Most Important Things To Note Moving To New Zealand

TheCoolWay

Moving to Auckland next summer, any important pieces of advice / things an Irish person should be particularly aware of when moving there / New Zealand?

spunkymunky

If you plan to settle, give yourself time to see the place first. Hard to do once you start working and there is a lot to see and do!

Also, house can be cold here in winter. Little or no insulation generally no heating. Keep that in mind when signing a lease.
Also, they are generally unfurnished!

Cookie_Monster

As said houses are generally not well insulated, only have single glazing, may not even have a heating system and can be damp.
Auckland is less of an issue being further north but they just had the coldest winter in 30 years!

Don't take anything for granted about a property and make sure you check it thoroughly.
Furniture is generally not included; means no fridge, no washing machine etc. Oven / hob unit is about the bare minimum you will usually get.
Auckland is pretty much like Dublin rental market wise at the moment, central stuff is horrifically expensive or live out of town and deal with not so great PT and bad traffic.

Furniture is very expensive here new so use resources like trademe.co.nz to find good/cheap stuff or if you're going to be here long term simply ship as much as you can, it'll be way cheaper and is GST (VAT) exempt when emigrating.

Your NCB will be accepted here if driving so bring it, you can drive on an Irish licence for a year. Insurance is not mandatory as basic 3rd party is included in registration costs but full cover is cheap too.

Good sunnies / shades are a must in summer. The sun here is really harsh due to the lack of ozone and you'll burn super fast too so be prepared. The flip side is its lovely in summer and shorts and tshirts is the norm for about 6 months

If you don't already, learn to love rugby :pac:

Mrs OBumble

All you need to know to live in NZ:

Slip, slop, slap.

Drop, cover, hold

TheCoolWay

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

All you need to know to live in NZ:

Slip, slop, slap.

Drop, cover, hold

?

TheCoolWay

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

As said houses are generally not well insulated, only have single glazing, may not even have a heating system and can be damp.
Auckland is less of an issue being further north but they just had the coldest winter in 30 years!

Don't take anything for granted about a property and make sure you check it thoroughly.
Furniture is generally not included; means no fridge, no washing machine etc. Oven / hob unit is about the bare minimum you will usually get.
Auckland is pretty much like Dublin rental market wise at the moment, central stuff is horrifically expensive or live out of town and deal with not so great PT and bad traffic.

Furniture is very expensive here new so use resources like trademe.co.nz to find good/cheap stuff or if you're going to be here long term simply ship as much as you can, it'll be way cheaper and is GST (VAT) exempt when emigrating.

Your NCB will be accepted here if driving so bring it, you can drive on an Irish licence for a year. Insurance is not mandatory as basic 3rd party is included in registration costs but full cover is cheap too.

Good sunnies / shades are a must in summer. The sun here is really harsh due to the lack of ozone and you'll burn super fast too so be prepared. The flip side is its lovely in summer and shorts and tshirts is the norm for about 6 months

If you don't already, learn to love rugby :pac:

I will need to work on all of the above, bar the last point

Seanie_H

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Moving to Auckland next summer, any important pieces of advice / things an Irish person should be particularly aware of when moving there / New Zealand?

If your budget allows, aim for Parnell, St Helier, Okahu Bay or along the North East bay.

Mrs OBumble

TheCoolWay wrote: »

?

Ok, so you probably need to know how to use google too :-)

One is advice for avoiding sunburn. The other is what to do in an earthquake. Both very useful pieces of public health information.

spunkymunky

Seanie_H wrote: »

If your budget allows, aim for Parnell, St Helier, Okahu Bay or along the North East bay.

I dunno about this. Newmarket, Ponsonby Takapuna would be more along the lines for me (Parnell too).
Defo North East Bays aswell. I like Birkenhead although Not for pubs.

