Teachers Travel Web Members in New Zealand invite you and your family, through home hosting and hospitality, to explore their part of the world for 2-3 days, or stay for a month or so, with the home exchange and home swap programme. This article offers general advice on your visit.

Currency/Tipping/ Taxes/electricity:	Where is it and what is the weather like?:
Food and essentials costs	Getting Around New Zealand
Manners	Road Rules/Driving

Currency and Banking

No restrictions apply on the amount of foreign currency that can be taken in or out of New Zealand. All major credit

cards may be used for the purchase of goods and services, and travellers' cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores. Banks are open from 9.30am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. Provided they are encoded with a PIN number, international credit cards may be used to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines (ATMs), widely available in the main shopping centres, outside banks and larger suburban malls in the main cities. Check with your bank before leaving home whether this facility is available for your card(s). New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$), comprising coins with values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2, and notes with values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Tipping and Service Charges

Tips in New Zealand are generally given in appreciation of extra-special service or kindness, at the discretion of visitors.Tipping is not expected and most New Zealanders do not tip. Service charges are not added to hotel or restaurant bills. Your bill is what you pay if you are a local!

Goods and Services Tax

All goods and services in New Zealand are subject to a 12.5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), included in the displayed price. Visitors cannot claim refunds on this tax, but GST is not charged on either goods or freight by a supplier exporting an item to a visitor's home address. Therefore if you are buying a souvenir, get it posted directly from the shop you bought it in, and ask for the 12.5% GST discount.

Electricity Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz, and you will usually need to bring an adapter.

New Zealand lies in the southwest Pacific, about three hours flying time southeast of Australia. While it is possible to get here by boat or cruise liner, most travellers arrive by air.

From the west coast of the United States, you can fly to New Zealand on a non-stop overnight flight, and from Singapore a direct flight takes about 10 hours.
New Zealand's three international airports are at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Some flights from Australia land at Hamilton, Palmerston North and Queenstown. Climate The Far North of New Zealand is sub-tropical and the South temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30'C and in winter between 10-15'C.Obviously this temperature is lower the further South you venture.

In keeping with New Zealand's relaxed lifestyle, dress is informal on most occasions. In summer it is usually warm enough to go out in the evenings without a jacket, but a light jacket or jersey should be packed for cooler weather and visits to the high country or the South Island. You can expect some rain (that's what keeps it so green) so include a light waterproof jacket or coat. Pack warm winter clothing if visiting between May and September.

Road Rules and Driving In New Zealand you can rediscover enjoyable motoring on uncongested, good quality, though sometimes narrow, roads. Multi-lane motorways/expressways are only found on the approaches to the larger cities Signposting follows standard international symbols. All distances are in kilometres.

New Zealanders drive on the left, and this is a problem for many visitors. There are regular fatalities with international visitors driving straight into oncoming vehicles as they have driven on the wrong side! If you are not confident, take a tour, a bus, a train, a plane, a taxi!

Give way to all traffic crossing or approaching from the right, and if turning, give way to all traffic not turning. The speed limit is 100 km/h on the open road and 50 km/h in built up areas. Most foreign driver licences are acceptable in New Zealand (check with your travel agent). Both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times.

Getting Around NewZealand

While much of New Zealand is rugged and mountainous,an extensive network of air, train and road services,and regular ferries between the two islands means that most places are accessible by some form of public transport. If you prefer to choose your own itinerary,self-drive options are available.

Rental/Self Drive

International car rental firms such as Avis, Budget,Hertz, and local companies such as Maui Rentals, hire cars,

vans,four-wheel drives, campervans and motorcycles. Local rental firms offer very competitive rates under similar terms and conditions, although the vehicles may not be quite as new. One-way hire is available between company locations, though certain restrictions

Air Travel

There s one main domestic airlines: Air New Zealand, which flies between the major cities and resort areas, well as commuter airlines servicing other towns. Book well in advance for much cheaper fares.

Rail Travel

Travelling by train offers many superb scenic views not visible from the roads.Tranz Scenic operates severallong-distance train services in New Zealand as part of Tranz Rail Limited. Journeys include the Overlander (Auckland to Wellington) which affords scenic views of native forests gorges and volcanic peaks, and the Coastal Pacific (Picton to Christchurch), which runs along the east coast of the South Island between the snow-capped Kaikoura Mountains and the rugged coastline. Don't expect the train service to be as comprehensive as in Europe, as New Zealanders aren't big users of trains and the service is therefore fragmented

Bus/Coach Travel
To really cover the whole country you need to take a bus. Daily scheduled passenger services are available throughout the country. InterCity Coachlines operate the largest network throughout both islands, while Newmans Coach Lines provide services in the North Island and the major tourist routes in theSouth Island.

Sea and ferry
The North and South Islands are linked by modern ferries, which operate between Wellington and Picton carrying both passengers and vehicles. If youhave a rental you can drop it off one side, and hire another on the other island, to save costs. The ferries travel through the sounds at the top of the South Island and will give you some wonderful views.They have all facilities you need on board, for the 3-4 hour crossing.

How Much Does it Cost?

A hotel breakfast NZ$10- $25	Dinner for one(3-course, no wine) NZ$20 - $80	Lunch snack/sandwich NZ$5 - $10	Cappuccino NZ$2.50 - $3
A postcard stamp to anywhere overseas NZ$1	Big Mac Hamburger NZ$3.95	Cafe lunch NZ$20	Kodak Film, 36 exposures NZ$7.95

Manners

New Zealand has three main cultural groups, the Europeans, Maori and Asian. We are a quiet nation, and you will find we seem very polite as we aren't overtly emotional. Therefore we clap rather than shout, talk softly rather than fill the room with our voices, and smile a lot! We are often offended therefore by loud speaking and very emotional displays in public, especially in restaurants and on public transport.

The Maori New Zealanders, have very specific cultural manners. Therefore you do not sit on pillows, or tables and remember to take your shoes off if visiting their home. Some of the tourist centres will give you a small speech on the Maori culture and you will learn what is expected as you move through their displays and performances.