Travel Insurance New Zealand

Business Practices

Business is usually conducted in a somewhat formal fashion similar to the US and most of Europe. Conservative suits are typically worn for meetings, though some businessmen dress in shorts and knee-length socks during summer, particularly in the North Island. Appointments are necessary and punctuality is expected. Calling cards are usually exchanged. Office hours are 0900-1700 Monday to Friday. Legal, regulatory, and accounting systems are transparent. Accounting is based on British and U.S. systems. The New Zealand Society of Accountants has developed Statements of Standard Accounting Practice (SSAP) that are mandatory for its members. All companies listed on the Stock Exchange must comply with the SSAP and issue annual reports and abbreviated half-yearly reports to shareholders. In 1994, the Financial Reporting Act of 1993 came into effect, legally requiring firms to comply with financial accounting standards set out by an Accounting Standards Review Board established by the Act. The mandatory standards vary depending on the type of firm involved. While small companies not listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSE) may include in their constitutions measures to restrict hostile takeovers by outside interests, domestic or foreign, the NZSE does not permit such measures by companies listed in the NZSE. Foreign-owned or controlled companies are not prevented from participating in industry standards-setting organizations. The primary fact of investment in New Zealand is that foreign investment is welcomed, encouraged, and prominent in the economy.

Crime

Crime is increasing, especially robberies and assaults, but the crime rate is still considerably less than in most of the urban areas in Europe or the US. Police are well trained and professional, but sometimes slow to respond to calls. Visitors should exercise normal caution to guard valuables, including passports, lock their vehicles and properly store valuables and be especially cautious, if going out alone at night.

Hotels

New Zealand has hotels and motels of international standard, moderately priced modern hotels, private hotels and guesthouses. Rates on the whole are cheaper in rural areas, while every city and town has low-cost motels or hotels. Low-cost motels have grown greatly in popularity in recent years, and most have a wide range of facilities; they offer self-catering, and account for 75% of the accommodation. Accommodations may become difficult to arrange around the Olympics in Sydney, Australia in the summer of 2000 when travelers will likely visit New Zealand as a side trip.

Communications

Telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 64 and the outgoing international code is 00. Many hotels provide fax facilities. All main post offices and some hotels have public telex facilities. Post offices are open 0900-1700 Monday to Friday.

Electricity

is a 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Most hotels provide 110-volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Most hotels provide 110-volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only.

Plug Types

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Food And Dining

New Zealand has a reputation as a leading producer of meat and dairy produce with lamb, beef and pork on most menus. Venison is also widely available. Locally produced vegetables, such as kumara (a natural sweet potato), are good. There is also a wide range of fish available, including snapper, grouper and John Dory. Seasonal delicacies such as whitebait, oysters, crayfish, scallops and game birds are recommended. New Zealand is also establishing a reputation for French-type cheeses: Bleu de Bresse, Brie, Camembert and Montagne Bleu.

National specialties: ?Kumara (native sweet potato) in Auckland. ?Feijoa (local fruit) and Golden fleshed Zespri Gold kiwi fruit from the Bay of Plenty. ?Battered fish and chips from Gisbourne.
? Pavlova (a large roundcake with a meringue base topped with cream and fruit) from Taranaki. ?Salmon and mussels from Marlborough
? Yams, seaweed and crayfish from Canterbury.
? Whitebait from the West Coast. ?Koura (freshwater crayfish) from Central Otago. ?Bluff Oysters and muttonbird from Southland. Things to know: Many picnic areas with barbecue facilities are provided at roadside sites. Restaurants are usually informal except for very exclusive ones. Waiter service is normal, but self-service and fast-food chains are also available. Some restaurants invite the customer to ?BYO? (bring your own liquor). National drinks: New Zealand boasts world-class domestic wines and beers, some of which have won international awards. A wide range of domestic and imported wines, spirits and beers is available from hotel bars, ?liquor stores? and wine shops.
? Merlot (Auckland and Wairarapa), Chardonnay (Bay of Plenty, Gisbourne, Wairarapa and Canterbury), Pinot Gris and Noir (Auckland, Wairarapa, Marlborough and Central Otago), Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough and Wairarapa).
? New Zealand draught beer and lager. Things to know: Bars have counter service and public bars are very informal. Lounge bars and ?house bars? (for hotel guests only) are sometimes more formal and occasionally have table service. The minimum drinking age in a bar is 18. There is some variation in licensing hours in major cities and some hotel bars open Sunday, providing a meal is eaten. In most hotels and taverns, licensing hours are 1100-2300 except Sunday. Tipping : Service charges and taxes are not added to hotel or restaurant bills. Tips are not expected.

Nightlife
New Zealand has an active and varied entertainment industry. Theaters offer good entertainment ranging from drama, comedy and musicals to pop concerts and shows. Concert tickets can be booked online (website: www.ticketek.com). In large cities, there are often professional performers or guest artists from overseas. Visitors should check ?What?s On? in local papers. There are also cinemas and a small selection of nightclubs in larger cities.