Want to know the capital of New Zealand?  What websites are best to go to find out about real estate or job opportunities?  Where to find an Immigration Consultant? Or even the location of surf beaches throughout New Zealand…then ask our Knowledge Base search engine. More than 212 frequently asked questions are sorted and the answers are at your fingertips.

And if you should stump the Knowledge Base, don’t despair. Hit the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the KnowledgeBase, type in your question, and our Contact Centre will answer your query, in most instances, within 3 business days.

Additionally, we’ve included here detailed answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive from people considering a move to New Zealand. 
 

What Will I Need to do to Settle in New Zealand?

That's a good question. First, of course, you'll need a visa. Following the advice on this website and talking to your closest New Zealand consulate are good places to start.

If you would also like to consult with an Immigration Advisor, New Zealand now requires accreditation from each. To access this list, click here. Be sure to ask about fees, as each will differ.

Once here, as is the same of settling anywhere new, you'll need to make friends, create a sense of a stable home environment and start to have fun! Your new work colleagues can help you in all these aspects. They can advise you about places to live, recommend solicitors (should you buy a home here you may need legal advice), and even help recommend places to shop for home furnishings and so on.

Legally, to settle in New Zealand you'll need to consider getting a driver's licence (or at least learning about the rules of the road) if you're a driver. (Note: you can legally drive here for up to 12 months on your home country driver's licence, or international licence.) And you'll need your support systems in place - doctors, child care and so forth. Again, your new employers and colleagues can make suggestions.

Finally, be easy on yourself. Moving to a new city, much less a new country, is stressful and takes time to settle and feel comfortable.
 

I'm Considering a Move to New Zealand. Will My Electrical Appliances Work?

UK appliances

Most appliances from the UK will work in New Zealand. However, our 3-pin plugs or power points are different from the UK, so you'll need adaptors, which are readily available from electronic stores.

TVs in New Zealand use the PAL system, so the standard UK system will not work here. Your DVDs (Zone 2) however may not work on certain DVD players. New Zealand is Zone 4, but if you have a multi-zone DVD player, this should not be a problem.

Digital television is still fairly new to New Zealand with about 45% of homes now receiving it. If you own a digital television, we suggest you make further inquiries regarding its compatibility in NZ.

USA appliances

Our electrical system is different so American TVs, stereos, fridges etc will not work here unless you convert them to our 240 volt/50 cycles per second power system (it's fairly simple to change the plugs on lamps to fit into our 3-pronged sockets), and in some instances, use a converter (as is necessary for larger appliances).

Televisions here operate on the PAL system, different from the NTSC US system; as well, there are different bandwidths for VHF and UHF so in some instances converting an item is not possible - not all TVs, videos, DVDs or stereos will work even when the plugs are converted. Likewise, a DVD purchased in New Zealand may not run on an American DVD player as we operate and produce DVDs in the Region 4 DVD zone.

Will I Need a Car in New Zealand?

Many of our major cities have good public transportation systems that mean you do not have the necessity of a car to get around. Families find that having a car does allow them to easily travel the countryside, exploring the mountains, lakes and coastlines of New Zealand.

We drive on the left hand side of the road, which means some of you should feel right at home. However, there are some vital differences, such as the give way rules. These are:

• If you are going straight ahead at an intersection, give way to all vehicles coming straight through from your right.
• If you are turning at an intersection, give way to all vehicles not turning.
  
• If you are turning left at an intersection, give way to vehicles coming towards you that are turning right.
  
• If you are turning right at an intersection, give way to vehicles on your right that are turning right.
  
• If you are leaving the path of a marked centre line, you are turning. You must give way to vehicles that are following the centre line.
  

International drivers

If you have a current and valid driver licence or international driving permit (IDP), you can drive for a maximum of 12 continuous months from the date you arrive in New Zealand. Each time you visit New Zealand, you may drive for a further 12-month period on a valid international licence or IDP, as long as you stay for no more than a year at a time.

If you don't have a current and valid international driver licence or IDP then you cannot drive in New Zealand. If you want to drive then you must apply for a New Zealand driver licence.

Converting to a New Zealand driver licence

If you have an international driver licence but want to drive for longer than one year in New Zealand, you must convert to a New Zealand driver’s licence.

Can I Bring My Pets to New Zealand?

The short answer is "yes". The longer answer is you may be required to put cats or dogs into quarantine, provide health certificates and so on for a specified length of time. This can vary from 4 weeks to 6 months, and has costs attached. It's best to investigate and plan ahead.

Cats and dogs coming from the UK do not require quarantine, but do require certification and will be inspected for ticks on arrival. You'll need to contact MAF Bio security New Zealand for information about bringing other animals from other countries: www.biosecurity.govt.nz.

From most parts of the world some quarantine is required, and again we advise you to contact MAF about your specific needs: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/about-us/locations.

If you're wondering about how your pets would make the journey, it's best to contact your chosen carrier. In general however, pets are not permitted on international or trans-Tasman flights as checked baggage but may be shipped as cargo. Note that animals must be at least 3 months old to travel via Air New Zealand (other airlines may have different regulations).

How Do I Find Out More About Living and Working in New Zealand?

Simply complete the registration page and we can then send you links to relevant web pages, articles and sites. We'd love to share more with you about New Zealand.