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General Travel Information

Time Zone

New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and is one of the first nations to see the sun each day. In Summer (October to March) the local clock time is advanced by one hour for Daylight Saving. During that time the clock time is 13 hours ahead of GMT.

All Blacks Haka Challenge

Taxation

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a broad based consumer tax levied at a flat rate of 12.5% on all goods and services supplied in New Zealand. Overseas tourists to New Zealand also pay GST on purchases, and there is no scope for later or retrospective refunds.

Currency, Banking and Credit Cards

The currency in New Zealand is a decimal type in dollars and cents. Travellers Cheques are a relatively safe method of carrying funds and are widely accepted throughout New Zealand with identification. Today many travellers carry a credit card because these are almost universally accepted for payment with the additional appeal of the 'buy now, pay later' concept. Visitors can exchange foreign cash at Bureaus of Exchange, Banks, and Trading Banks. The hours of trade are usually 9.00 am - 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. View our financial services listings.

The Crown and Governor-General

New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth, with a parliamentary government rooted in the British "Westminster" tradition. Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom, is also Queen of the realm of New Zealand. The Governor General is the representative of the sovereign in New Zealand, and is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the New Zealand Prime Minister for a minimum period of five years.

Yachting Regatta, Auckland

New Zealand Parliament

Wellington is New Zealand's capital and seat of government. A building called the 'Beehive' because of its circular shape currently contains ministerial offices of the 'Executive'. It is compulsory for New Zealand citizens aged 18 and over to be on the electoral roll allowing them to vote in the three yearly elections, although voting itself is not compulsory.

The candidate obtaining the most votes from voters in each area is elected to parliament, and becomes MP. Each voter also votes for a political party, and the share of 'party votes' a party receives determines their share of all the seats in parliament. The party with the most seats becomes the Government.

The Prime Minister is an elected representative appointed by fellow members of the party that becomes the government. The Prime Minister in return will appoint senior elected representatives from their party to become Cabinet Ministers. They are given certain responsibilities like Health and Education, and in their weekly meetings make the decisions that control the country. View our government listings.

Police and Crime

The emergency telephone number in New Zealand is 111. This number connects to the police, fire and ambulance services. Police are unarmed on normal duty and become involved in all aspects of law enforcement including crime, drugs, gambling, driver licensing, search and rescue.

New Zealand is one of the safest destinations in the world, however it doesn't deny the existence of crime. New Zealand encourages visitors to be alert and take care at all times and to observe the same precautions with your personal safety and possessions as you would normally. View our police listings.

Wine Tasting, Ngatarawa Vineyard, Hastings

New Zealand Customs Department

The New Zealand Customs Department is the authority that is responsible for all passenger checks on departure and arrival in New Zealand. It also controls and collects all taxes on importation and exportation of all goods.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is responsible for keeping New Zealand free from pests and diseases. Because of the relative geographical isolation of New Zealand, it is in a fortunate situation that many of the detrimental animal and plant diseases experienced overseas have not reached New Zealand shores.

All visitors are discouraged from bringing plant or animal material to New Zealand. Any such objects or items made from must be declared on arrival and if considered necessary by the officer on duty in the Customs area, may be confiscated and/or fumigated.

Café Scene, Nelson

Food and Beverage

The rich lands and waters of New Zealand boast a plentiful supply of fine fresh foods. Kiwi restaurants never used to be renowned for their presentation, but now offer their fare with flair. There are a number of New Zealand delicacies and the Maori Hangi is a distinctive New Zealand feature.

The Hangi is a Maori feast, with meats, seafoods and vegetables cooked in an earth oven. A pit is dug in the ground, and heated stones are placed in it. Flax baskets of food are then planed on the stones, covered with wet cloths and earth, and allowed to steam. Several hotels offer this kind of meal, though sometimes the food is partially pre-cooked before the Hangi finishes it off.

Although there are several items of food which New Zealand would like to consider Kiwi specialities, none are unique to New Zealand, and few are native. But it is important to note that the quality, flavour, freshness and cleanliness of New Zealand foods are due to being processed with safe water and wholesome milk in hygienic surroundings. It is safe to drink the tap water in most areas of New Zealand.

Beverages available to visitors are widely accessible throughout the country although there are speciality beverages in certain regions. Beer, wine, cider and spirits are the four main types available, individual prices between them vary a lot and it is cheaper to buy the whole bottle rather than by the glass. In New Zealand the minimum legal drinking age is 18 but there is a very strict drink driving enforcement in place and it is very important that visitors who drive in New Zealand are aware of the restrictions. View our listings for cafes and restaurants and bars and nightclubs.