|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Things to know about New Zealand
CURRENCY The official currency is the New Zealand dollar NZ$, which is based on the decimal system.
Notes are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Coins are 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and $1 and $2.
THINGS TO KNOWPopulation: 3,000,000
Capital: Wellington
Flag: Blue background, with a Union Jack in the upper lefthand corner. On the right of the flag are four stars (red edged in white) that represent the Southern Cross constellation.
Shop Hours: Shops are generally open from 9am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. In cities, some major stores remain open until 9pm on Fridays. In tourist areas, some stores stay open on Sundays.
Bank Hours: Banks are open from 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Holidays:
January 1 - New Year's Day
February 6 - Waitangi Day
April - Good Friday and Easter Monday
April 25 - Anzac Day
First Monday on June - Queen's Birthday
Fourth Monday on October - Labour Day
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Boxing Day
Time: New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. The country is also very close to the International Date Line, so generally, New Zealand is one day ahead of the U.S. To be more exact, if it were 12 noon on Sunday in New Zealand, it would be 4pm on Saturday in Los Angeles, 6pm in Chicago and 7pm in New York City.
Tipping:
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand. It is up to you to tip for exceptional service. In higher-class restaurants, you may want to tip 10-15%.
GST:
In New Zealand there is a GST, or Goods and Service Tax, of 12.5% added to most purchases. The GST is usually included in the quoted price.
USEFUL PHRASES Maori:
Hello - Kia ora
Goodbye - Hei kona
Please - Tena koa
I am visiting from the USA - I haere mai au i Amerika.
Welcome - Haere mai
Farewell - Haere ra
Wind - Hau
Night - Po
Water - Wai
House - Whare
English:
Hello, Welcome - G'day
Australian - Aussie
Beautiful - Beaut
Cookies - Biscuits
Man - Bloke
Umbrella- Brolly
Parking lot - Carpark
Toilet - Cloakroom
Ill - Crook
Garbage - Rubbish
Gasoline - Petrol
Food - Tucker
Small - Wee
WEATHER CONDITIONSThe seasons in New Zealand are reversed from those in the U.S. Summer lasts from
December through February, and winter is from June through August.
Generally, in winter, snow falls in the higher mountain ranges and the Southern Alps (there is good skiing in that region). The wettest areas are along the western coastline (weather patterns originating in the Tasman Sea). The east tends to be the hotter and dryer side of the country. The northern part of the North Island has a subtropical climate and is warmer than the South Island.
The average daily maximum for Auckland is 74ºF (23ºC) in January and 56ºF (13ºC) in July.
GEOGRAPHYSquare Miles: 104,000 square miles (268,000sq.km)
Borders: None
Coastline: 9,398 miles (15,134km)
Terrain: New Zealand, roughly the same size as California, is generally a mountainous country with very high peaks, some coastal plains, rainforests, lakes and many small islands off the coast. There are beautiful beaches, volcanoes and thermal activity in some regions such as the famous town of Rotarua.
Within the country is exotic birdlife and unique fauna. There are twelve national parks and two World Heritage sights: Westland, Fiordland, Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring National Parks; and Tongariro National Park.
For a map of New Zealand, please click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|