Travel to New Zealand

New Zealand: Various travel information

Formalities, visas

Citizens of the EU and numerous other countries do not need a visa to enter the country as a tourist for a period of three months; a passport is sufficient. Before entering the country, however, an entry form has to be filled out. B. is distributed in the aircraft before landing. It is important to ensure that it is filled in correctly, as incorrect information can result in considerable penalties.

Tourists are only allowed to enter the country if a return ticket and sufficient financial means are available to finance a stay.

Local currency, foreign exchange regulations

Local currency

The national currency of New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZD).

1 New Zealand dollar (NZD) = 100 cents.

Local currency import and export

It is allowed to import or export up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars without a declaration. Larger amounts must be registered. Information about their origin may have to be provided.

Entry and exit fee

In many countries, a fee must be paid when leaving the country. The fee for leaving New Zealand is: NZ $ 25. As of October 2019, NZ $ 35 will be charged upon entry.

Goods and Customs Regulations

Customs regulations

The import and export of weapons, ammunition or explosives is strictly prohibited. In addition, the import and export of plants and animals protected under the Washington Species Protection Act is prohibited. Violation can result in severe penalties. Furthermore, the import of the following items is prohibited:

  • Unprocessed hides, animal hair, etc.
  • living or dead animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds
  • any kind of insect etc. Ä.

On shoes, e.g. B. on mountain or hiking boots carried along, no residues of earth must adhere. For example, a man over 70 who immigrated to New Zealand at a young age and wanted to bring a potty of soil to New Zealand from his former homeland was sentenced to three years in prison.

Country-specific goods, souvenirs

  • KeteBraided baskets made from Flax.
  • Greenstone CarvingsJade carvings in traditional Maori patterns such as fish hooks, tikis or whale fins. The stones are now mass-produced. When buying, you should make sure that the stone does not come from Asia and has not been machined.The greenstone comes from the South Island. They are found in some river beds on the west coast.
  • Bone CarvingsThe bone carvings were traditionally made from whale bones. Today they are mostly carved from cattle bones.
  • Manukau oilThe oil of the Mankau tree is good against inflammation, skin wounds and other things.
  • Manukau honey
  • SpirulinaThe extract from algae is particularly popular with vegetarians in their diet.
  • New Zealand wine
  • Opossum knitwearLately, the fibers of the opossum fur have been spun together with sheep’s wool, from which knitwear such as gloves, scarves, sweaters and other items are made.
  • Outdoor clothingIn New Zealand you can buy good and inexpensive outdoor clothing.
  • Maori handicrafts and artsOriginal Maori handicrafts and arts are best bought in the Toiiho galleries. Anyone who would like to find out more in advance can do so at www.toiiho.com.

How do you get to New Zealand?

Most visitors to the country, with the few exceptions of those who arrive in the country by cruise ship or private yacht, will arrive by air. Since New Zealand is on the other side of the earth when viewed from Europe, you can either fly west over the USA or east over Asia.

Depending on the route, the flight time of the trip takes between 24 and 30 hours. The shortest route is through Korea. It is therefore advisable to plan a stopover. You have to change aircraft in any case. As a stop-over city you have a myriad of cities to choose from, depending on the airline you choose. Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Seoul, Sydney are examples here. If you are on the road for a longer period or can buy a youth or student ticket, you should also consider an around-the-world ticket.

Travel in the country

Flight connections

In Wellington and Auckland on the North Island there are international airports with connections to almost every country in the world. Other international airports, often of more regional importance, are located in Hamilton (North Island), Rotorua (North Island), Christchurch (South Island) or Dunedin (South Island). Because of the poor overall transport infrastructure, domestic air traffic plays a major role. As a result, New Zealand has many other domestic airports. There are also numerous small field airfields for private pilots. Flying with private planes is very dangerous because of dangerous winds, numerous mountains, often low-lying clouds and torrential rain. The airline Air New Zealand was approved by the government of the country in 2001 with the stake of around 1 billion.

The official transport network in New Zealand cannot be described as optimal due to the small population:

Bus

Buses play an important role in overland transport alongside the plane. Those who do not have their own car are practically only dependent on buses. There is therefore an extensive bus network with very comfortable buses. Due to the road conditions, bus journeys over longer distances are very tedious. There are many bus companies that cater to the needs of tourists such as B. Kiwiexperience. These also take you to regions that cannot be reached with the regular bus network.