TheCoolWay

Location that can reach the cbd and socialising spots handy enough via public transport...

on_my_oe

If you're moving to Auckland, you need to decide if you're going to buy a car or rely in public transport - if it's public transport, realistically you are limited to the CBD. Mt. Eden, Parnell, Ponsonby Remuera, Newmarket, Takapuna, Devonport, Dominion Rd etc

But NZ doesn't begin and end with Auckland. Depending on what you're looking for, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, the Hawkes Bay, Dunedin are all liveable. NZ doesn't do double glazing or insulation (as mentioned), and you'll have a heart attack opening your power bill (gas isn't wide spread). Food is comparable to Ireland, apart from meat and diary products (a friend posted his NZ grocery receipt on FB recently). Pak'n'Save is your friend, followed by Countdown. Depending on where you live, there are often weekend farmers markets. Many homes have big chest freezers allowing for bulk buying.

Also, you can save a bundle on stuff by buying online from overseas / abroad as in most cases you don't get import duty / GST taxes on up to $400. Useful when you want new trainers but don't want to buy $200.

Bank fees are similar to Ireland but you get charged per transaction, with some account fees allowing a small number of 'free' transactions.

Rent is usually paid weekly or fortnightly, with six weeks deposit ('bond'), and unlike Ireland it's held by a government agency. Many people get laid weekly or fortnightly, but monthly isn't unheard of. Smaller companies can put you on trial (probation) for 90 days and let you go with no reason. There are two more public holidays in NZ, including Jan 2nd (it's harder to kick a hangover in the heat). The country almost shuts down for two weeks over Christmas unless you're in retail or emergency services.

The Warehouse and Briscoes (both are always having a sale) are good for household goods. Farmers is like Debenhams, so a bit pricier.

Seanie_H

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Location that can reach the cbd and socialising spots handy enough via public transport...

Those areas are quite close to the CBD and have public transport. Particularly Newmarket which has a good town center too.

Auckland is funny in that the CBD, apart from the Viaduct and Wharf, is dead at the weekends. There's a lot of life in the surrounding towns, like Newmarket, Parnell etc.

I don't know how active you are but it's said that in Auckland you need a car to get around. That said, you could happily do without one by living in any of those places. Something to consider once you settle in anyways. Skiing in winter is only a 4 hour drive to Taupo and the Corramandel in the summer is only 2 hours away too.

Mrs OBumble

on_my_oe wrote: »

If you're moving to Auckland, you need to decide if you're going to buy a car or rely in public transport - if it's public transport, realistically you are limited to the CBD. Mt. Eden, Parnell, Ponsonby Remuera, Newmarket, Takapuna, Devonport, Dominion Rd etc

But NZ doesn't begin and end with Auckland. Depending on what you're looking for, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, the Hawkes Bay, Dunedin are all liveable. NZ doesn't do double glazing or insulation (as mentioned), and you'll have a heart attack opening your power bill (gas isn't wide spread). Food is comparable to Ireland, apart from meat and diary products (a friend posted his NZ grocery receipt on FB recently). Pak'n'Save is your friend, followed by Countdown. Depending on where you live, there are often weekend farmers markets. Many homes have big chest freezers allowing for bulk buying.

Also, you can save a bundle on stuff by buying online from overseas / abroad as in most cases you don't get import duty / GST taxes on up to $400. Useful when you want new trainers but don't want to buy $200.

Bank fees are similar to Ireland but you get charged per transaction, with some account fees allowing a small number of 'free' transactions.

Rent is usually paid weekly or fortnightly, with six weeks deposit ('bond'), and unlike Ireland it's held by a government agency. Many people get laid weekly or fortnightly, but monthly isn't unheard of. Smaller companies can put you on trial (probation) for 90 days and let you go with no reason. There are two more public holidays in NZ, including Jan 2nd (it's harder to kick a hangover in the heat). The country almost shuts down for two weeks over Christmas unless you're in retail or emergency services.

The Warehouse and Briscoes (both are always having a sale) are good for household goods. Farmers is like Debenhams, so a bit pricier.

Great post - the only thing you forgot was www.trademe.co.nz - the place to get just about everything. (Jobs, housemates, 2nd hand furniture, and lots more ...)

