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Travel to New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand
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New Zealand is invigorating, exciting and delightfully refreshing. With awe-inspiring scenery, revel in the culture of this diverse and fascinating land. See spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forests and miles of sandy coastline. Discover how Maori values have an ongoing influence on everyday life with many opportunities to experience the culture first-hand. See geothermal activity up close in Rotorua with sprouting geysers, hot water pools and bubbling mud pools.

People

New Zealanders, or Kiwis, as they call themselves, are among the friendliest people on earth.

Language

English is the most common language in New Zealand; however Maori is also an official language.

History

Maori, who are Polynesians, were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, who are thought to have arrived more than 1,000 years ago in double-hulled waka (canoe), from islands in Eastern Polynesia (Hawaiki). Maori settled on both main islands of New Zealand and named the country Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud).

Dutch Navigator Abel Tasman, the first European discoverer, arrived in 1642 and named the islands New Zealand. He didn’t stay, and it wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived over a century later that the area was colonized.

From the late 1790’s on, whalers, traders and missionaries arrive, establishing settlements mainly along the far northern coast of New Zealand. From 1839 to 1841 New Zealand was administered as part of Australia’s New South Wales colony.

In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It established British law in New Zealand, while at the same time guaranteeing Maori authority over their land and culture. The Treaty is considered New Zealand’s founding document. The grounds and the building where the treaty was signed have been preserved and, today, the Waitangi Historic Reserve is a popular tourist attraction. The original Treaty itself can be seen at the New Zealand Archives in Wellington.

Gold was discovered in the mid-19th century in the South Island and many more European settlers arrived – many staying to establish farms in the South Island. In the early 1880’s new refrigerated ships made it possible for New Zealand to begin to export dairy products and meat to the United Kingdom and the economy became heavily agriculturally based.

New Zealand was the first sovereign state to give voting rights to women in 1893. In 1907 New Zealand gained dominion status within the British Empire and was granted autonomy in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster which was formally accepted in 1947.
New Zealand today is an independent nation within the British Commonwealth. The British Monarch, although constitutional head of state, plays no active role in the administration of New Zealand’s government.

The capital city is Wellington, although the largest city is Auckland, both situated in the North Island.

Currency

The official currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$).

Weather

New Zealand’s climate is mainly mild. The far north is subtropical in the summer (November to March) and the far south can get below freezing in the winter (May to August). Nevertheless most of New Zealand has lots of sun, moderate temperatures and modest rainfall.

The average rainfall in New Zealand is between 25 and 60 inches. This provides the country with excellent farming and lush rainforest but it also means that a rain protection is necessary.

Health Requirements

Must be in acceptable standard of health to enter New Zealand

Visa Requirements

From October 1, 2019, anyone entering NZ now requires a Visa by completing an ETA - Electronic Travel Authority. The ETA’s must be completed online via NZ immigration’s website platform. The only exceptions to this requirement are passengers travelling on a New Zealand or Australian passport, as well as travelers who hold a valid NZ visa. Visit: https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/ to apply for your New Zealand ETA. In addition, anyone entering New Zealand from October 1, 2019 will need to pay the IVL (International Visitor Levy). The levy cost is NS$35 and can be paid a the same time as the ETA.

Tipping & Porterage

Tipping is not as entrenched a custom as it is in the US, however, generous donations by American visitors have changed the expectations of many who work in the tourism industry. Generally, a 10% tip at finer restaurants is sufficient, and taxi drivers only expect a tip if they helped with luggage.