
anywhere else in the world. Average green fees are also quite low at about NZ$30.
New Zealand Golf offers information concerning the development and promotion of the game.
Throughout the website there is information on all aspects of the game, including contact details for
clubs & district associations, on-line rules tests, results from our top tournaments, profiles on our
Srixon Academy athletes & much more. The site,
www.worldgolf.com/courses/newzealand/auckland, lists some of the best locations in Auckland.
Swimming
Swimming is also popular with many beaches marked with flags, and lifeguards watch to make sure
that swimmers are safe. You should always swim between the flags because there are dangerous
rips and tides on these beaches which cannot be seen from the shore.
Snorkeling is also enjoyable with company's like Goat Island Dive and Snorkel offering a variety of
scuba diving, snorkeling and/or kayaking options in a safe and protected environment.
New Zealanders have also been known to live on the wild side and there are many extreme sports
available. Skydiving, canyoning, climbing, motorbikes, bungy jump, and more.
Popular events
The most popular organized sports in Auckland are rugby union and cricket. New Zealand's
obsession with rugby union borders on the religious. The International Rugby Sevens Tournament in
Wellington is a crazy tournament with tickets sold out within a day.
Other popular sporting events include:

The Harbour Crossing swim from Devonport to the Viaduct Basin. A yearly summer event, the swim

covers 2.8 km and is attended by over a thousand mostly amateur competitors. It is New Zealand's
largest ocean swim.
The Round the Bays is a fun-run, starting in the city and going 8.4 kilometres along the waterfront
to the suburb of St Heliers. This has been an annual March event since 1972.
The Auckland Marathon (and half-marathon), are an annual marathon which draws thousands of
competitors.
Stadiums
Eden Park is the city's primary stadium and a home to rugby and cricket matches. This will be the
location of the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.
Auckland's world class cricket team, the Auckland Aces, play the majority of their home matches at
Eden Park's outer oval.
North Harbour Stadium is mainly used for Rugby Union and Soccer matches, but is also used for
concerts. The Corrs, Luciano Pavarotti, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd and Cher, and The Who have all
played here. North Harbour is the official reserve option for the 2011 Rugby world Cup.
Mt Smart Stadium, formerly Ericsson Stadium, is used for rugby league matches and is home to the
New Zealand Warriors of the NRL.
Concerts are also held here , hosting the Auckland stop of the Big Day Out music festival every
January.
ASB Tennis Centre is Auckland's primary tennis centre and hosts several international tournaments.
Vector Arena was built in 2007 and is a multi-purpose indoor arena. The arena holds 12,000 people
and it is primarily used for concerts and Netball matches.
Trusts Stadium is where the 2007 Netball World Championships were held and is the home to the
netball team, the Northern Mystics.
Viaduct Basin is a marina and residential development in downtown Auckland and hosted the
America's Cup regattas in 2000 and 2003.
Western Springs Stadium is a natural amphitheatre used mainly for speedway races, rock and pop
concerts.

Public Services
1. Consulate
2. Emergency

Consulate
GERMANY
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
90-92 Hobson St
Thorndon, 6011 Wellington
Telephone: 64 4 473 6063

Fax: 938-2354
www.wellington.diplo.de/
AUSTRALIA
Australian High Commission in New Zealand
72-76 Hobson Street
Thorndon, Wellington
Telephone: 64 (0)4 473 6411
www.australia.org.nz/
USA
Embassy of the United States of America
29 Fitzherbert Terrace
Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone from New Zealand: (04) 462 6000

Telephone from outside of New Zealand: 64 4 462 6000
newzealand.usembassy.gov/
CANADA
Canadian Embassy in New Zealand
PO Box 12 049
3rd Floor, 61 Molesworth Street
Telephone: (64 4) 473 9577
www.canuckabroad.com/.../newzealand/wellington

SPAIN
Cancillera: 15, Arkana St. Yarralumla
P.O.B.: 9076 Deakin ACT 2600
Telephone: 6273 35 55
www.maec.es/Subwebs/.../Paginas/home
FRANCE
34-42 Manners Street
Sovereign House, 12th Floor
PO BOX 11-343
Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: 64 4 384 25 55
www.ambafrance-nz.org
GREAT BRITAIN
44 Hill Street
Wellington, New Zealand 6011
Telephone: (+64) (4) 924 2888
ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/en
NETHERLANDS
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands
Investment House, 10th Floor
Crn Featherston/ Ballance Streets
Telephone: 04 471 6390
www.netherlandsembassy.co.nz
ITALY
Embassy of Italy
34-38 Grant Road
PO Box 463

Telephone: (0064-4)-4735 339
www.ambwellington.esteri.it/ambasciata_wellington
SWITZERLAND
Embassy of Switzerland
10 Customhouse Quay
Level 12
Telephone: 64 4 472 15 93
http://www.eda.admin.ch/wellington
INDIA
High Commission of India
180 Molesworth Street
Telephone: 04-473 6390
www.hicomind.org.nz
CHINA
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2-6 Glenmore Street, Kelburn
Telephone: 4721382-600
www.chinaembassy.org.nz/eng
UAE
Embassy of the Uniter Arab Emirates
PO Box 5173
Garran, ACT 2605 Australia
Telephone: (+61 2) 6286 8802
www.uaeembassy.org.au