OP, why do you think you would need to get to the CBD? I can understand that if you're working there - but many people don't, and never go near it.

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

TheCoolWay

I want somewhere that's warmer than Ireland and I'm after office work hence want to be within easy reach of cbd.

May buy a car, but don't want to depend on it. They are so expensive over there...

on_my_oe

Makeup and perfume is scarily more expensive, and there's no Boots (Life Pharmacy and Amchem just don't measure up). Revlon is considered a premium brand - you go into Farmers, and they have a beauty counter, much like Clarins or Estée Lauder. Fortunately Sephora deliver (yes, that $400 limit comes in handy).

Electronics are expensive - computers, mobiles etc. TVs are not as bad, because of the trade deals with Asia. Most people drive Japanese imports, and the most common price bracket on the car yard is $9,999.

on_my_oe

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Great post - the only thing you forgot was www.trademe.co.nz - the place to get just about everything. (Jobs, housemates, 2nd hand furniture, and lots more ...)

Damn, knew I forgot something important! Trademe is like boards and adverts - there's community forums etc my siblings frequently find housemates (called 'flat mates') and sell cars on it.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

G
OP, why do you think you would need to get to the CBD? I can understand that if you're working there - but many people don't, and never go near it.

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

I'd second that, there are much better places to live, and to be honest you could probably pick up 'an old banger' cheap and live in somewhere like Tauranga, the Hawkes Bay etc It depends on what type of office work you want to do

Cookie_Monster

Cars are cheap imo, especially something with a proper engine in it.

bambgirl92

Is gambling legal in New Zealand?? Cos I have experience working in a betting shop and I couldnt find any jobs in that area.

TheCoolWay

on_my_oe wrote: »

Damn, knew I forgot something important! Trademe is like boards and adverts - there's community forums etc my siblings frequently find housemates (called 'flat mates') and sell cars on it.



I'd second that, there are much better places to live, and to be honest you could probably pick up 'an old banger' cheap and live in somewhere like Tauranga, the Hawkes Bay etc It depends on what type of office work you want to do

Online Marketing

cpoh1

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

The only thing Dublin has in common with Auckland is that it has expensive houses, traffic and lots of people living there. Aucklands local beaches, surrounding islands, quality of the water in the harbour and the general quality of life far outstrip what Dublin has to offer. Auckland genuinely is a great place to live if you can afford the nicer neghbourhoods. I spent a few months in Devonport myself and while not ideal from an access perspective was super from a lifestyle point of view.

Auckland taken on its own merits against any other cities in the world stacks up really well its just that when compared with the rest of NZ and the quality of life on offer it just falls short. NZ is about so much more than city living.

That aside I would look at places like Nelson in the South island. Close to some amazing places and lovely climate also.

on_my_oe

bambgirl92 wrote: »

Is gambling legal in New Zealand?? Cos I have experience working in a betting shop and I couldnt find any jobs in that area.

In NZ we don't have chains of bookies like the UK and Ireland - there's just one, the TAB. You'll find them as standard shops and Inhouse as part of a bar, RSA, or Working Men's Club. The phrases are different (Quinella / Double, Trifecta etc), and odds are in decimals rather than fractions. You may find you find a job in a suburban bar where skills as a TAB operator give you an edge.

https://careers.nzracingboard.co.nz/search

on_my_oe

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Online Marketing

Ok, then Wellington and Auckland are more likely to be your destinations, but don't rule out the smaller locations. I'd start with headhunting the marketing agencies, but don't be surprised if you don't get any immediate bites; Kiwis like to perceive themselves as keen 'DIYs' and 'early adopters'. This means that usually we think we can do it all ourselves on no budget, with social media and online marketing being key areas where we'll take a stab at it ourselves. Kiwis love Twitter and Facebook, and many of my friends who have businesses do do it themselves.

