New Zealand Travel Guide

Language

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Maori.

Currency

Local currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), divided into 100 cents. Most businesses accept MasterCard and Visa, and while Diners Club and American Express are also widely accepted in the main tourist centers, they might have limited acceptance elsewhere. Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some hotels. ATMs can be found in all towns and cities.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Oblique flat blade plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for New Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular vacation areas. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to New Zealand over 17 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 liters or 1 liter spirits or liqueurs, and 4.5 liters wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 liters beer. Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects not dutiable include items such as jewelry, binoculars, portable radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras. Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals, plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone, Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products manufactured from such shells). Prescription medications need to be accompanied by a doctor's letter and the original prescription, they should not amount to more than three months worth of the medication. Food, plants, animals (alive or dead), equipment used with animals, biological specimens and equipment such as used camping gear, used bicycles and golf clubs all need to be declared in the Customs Biosecurity/Quarantine section.

Tourist Office

Tourism New Zealand, Wellington: +64 (0)4 917 5400 or www.newzealand.com/travel

Embassies in New Zealand

• United States Embassy, Wellington: +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• Honorary Consulate of South Africa, Wellington: +64 (0)4 815 8484.
• Honorary Consul General of Ireland, Auckland: +64 (0)9 977 2252.

New Zealand Embassies Abroad

• New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 328 4800.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5991.
• New Zealand High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4211.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 435 9000.

Emergency

Emergencies: 111

Language

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Maori.

Currency

Local currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), divided into 100 cents. Most businesses accept MasterCard and Visa, and while Diners Club and American Express are also widely accepted in the main tourist centers, they might have limited acceptance elsewhere. Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some hotels. ATMs can be found in all towns and cities.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Oblique flat blade plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for New Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular vacation areas. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to New Zealand over 17 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 liters or 1 liter spirits or liqueurs, and 4.5 liters wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 liters beer. Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects not dutiable include items such as jewelry, binoculars, portable radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras. Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals, plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone, Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products manufactured from such shells). Prescription medications need to be accompanied by a doctor's letter and the original prescription, they should not amount to more than three months worth of the medication. Food, plants, animals (alive or dead), equipment used with animals, biological specimens and equipment such as used camping gear, used bicycles and golf clubs all need to be declared in the Customs Biosecurity/Quarantine section.

Tourist Office

Tourism New Zealand, Wellington: +64 (0)4 917 5400 or www.newzealand.com/travel

Embassies in New Zealand

• United States Embassy, Wellington: +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• Honorary Consulate of South Africa, Wellington: +64 (0)4 815 8484.
• Honorary Consul General of Ireland, Auckland: +64 (0)9 977 2252.

New Zealand Embassies Abroad

• New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 328 4800.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5991.
• New Zealand High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4211.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 435 9000.

Emergency

Emergencies: 111

Language

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Maori.

Currency

Local currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), divided into 100 cents. Most businesses accept MasterCard and Visa, and while Diners Club and American Express are also widely accepted in the main tourist centers, they might have limited acceptance elsewhere. Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some hotels. ATMs can be found in all towns and cities.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Oblique flat blade plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for New Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular vacation areas. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to New Zealand over 17 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 liters or 1 liter spirits or liqueurs, and 4.5 liters wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 liters beer. Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects not dutiable include items such as jewelry, binoculars, portable radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras. Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals, plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone, Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products manufactured from such shells). Prescription medications need to be accompanied by a doctor's letter and the original prescription, they should not amount to more than three months worth of the medication. Food, plants, animals (alive or dead), equipment used with animals, biological specimens and equipment such as used camping gear, used bicycles and golf clubs all need to be declared in the Customs Biosecurity/Quarantine section.

Tourist Office

Tourism New Zealand, Wellington: +64 (0)4 917 5400 or www.newzealand.com/travel

Embassies in New Zealand

• United States Embassy, Wellington: +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• Honorary Consulate of South Africa, Wellington: +64 (0)4 815 8484.
• Honorary Consul General of Ireland, Auckland: +64 (0)9 977 2252.

New Zealand Embassies Abroad

• New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 328 4800.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5991.
• New Zealand High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4211.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 435 9000.

Emergency

Emergencies: 111

Language

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Maori.

Currency

Local currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), divided into 100 cents. Most businesses accept MasterCard and Visa, and while Diners Club and American Express are also widely accepted in the main tourist centers, they might have limited acceptance elsewhere. Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some hotels. ATMs can be found in all towns and cities.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Oblique flat blade plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for New Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular vacation areas. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to New Zealand over 17 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 liters or 1 liter spirits or liqueurs, and 4.5 liters wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 liters beer. Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects not dutiable include items such as jewelry, binoculars, portable radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras. Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals, plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone, Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products manufactured from such shells). Prescription medications need to be accompanied by a doctor's letter and the original prescription, they should not amount to more than three months worth of the medication. Food, plants, animals (alive or dead), equipment used with animals, biological specimens and equipment such as used camping gear, used bicycles and golf clubs all need to be declared in the Customs Biosecurity/Quarantine section.

Tourist Office

Tourism New Zealand, Wellington: +64 (0)4 917 5400 or www.newzealand.com/travel

Embassies in New Zealand

• United States Embassy, Wellington: +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• Honorary Consulate of South Africa, Wellington: +64 (0)4 815 8484.
• Honorary Consul General of Ireland, Auckland: +64 (0)9 977 2252.

New Zealand Embassies Abroad

• New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 328 4800.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5991.
• New Zealand High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4211.
• New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 435 9000.

Emergency

Emergencies: 111