New Zealand

Visa Requirements:

Travelers from a short list of approved countries (including Brazil, Canada, and the United States) may visit New Zealand for up to three months without having to apply for a visa, although a return flight ticket and proof that you have enough money for your travels (about $1000 NZD per month) may also be requested. If you have a circumstance not covered in the aforementioned, then you may seek further visa information here.

Exchange Rate:

Find the most up-to-date exchange rates for the New Zealand dollar here.

Government:

Like many of the nations under the figurative rule of Her Majesty, the Queen, New Zealand is a representative democratic monarchy. The Governor-General is the queen's representative in government and serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the indirectly elected head of government that heads a cabinet made up of various departmental heads. The Parliament is the single legislative body, while the highest level of judiciary is the Supreme Court.

In an ongoing act of civil rights reparation, seats are reserved in Parliament for Maori natives, although a person of Maori ethnicity may run for any position. Social and economic inequality are still issues in present society, but New Zealand still proves to be (after being the first modern nation to allow women's suffrage in the 19th century) one of the most egalitarian countries on the map and does not compare to the level of poverty and lack of opportunity present in many large American cities.

Language Barriers:

English-speaking visitors will have little trouble parsing the Kiwi accent. You'll see when traveling in New Zealand that the Maori names of places and native plants and animals have been preserved, while popular Maori phrases have become basic staples of New Zealand conversations; "kia ora" is a typical greeting that you'll hear used universally. For a very basic understanding of Maori pronunciation and a list of greetings, go here.

Crime and Safety:

According to numerous international indexes and polls, New Zealand is seen as one of the safest places to travel in the world. Rates of crime on a national level have been steadily decreasing over the past few decades, while violent crime toward foreign travelers is next to nonexistent. This isn't to say that you should disregard common sense measures of safe travel. You still shouldn't walk alone in seedier areas of large cities at night or leave your belongings unattended in public places and you should only carry a copy of your passport on your person. This goes for any place you go, even if you've somehow stumbled into a utopia. One last note: an inordinate number of crimes committed in New Zealand are perpetrated by citizens of Maori descent in poor townships or urban areas. This is a socio-economic issue much like that facing African-Americans in the United States, where crimes are less an issue of race and more an issue of poverty and disadvantage. Again, this is no cause for concern for anyone who is just visiting the country.

Modes of Transportation:

The main population hubs of New Zealand are well-connected by state highways and the majority of urban areas can be reached by car, long-distance buses or by domestic flights. Being that many of New Zealand's more worthwhile destinations are a bit more off-the-beaten-path (the Southern Alps or the wilderness of the eastern North Island, for instance), you'll find that travel times may be much longer than expected and roads less direct. Also, despite biking being a popular recreational activity, it is surprisingly unheard of in a practical capacity due to a high rate of accidents and vehicular deaths on the roadways. Rail lines service the major cities and can be a leisurely way of viewing the country's natural beauty; this link provides information on the three railway companies, as well as regional busing options. Also of note, ferry services connect the North and South Islands at Picton and Wellington at about a three hour ride; this is the only regular water route between the two islands.

At the local level, most urban areas have reliable transit services and most activities that you'll be enjoying can often be accessed via shuttle vans that run fixed routes. For more on individual areas and activities, check out our dedicated pages.

Weather:

Although New Zealand's climate is generally temperate, there are an interesting number of micro-climates found throughout the country that vary with latitude, topography, and coastal proximity, even in areas that are merely dozens of miles apart. Rainfall is moderately high year round throughout the country, while snowfall occurs on the South Island, the southern portion of the North Island, and at higher elevations elsewhere. Generally speaking, the North Island usually possesses higher temperatures than the South Island, although both will have average highs over 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer; the South Island, especially inland, will be closer to 45 degrees and the North Island will be around 50 during the winter.

Natural events that affect New Zealand include volcanic activity and earthquakes. Although the majority of volcanoes on the islands are dormant, there are a chain of active volcanoes on the North Island from Ruapehu to White Island. The good news here is that they aren't close enough to civilization to cause much damage, while those who prefer to climb them will have plenty of warning if one is going to go off. The bad news is that New Zealand's position in the Ring of Fire has made it susceptible to damaging earthquakes, with much recent devastation occurring in 2011 in Christchurch that the city is still in the process of rebuilding from.

Eating and Tipping:

When dining in New Zealand, you'll find that the Kiwi eat their biggest meal in the evening (sometimes called "tea" in the British tradition). Despite this, you'll find plenty of options for eating during the whole day, especially since fast food and cafes are as quick and common as they are in the United States. Traditional Maori meal-time gatherings will have their own customary etiquette that includes the cooking of meat and vegetables in an oven in the ground called a hangi. You'll often need to know someone to be invited to an authentic Maori meal, so chances are that you'll find yourself dining out in whatever city you may find yourself with an international array of food choices on hand.

In New Zealand restaurants, tipping is merit-based, meaning that 10% gratuity on top of your bill is fine if you've received good service, although it isn't of necessity. Many other service personnel (hotel workers, for one) could use the small tip for carrying bags, cleaning your room, giving an interesting tour, or something of the like. Taxi drivers aren't usually tipped, although it's okay to round up your fare.

Alcohol Culture:

The minimum age to purchase alcohol in New Zealand is 18 years old, although minors may drink if they are with a guardian or have expressed permission from a guardian. Recent laws have actually become more restrictive in recent times because (much like the United States) the drinking culture, particularly amongst the younger generations, is highly social and may quite often lead to excess. Cities like Wellington, Auckland, Queenstown are known for having abundant and lively nightlife areas that promote the social consumption of alcohol. The type of alcohol preferred is beer, the large majority of which is produced domestically by powerhouse breweries like Lion Nathan and DB, although there has been a surge of craft beer brewing and demand in recent years that has provided a number of quality options to the usual lagers. Surprisingly, New Zealand wine is valuable on the international scene and there are ten wine regions in the country where travelers may taste local vintage and stroll the vineyards. Waiheke Island near Auckland, Martinborough near Wellington, and Wairau Valley are some of the more notable destinations for connoisseurs and dabblers alike.

Interesting Cultural Fact:

Although you wouldn't know by the its calm waters, popular tourist destination Lake Taupo was the site of the largest volcanic eruption in the last seventy thousand years. Also of interest is New Zealand's ban on not only nuclear weapons, but the use of nuclear power as a source of energy: this means that there are NO nuclear power stations.