TheCoolWay

on_my_oe wrote: »

Ok, then Wellington and Auckland are more likely to be your destinations, but don't rule out the smaller locations. I'd start with headhunting the marketing agencies, but don't be surprised if you don't get any immediate bites; Kiwis like to perceive themselves as keen 'DIYs' and 'early adopters'. This means that usually we think we can do it all ourselves on no budget, with social media and online marketing being key areas where we'll take a stab at it ourselves. Kiwis love Twitter and Facebook, and many of my friends who have businesses do do it themselves.

When I kill a PPC campaign selling rugby balls, they'll soon stand up and notice

qdawg86

Wellington weather is ****e for most of the year and when you get your residency....VOTE GREEN !!!

Also.....don't listen to too many NZ "experts" aka Irish people who've lived here for a year or two.

its lovely here but there's nothing really to "get used to".

Just enjoy

SpaceTime

Don't ask Australians for advice on NZ ... They're often have bizzare notions about the place.

TheCoolWay

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Cars are cheap imo, especially something with a proper engine in it.

I thought they were really pricey over there???

Cookie_Monster

TheCoolWay wrote: »

I thought they were really pricey over there???

$5,500 got me a 2002 3.5l v6 diamante 3 years ago, and it's easy to pick up something decent for under $2k that isn't a pissy little 1 - 1.4l

While probably not as cheap as Irish cars you get a lot more for your money in general so I'd consider it better value here.

on_my_oe

qdawg86 wrote: »

Wellington weather is ****e for most of the year and when you get your residency....VOTE GREEN !!!

Also.....don't listen to too many NZ "experts" aka Irish people who've lived here for a year or two.

its lovely here but there's nothing really to "get used to".

Just enjoy

I think there are things for you to get used to, but it's not a massive culture shock - admittedly I did it in reverse, as a Kiwi living in Ireland. Some of the lingo is different (lockers for bedside cabinets, press for cupboard, the Manchester department for the linen section), and some of the food - I have an irrational need for feijoas at the moment after being deliriously excited to see tamarilos a couple of weeks back in Aldi. The sense of humour can be very different - I don't get Damo at all, and a lot of the skits on Fm104 Strawberry Alarm clock are awful - but in general, it's grand, and I'm sure it'll be the same for an Irish person heading to NZ. So as you go with a positive frame of mind and accept a bit of banter about <insert stereotype here>, there's nothing to worry about.

Cultural explanation - Bring a plate doesn't mean your host has run out of crockery, but that you're supposed to contribute a dish of food to the spread, like a salad or meat for a BBQ or similar

Mrs OBumble

on_my_oe wrote: »

Cultural explanation - Bring a plate doesn't mean your host has run out of crockery, but that you're supposed to contribute a dish of food to the spread, like a salad or meat for a BBQ or similar

We could make a thread of these :-)

Shifting = moving house. No sexual connotations at all.

A ride = a lift in a motor vehicle. Ditto re sexual connotations.

A pint is not a fixed amount: many kiwi pint glasses are 450ms, some are less. A few pubs sell an "Irish pint" which is the 568 you'll be used to.

Shimmy Jimmy CocoPop

Thinking of heading there myself for a year or 2, Auckland or Wellington. I've read the cost of living is ridiculous and a lot of people moan about it. Is this true?

spunkymunky

Get a car...no matter where you are. Youll wanna go see places!! You can get a cheap enough car and the wof (NCT) being every 6 months, means they are generally in good nic (not always tho). Also note that any finance owing on the car is passed on to the person who buys it!! Make sure to ask the question!
Strangely, you dont hear a lot of horn beeping here! Lot of traffic and dumb drivers...very dumb but not many horns. Cant remember the last time i used it!!

Settling is easy enough, beers is different, food generally the same. Saying that, lifestyle is different with an emphasis on out doors which is great (You will never have seen so many boats be towed about the place)

Cost of living is comparable to each city. Tauranga is cheaper generally but you will more than likely get paid less. A friend (Contract Project Manager) just moved there and she is on about 20 -30 less an hour than Auckland)

Cookie_Monster

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

A pint is not a fixed amount: many kiwi pint glasses are 450ms, some are less. A few pubs sell an "Irish pint" which is the 568 you'll be used to.

this bugs the **** out of me and is nothing more than an excuse to rip people off by giving them less than the think they are getting.

on_my_oe

spunkymunky wrote: »

Get a car...no matter where you are. Youll wanna go see places!! You can get a cheap enough car and the wof (NCT) being every 6 months, means they are generally in good nic (not always tho). Also note that any finance owing on the car is passed on to the person who buys it!! Make sure to ask the question!
Strangely, you dont hear a lot of horn beeping here! Lot of traffic and dumb drivers...very dumb but not many horns. Cant remember the last time i used it!!

