Population
4.2 million people, approx 3/4 live in the North Island.
Ethnic mix: European 75.8%, Maori 13.8%,
Pacific Islander 5.3%, Asian 4.5%.

Time Zone
New Zealand leads the world time wise. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +12) and 19 hours ahead of Pacific Standard time (PST). Daylight Saving (GMT+13) begins on the last Sunday
in September and ends on the first Sunday in April.

New Zealand Public Holidays
26 Oct 09 Labour Day
25-26 Dec 09 Xmas & Boxing Day
01-02 Jan 10 New Year’s Day
06 Feb 10 Waitangi Day
02 Apr 10 Good Friday
05 Apr 10 Easter Monday
25 Apr 10 Anzac Day
07 June 10 Queen’s Birthday

New Zealand School Holidays
Primary, Intermediate & Secondary School
04 Jul 09 - 19 Jul 09
26 Sep 09 - 11 Oct 09
19 Dec 09 - 2 Feb 10
02 Apr 10 - 18 Apr 10
03 Jul 10 - 18 Jul 10
25 Sep 09 - 10 Oct 10

Entry Requirements
All visitors require a passport valid for at least 3 months after their planned departure date. Non Australian passport holders can obtain requirements from the New Zealand Immigration Service. PO Box 4130, Wellington, New Zealand. Website www.immigration.govt.nz

Travel Insurance
New Zealand provides a high level of treatment in both public and private hospitals, however these services are not free, except in the case of an accident whereby visitors are covered under the local Accident Compensation Scheme for personal injury. It is strongly recommended that you have your own private travel insurance.

Electricity
230/240 volts, the same as Australia and Europe. 3 prong plugs are used. Appliances designed for
DC supply or different voltages need a transformer.

Goods & Services Tax (GST)
All goods and services in New Zealand are subject to a 12.5% Goods & Services Tax (GST) included in our prices. Visitors cannot claim a refund on this tax.

Driving
A full New Zealand, Australian, English language or International Licence is required to hire most vehicles (& must be sighted at commencement of hire). Min. age 21 years. Motorists
drive on the left-hand side of the road & operate right-hand drive vehicles. Wearing seatbelts is mandatory. Speed limits are generally 100kph (60mph) on open roads & 50kph (30mph) through towns unless otherwise stated. Fuel prices vary from NZ$2.20 per litre for petrol to approx NZ$1.85 for diesel per litre. Don’t drink & drive! At the time of printing the legal alcohol limit for drivers was 80mg alcohol per 100ml of blood. Rental cars are not permitted on unsealed roads. We urge
you to fully read your rental contracts before signing as conditions vary between companies.

Important
Travel Insurance Vs Car Insurance
Personal travel insurance is a contract between the insurance company & YOU. It is NOT between the
rental car company and the insurance company. Therefore you’ll need to negotiate a level of insurance cover with the car company and any claims will be deducted from your credit card. It’s then up to you to reclaim it from your travel insurance company if appropriate.

Banking
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be taken in or out of New Zealand, however amounts of NZ$10,000 or more need to be declared. Banks operate from Monday to Friday 9am- 4pm and are willing to change travellers cheques, as are large shops and hotels, however at a slightly lower rate. Credit cards are accepted throughout the country with Visa & American Express being the most popular. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available.

Climate
New Zealand has a temperate climate. Winter temperatures (May - Aug) can range from 0ºC to 18ºC (32ºF to 65ºF) & summer from 9ºC to 26ºC (48ºF to 79ºF). Because of its latitude and wide ranging altitude, New Zealand’s weather can change quickly. Days outside of the above averages are not uncommon. It is recommended that a warm windproof jacket be carried during all seasons. Note: due to the lack of air pollution it is easy to burn in the sun, even on relatively cool days.

International Departure Tax
Auckland Airport, this tax is incorporated into the ticket price and will no longer be collected as a separate fee. For Wellington, Christchurch & Queenstown the fee must be paid at the airport.

Accommodation Ratings
Star ratings are approx. only & intended to help you gauge the level and type most suited to your needs. Wherever possible we have used the NZ official Qualmark rating which means properties have undergone a rigorous, independent assessment. As not all properties are Qualmark rated, we have tried to estimate an approx. star rating for the remainder. We stress that this is a guide only. We do not take any responsibility for a change in standards. It is also important that you recognise the difference between styles of accommodation eg. 5 star motels will not have the same level of services or facilities as 5 star hotels. Some properties have a range of styles making them difficult to categorise.