[Laura Lu]

I have heard from several sources that you can mostly only get gel and spray-on deodorant in NZ. Has anyone else come across this?

What other items are hard to come by that one would not expect?

What are some items you wish you had brought with you in bulk when you moved?

[Georgebulldog]

What sort of deoderant are you after? Most well known brands are sold here

[dusk]

the other types being? roll on is common. we thought there would be loads of that type of thing we couldn't get but once here found the same brands in the supermarket as we used in the UK.

what turned out to be hard to get is cheap painkillers, hayfever tablets and vitamins/supplements (no supermarket cheapo brands for these)

[SarahEDH]

If you use rubbing alcohol (aka isopropyl alcohol) for anything, bring some -- nobody seems to carry it and most clerks don't know what it is.

[IanW99]

If you use rubbing alcohol (aka isopropyl alcohol) for anything, bring some -- nobody seems to carry it and most clerks don't know what it is.

They know all about it and I'm not sure that I would recommend importing it either (especially in quantity) as it is used in the manufacturer of drugs (P) so is considered a restricted substance.

Ian

[BkyMonster]

They know all about it and I'm not sure that I would recommend importing it either (especially in quantity) as it is used in the manufacturer of drugs (P) so is considered a restricted substance.

Ian

On that note if you use things like sudafed or similar with pseudo ephedrine, yeah, not getting that here easily either for pretty much the same reason.



Where we moved from had a pretty bad methamphetamine (P) manufacture problem as well and the only thing that was really restricted was the sale of the pseudo ephedrine products.
Hydrogen peroxide is also fairly expensive, but there are alternate products for what I was planning on using it for (napisan, for getting protein stains out of fabrics).
There are some brands they don't have here of course so if you are attached to a brand of toiletry product bring some until you find a replacement. I didn't think I'd have an issue but started pining for some Arm and Hammer toothpaste and had OH bring back a few tubes when he went back to the US in January :laugh. There probably is a similar brand of toothpaste with baking soda/peroxide here but Colgate wasn't doing it for me. :o

[Wooly_Cow]

They know all about it and I'm not sure that I would recommend importing it either (especially in quantity) as it is used in the manufacturer of drugs (P) so is considered a restricted substance.

Ian

Isn't it also rather flammable?:uhoh

[Laura Lu]

What sort of deoderant are you after? Most well known brands are sold here

I like Dove brand anti-perspirant; NOT anything roll-on.

[Georgebulldog]

I like Dove brand anti-perspirant; NOT anything roll-on.

Me too & they do it all no probs :)

[dilanium]

On a side note- if you're allergic to perfumes and use unscented deodorant I definitely recommend bringing extra with you, as I still haven't found any unscented (my mother has been mailing it to me).

[jeffanar]

On a side note- if you're allergic to perfumes and use unscented deodorant I definitely recommend bringing extra with you, as I still haven't found any unscented (my mother has been mailing it to me).
I got one recently in Huckleberry farm, not sure where else they would sell it - maybe health food shops? Or you can order online, have a look here (http://www.huckleberryfarms.co.nz/shop/Personal+Care/Deodorants/Crystal+Body+Deodorant+Stick.html) :nice1

[dilanium]

I'll look for it, but I really just want my dove unscented deodorant.

[Laura Lu]

What about clothing and footwear? How is the shopping compared to Canada?

[Silverwing86]

If you use rubbing alcohol (aka isopropyl alcohol) for anything, bring some -- nobody seems to carry it and most clerks don't know what it is.

I've been able to get Isopropyl Alcohol from Radius Pharmacy without any problems. It's great for disinfection !

Cheers,
Silver

[YouMeAndThree]

What about clothing and footwear? How is the shopping compared to Canada?

They wear clothes and shoes in New Zealand, so you won't have a problem there :D :laugh Quality and price varies, but I don't know how this compares to Canada as I was only 12 went I visited BC.

[IanW99]

They wear clothes and shoes in New Zealand, so you won't have a problem there :D :laugh Quality and price varies, but I don't know how this compares to Canada as I was only 12 went I visited BC.

True, but shoes are optional :)

Ian

[Laura Lu]

Is it really true that kids often go barefoot to school? Is that allowed?

[Belmont Babes]

Yes very true up to the age of 11 in this area then it is shoes at school but barefoot for sport unless really cold/wet. My friend is a podiatrist and hates the bare foot thing. Both my boys have flat feet and the bare foot policy has definitely worsened their condition, but they just want to be the same as everyone else.

[TipTopAddicts]

Is it really true that kids often go barefoot to school? Is that allowed?

yep, it is. We've even got it in the uniform code - footwear is black - shoes, jandals or barefoot. By the end of the day the barefeet are black as well !! :D

[YouMeAndThree]

Is it really true that kids often go barefoot to school? Is that allowed?