Before buying a car, get a report on it which will list any finance owed - it operates much the same way as the 'Finance owing' ads you'll see on TV in Ireland for the UK market.

Dumb drivers.... I'd flip that and say Ireland is full of them I'm in Dublin, and I'm sure that indicators are optional extras that most people decline at time of purchase! There is no gap too small for an Irish driver to wedge itself into, forcing you to test your brakes.In NZ if a car needs to change lanes, it'll pull over and up and behind you, often unfortunately tailgating you if you're not at the speed limit; in Ireland, it'll pull up, overtake you, then throw itself in the gap between you and the car in front, even if there is nothing behind you for 5km - it's like Irish drivers think they're in the F1 and are stealing second place. You then have to slam on your brakes because this gate crasher will suddenly drop 20km now they're wedged in between you and the next car, chewing up your following distance. and many people park like they own the road and possess the only car in the country - eg inconsiderately!
Oh look,you're now a taxi that specialises in journeys between 8.01am-9.10am and 2.45pm -6pm, usually for one adult passenger only. Magic! Taking up three car parks because you've parked horizontally, no worries. Oh, you've got an invisible blue disabled badge! Triple parked on a busy road because you're just popping in for the weekly shop, sure not a bother, we'll all drive around your car obstructing the road! And roundabouts are a death trap, as are the state of many Irish roads.
Dad is an ex-cop in the traffic division, as is my grandfather, and they run a driving school. Dad was scared and disgusted by Irish drivers. He's constantly on about us getting dash cams - his comment is they'll be able to use them in court to convict the idiot who kills us with their dangerous driving.
Sorry rant over, Irish drivers and the rain are the two things that I do sincerely hate about living in Ireland, and the accents lovely

davepatr07

Just following from the previous posts, well I guess IRE and NZ both have good and bad points when it comes to driving habits.

True Ireland has it's bad drivers though I've driven practically most of the country here in NZ both North and South Island and I can say that Wellington and Lower Hutt drivers are probably the worst. Even Dunedin (supposedly the worst) weren't that bad and even Auckland with the traffic was fine. It just takes getting used to.

One thing I have noticed often is non use of indicators and tailgating which is really irritating. I mean are we supposed to mind read where you are going changing lanes?. Kiwis here tend to be more of risk takers on the roads than us I find but then again that's just my experience. Witnessed a few hair raising moments with cars overtaking on narrow bends in the Rumataka Hills pass! :rolleyes:

NZ personally is a great place to explore the outdoors and someone mentioned the quality of life outside cities is better in offering...eg Auckland vs Dublin.

I do find cost of living here more expensive and the insulation issue in houses is something to be aware of though I just end up getting more cheap blankets from the Warehouse. Them and Pak n' Save are your friend! Like the Kiwis it's good to be resourceful.

Whatever you decide best of luck!

SpaceTime

I hate to disappoint the Ireland bashers with facts but the road death rate in NZ is over twice as high as Ireland.

Ireland 3.4 (162 road deaths 2012)
New Zealand 8.3 (308 in 2012)
Canada 6.1
Italy 7.6
Belgium 7.7
Iceland 3.8
Denmark 3.4
Sweden 3.7
That's per billion KM driven.

Those figures are from the OECD. Irish drivers drive slightly more KM / year than Kiwis do on average and the population of the Republic of Ireland is about 100,000 bigger than NZ, so the rate in NZ calculates as slightly higher.

