[Wahlet]

Hi,
I have a bunch of questions about financial stuff. Can anyone help?
1) What is the best credit card that earns Air New Zealand miles? I will not be accumulating debts, so interest rates are not of concern, though annual fees are.
2) What is your recommendation for a bank? I will need to set up only a checking account. I will be living in Wellington.
3) What is the best way to bring my money from the US? I will be bringing everything, which isn't much, a couple thousand dollars.

Thanks!

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hi Wahlet...Check out this BNZ site out. I am sure they have a Credit Card that will earn you Air New Zealand miles.

https://www.bnz.co.nz/Credit_Cards/1,1184,8-132,FF.html

Sorry I can't help with your other two questions.

Suzanne.

[BlueDevil]

Credit cards here seem to be exp in terms of annual fees.
I use Westpac because of a recommendation and that have a relationship with Bank of America. I have had no problems, but consumerreports NZ rates them poorly in customer service. People seem happy with kiwibank though?

Lots of recs for XE trade for currency transfer. Am going through cumbersome process. If its a one time transfer of <$10,000 US, probably easier to electronically transfer via banks though.

[Georgebulldog]

We use Westpac & they have been the best ever, customer service has been great, but then I've been used to dealing with HSBC in the UK.
Because we have a mortgage with them we get free banking so no credit card charges or bank charges.
We get FlyBuys, don't even know what they are though to be honest!
They did say that we could have written them a cheque from our HSBC account to their account if we wanted but used a company as we had a fair amount to transfer
good luck

[kanatakiwi]

Re the Air NZ airpoints, the following are the cards that allow you to transfer card points to Air NZ airpoints.

(Also note if you collect fly buys, and like previously mentioned we have a bunch of them, and dont know what to do with them, but I found out with Global plus cards below, you can convert them to NZ airpoints, which would be useful)

But be warned some of these cards come with hefty interest rates and fees, so check that out. if you go to the Air NZ airpoints page, you can link directly to the banks that offer these cards and get more info.



New Zealand Card Partners

GlobalPlus Visa/MasterCard
0800 4321 GO
NZ $150 spent = 1

GlobalPlus Gold Visa/MasterCard
0800 4321 GO NZ $100 spent = 1

GlobalPlus American Express
0800 4321 GO NZ $150 spent = 1.5

GlobalPlus Gold American Express
0800 4321 GO
NZ $100 spent = 1.5

GlobalPlus Platinum Visa
0800 4321 GO NZ $90 spent = 1

GlobalPlus Home Loan
1 for every NZ$1,000 outstanding on home loan balance per year

ASB Bank True Rewards
0800 878 373
NZ $150 spent = 1 True Rewards Dollar.
1 True Rewards Dollar = 1

Bank of NZ Gold Card
0800 800 667
150 BNZ Gold Rewards points = 1

Bank of New Zealand All Blacks MasterCard
0800 800 667
180 All Blacks points = 1

Diners Club New Zealand
0800 346 377
130 Diners Rewards points = 1
Westpac MasterCard or Visa
0800 861 862 NZ$1 spent = 1 hotpoint
140 hotpoints = 1

Westpac New Zealand Gold Card
0800 861 862 NZ$1 spent = 1.25 hotpoints
140 hotpoints = 1

Westpac Titanium MasterCard
0800 861 862 NZ$1 spent = 1.5 hotpoints
140 hotpoints = 1

Wrightson Rewards
0800 626 262 NZ$1 spent = 1 Wrightson Rewards point
220 Wrightson Rewards points = 1

[Wahlet]

Thanks all. The annual fees on these cards are indeed high! I am thinking the Airpoints earned may not overcome the cost.

Are there no-annual-fee credit cards available in NZ? If so, which ones do you recommend?

Thanks..

[Georgebulldog]

They all have annual fees as far as I have seen, you may be able to do a deal if you already have a card that can be transferred, I was going to try this with my Amex but haven't had time yet

[IanW99]

They all have annual fees as far as I have seen, you may be able to do a deal if you already have a card that can be transferred, I was going to try this with my Amex but haven't had time yet

You may want to check out this link that details all the current Credit Cards (http://www.interest.co.nz/creditcards.asp)

Note that some of them are zero fees (not many though).

Some banks may offer you zero fee option if you have other relationships with them e.g. a mortgage so worth asking.

Ian

[Georgebulldog]

You may want to check out this link that details all the current Credit Cards (http://www.interest.co.nz/creditcards.asp)

Note that some of them are zero fees (not many though).

Some banks may offer you zero fee option if you have other relationships with them e.g. a mortgage so worth asking.

Ian

Good link Ian Thanks