Time Difference
New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of GMT. However, daylight saving is in place in New Zealand. In January, February and March the time difference between New Zealand and the UK is 13 hours. In April the time difference is 12 hours. In May, June, July, August and September the time difference is 11 hours. In October the time difference is 12 hours. In November and December, the time difference is 13 hours.
Money
The national currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Credit cards are widely accepted and can be used to make withdrawals from ATMs in New Zealand. We recommend that you still carry cash for small purchases and entrance fees in national parks, for example. GBP can be easily exchanged. Banks are generally open from 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.
Electricity and Plugs
The mains voltage in New Zealand is 220 volts. You will need a universal adaptor.
Local Amenities
Shops are open between 09:00 and 17:30, Monday to Friday and 09:00 and 12:30 on Saturday. In the more remote areas, there are very small grocery stores where the opening times vary.
Media
The country has 27 daily newspapers. The main newspapers are The New Zealand Herald (Auckland), The Dominion Post (Wellington) or The Press (Christchurch). Television offers three free channels, TV1, TV2 and TV3. MTS is the Maori channel. These are broadcast on both cable and satellite television. The national radio is called RNZ National.
Post
Post offices are often found in book shops and open generally between 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday.
Phone
To call New Zealand from the UK, dial 00 + 64 + area code (Auckland, 9; Christchurch, 3; Wellington, 4) followed by the number of your correspondent. To call the UK from New Zealand, dial 00 + 44 followed by the number of your correspondent to 9 digits (without the first 0).
Internet and Mobile Coverage
You can get mobile data in most places, though 3G data can be expensive. In some remote areas, you can only get 2G. The phone signal is good in densely populated areas but poorer in the mountainous or more remote areas. You should check with your provider on charges and strength of connection before travelling.
Currency
NZD