Also the road networks aren't really comparable. One's a European country where rural roads evolved over centuries and the other is a 'new world' country with recent infrastructure in terms of rural roads.
You've also got a much more extensive 1,017km motorway network in Ireland vs 199km of motorway in NZ. The % of journeys taking place in Ireland on motorway would actually be a major reason for the much lower accident rate as lightly trafficked motorway is extremely safe compared with roads that require overtaking.

I'm not trying to 'bash' either country here, I'm just saying sometimes anecdotal evidence doesn't stand up at all when analysed.

Driver behaviour in Ireland's far from perfect, and can be quite sloppy compared to Southern England in particular, but I have never really found Irish drivers particularly aggressive and I drive on the continent and in the UK pretty much weekly. If you want to see some aggressive overtaking and need for dash cams ... try driving on the Brussels Ring or through Paris' outer suburban network at peak time. Even the M25 or any of the radial routes around London can be incredibly aggressive. The A-roads are even worse - lots of traffic, single-carriageway and people in a huge rush to get home/wherever they're going. They'll pass at any opportunity.

If you think either IRL or NZ are dangerous places to drive, I'd strongly suggest you haven't driven much beyond those two places.
NZ's higher accident rate is most likely down to lack of long-distance motorways rather than behaviour though too.

cpoh1

The one thing I will say about driving in NZ is that overall it is way less stressful than Ireland, mostly because of the amazing scenery, the quality of the surfaces and the lack of cars on the roads outside the big cities. The 2+1 system they adopt and the recommended speed/gradient of corners signage are really great for making progress.

Where NZ driving standards fall down is with their lack of experience on dual carriageways and motorways, they really have no clue how to keep left and because of their obsession with speed progress can be hard to make in the cities even on three lane roads. Also their issues with tourists and the standard they bring to the roads, mostly from asian countries. The amount to times ive come round a bend in the past to catch a lad in an apex rental 4wd full of asian tourists driving at 15mph was shocking, really dangerous stuff.

Like for like cars are much more expensive in NZ than ireland, in recent years anyway. Sure you can buy an old 90's jap import for peanuts over there but if you are looking for a 4 year old toyota of some sort you will pay more than the equivalent over here.

SpaceTime

Ireland could make a lot more use of 2+1, without the ridiculously complicated barrier systems they used on the trail sections of it that were built on the Cork-Mallow road for example.
You just need regular passing lanes, well signed and at predictable distances from each other on non-motorway roads.

Likewise tourists who are unfamiliar with the roads can be a major issue. I've encountered someone driving on the wrong side of the road in a French reg car on the road to Dingle at about 6:30am !!

Overall, though I didn't really spot THAT huge a difference between NZ and IRL in terms of driving. They're both relatively sane in my opinion and at least they drive on the same side of the road with broadly similar rules (i.e. no complicated priority systems like France etc)

One minor point on the electrical systems in NZ and Australia : the most commonly found plugs and sockets are only rated to carry 10amps max. So, if you're bringing any appliances or using multi-way extension leads, do not exceed 2300W

We had an issue where an Irish/European spec 3000W iron was being used with an NZ plug fitted and the socket caught fire on the wall !! They're just not able to cope with the load as the pins and contacts aren't designed for the same kind of current as Irish/British or European sockets are.

If you're importing any heavy appliances from Ireland like dryers, dishwashers, washing machines etc (unlikely given the shipping costs etc) just make sure you get 15amp sockets fitted first (unless your appliance is rated <2300W)

Also make sure you fit 15amp plugs, not 10 amp ones (they both fit the 15amp sockets...) complicated, but just worth remembering.

UK spec sockets are rated 13amps and continental European ones are rated 16amps. So, just bear that in mind when you're using adaptors or changing plugs.

NZ/Aus plugs come in 10amp (standard) and 15amp (with a larger earth pin to prevent you sticking it into a 10amp socket)

The voltage and frequency are exactly the same as Ireland or Europe, so other than the plugs/sockets it's exactly the same system.

If you're bringing any cooking appliances, consult an NZ electrician about hooking them up. They will work fine, but you may need to get them hardwired just like in Ireland.