It's true that a lot of people go barefoot everywhere, although tbh I haven't noticed children walking to my DD's school without footwear, but as soon as they are at school into class, then off come the shoes. There is a shoe rack outside the Library block, but normally you just see a huge pile of shoes by the class door - all identical apart from my girls UK shoes :D

[M-Squared]

Liz, try Mitchum unscented. Yes it's roll-on and I miss my Secret prescription-strength soft-solid but I had to see what worked here as this is a permanent move.

I found Rexona to be completely and utterly crap, just my $0.02 worth.

[hosebergine]

can you get PitRock crystal deodourant over there? I gather Arm and Hammer toothpaste hasn't hit NZ shores yet but what are the other brands of sensitive toothpaste available...? I don't want to be grumpy Pom with sore teeth :-(

[Bozeman]

what turned out to be hard to get is cheap painkillers, hayfever tablets and vitamins/supplements (no supermarket cheapo brands for these)

This is an excellent point: pain-killers and vitamins are incredibly expensive here compared to the no-name brands in the US. We buy a year's supply during our annual visit-the-relatives trip to the US.

[KerryS]

This is an excellent point: pain-killers and vitamins are incredibly expensive here compared to the no-name brands in the US. We buy a year's supply during our annual visit-the-relatives trip to the US.

No idea about prices in the US, but generic no-name paracetamol is less than $1.50 for 20 in the supermarkets over here. I don't consider that to be particularly expensive personally.

[Gran]

It appears you can get all the deodorants you have asked for, the Deonat crystal one is good I like to use that one.
Gran
http://www.wyliespharmacy.co.nz/wp/index.php?page=browse&spage=dep&id=28050

[M-Squared]

can you get PitRock crystal deodourant over there? I gather Arm and Hammer toothpaste hasn't hit NZ shores yet but what are the other brands of sensitive toothpaste available...? I don't want to be grumpy Pom with sore teeth :-(

They have Sensodyne here, if that helps.

[dilanium]

If I remember correctly, the no name ibuprofen in the states is like $7 for 500 or so.

Oh and for everyone from the states: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) = Paracetamol it's the same thing.

[Bozeman]

If I remember correctly, the no name ibuprofen in the states is like $7 for 500 or so.

Oh and for everyone from the states: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) = Paracetamol it's the same thing.

I don't remember the exact price we pay in the US but it is in this neighborhood. Much, much cheaper than NZ.

[veronica]

can't see anywhere here or the UK allowing you to buy 500 painkillers in one packet., and I have bought sudafed products here.

NZ is in the same century as the rest of you.

There is pretty much everything needed to sustain life, clean and clothe oneself, furnish and build a house etc...it just might have a different brand name and different packaging.
If you are coming here to live you will just have to learn to adapt a tad.

[M-Squared]

NZ is in the same century as the rest of you.

There is pretty much everything needed to sustain life, clean and clothe oneself, furnish and build a house etc...it just might have a different brand name and different packaging.
If you are coming here to live you will just have to learn to adapt a tad.

It needed saying, good one :nice1

[Laura Lu]

True enough. Bugs me like crazy when people move somewhere different and they expect everything to be the same, or that people should make their new home feel like their old one. Moving is about change!! Why move if only to complain about how things are done "where I come from"?

[dilanium]

I completely agree, but at the same time a good whine once in awhile is not a bad thing. I thought it was funny when I was complaining about load annoying americans yesterday, and then about 15 minutes later turned into one (while complaining about the fashion here and the lack of target).

It's natural to miss some things (like my unscented Dove deodorant, which I've found a suitable replacement for btw- it's scented, but I'm not allergic to it) and sometimes it's okay to express that (but not ALL THE TIME!).

[Bozeman]

can't see anywhere here or the UK allowing you to buy 500 painkillers in one packet., and I have bought sudafed products here.

NZ is in the same century as the rest of you.

There is pretty much everything needed to sustain life, clean and clothe oneself, furnish and build a house etc...it just might have a different brand name and different packaging.
If you are coming here to live you will just have to learn to adapt a tad.

Whoa! This is getting out of hand. You are upset because someone would want to save a considerable amount of money on pain-killers and vitamins? Does it also make you angry when people buy duty-free at the airport?

[IanW99]

Could we try to keep on topic please?

A reminder that this is the topic :)


I have heard from several sources that you can mostly only get gel and spray-on deodorant in NZ. Has anyone else come across this?

What other items are hard to come by that one would not expect?

What are some items you wish you had brought with you in bulk when you moved?

Ian

[Laura Lu]

Thanks Ian.

What IS the fashion like in NZ? I'm typically an American Eagle/Old Navy person. Time to change styles?

[dilanium]

Well they love layering vests over t-shirts over skirts over leggings. The whole emo teeny bopper thing that's been going on recently. They also love these vest/dress things that I think are hideous.

Don't worry about changing your fashion, you'll look fine, I just hate some things that people wear here (hideously ugly and unflattering). But then, I'm a t-shirt and jeans girl most of the time myself, so I really am in no place to complain (but I do sometimes anyway... :D )