tiefchord
25th June 2007, 06:04 PM
(Coming from California to New Zealand)
1. Small electronics? Computers? Bring them. A lot of people will warn you of 110-120vac/60hz vs 220-240vac/50hz problems - but the majority of computer (but not all) accessories/components use an adaptive power supply to handle 110-240vac/50-60hz input. These will be perfectly fine without anything else needed. In addition, if you have 110/60hz electronics, purchase a 1000-2500w step-down transformer that will convert 220-240vac/50hz to 110-120vac/60hz which will use an NZ style plug on input and US style plugs on output - then chain 110/60hz specific electronics from the transformer. Why do I recommend this? Because electronics and anything computer related are ridiculous $ in NZ. Considering a transformer costs between 150-300USD, it's easy to see the math is highly in favor of bringing what you can. Also, any adapters, cable variants, plug/connector adapters, etc. type stuff that you could see yourself using (but it might be in the category of don't need it right this second), BRING IT - or you'll be crying when you see the comparitive price for the same item in New Zealand when you do need it. If you have a decent collecton of DVDs (which I actually don't) and want to bring them - purchase a region free DVD player before hand. Most decent ones will allow full PAL<>NTSC conversion and ignore any region burned into a DVD.
2. Clothes? Bring everything nice that you can. This goes for shoes as well. If you're anywhere in or near Wellington - you better bring warm clothes, long underwear, sweaters, and multiple coats - or you will be seriously sorry. Not only is it colder than sin - the houses have crap insulation and central heating is more likely to be found in a kingdom of gods rather than anywhere in Wellington. If the particular place you're in has draft issues - immediately head to a hardware store and purchase insulative foam or rubber adhesive lining to hit up the easy culprits first (door/window gaps, etc). Get used to partitioning the living space by closing every door to an area you're not presently occupying.
3. Excess baggage. AirNZ charged us 80USD for 1 piece of baggage that was over the 32kg limit, but allowed us 2 pieces of baggage each, and a single carry-on each. All together we had 6 pieces, 4 of which totalled just shy of 100 kg (200 lb+), but we only had to pay 80$ for that one piece of baggage over 32 kg. What this means is use 1-2 boxes and load them up hard core - making sure the boxes are packed well and structually secure. TSA in US will most likely open it and rummage around but more importantly they will be thrown around by the baggage handlers. If you have an AirNZ domestic transfer out of AKL, save your intl boarding pass - this will give you extended baggage limits and save you from being totally reamed. In our case, we did not have to pay anything for baggage on our domestic transfer flight. That being said, I can't guarantee this will hold true for *every* domestic transfer destination - but from what I can tell, the major cities seem to be covered by this.
4. Cars have more right of way than pedestrians in almost all circumstances but a designated crosswalk/zebra zone/ped-xing. Get used to just looking both ways back and forth the entire time until you become acclimated to cars approaching your initial right rather than initial left. Motorists will not slow down for you (granted, they won't mow you over when it comes down to it) and some even like to speed up.
5. Get a good trustworthy contact in the US that can be your shipping contact for smaller items you might need after the fact. Unless immediately pressing, use whatever means necessary to have those items bought in the US, shipped to their household, and then have said trustworthy friend ship them to you. You will be surprised to find that (and this doesn't go for every type of thing, but it does for some common things you wouldn't expect), unless they're mailing you a box full of metal or bricks, the premium for shipping will actually end up offsetting the cost less than if you had purchased some of the items in New Zealand itself. Yes - it's lame that this has to be done - but you'll come to terms with it sooner or later.
6. Cell phones. Like to talk on the phone? Well stop liking it. NZ cell phone plans are a rip-off plain and simple. Sign up for a basic pay as you go plan with Vodaphone, get the text2000 option, and start learning to text message everyone for everything. If you absolutely need to use the phone, use a land line if possible - or alternatively have them call you.
More to come...
1. Small electronics? Computers? Bring them. A lot of people will warn you of 110-120vac/60hz vs 220-240vac/50hz problems - but the majority of computer (but not all) accessories/components use an adaptive power supply to handle 110-240vac/50-60hz input. These will be perfectly fine without anything else needed. In addition, if you have 110/60hz electronics, purchase a 1000-2500w step-down transformer that will convert 220-240vac/50hz to 110-120vac/60hz which will use an NZ style plug on input and US style plugs on output - then chain 110/60hz specific electronics from the transformer. Why do I recommend this? Because electronics and anything computer related are ridiculous $ in NZ. Considering a transformer costs between 150-300USD, it's easy to see the math is highly in favor of bringing what you can. Also, any adapters, cable variants, plug/connector adapters, etc. type stuff that you could see yourself using (but it might be in the category of don't need it right this second), BRING IT - or you'll be crying when you see the comparitive price for the same item in New Zealand when you do need it. If you have a decent collecton of DVDs (which I actually don't) and want to bring them - purchase a region free DVD player before hand. Most decent ones will allow full PAL<>NTSC conversion and ignore any region burned into a DVD.
2. Clothes? Bring everything nice that you can. This goes for shoes as well. If you're anywhere in or near Wellington - you better bring warm clothes, long underwear, sweaters, and multiple coats - or you will be seriously sorry. Not only is it colder than sin - the houses have crap insulation and central heating is more likely to be found in a kingdom of gods rather than anywhere in Wellington. If the particular place you're in has draft issues - immediately head to a hardware store and purchase insulative foam or rubber adhesive lining to hit up the easy culprits first (door/window gaps, etc). Get used to partitioning the living space by closing every door to an area you're not presently occupying.
3. Excess baggage. AirNZ charged us 80USD for 1 piece of baggage that was over the 32kg limit, but allowed us 2 pieces of baggage each, and a single carry-on each. All together we had 6 pieces, 4 of which totalled just shy of 100 kg (200 lb+), but we only had to pay 80$ for that one piece of baggage over 32 kg. What this means is use 1-2 boxes and load them up hard core - making sure the boxes are packed well and structually secure. TSA in US will most likely open it and rummage around but more importantly they will be thrown around by the baggage handlers. If you have an AirNZ domestic transfer out of AKL, save your intl boarding pass - this will give you extended baggage limits and save you from being totally reamed. In our case, we did not have to pay anything for baggage on our domestic transfer flight. That being said, I can't guarantee this will hold true for *every* domestic transfer destination - but from what I can tell, the major cities seem to be covered by this.
4. Cars have more right of way than pedestrians in almost all circumstances but a designated crosswalk/zebra zone/ped-xing. Get used to just looking both ways back and forth the entire time until you become acclimated to cars approaching your initial right rather than initial left. Motorists will not slow down for you (granted, they won't mow you over when it comes down to it) and some even like to speed up.
5. Get a good trustworthy contact in the US that can be your shipping contact for smaller items you might need after the fact. Unless immediately pressing, use whatever means necessary to have those items bought in the US, shipped to their household, and then have said trustworthy friend ship them to you. You will be surprised to find that (and this doesn't go for every type of thing, but it does for some common things you wouldn't expect), unless they're mailing you a box full of metal or bricks, the premium for shipping will actually end up offsetting the cost less than if you had purchased some of the items in New Zealand itself. Yes - it's lame that this has to be done - but you'll come to terms with it sooner or later.
6. Cell phones. Like to talk on the phone? Well stop liking it. NZ cell phone plans are a rip-off plain and simple. Sign up for a basic pay as you go plan with Vodaphone, get the text2000 option, and start learning to text message everyone for everything. If you absolutely need to use the phone, use a land line if possible - or alternatively have them call you.
More to come...