Railroad

The railway network, with a narrow-gauge rail network, is very limited and the connections are usually very time-consuming. There is only one passenger rail connection on the North Island, from Auckland to Wellington, which takes around 11 hours for the 700 km route. The train runs once a day. In the north of the South Island there is another connection from the ferry location Picton via Kaikoura by the sea to Christchurch and from there with another train on a particularly scenic route to Greymouth on the west coast. But these connections, of which there are a few more, are almost only of interest to tourists. As serious traffic connections, the railway lines are of little importance. According to the government’s plans, that should change.

Ferry connections

One of the most important ferry connections is between the North and South Islands across the Cook Strait. It runs from Wellington on the North Island to the small ferry port Pitcon on the South Island. The journey takes about four hours.

Streets

The major connecting roads are well developed and their standard corresponds to German country roads. But since the roads follow the landscape, they are usually very winding and often lead through numerous places. There are overtaking lanes at irregular intervals so that slow moving trucks can be overtaken safely there. In this way, at most, an average speed of 60-70 km per hour can be achieved. So takes z. B. the approx. 350 km long distance from New Plymouth to Auckland around five hours. However, many small roads are gravel and require all-terrain vehicles. Roads that correspond to the German autobahns are only found in the vicinity of the larger cities. Such a road from Auckland to the south is only about 30 km long.

Rental cars

All major rental car providers such as Sixt, Avis, Hertz and others are represented in New Zealand, but there are also small regional providers in almost all towns and cities who usually offer good rental cars at lower prices than the big ones.

There is a large number of RV rental companies in the country, which is a good alternative to a regular rental car. Those who stay longer in the country should consider buying an old car that they will sell again when they leave.

Traffic rules

New Zealand is driving on the left. In order to avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, one should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations in force in the country. The maximum speeds shown can of course be reduced or increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information provided here, it is advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD or the traffic clubs in the country concerned.

Maximum speeds

In addition to the general speed limits shown, the speed limits indicated by signs must be strictly observed.

  • Urban: In built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h
  • Country roads: There is a speed limit of 100 km/h on country roads
  • Motorways: There is a speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways

Special rules for

turning rules ! Left turners must give way to oncoming right turns!

  • Seat belts are compulsory.

Blood

alcohol limit There is a blood alcohol limit of 0.8 per mille for drivers of motor vehicles.

Cyclists

In New Zealand, helmets are compulsory for cyclists.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, New Zealand’s international license plate is:

NZ

Tourist office

Tourism New Zealand

Level 22, Vodafone House

157 Lambton Quay, Wellington

PO Box 95, Wellington

Tel: 0064 – 4 – 462 8000

www.tourismnewzealand.com

Travel medicine, risks

Infectious Diseases

With one exception, there are no diseases in New Zealand that do not also occur in Germany or in all of Europe. This exception is the occurrence of amoebic meningitis. However, there is almost only a possibility of infection when bathing in the country’s hot springs. When bathing in these springs, the water must not come into contact with the oral and nasal mucous membranes or the eyes. Submerging or even swallowing the water must therefore be avoided in any case.

Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination requirements when entering or staying in the country.

Health system

New Zealand’s health system is of a fairly high standard. But for very special therapies, e.g. B. in the case of a number of cancer diseases, autoimmune diseases or organ transplants, the country’s resources are still insufficient, so that in these cases those affected have to be flown to Australia. But good care for accidental injuries or the usual infectious diseases is guaranteed in any case.

safety instructions

Valuables in the car

You shouldn’t leave any valuables in the car! This is especially true in the area around Rotorua and the Tongarino National Park. This is indicated by signs in the parking lots!

Sharks

There are sharks in New Zealand, including great white sharks, although this is often portrayed differently. However, New Zealand has so far been largely spared from shark accidents like those in Australia. If you are unsure, you should ask the locals.

As a rule, one should remember: Wherever there are seals, there are usually sharks.

Incidentally, shark has always been on the menu of the Maoris.

UV radiation

Anyone traveling in New Zealand should be aware that they are moving in an area below the ozone hole and in an atmosphere that is particularly low in dirt particles. The radiation to which you are exposed is correspondingly high, even when the sky is cloudy.

The frequently blowing fresh wind unfortunately often lets the radiation be forgotten. In midsummer, the UV index is 11 on the North Island and 10-11 on the South Island.

The sun is particularly intense between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. During this time you should either dress covered, look for shade or use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 25 or more!

Pedestrians

As a pedestrian you should always be aware that you are in a country in which the driver has the right of way and that enforces this against pedestrians!

Sea currents

If you go swimming on the often very lonely beaches, you should be aware that there can be strong currents and undercurrents, especially on the west coast, which can be life-threatening even for good swimmers!