To search for other consulates, look at

yellow.co.nz/popular/Consulates/Auckland
Emergency
In an emergency dial 111. This connects you to the police, ambulance and fire service.
New Zealand has a reputation for being a safe society and it is compared with many countries.
People should still use common sense. The New Zealand police have a reputation for being helpful
and friendly. They don't carry firearms and you should feel confident about going to them if you
have any problems while you're visiting New Zealand.
Here are some other tips for keeping safe:
If you're out late at night walk with a friend, especially if you're a woman.
Stay away from unlit areas and streets where there are few people.
Always lock your car in urban areas, especially if it's parked where there aren't many people
around.
If you're in rural areas and tourist spots, park your car where it's visible and always lock it.
Take your valuables with you when you leave your car - never leave your camera, personal
belongings, money or travel documents in your car.
All hotels and public buildings must also display public notices about emergency and evacuation
procedures. The front of any telephone book offers instructions and guidelines for what to do in a
natural disaster. Earthquakes still occur frequently, but most are not serious and don't cause any
damage. You will also find contact numbers for Civil Defence, the organization that coordinates help
and rescue services, in the front of the telephone books.

Return
1. Before going back

Before going back

To return to your home country, prepare to close down your household as previously discussed in
the "Before the Departure" article (check in the "Departure" section).
The IRD asks that people leaving New Zealand contact their office and register a new address. If
you are a resident, a departure for more than 325 days in any 12-month period will result in you
becoming a non-resident. If you have an enduring relationship with New Zealand (eg with social and
economic ties, personal property or accommodation here), you continue to be a resident for tax
purposes.
Also prepare your goods to go through customs by making a detailed inventory and secure a proof
of change of residence so you may go through customs easier. You will be asked on the plane
before you land to declare all of the items you purchased while aboard.
To export personal belongings there should be no charge. There may be fees in accordance with
import duties in your destination country. New (i.e. unused) items in particular are subject to import
duties in most countries, as are alcohol and tobacco. If using a shipping company, they should be
able to handle most of this paperwork for you.

Credit & References
Copyright EasyExpat Ltd 2011. All rights reserved.
No part of this guide may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including sharing the guide on
third-party platforms, without permission in writing
from the publisher.
You can contact EasyExpat by email:

easyexpat@easyexpat.com
Author: Erin Porter

Editor: EasyExpat Ltd
Photography: Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons,
Fotolia, Creative Common EasyExpat Ltd
Cartography: Google maps
Although we make every effort to ensure the

accuracy of all information at the time of the
update, changes do occur. If you want to
rectify an information, add another comment
that doesn't link with a specific section, please
Contact us: easyexpat@easyexpat.com
http://www.easyexpat.com: If you've got any

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Update: 6/12/2009 EasyExpat.com

Notes

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Guide for expatriates

About us 4 Finding Accommodation, 32

Internship abroad 16 Telephone 47

Au Pair 17 TV & Internet 47

Adverts and Recruitment 18 Education 49

Departure 24 Schooling system 50

Before you leave 25 International Schools 50

Customs 25 Courses for Adults and 50

Accommodation 31 General Practitioner, Doctor, 53

2 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants 66

Theatre, Opera, Museum 68

Sport and Activities 71

Before going back 80

Credit & References 81

Guide for expats in Auckland - 3

Easyexpat.com is edited by EasyExpat Ltd, a Private Company.

Registered Office: 306 Victoria House - Victoria, Mah, Seychelles

For Legal matters only, EasyExpat Ltd is represented by:

Forum: phpBB phpBB Group / phpBB SEO

If you want to advertise on our site, click here.

4 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Guide for expats in Auckland - 5

Map: City View

6 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Guide for expats in Auckland - 7

Map: Street View

8 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Guide for expats in Auckland - 9

10 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Guide for expats in Auckland - 11

12 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Guide for expats in Auckland - 13

1. Volunteer abroad, Gap year

14 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Volunteer abroad, Gap year

Auckland's Volunteer Center 70 Khyber Pass Rd, Grafton

Guide for expats in Auckland - 15

Summer, seasonal and short term jobs

Www.hortnz.co.nz, www.hbfruitgrowers.co.nz, and www.saiviticulture.com are some of the most

16 - Guide for expats in Auckland

AustraLearn (800-980-0033) works to place suitable candidates in professional development

What the au pair must know

Be able to communicate in the family's preferred language

What the family has to do

The au pair must have her own bedroom.

Guide for expats in Auckland - 17

It may be of benefit to register the au pair at the family doctor.

PO Box 137 006

Adverts and Recruitment

18 - Guide for expats in Auckland

References and academic/professional certificates may be listed as "available upon request".

www.newkiwis.co.nz - Is a nation-wide website free to all migrants who are resident in NZ

Guide for expats in Auckland - 19

www.newkiwis.co.nz/ is a partnership project between the Auckland Chamber of Commerce

www2.careers.govt.nz/home_page.html offers information about work and training in New

Barristers and Solicitors

Clinical psychologists / Educational psychologists

20 - Guide for expats in Auckland

Dentists / Dental Therapists / Dental Hygienists / Dental Technicians

Electricians / Electrical Service Technicians / Line Mechanics

Medical Laboratory Scientists / Medical Laboratory Technicians

Medical Radiation Technologists