more is advised where advice is not available.
Communications
Telephone Country Code = 64
The Telephone is similar to British Telecom style. Uses BT 600 plug (not RJ-
11) Phone line is pins 2 and 5 of the BT 600 plug (RJ-11 is pins 3 & 4).
Hotels will have difficulty in converting plugs styles but conversion
cables are available from retailers.
Most New Zealand telephone systems can handle DTMF tone dialling. BEWARE:
New Zealand pulse dialing is the reverse of most countries. The digit are
reversed and so produce different numbers of pulses. The conversion is:
digit | # of Pulses
--------+------------
0 | 10
1 | 9
2 | 8
[.....]
8 | 2
9 | 1
The best solution is to use tone dialing.
Electricity
The normal electricity supply is 230 volts 50 hertz alternating current
(AC).
3 pin appliance socket from a viewpoint looking at the wall or a plug seen
from the inside as one would while wiring it up.
phase ----- / \ ---- neutral
(or live)
| --------- earth
If the wires you have are brown, blue, and green [yellow or white striped],
then; brown = phase, blue = neutral, green = earth. The old code is red,
black, green respectively. If you have ANY doubts, please consult a
qualified electrician.
Most hotels will have shaver plugs suitable for all international appliance
of low power rating, and which will supply 110 and 230 volts. These plugs
may be for shavers only.
TV Information
New Zealand runs on PAL G on UHF. This gives the same picture and sound
spacing (5.5MHz), but the channel spacing is slightly wider - the same as
that used for 6MHz intercarrier spacing. Standard 50 hertz field rate, 25
hertz frame rate. We also use NICAM for stereo tv, rather than one of the
various analogue systems.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the locally-vertical component of the field is
in the opposite direction to where it would be an equivalent distance north
of the equator. This affects the colour convergence of video monitors. It's
not a *huge* difference, and it took computer companies until the late
1980s' to wake up to the difference and ship different monitor versions to
New Zealand, South America, and Australia. Northern hemisphere monitors
*work* but the colours won't be as crisp as you'd expect.
North Island
In ancient Maori mythology, the North Island is Te Ika a Maui (the Fish of
Maui). According to the story, Maui was fishing with his brothers when he
hooked the North Island from the ocean. His ravenous brothers, ignoring
orders not to touch the fish, began gnawing at its flesh, causing the fish
to writhe and thresh about - this frenzy of movement is the reason behind
the island's undulant and mountainous landscape.
There are snow-fringed mountains in the Tongariro National Park,
exclamatory geysers and bubbling mud pools in Rotorua and a profusion of
rivers, lakes and streams. But the North Island is more than rips and
fissures: it has its share of rolling pastures, forest-clad hills and
stretches of long, sandy beaches. It also has New Zealand's two largest
cities - Auckland to the north and the country's capital, Wellington, to
the south - which are focal points for arts and entertainment, historic
buildings, great dining and a variety of accommodation.
Auckland
The largest city in New Zealand, Auckland, is almost enclosed by water and
covered in volcanic hills. Auckland has a spectacular harbour and bridge
(and a fanatical number of yachting enthusiasts) which has earned it the
sobriquet 'City of Sails'. A magnet for the people of the South Pacific
islands, Auckland now has the largest concentration of Polynesians in the
world. Highlights include the Auckland Museum, which houses a memorable
display of Maori artefacts and culture, and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater
World & Antarctic Encounter, a unique simulacrum of ocean and exploration
activities.
There is great shopping in the suburbs of Parnell and Newmarket, well-
preserved Victorian buildings in Devonport, Polynesian handicrafts, cafes,
restaurants and markets in Ponsonby, panoramic views of the city from the
extinct volcano One Tree Hill, and good swimming beaches including
Kohimarama and Mission Bay.
The Hauraki Gulf off Auckland is dotted with islands such as Rangitoto,
Great Barrier and Waiheke, which have affordable accommodation, a number of
walks and diving possibilities and, in the case of Waiheke Island,
excellent art galleries. Auckland is also a good starting-point for
visiting the amazingly scenic Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki Plains
regions to the south-east.
