Shopping
Overview
Carved jewelry made of greenstone (a type of jade) and paua shells (shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow), tiki (greenstone Maori talisman), inlaid carvings made of paua shells, virgin wool sweaters and blankets, and leather goods. Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, often longer in resorts. Numerous shops are open Thursday and Friday until 9 p.m., shopping centers also on Sun 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nightlife
Introduction
The current calendar of events can usually be found in the “What’s On” section of the respective daily newspaper. In the larger cities there are nightclubs, cinemas and theatres.
- Top-engineering-schools: Provides detailed population data for major cities of New Zealand. Also covers geography information including rivers, mountains, lakes, and national borders.
Culinary
Overview
New Zealand lamb, beef and pork enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide. The Kumara, a sweet potato, tastes excellent. Local species such as snapper, grouper and john dory are available seasonally, as are trout, young sprat, oysters, crayfish and scallops. Poultry dishes are definitely recommended. A popular dessert is pavlova, a meringue base filled with fruit and whipped cream. Special picnic and barbecue areas can be found almost everywhere. In many restaurants that are not licensed, you can bring your own alcoholic beverages (“BYO” – “bring your own”). Beverages: Numerous New Zealand wines and beers have won international awards. Some hotel bars are for guests only and are very formal. Alcohol may only be sold to persons over the age of 18. Bar hours vary from region to region, i. Generally, however, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (except Sun).
Accommodation
Hotels
In addition to hotels, motels and inns, there is the opportunity to stay in traditional Maori houses. Overnight stays are usually cheaper in rural areas, but you can also find affordable accommodation in the cities. However, there are few luxury hotels. In the high season, it is therefore not always easy to find rooms in the desired price range. It is advisable to book as early as possible. Good motels with cooking facilities now make up about 75% of the accommodations on offer. Further information from Motel Association of New Zealand (Inc), Paxus House, Level 5, 79 Boulcott Street, NZ-Wellington. Tel: (04) 499 64 15. (Internet: www.nzmotels.co.nz) or the Hospitality Association of New Zealand, Level 2, Radio Network House, Corner Abel Smith and Taranaki Streets, PO Box 503, NZ-Wellington. Tel: (04) 385 1369. (Web: www.hanz.org.nz). Categories: Location, facilities and prices are indicative of the respective standard. Classification of hotels from 1 to 4 stars, motels from 1 to 5 stars.
Camping
Numerous campsites of different price ranges with different standards are available. Advance booking is recommended between December and April (Easter). New Zealand Motor Camps generally have washing and cooking facilities, larger sites are often better equipped. The camps do not provide tents, but equipment can be rented from various organizations.
Other accommodation options
From December to March, pre-booking is available through the Youth Hostel Association, Address: Level 1, 166 Moorhouse Avenue, PO Box 436, NZ-Christchurch. Tel: (03) 379 99 70. (Web: www.stayyha.com). There are also other inexpensive accommodations in the larger towns. Many farms accept visitors. Sports activities such as fishing, skiing or horseback riding are often offered. Prices mostly include breakfast and dinner. Holdsworth (website: www.lodgings.co.nz) publishes an independent guide to various types of accommodation in New Zealand.
Culture
Religion
53.5% Christian (Anglican 14.9%, Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3% and other Christian 9.4%) and other.
Social Rules of Conduct
Clothing: Casual clothing is accepted everywhere. Social manners: New Zealanders are very easy-going, open and hospitable, people quickly address each other by their first names. Smoking is prohibited in pubs, restaurants and other public buildings. Some restaurants have terraces and balconies where smoking is allowed. Tipping is not expected. Service charges and taxes are not included in hotel and restaurant bills.
Climate
Best travel time
The climate on North Island is subtropical with minimal temperature differences. Temperate climate with cold winters (June – September) and snowfall in the high elevations of South Island. Rainfall all year round, especially in the west of South Island.
Country data
Phone prefix
+64
Area (sq km)
270534
Population
4,822,233 (Source: homosociety)
Population density (per square km)
17.3 per sq km (UN estimate 2016).
Population statistics year
2020
Main emergency number
111