Digital Terrestrial Television is similar to, but not necessarily 100% identical to, what's used in Ireland for Saorview. Ireland's part of the NORDIG (Nordic + Irish digital alliance) which sets standards for this stuff in those countries. In general TVs in Ireland *should* be able to pick up and tune in NZ digital services without any fuss.

I can't really think of any other techie stuff worth worrying about.

Mobile phone networks in NZ aren't any different to Ireland really, except for Spark NZ (aka Telecom NZ).
Vodafone NZ is using GSM, UMTS 2100 (3G) and some UMTS 900MHz too. 4G is using 1800MHz (same as Three in Ireland). So, most modern devices sold in Ireland should work on those networks. Some may not have UMTS on 900MHz so you might find rural 3G isn't so good.

2 Degrees is similar in terms of technologies and frequencies and should work fine and it has fill-in national roaming agreements with Vodafone NZ in poor coverage.

Spark / Telecom NZ has a bit of an odd network - uses UMTS (3G) only and LTE 4G. However it uses UMTS on odd frequencies, so you might have issues with handsets not sold by the network itself. Basically it had made a huge mistake by originally standardising on the US proprietary CDMA system for 2G and then decided to shut that down and adopt GSM standards. However, at that stage 2G was kind of dying out anyway so it never had a 2G GSM network. That's how it ended up with 3G & 4G only.

Overall, if you're using your own handset use Vodafone NZ, 2 Degrees or one of the Vodafone hosted MVNOs (virtual operators). I'd give Spark a miss unless you're very sure it will work.

Virtual networks on Vodafone's infrastructure: Compass, Black&White, Orcon and M2

Virtual networks on Spark's Infrastructure : Skinny (owned by Spark), Telstra Clear (oddly owned by Vodafone), Digital Island and CallPlus or Slingshot.


....

If for some reason you want to bring Irish fixed line phones, like you've a very fancy DECT setup or something, it will work fine provided you use an NZ phone cord or an adaptor. They use the UK style phone jack. However, Ireland uses the de facto US-derrived global standard RJ11 so, adaptors are very easy to get.


....

Long post, but I think that covers all the techie stuff you could possibly ever need to know for moving between IRL and NZ or NZ and IRL

spunkymunky

DO NOT BUY COFFEE IN STARBUCKS OR ESQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S SH*T.

I love the coffee here, NZ. Was back in Dublin at Christmas and its was muck!! So many little coffee shops, with hipster barista's thinking they are the sh*t, who deliver fantastic coffee!

Seanie_H

spunkymunky wrote: »

DO NOT BUY COFFEE IN STARBUCKS OR ESQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S SH*T.

I love the coffee here, NZ. Was back in Dublin at Christmas and its was muck!! So many little coffee shops, with hipster barista's thinking they are the sh*t, who deliver fantastic coffee!

Coffee in Dublin is great, very good range. Pity you couldn't find them.

Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

Cookie_Monster

Seanie_H wrote: »

Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

depends where they are living and the cafe's in the area. Most are independent and it depends who supplies them as well as their own staff.
Since I work for one of the coffee companies I won't make suggestions (shilling) but you'll be able to find plenty of good cafes with little effort, just don't stick with one and try a few, the difference can be incredible.

Cookie_Monster

SpaceTime wrote: »

I hate to disappoint the Ireland bashers with facts but the road death rate in NZ is over twice as high as Ireland.
than Kiwis do on average and the population of the Republic of Ireland is about 100,000 bigger than NZ, so the rate in NZ calculates as slightly higher.

If you think either IRL or NZ are dangerous places to drive, I'd strongly suggest you haven't driven much beyond those two places.
NZ's higher accident rate is most likely down to lack of long-distance motorways rather than behaviour though too.