Northland
Northland is the cradle of both Maori and Pakeha culture: it was here that
the Pakeha first made contact with the Maori, the first whaling settlements
were established and the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Often referred to
as the 'winterless north' because of its mild year-round temperatures,
Northland has a number of interesting museums (Otamatea Kauri & Pioneer
Museum), glorious, blonde beaches (Ninety Mile Beach) and diving spots
(Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, reckoned by Jacques Cousteau to be
among the top 10 diving sites in the world), historic towns (Pahia and
Waitangi), game fishing (Bay of Islands) and flora and fauna reserves
(Waipoua Kauri Forest).
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island at the mouth of the Hauraki Gulf has acres of long,
white sandy beaches on its eastern shore, deep-water sheltered inlets on
its western shore, and a rugged spine of steep ridges running down the
centre. The 80,000 hectare preserve has a number of walking tracks which
combine old logging trails and tramways. Natural hot springs, towering
kauri forests and a serene aura make it a perfect escape. Flights and
ferries operate from Auckland, 88 km south.
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty, given its name by Captain Cook in 1769 because of the
number of thriving Maori settlements, has a consistently mild climate year-
round, good beaches and is the home of the kiwi fruit - a fuzzy, brown,
sweet-tasting fruit and a major source of export revenue for the region.
The city of Tauranga offers activities such as jet-skiing, water-skiing,
windsurfing, parasailing, diving, surfing, fishing and harbour cruises.
Across the inlet from Tauranga is Mt Maunganui, a popular holiday resort
with beaches and saltwater pools. Rotorua, one of the most visited cities
in New Zealand, is famous for its kinetic thermal activity (Whakarewarewa
is the best known site and the location of Pohutu, an active geyser that
gushes forth every hour), a large and influential Maori population, trout
springs and wildlife parks.
East Cape
The East Cape, as opposed to the Bay of Plenty, is little visited, but its
isolation belies an area endowed with native forest, wild coasts and
picturesque bays, inlets and coves. During the summer, the coastline turns
vermilion with the explosion of flowers from the pohutukawa trees lining
the shores.
Cape Runaway
A succession of picturesque bays leads to Whangaparaoa (Cape Runaway), at
the very tip of the East Cape. The beaches are deeply shelved and littered
with driftwood, and the old Anglican church, nestled under Norfolk pines on
a lone promontory, should not be missed. Cape Runaway can only be reached
by foot and it's advisable to seek permission before going on private land.
Central North Island
Hamilton, New Zealand's largest inland city, is surrounded by some of the
world's richest dairy farming and agricultural regions. It is a city of
museums, zoos and parks, and offers river cruises on the Waikato River, the
country's longest (425 km). Further south is the region of King Country,
once the stronghold of powerful Maori chiefs. The town of Waitomo is famous
for its limestone caves and subterranean black-water rafting (a wetsuit,
caver's helmet, inner tube and abundant courage are all that's required)
while Te Kuiti, named after the belligerent Maori leader Te Kooti, is
recognised as 'the shearing capital of the world'. Even further south is
Taumaranui, which makes a good base for kayaking, rafting and jet-boating
on the Whanganui River.
The west coast region of Taranaki is dominated by Mt Taranaki (also
officially known as Mt Egmont), a dormant volcano rising 2518 metres. Other
highlights in Taranaki include the Egmont National Park and the region's
world-class surfing and windsurfing beaches. New Zealand's largest lake,
and the geographical centre of the North Island, is Lake Taupo. Dotted
around its shores are towns with cheap accommodation and great dining
possibilities (trout is a speciality). Nearby are the spectacular Tongariro
and Whanganui national parks; the former is renowned for its ski slopes
while the latter has several excellent walking tracks and recreational
water activities on the Whanganui River. East of the national parks is the
Art Deco city of Napier, with its splendid weather and beautiful beaches.
Wellington
The capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, is situated on a splendid
harbour at the southern tip of the North Island. Often maligned by its
northern counterparts for its ill-tempered weather - the winds are often of
gale-force calibre in winter - Wellington is a lively city of culture and
arts (with festivals almost every month), and great ethnic restaurants and