New Zealand: Diplomatic missions

Visit Countryaah for a full list of New Zealand embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of New Zealand in Germany

The New Zealand embassy is located on the fourth floor of the office and commercial building “Atrium Friedrichstrasse, Berlin” at Friedrichstrasse 60 – corner of Leipzigerstrasse in the Berlin-Mitte district. Not far away is the underground station “Stadtmitte” for lines U2 and U6. With a little luck, you can find a parking space in the nearby Kronenstrasse.

Embassy in Berlin

Friedrichstr. 60 (Atrium)

10117 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 2062 10

Email: nzembber@infoem.org

www.nzembassy.com/germany

Consulate General in Hamburg

Domstrasse 19 (Zurich House)

20095 Hamburg

Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 4425550

Email: hamburg@nzte.govt.nz

German representations in New Zealand

Embassy in Wellington

Hobson Street 90-92

Thorndon 6011, Wellington

Wellington 6140

New Zealand

Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 63

Fax: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 69

Email: info@wellington.diplo.de

www.wellington. diplo.de In

addition to New Zealand, the German embassy in Wellington is also responsible for:

  • American Samoa
  • Cook Islands
  • Fiji Islands
  • Kiribati
  • Niue
  • Pitcairn
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Tokelau
  • Tuvalu

German consulates in New Zealand

Region Contact
North and South Auckla Consulate in Auckland at41 Shortland StreetPrivate Bag 92093

Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Tel: 0064 – (0) 9 – 357 8718

Email: German.Consulate@heskethhenry.co.nz

Nelson-Marlborough, Canterbury, West Coast, Otago, Southla Consulate in Christchurch5 Wairarapa Terrace

8014 Christchurch

Tel: 0064 – (0) 3 – 355 7014

Email: theogiesen@ix.net.nz

Austrian representations in New Zealand

Embassy

Austria does not have an embassy of its own in New Zealand, but is represented by 3 consulates. The embassy in Canberra, Australia is responsible.

Embassy in Canberra

12 Talbot Street

Forrest, ACT 2603

PO Box 3375

Manuka, ACT 2603

Tel: 0061 – 2 – 6295 1533

Email: canberra-ob@bmaa.gv.at

www.aussenministerium.at/canberra

www.austria.org.au

In addition to Australia, the Austrian embassy in Canberra is also responsible for:

  • Fiji Islands
  • Kiribati
  • Marshall Islands
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Nauru
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Solomon Islands
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu

Consulates in New Zealand

Region Contact
Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson Austrian Honorary Consulate General in Wellington75 Ghuznee Street, Level 4,

WellingtonPO Box 9395

Wellington

Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 – 384 1402

Email: austria@vodafone.co.nz

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty Austrian Honorary Consulate in Auckland22a William Pickering Drive

North Harbor, 0753 Auckland

Tel: 0064 – (0) 9 – 476 0994

Email: austrianconsulate_auckland@xtra.co.nz

Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Offshore Islands Austrian Honorary Consulate in Christchurch19, Joyce Crescent

Ilam, 8041 Christchurch

Tel: 0064-21 440 164

Email: austrianconsulate.christchurch@xtra.co.nz

Representations of New Zealand in Austria

Embassy

New Zealand does not have an embassy of its own in Austria, but is only represented by a consulate. The embassy in Berlin is responsible.

Honorary Consul-General of New Zealand in Vienna

Salesianergasse 15/3

1030 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 318 8505

Email: p.sunley@aon.at

Swiss representations in New Zealand

Embassy in Wellington

10 Customhouse Quay, Level 12

6140 Wellington

PO Box 25004

6146 Wellington

Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 – 472 1593

Email: wel.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

http://www.eda.admin.ch/ wellington In

addition to New Zealand, the Swiss embassy embassy in Wellingtion is also responsible for:

  • Cook Islands
  • Fiji Islands
  • Niue
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Tokelau

Auckland Consulate

100 Bush Road, Unit 5, Building 2

Rosdale, North Shore 0632

PO Box 302239

North Harbor, North Shore 0751

Tel: 0064 – (0) 9 – 366 0403

Representations of New Zealand in Switzerland

Embassy

New Zealand does not have an embassy of its own in Switzerland, but is only represented by a consulate. The embassy in Berlin is responsible.

Consulate General in Geneva

2 Chemin des Fins

1218 Grand Saconnex

PO Box 334

CH-1211 Geneva 19

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 929 0350

Email: mission.nz@bluewin.ch

Travel to New Zealand