30% of kiwi roads are unsealed too.
NZers do silly things and drive a bit crazy but are generally predictable and often know they are doing something wrong and do it anyway, I find whenever I'm back in Ireland the sheer unpredictability and dopiness are the main problems.
The amount of truck accidents here is incredible, 1-2 a week get reported locally and same around the country. Mostly trucks rolling, but considering how rarely you'd hear it at home it's surprising. I'm sure the roads don't exactly help but clearly there are a lot of truckers who drive like maniacs to rack up such a high number of crashes.

drink driving is par for the course here too.

bambgirl92

Has anyone brought a GHD with them to NZ? And are the plugs able to take them? Im like a frizz ball without it

Cookie_Monster

bambgirl92 wrote: »

Has anyone brought a GHD with them to NZ? And are the plugs able to take them? Im like a frizz ball without it

yeah the wife has one, works fine with the plug adaptor

spunkymunky

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

depends where they are living and the cafe's in the area. Most are independent and it depends who supplies them as well as their own staff.
Since I work for one of the coffee companies I won't make suggestions (shilling) but you'll be able to find plenty of good cafes with little effort, just don't stick with one and try a few, the difference can be incredible.

Agree with ya. Everywhere has their gems! Beanhunter app for iphone is good.

spunkymunky

Seanie_H wrote: »

Coffee in Dublin is great, very good range. Pity you couldn't find them. Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

I go back soon will check it out. Ill hold my judgement till then:)

I live in Birkenhead and would recommend OTT, Coffee General, Hinemoa Organic, Groove cafe.
Milford - The Swiss cafe, Little Kings
Mt Eden, Circus circus (Big queues), Frazers,
City, Remedy (Beside Father Teds), Imperial Lane

youngblood

I cant believe no mentioned Wifi!
I found internet to be brutal in NZ.
Totally overpriced and speed atrocious!
Free 100mb allowance at most Libraries.
We had a 10gb allowance in our place, that meant you could download 10gb and after that would be slowed down to dsl speed until you topped up
Although things hopefully will have changed in the last 2 years!

cpoh1

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

yeah I love my one, works fine with the plug adaptor

Fixed that for you cookie monster :pac:

Cookie_Monster

cpoh1 wrote: »

Fixed that for you cookie monster :pac:

was experimented on once, this was roughly the outcome:

pclancy

Internet quality depends on where you live regarding price and speed. In the wellington suburb where I am, we've got 100Mb Ultrasfast fibre to the house and 100Gb cap a month for something like $80 a month.

But NZ being where it is at the end of the planet with just one internet cable to Oz and California means download speeds and pings for overseas servers are never going to be amazing. Online gaming isnt great unless there are Kiwi or Oz servers. I always notice how much faster Boards.ie loads when I go back to Ireland for a visit

TheCoolWay

pclancy wrote: »

Internet quality depends on where you live regarding price and speed. In the wellington suburb where I am, we've got 100Mb Ultrasfast fibre to the house and 100Gb cap a month for something like $80 a month.

But NZ being where it is at the end of the planet with just one internet cable to Oz and California means download speeds and pings for overseas servers are never going to be amazing. Online gaming isnt great unless there are Kiwi or Oz servers. I always notice how much faster Boards.ie loads when I go back to Ireland for a visit

I am in shock

DoozerT6

I'm getting pangs of nostalgia for Woosh

In other things to note, the quality of housing has been done to death here, but...yeah. Definitely worth noting, (invest in some thermals, and some fleece blankets for the beds) also the quality of decoration of some rental properties can be straight out of the 80's I also found that kitchens tend to be quite small and basic in pretty much every place I lived in.

Become familiar with the terms sausage sizzle, gold coin donation, bring a plate, cheese roll, stubbies, jandals (also, pakeha, kia kaha, kia ora, haere mai, and whanau are some Maori words commonly used in NZ society, I'll give you the pleasure of looking up what they mean )

If for some reason you end up in the South Island during winter, bear in mind that next stop is Antarctica - it can get VERY cold down south in winter, easily as cold as here at times.

Regarding the WOF (Warrant of Fitness, basically the NCT) for your car, apparently it's changed only since July of this year, see this link http://nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/registration-licensing/warrant-of-fitness.html for more details as to how often your car will need a WOF.